UK and America are two countries separated by a common language, UK and US Q&A

[Pipbin]

Continuation of the previous thread where posters from the UK ask questions like 'what the hell is going on with the gaps in US toilet doors'; and posters fro the US ask things like 'what is with wearing stripes'

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/a2149133-to-think-there-is-something-wrong-with-Americans?msgid=48969042#48969042

Letterto yes we do have chain restaurants. The shopping complex near me has nearly all of them! There's ones for all different types of food that are all over the country.

Steak 'n Shake used to be mainly in the Midwest and for some reason, Florida, but they have expanded in the last few years to cover more regions. We love it.

The American use of the phrase 'high school' actually comes from Scotland.

Very true; the first school to call itself a high school in the US took it from the Royal High School in Edinburgh (the first school anywhere to call itself a high school) and it spread. The Scottish education system has influenced the development of education in the US in other ways too.

And yes, Obamacare is a good thing.

tabularahsa lawyer here, only one degree! You need a year of vocational study (or 2 if your undergrad was not law) and 2 yrs in-job training, but no posrgrad degree so not the same as the US.

Biweekly (I recently learned) is fortnightly...

I just assumed that because I know psychologists and teachers have to do doctorates or postgrads and that doctors and lawyers don't just leave with an undergraduate degree and start practicing that it was further study they were doing then on the job training.

But then HE can be fairly confusing so I should know better than to assume anything , lol.

And it's 7 years to become a lawyer in the US (law school is 3 years; medical school is 4).

What did shock me and give me cause for concern was the people, particularly old veterans, who appeared to have mental health difficulties. Some people we encountered seemed very unwell. In the UK obviously we have the NHS, which isn't perfect but does help. I just wondered what provisions and assistance were available, particularly where we visited near the naval base

Veterans and members of the various services have a very similar system to the NHS. It has its own hospitals and doctors, prescription system, etc. It's actually the closest thing I've seen to the NHS in the US (and it has similar problems with underfunding, waiting times etc).

Someone upthread asked if people actually say "fanny" in the US. They do, especially in the South. It's actually considered more polite than "butt."

Tabularasa- a psychology degree is 3 years in England, 4 in Scotland but it doesn't qualify you for anything. It does mean you can apply to do a 3year phd in clinical psychology. Then you can call yourself a psychologist and practice in the NHS or privately. A psychiatrist has a medical degree then specialises in psychiatry.

Teachers can either do an undergrad degree in teaching or another undergrad then a 1 year postgrad pgce.

Doctors do a 5 year degree in medicine straight from school. Although some people can do it as postgrads if they get a good biological science undergrad degree. Then they do 1 year as a junior doctor (jho), called interns in the US.

Lawyers can do a 3 year in England or 4 year in scotland undergrad degree in law then either traumas solicitors or barristers. (Different in Scotland)
Quite a lot of people do a law conversion as postgrads though. It's one year.

And further to wobbly's post, people 65 and over (not just veterans) qualify for Medicare (this is different from Medicaid for low-income people); Medicare is a government-subsidized insurance program for older people; recipients still have to pay for it, but because it is much less expensive than regular insurance, most older people have it.

Not a question but a few facts:

1. hooters is not a strip club or strip restaurant or in fact naked in any way. As a matter of fact you can find women wearing less in your local mall. And the food is really really good. And family friendly.

2. baby showers are not someone's way of mooching off their friends to get free baby stuff. They are actually quite entertaining. You should try having one.

That's all. and both points are in reference to things I've read on MN

Sorry - just noticed the Kool Aid on the first page. You can buy it on Amazon now.
We sometimes use it to make playdough - the colours are lovely! I also read that the lemon and lime is a good descaler.

Not sure I'd drink the stuff, though...

"Tabularasa- a psychology degree is 3 years in England, 4 in Scotland but it doesn't qualify you for anything. It does mean you can apply to do a 3year phd in clinical psychology. Then you can call yourself a psychologist and practice in the NHS or privately. A psychiatrist has a medical degree then specialises in psychiatry.

