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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask for you to pick any country and share an interesting fun fact about it?

304 replies

1person100names · 03/09/2020 18:24

I love learning about countries around the world, i am unable to explore physically due to covid so I would love to learn more fun interesting facts that you would kindly share!

Heres mine!

In Vietnam it is offensive to cross your fingers in a certain way, it is seen as an obscene gesture, akin to raising your middle finger and saying“F* You! It is also used to call people a derogatory name! Photo attached !

I will add more shortly =)

Whats yours?

AIBU to ask for you to pick any country and share an interesting fun fact about it?
OP posts:
Wishingforanotherlife · 04/09/2020 22:00

Scotland has only one lake - Menteith. All the others are lochs.

It also has a pagan shrine that is the oldest uninterrupted worship place in Europe. Every Beltane someone takes the wee stone people out their wee house and every Samhain someone puts them back in.

YouveGotMeWhosGotYou · 04/09/2020 22:05

Switzerland has a square flag

That's a big plus. Wink

JamieLeeCurtains · 04/09/2020 22:08

76% of people in Iceland own a wallaby.

GetYourGoatYouHavePulled · 04/09/2020 22:10

South Korea - Many South Koreans believe in ‘fan death’ that is, if you sleep in a room with a fan on it will kill you.

MrsTerryPratchett · 04/09/2020 22:13

@JamieLeeCurtains

76% of people in Iceland own a wallaby.
True fact. I was there and it was positively awash with wallabies.

In fact, actual fact, you aren't allowed to transport any native wildlife out of Australia. Or so some woman on the internet said yesterday so it's probably true.

MooseBreath · 04/09/2020 22:13

Driving in Canada, it is permitted to turn right on a red light except in Quebec.

Henio · 04/09/2020 22:15

In Prague drivers generally don't stop at pedestrian crossings you kind of have to take a leap of faith and just go for it, hope for the best

chomalungma · 04/09/2020 22:21

@Henio

In Prague drivers generally don't stop at pedestrian crossings you kind of have to take a leap of faith and just go for it, hope for the best
I think that's true for France as well
mrsBtheparker · 04/09/2020 22:21

Scotland - Neighbours another country which refuses it the right to choose it's own future. Apparently it's 'too wee, too poor, too stupid'

Had the neighbouring country been given a vote in the foot-stamping of 2014 ( I think), the foot-stampers would have won hands down!

Snorkelface · 04/09/2020 22:26

Manolin - she did Dancing on Ice!!!!! If she fell over at any point that would be an 'Iceland'.

No more wine for me.

Manolin · 04/09/2020 22:31

Ah, OK. I wasn’t totally out. I also wonder if she has been seen in a high street retailer of frozen organic vegetables and meat perchance?

SoManyActivities · 04/09/2020 22:33

Alaska is the most Northern, Western and Eastern state of the USA.

SoManyActivities · 04/09/2020 22:34

Cyprus and Kosovo are the only two countries in the world to have the outline of the country on their flag.

Lweji · 04/09/2020 22:43

They reported back that, ever since the invention of the motor car, there had never been a single road death in the SI

Conversely, the first car in Portugal ran over a donkey on its first trip to where the owner lived.
It went downhill from there...

Justsocross · 04/09/2020 22:45

In 2018 10tonnes of post was delivered to Palestine ! It had been withheld by Israel for 8 years . Sad but true

Manolin · 04/09/2020 22:45

@SoManyActivities

Alaska is the most Northern, Western and Eastern state of the USA.
I had to think about that, but I do understand now!
BonosSigh · 04/09/2020 22:54

The longest place name in the world is

TAUMATAWHAKATANGIHANGAKOAUAUOTAMATEATURIPUKAKAPIKI-MAUNGAHORONUKUPOKAIWHENUAKITNATAHU

It is a hill on the North Island of New Zealand named after Tamatea, a Maori explorer. Literally translated it means “the summit where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, the slider, climber of mountains, the land-swallower who travelled about, played his nose flute to his loved one.”

When sufficiently pissed I can say the whole thing with fairly credible pronunciation

Twofurrycatsagain · 04/09/2020 22:54

Montenegro doesn't have it's own currency.
They use the euro but aren't in the EU and don't have permission from the EU to use it. Previously the Deutschmark was used.

BonosSigh · 04/09/2020 22:55

And beetroot on a burger is bloody epic. Especially if you add a fried egg.

BiffChipandKippercansodoff · 04/09/2020 23:04

Somalia
The language (Somali) only became a written one in the early 70's. Although it officially and primarily uses the Latin script, there are 3 other scripts that can be used to write Somali.

lioncitygirl · 04/09/2020 23:06

Singapore - is the country in the world to ban chewing gum. :)

lioncitygirl · 04/09/2020 23:12

^^ only country in the world

nestisflown · 04/09/2020 23:13

In Germany rental apartments and houses don’t come with kitchens. You bring a kitchen when you move in, and take it with you when you leave

dannydyerismydad · 04/09/2020 23:20

In the Netherlands they have the 13th month.

Most companies pay double pay in May to enable their employees to book a summer holiday.

ItsAlwaysSunnyOnMN · 04/09/2020 23:36

Spam is very popular in Hawaii

They even make sushi with spam

And there are restaurants that specialise in spam