AIBU to ask you some questions about the USA?

[BreakfastInAmerica]

I've been reading lots of US fiction over lockdown, I've never been there.

What's the big deal with joining a fraternity house at College? What is the benefit of it? Why the Greek frat house names?

Is public access television still a thing?

Why do they call savoury muffins English Muffins when I'm more likely to see a blueberry or chocolate muffin when I'm out and about?

How do Americans eat things like thick pancakes with cream for breakfast, even the people who are slim?

What are grits?

Why are Automatic cars so prolific in the US, rather than manual/stick shift?

I'm sure I've got lots more questions and please pitch in with your own questions and answers.

AIBU to ask for your answers and questions about the small differences between the US and the UK?

@IncorrigibleTitmouse

Companies that have those beliefs are allowed to not provide health insurance for their employees to have abortions, contraceptives etc. It’s a big part of life here.

Oh my, that is shocking that your employer potentially has so much control outside of your working life. I guess you can still pay ‘privately’ but it must be very costly.

I think the perception that we are so religious in the US is somewhat exaggerated. I live in the Bible Belt. Of my friends and acquaintances, I would say about half attend church regularly, and quite a few have no religious affiliation at all. And for those who do it is the more liberal denominations of Presbyterian, Episcopalian, and Methodist. But one thing that I think may be different than in the UK is that religious references are often a common part of the cultural conversation. So even someone who is not religious might say to a bereaved person, "you are in my thoughts and prayers."

Back to the food question, some Americans eat roast potatoes, but where I live no one does. I think roast potatoes maybe more a New England thing. Where I live stuffing is called "dressing" because it's cooked outside the turkey, and it's made with cornbread. In the US, pigs in a blanket are usually cocktail sausages wrapped in pastry and baked.

Texas is indeed, a culture unto itself. I moved there when I was 10 and gladly left when I got my first job after college (uni). When I was living there it was very insular (even by American standards). Pretty fanatical about football, and yes, in small towns everyone goes to the high school football game. There's only one town in Texas that I would consider living in (for a short while, at least) and that's Austin. About the only thing that I miss about the state is the food.

OK, speaking as someone who's lived in the US for many years, I still don't understand sheriffs and county police. It might be different state by state, but in my state we have a local police force in each town/city, we have the state police, but we also have county sheriffs.

What is a sheriff? What do they do that's different to state police vs town police?

Most confusingly, why are sheriffs elected rather than appointed?

What is a sheriff? What do they do that's different to state police vs town police?

I think the sheriff has jurisdiction over an entire county, whereas the police have jurisdiction in their own city limits.

I grew up rural, so we’d have to call the sheriff for anything, I think they also took charge of villages too small to have a police force as well as those living outside city limits.

As for why they are elected I have no idea (or who even votes in those kind of elections...)

Just wondering have any of our American posters here (and others of course) tried the international old school stereotype USA rural rustic pioneering cowboy/cowgirl lifestyle? Is it still way of life in say Wyoming? And if not too politically sensitive what's the state of play with First Nation Americans the original populations before the immigrants arrived? I heard they have been reduced to gambling reservations etc.

Traditionally in the UK we (back in the day) grew up with spaghetti western television shows which for many British children was probably first glimpse of the USA - well that and certain breakfast cereals and then America fast food culture.

Most confusingly, why are sheriffs elected rather than appointed?

In theory, Sheriffs are elected to make it so they are not in the pockets of any official who would be appointing them.

Re the cowboy lifestyle, the are vast swaths of land in the western US and there are still working cattle ranches on them. I wouldn’t say it’s quite the spaghetti western portrayal, but there are certainly people who live a very rustic lifestyles.

There are also some ultra high net worth enclaves in Wyoming and Montana, so it’s not just cowboys and prairie dogs.

@Gotakeahike

Thank you. I must put cowboy ranching on my USA must do when Covid permits! I love equestrian sports and was planning a future Argentina gaucho adventure with polo. I experienced the Canadian Calgary Stampede and love the majestic Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

I think the sheriff has jurisdiction over an entire county, whereas the police have jurisdiction in their own city limits.

This is the essence of it. As an example, the county I grew up in has an elected sheriff, but each municipality (city or town) in the county has its own police chief, who is hired by the city council or mayor, and who is in charge of the police force for that town. There can be some jurisdictional and turf issues, but for the most part, they manage to work together.

There are places called dude ranches where you can go for a vacation. They give you a very luxurious version of being a cow-hand, but you can rent a log cabin (it will have running water & toilets etc) and sign up to go out horse riding, or have a go at archery etc. or just hang around the ranch and watch life go by.

We've stayed in places that are 'out west' (Utah and Montana etc) and gone out horse-riding with outfitters. It was really amazing. There are some that are right in the tourist areas and you'll be in a group of about 20 people, taken on a 4 hour tour. Or you can find ones that run from a real ranch and they go off into the hills, and you could be the only people along with a train of mules taking supplies somewhere. You end up out where there is NO-ONE & NOTHING. Then you drop supplies at a supply station so that they're ready when the next cattle run comes through, and head back to the ranch.

We've done a few of these. Every woman I've ever spoken to says never get involved with a cowboy.

@KickAssAngel what’s wrong with cowboys? Do they prefer horses to people?

Apparently they live up to the stories - they'll ride into town and steal your heart, then ride on back out again.

The cowboys I've come across (who are all making their living from the tourist industry) are well behaved, polite etc. But any cowgirls on these trips say that the guys who really work the ranches and herd the cattle etc are free-spirited red-blooded "I'm a man's man" type of guys. They want women in the kitchen, cooking meals and raising babies, while the men go out and raise hell whenever they want to. Of course, the women could just be saying that as part of the tourist experience.

Hmmm, They want women in the kitchen, cooking meals and raising babies, while the men go out and raise hell whenever they want to.
That doesn’t sound very romantic.

Have you seen the Dallas Buyer's Club? Those kind of cowboys.

Of course, the women could just be saying that as part of the tourist experience.

I don't think they are.

My experience with the "cowboy" type is pretty limited because my US living experience has been exclusively in one area, but I spent a fair amount of time as a Western trail guide when I was at uni. These guys are a walking stereotype -- usually pretty attractive or at least in great shape from the work, full of confidence (which is also pretty attractive) and yes, super traditional in view of gender roles (not in the least attractive.)

I had an instant aversion to most of them so I never even considered dating one!

Is what's called Cornish Game Hen in the US just......roast chicken?

Cornish game hens are much smaller than roast chickens. Typically one Cornish game hen is a serving for one person.

Ah so like a Poussin?

Similar, yes.

I was wondering you have a lot of schools for pregnant teenagers? I’m basing my knowledge on Teen Mom, but there seem to be schools for pregnant teens readily available and I think they are few and far between over here! Is it just coincidence that some of the girls live in towns or cities with them or is it really commonplace?

That's just for effect on reality TV....they are not common.

I would say they are not that uncommon, but not exactly mainstream either. They’re generally known as alternative or continuation schools, usually quite small, and can be for a variety of students beyond just pregnant girls, usually students that have attendance or behavioral problems or that are falling behind in a traditional high school.

In my school district, pregnant girls usually continued at their regular high school until they had the baby, then when they went back they went to the alternative high school because it had on-site child care.