Questions you have about other nationalities!

[WatermelonWaveclub]

Just for fun. DD and I were just watching a video where Americans were asking questions about the UK. What are your questions (can be for any nationality from any nationality)? And please feel free to answer other people's questions!

I'll start with some questions for Americans:

Are your grocery bags really those ones without handles? They look really awkward to carry!

Why do you not have electric kettles?

In High school films the English teacher for example always gives them some homework to do by the next day and says 'see you tomorrow' - do you have the same classes every day? We just had English twice a week or something!

That is exactly what we have 😂

Question for the Americans - do most people really write their own wedding vows like in the tv shows/movies?

(as far as I’m aware this wouldn’t be legal in a uk church wedding, not sure about a registry office though? But I’ve never heard of anyone doing it in real life)

In answer to the roast question - I make a roast most weekends because they’re delicious and I don’t find them particularly hard work to prepare

I grew up in N. Ireland, and back living there again, but lived in England for years. I've tried to find an answer to this question but never got one. Why are funerals held so much more quickly in Ireland than in England? I know that in rural areas in Ireland, where they have the body at home for a wake, it makes sense to have the funeral in a couple of days but even where that's not a tradition it's usually two days after the death. It's not a Protestant/ Catholic thing either. I sometimes think it's a bit too quick here but can be too long in England. The idea of a close family member going back to work between the death and the funeral seems tough to me. Undertakers here seem to be on call 24hrs and churches hold funerals on Saturdays and Sundays. Any answers?

We have a roast most Sundays in the winter. I look forward to it every year, signals the change of weather, log fires and cosy Sunday evenings. My husband cooks it but don’t think it’s particularly more work than doing a lasagne for example. It’s just joint in the oven. Kids help peel everything! Yorkshires are home made but he has that down to a fine art.

Lol I was just thinking that about France, reading through. The UK isn't a mainland anyway.

I think it is a myth about the English having a roast dinner every Sunday, unlike the indelible fact that ALL Scotch People exist on a diet of Tunnock's Caramel Wafers and Irn-bru until they're 16 when the switch to haggis and Tennent's Lager.

(So I was informed by a Scotsman.)

Haha! Thank you- that makes sense, I will finally be able to explain to my Mum 😂

And yes… it really does take forever to say goodbye sometimes. I’m especially bad at quick goodbyes. In fact, I did it for the first time in ages the other day (I was rushing to leave my Mum’s and had FINALLY said goodbye… then as I was walking away a neighbour tried to stop me and engage me in conversation as I was rushing back and forth from the garden to our parking space, loading the car… I blurted out “I’m so sorry but I’m going to have to be incredibly rude and rush off, I’m trying to get my baby home in time for his bath… but hopefully we can have a proper chat next time we’re here” then felt very guilty the whole way home (despite the fact that she continued talking to us until we were all in the car and driving away) 😂

@supperlover I'm back in Ireland and lived in England for years. Is just that the UK population is so much bigger? Funerals are happening here practically before you know the person has died. But churches here have a thing called a ' month's mind'. This gives ppl a chance to pay respects - and support the bereaved - a month after the funeral.

The English way gives you more time to organise things though. I hadn't considered the fact that you'd probably have to return to work between times. Some would find that therapeutic but others would be stressed out completely?

If we see a spider we either leave it or take it outside. They don't attack and it's unusual to see anything apart from a daddy long legs anyway which are harmless.

Americans, if a purse is a bag, what do you call a bag and what do women call objects they just keep cash/cards in?

For anyone in Italy/Spain/Greece - what's the best time for a siesta?

I'm no longer in Spain but I was born and bred there. There was no time for siesta during the normal school week, but in the summer, when the heat has kept you up until 4am, having an afternoon siesta is very refreshing. Normally between 3 and 4, or longer/shorter depending on your schedule.

Obviously if you are working, there's no time for siesta, although some offices have a different schedule in the summer to avoid the extreme heat

Why do italians have so many rules about food/digestion? Like you shouldn't have a milky coffee after dinner? It doesn't make sense when it's OK to eat a creamy dessert or ice cream but supposedly dreadful for the digestion to put milk in your coffee. I was also told you should never eat something like gnocchi for dinner, only lunch, as otherwise its too heavy in your stomach when you sleep. But apparently pasta is OK. There were lots more social rules about food when I lived there but those are the ones I can remember now.

Yes, every day even in winter. To the exposed parts, so I don't do arms for eg now that its winter. But face, neck etc yes. (just had more sun spots burnt off this week so its hat and double spf while they heal)

I have another question for those in the USA.

If someone is named Herb, then his name will be pronounced with the H, Herb.

If you are using the same named item in a meal, why is it then referred to as Erb, and the H is not pronounced?

I am in South Africa is anyone wants to know about any of our oddities....

I live on an island. We usually say we are going off island to mean coming back to the mainland.

Australian, lived in the UK for a long time. When I first moved to the UK it didn't feel like Christmas in winter as I was so used to a summer Christmas. Makes Christmas a million more times nicer being in winter now, and all the traditions make sense.

We tolerated house spiders and Daddy Long Legs and money spiders, everything else was either put outside or flattened. Fly spray a last resort if it's impossible to reach.

My question is why German toilets have the platform to examine your poo on?

Why do the French still have squatting public toilets? It seems so behind the times. Always pee everywhere and even the ladies smells like a stinky male toilet. Also never any toilet paper in public toilets.

We have a roast every Sunday (apart from in the really hot weather). Mainly because we all love it - my uni kids can’t wait to be at home for a roast. I’ve been cooking roasts for 40+ years (my mum started teaching me at around 12 years old as she hated cooking) and I don’t find it difficult

I'm on one of those Islands.
Its mostly referred to as "across" as in across the water.

Locals get quite mad at those who call the UK the "mainland".

Lots of Australians on this thread are referring to Daddy Long Legs as spiders. Do you mean those spindly spiders that we call cellar spiders? As Daddy Longs Legs are a different insect, not a spider at all.

Americans. What happened to the H on herbs?

This is what we call a Daddy Long Legs. Also known as a Crane Fly.

yes they are actual spiders in Australia. I was confused when DH called insects here daddy long legs. Same name, different creature.

I cook a roast most Sundays. It’s so easy, takes very little time to prepare and then I can sit back with a glass of red for an hour or so while it’s in the oven and respond to any requests for help/attention with “ask your father, I’m cooking”.

I remember being in the US and being so confused about TV adverts for 'erbal essences shampoo. It was like a Cockney with an American accent was doing the voice over!

I won't post a pic in case people are arachnaphobic, but Australia DDls are here.

australian.museum/learn/animals/spiders/daddy-long-legs-spider/

@Penguinsaregreat you mean a crane fly, I think it’s a regional thing to call them a daddy long legs.
I grew up in east anglia and crane flys have always been called daddy long legs but I live in the south west now and people call them crane flys and call cellar spiders daddy long legs!