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If you live in a different country to your birth - cultural norms you find odd?

327 replies

Triffid1 · 13/12/2024 09:29

I am South African originally. As I was dropping DS (13) at his activity last night at 7pm, knowing I'd be picking him at 8:30, I was thinking how I just don't think I'm ever going to get used to the lateness of things for children in this country. I honestly don't think i was out of the house after 6:30 on a school night, ever, until I was about 16!!! Admittedly, we also started our days much earlier - school start was 8:05 I think.

And I admit, I find it even odder because you change your clocks so that it gets light earlier and dark earlier. And certainly where we are (SE England), everything happens LATER, not earlier. I'm also from Cape Town though so to be fair, it gets light much later so getting up in the dark was a pretty normal event in winter for us.

Does anyone else have anything like this that they find odd? Light please - I'm not looking to bash any other cultures just note the differences! Grin

OP posts:
ForGreyKoala · 17/12/2024 19:35

isthismylifenow · 17/12/2024 17:53

Can't speak for New Zealanders but no this isn't the case in SA.

Days do start earlier generally though. Kids start the school day at 7.20am and many industries start at 7.30am.

I have been known to go to bed at 9pm but no it's not the norm.

It's isn't the case in New Zealand either.

Triffid1 · 17/12/2024 20:40

Also "boers" is a very specific group in SA...

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