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

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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

I am going to argue with the savory scone description for biscuits. I think it more accurate to say they are just a bit less sweet than scones as well as a bit lighter. They are eaten for breakfast, but traditionally, they are eaten with a meal as a side bread dish, like a dinner roll. They are not spicy or salty in the way that I would normally think of as savory, although there are savory versions like bacon cheddar biscuits. There are also sweeter ones like cinnamon biscuits with icing.

Also american washing machines are completely different to washing machines in the UK they are top,loading and ours our front loading can you do loads more washing at any one time they seem loads bigger and is there any difference in the quality of the wash ?

Tootsie rolls are similar to taffy. They are chewy and usually chocolate, although they can be other flavors, too.

My local Tesco Express sells Tootsie Rolls. I was very excited to try one but they are crap. They are just like Riesen chocolate chew.

Now Butterfingers are another thing altogether, they are wonderful. Sometimes we can get them in our local The Works.

Tootsie Rolls ARE like Riesen, except Riesen is chocolate covered chocolate taffy (or whatever it is), right?

I think there is a difference between American top loading washing machines (you can get front loaders in US as well) and UK front loaders. Ime, the American washing machines don't get your clothes very clean. My friend who was born & grew up with me in UK, but has lived in us 20 years says the washing detergent isn't usually biological, though, so it could be that.

I try really hard to like Root Beer when I'm in the States as it seems so 'American' and cool.

However it tastes to me just like Germolene and I can't help pull a face

When McDonalds first came to our town in about 1981 we were all desperate to try root beer. One girl in our year said dont bother, it tastes like Germolene, and she was right! Wondering if seagull is someone I was at school with!

My washing machine is front loading but has double the capacity of my dads machine in the uk. I love it. My dryer is huge and front loading too but the door doesn't have a window ..... Never figured why drying in the uk needs to see out......

My utility room is upstairs (no trailing sheets towels and clothes downstairs to wash) and I have a waste disposal and a pantry. There are many things that I find difficult to get my head round in the USA but these three are genius.

Taffy = Toffee, yes?

Never figured why drying in the uk needs to see out......

Vented dyers (where you have a hose allowing the steam to escape either out of the window or through a "plumbed in" hole in the wall) have a window. Condenser dryers (where you empty the tank that the steam goes into) dont.

I dont know why either!

Now you see I would love that butterflies I have a washerdrier not only can you only do a certain amount of washing but if you are drying you can only put in about half or quarter of your wash load I don't need to see my washing or drying ! But I suppose space could be an issue! Also and I got this from ' friends' the sitcom so more might not be relevant now if you live in apartment buildings do you have a basement area with washing machines and driers etc?

I had a condenser dryer with a window in Asia and my mil has one with a window in Scotland. The plot thickens......

Taffy = Toffee, yes?

Taffy is not the same as what we call toffee.

I think toffee is made with caramalized butter and sugar, and it's usually hard.

Taffy is more sticky and chewy, and I don't think it has butter, just sugar, water, and flavoring.

Also and I got this from ' friends' the sitcom so more might not be relevant now if you live in apartment buildings do you have a basement area with washing machines and driers etc?

A lot of apartment buildings have on-site laundry facilities. They can either be in the basement, like on Friends, or if it's a large apartment complex rather than one building, there might be a building with washers and dryers, like a laundromat but on the actual apartment property.

Salt water taffy I got that from sex in the city yes i do watch way to many american sitcoms what is this?

Would you have to pay for that facility steff like any launderette/laundromat or would it come as part as the rent?

Do all Americans have one of those sweater folding contraptions in their laundry room. Like Sheldon Cooper?

please say yes

Salt water taffy I got that from sex in the city yes i do watch way to many american sitcoms what is this?

It's made with saltwater and sugar and flavoring, and it's cooked together, then stretched or whipped and cut into small pieces. It's sticky and chewy.

Would you have to pay for that facility steff like any launderette/laundromat or would it come as part as the rent?

Any building I've lived in with on-site laundry, you had to pay to use the machines, usually $.50 or $.75 per load to wash, and then the same to dry. They are only open to residents of the building, though. That was what I hated the most about apartment living.

No, to the Sheldon Cooper sweater folder. That's what's funny about it.

I think many apartment complex laundries are coin operated. Where I live (Florida) most of the newer apartment complexes have a washer and dryer in the apartment.

Well that seems much cheaper than using a launderette in the UK! Can normal people actually afford to live in new York centre or is it like the centre of London an amazing place to visit but probably too expensive to live in ? I visited Boston once about twenty years ago its a great city loads to do and very cultural did the Boston duck tours in November on the Charles river !!

Do all Americans have one of those sweater folding contraptions in their laundry room. Like Sheldon Cooper?

please say yes

Whoops posted twice, ignore me!

Biological washing powders containing large amounts of phosphates are illegal in the States. They contribute to waterway eutrophication.

I'm no expert, Ericaeq, but if I remember correctly from year 10 chemistry, the difference between biological & non biological washing powders & liquids is that the biological ones contain an enzyme, which is activated to digest proteins at 40 degrees (now they advertise some that work at 30 degrees). That's why they're more effective at removing blood, grease and food stains from clothes.

I don't know about the newer, Oxy-type ones.

I've finally finished reading both threads and no-one's raised the disparity in paid holiday entitlement between USA and UK. My American cousins get 2 weeks a year! That's our summer holiday! In UK most people also get the week between Christmas and NewYear, plus one or two weeks more, which they get to choose when they take. They take a Friday & Monday off and spend a long weekend somewhere in USA as their main holiday.

I think the amount of vacation you get here depends upon your employer.

My employer uses a system where you earn vacation time. You start out with two weeks, then go up to a maximum of eight weeks. I currently get six weeks of vacation per year. In addition, I get two weeks of sick time, and four personal days. All the time accumulates, so if I don't use all six weeks this year, they leftover days will roll over to next year. You can have 16 weeks of vacation time until you start to lose it.

My sick time can be used whenever I'm sick, or one of my kids is sick.

Personal time is special; it can't be denied as long as you ask for it at least 24 hours before you use it. My best friend's mother died a few months ago, and I used a personal day to go to her funeral.

I also get berevement leave, which is three days off with pay when someone in my immediate or extended family passes away.