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AIBU?

AIBU to ask you to tell me things that you learned way too late in life *lighthearted*.

237 replies

Tinkofhousepan · 24/02/2018 06:43

I started talking with a friend who emigrated to the states a few years ago for work. He lives in New York. We were discussing me going over for a holiday as I've never 'done' NYC. Started discussing the time difference between there and here 5 hours which surprised me as when I went to California the difference was larger 8 hours I think.

This lead to me being informed that the two states are on totally opposite ends of the country.

This is my thing I learned late, ive gone 26 years assuming florida and California were next to each other, And i have learned today that Florida is on the same side as NYC. AND IS AS FAR SOUTH AS TEXAS??? I also learnt that Washington is the most northern state on the side of California, where as Washington DC is just below Maryland and right next to Virginia, which is not at all in the middle part of America where I assumed it to be Blush. I didn't learn USA geography at school, but surely I should have picked this up before now, especially considering I have been to both California and Florida!

Anyone else never realised this? Or is it just Me!

OP posts:
Lostin3dspace · 24/02/2018 06:51

I can’t think of anything lighthearted really. I only learned to spot the games people play and to stop people pleasing and how to set limits really, too late. Into my 30’s. This kind of thing should be taught in Schools

abbsisspartacus · 24/02/2018 06:57

Pineapples don't grow on trees and peanuts grow underground learned that around the time I turned 40 Blush

StealthPolarBear · 24/02/2018 06:58

Hard work is worth it.

isthismummy · 24/02/2018 06:58

I'm with you there lost It's taken me nearly 40 years to work out that some people really are just horribleSad

LakieLady · 24/02/2018 06:59

That few relationships are more rewarding and uncomplicated than the one you have with your dog. (lighthearted)

Xylo · 24/02/2018 07:02

You can achieve great things will a clear mind and little effort.

Also learned everything about birth when I was pregnant. Never knew what the placenta was before then

isthismummy · 24/02/2018 07:02

On the opposite end to stealth I would have to say that work isn't everything. Work hard yes, but there's also more to life. The number of people I know in London who are obsessed with their careers to the exclusion of everything else is shocking. It's one of the reasons I now can't wait to move out!

Tinkofhousepan · 24/02/2018 07:06

Ooh yes! I learned the pineapple thing recently too abbsissparticus then literally saw a post on MN about it a few days later! I did not know about the peanuts though!

OP posts:
Elllicam · 24/02/2018 07:07

It took me until my thirties to realise you don’t get any prizes for doing social things you really don’t want to do. In my twenties I went on nights out, parties and even holidays I genuinely did not want to go on. I spent money and time doing things that just made me sad. Now I do what I want (within reason). I go out, but only with close friends or my husband and I now have friends who like the same things I do.

isthismummy · 24/02/2018 07:07

I'm also pregnant for the first time and I've learnt too late how bloody horrible it is.

You get told you'll be tired. What people should say is you'll be more exhausted than you thought possible, feel like you have low grade flu all the time and develop insomnia. Nausea should be more accurately described as ravening hunger, combined with an aversion to nearly all food stuffs and vomiting four times a day.

They also tell you sleep in uncomfortable in third trimester. I'm only 9 weeks and already can't sleep the same way. Lie on my stomach and my grape sized twin fetuses make their objections very clear!

Leilaniiii · 24/02/2018 07:08

I have banked with the same bank for over 10 years. The name has the word 'Laboratories' in it. Unfortunately, for over 10 years, I have been pronouncing it 'LaboratWAH' as I thought it was spelt the French way, ie 'Laboratoires'.

It was only recently that DH snapped and said: "FFS, why do you say it like that? In that stupid French fake accent?". I then checked the spelling and realised I had been saying it wrong all these years.

I feel like such a twat Sad.

Tinkofhousepan · 24/02/2018 07:09

I see both your points stealth and isthismummy I live and work in London and I work hard, which one one hand is rewarding so makes it worth it on a day to day basis, but on the other hand, I am always shattered, and don't really want to do anything in my spare time but sleep.

OP posts:
Daifuku9 · 24/02/2018 07:09

Last year I learned, from my DS, that bananas are technically berries.

Elllicam · 24/02/2018 07:11

Oh I also discovered an egg cooker that does 6 eggs at once. It’s great for the morning.

Tinkofhousepan · 24/02/2018 07:16

Another fun fact/embarrassing realisation for you all. Was discussing camels (she just came back from holiday and had a camel ride) and the use of their hump. I very confidently said that they store water in their hump(s) as that is what I had been told as a kid and have never had reason to question this. We talked about the logistics of storing water like that (cause gravity) and turned to Google to give us the answer. Turns out they store fat in their humps. Blush

OP posts:
LemonRedwood · 24/02/2018 07:17

@Leilaniiii I am never sure of the correct way to pronounce laboratories! I think always saying laboratoires is the perfect solution!

Punta · 24/02/2018 07:17

When tailors say ‘on which side does sir dress?’, I only found out a couple of years ago it was so that the tailor could avoid accidentally touching the man’s penis. I thought they had to some kind of special tailoring for that side before my husband told me. I’m 45. Blush

BrainlessDailyMail · 24/02/2018 07:18

To laugh at my own mistakes.

StripySocksAndDocs · 24/02/2018 07:20

I can tell you something I'm still never sure about. When people suggest live yogurt for thrush: are they telling you to eat or apply.

I get the idea different people mean different things.

StealthPolarBear · 24/02/2018 07:20

For me specifically. I didn't used to work hard and I struggled. Now I work quite hard and am doing well in career and studies. A little bit of hard work is taking me beyond what is seen as possible.

StealthPolarBear · 24/02/2018 07:21

Punta I didn't know that!
And is the 'side' the penis side or the non-penis side?

EllieMe · 24/02/2018 07:22

That Billericay isn't in Ireland. It sounds like it should be.

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bushtailadventures · 24/02/2018 07:22

It's a mn favourite, but the thing with envelope neck vests and being able to pull them down rather than up when there is a nappy explosion. I have 4 adult dc, all wore that type of vest, but it was only when my dgd was born that I found this out!

That it is ok to say no, sounds simple but I've been a 'people pleaser' all my life and it's only been in the last couple of years that I've felt able to say 'No', wish I had learnt that a long time ago, would have saved myself a lot of worry, not to say time.

StripySocksAndDocs · 24/02/2018 07:24

The 'side' is where the penis is.

howthelightgetsin · 24/02/2018 07:29

Punta what does that mean? What are you supposed to answer?

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