Teachers can either do an undergrad degree in teaching or another undergrad then a 1 year postgrad pgce."

That was the bit I knew...and that doctors and lawyers did something after the UG degree, so assumed it was the same.

(Though it's a PGDE for teaching in Scotland)

It's ok - I have no plans to become a doctor or a lawyer...you're all safe, lol

I find it baffling that from what I've heard/seen on TV in some states you can drive when you're 15 years old, and that they teach "drivers ed" as part of the school curriculum - is that right?

In the UK you need to be 17 before you can get a provisional licence and then you have to pay for driving lessons privately, or get your parents to go out in the car with you to teach you, until you pass your driving test theory and practical tests.

Out of interest what are childrens' car seat rules like in the US? They've gone pretty strict here and children have to use booster seats until they're 4 foot 5 or 12 years old, and most people wouldn't dream of carrying a baby on their laps for a short drive even though that was very common when I was young.

Thanks wobbly and scone glad that there is assistance available for older people/veterans. I was also shocked at the number of medicine adverts on tv, but I guess that's part of the system when you pay for care. You need to know different types of medication.

Regarding portion size - we did eat in some chains such as Lazy dog and some steak place. Generally the food was quite good quality, however I did notice that the restaurant attached to our hotel did 'nice' food with smaller portions. I just ordered kids meals to save on waste.

Finally, happy people on morning tv!! It certainly is different that the dulcet tones of bbc breakfast. Overall we had an amazing time in America so much so DH wants to move there, it's just a shame we have professions that wouldn't carry over to the US :(

I should clarify: to get full coverage under Medicare, recipients have to pay. Basic hospital coverage under Medicare (called Medicare Part A) is free.

Giveme, it used to be 15 but you could only drive with an adult. From 16 driving license. Now I think it's still 16 but with restrictions (like you can only drive until 7pm) until you're 17. It may vary from state to state. And yes, it's an after school optional elective (drivers ed).

The Steak 'n Shake menu has made me drool. Butterfinger milkshake? Peanut butter milkshake?
If I ever visited, you'd have to roll me on to the plane home

I have the day off from work, and there is a Steak 'n Shake near me. Because of this thread, I will have to have this for lunch. Except I may skip the salad.

Buying houses.

I've heard that if there is any outstanding payments on energy bills for that property, if you want to buy that house you have to pay the outstanding energy bills too. Is that true?

Some of them run into the $1000's surely.

Drivers ed BTW is one of the BEST ideas I've ever heard of and wish someone would introduce that here in the UK as an after school thing.

I know this has been done before, what the hell are Smores? Can someone also please explain the jello as a savory dish AND the marshmallow and sweet potato dish?

In California, car seat law is a seat or booster until 4'9" or age 8.

We do Smores in Guides, not sure if it is the same as in America but we toast marshmallow and put it inside 2 chocolate digestives. Make sure the chocolate side is on the inside and it all melts together

I know about S'mores from reading many US-set books as a kid - they're associated with camping, and you take "Graham Crackers" (which aren't crackers at all, but are pretty much rectangular digestive biscuits) and sandwich them together with a partially melted marshmallow and a square of chocolate. Always sounded very messy but tasty.

Oooh, that sounds good. I might have to try that.

I find it baffling that from what I've heard/seen on TV in some states you can drive when you're 15 years old, and that they teach "drivers ed" as part of the school curriculum - is that right?

Where I live... You can get a learner's permit at 15 after you've taken a theory test. You then log at least 35 hours of driving with a qualified driver over 20, including day and night driving, and if you are under 18 you also take a 35-hour driver's education course (not provided through school).

Once you've done that and you have hit age 16 you can take another test and get a permit to drive unaccompanied.

You cannot carry passengers under 20 until you are over 18, if you're under 21 you cannot drive from midnight to 5 am and you cannot use a cell phone while driving. If you have any alcohol at all in your system you will lose your license.

TBH I think it's a pretty sensible system and not particularly baffling...