Expats, tell me what aspect or social norm of your new country was strange to you?

[AjasLipstick]

I am a Brit in Oz and for me, the hardest thing to get used to was Sunday trading hours being like the UK in the 70s.

The weirdest thing was how much less formal people are...kids are dressed very informally and parties for children never have kids dressed up in party dresses but in shorts and t shirts. I like it now I'm used to it though.

ShiftyMcGifty Tue 20-Mar-18 14:30:37
...it’s not just casually saying “would you like a cuppa” - which any polite Russian would decline, as it is the etiquette and wait for the host to ask and insist at least once or twice. It’s a little “no no-I insist-oh go on then” that is an art form in and of itself.

You’re ushered to sit and the host (or a family member you weren’t even aware of) emerges from the kitchen with trays of snacks and nibbles... crisps and pretzels (huge variety), all types of nuts, cakes, cookies... it is normal to whip out a chartcuterie board with all types of salami and cured meats too.

Which you don’t touch, as a guest.
Until the little dance begins again... “no no-I insist-no no I’m not hungry- oh just have a tiny bit-well-oh go on then just a small plate or I’ll get offended - oh well just a small piece then”

This is so true, and also true of Ireland, though substituting full roast ham and chicken dinner with potatoes, peas and gravy plus dessert for charcuterie, snacks and nibbles. One day I ate three dinners while down the country showing off little DD1.

Maybe it also explains why I feel so at home with my Russian friends and the cup-of-tea-crackers-cheese-sausage-blinis-sour-cream-jam-dance. And a little jar of home preserved cherries or similar pressed into my hand when I leave even if we may see each other again in a week.

Hong Kong:

Ambulances/Fire Engines with sirens/lights are not really given any sort of precedence or right of way - they sit in traffic with everyone else (no one moves)

All lifts have door close buttons - and people will hammer on them regardless of whether people are trying to get in or get out

People don't hold doors for each other - but attempt to squeeze through before it closes behind them. This is to do with germs and not manners - no-one wants to tough the door.

Very social eaters - locals rarely eat at desks at work but eat together (lunch time lasts over an hour)

Obsession with little toys - adult professionals have desks covered in things like Hello Kitty and little dolls/bears

Following on from my other coments about selfies.

Yesterday I ordered a coffee, sat down whilst said coffee was being made, as normal but instead of the usual cup, there was a tray with an empty cup and the boiling milk and another smaller container with the coffee.
The server then started to pour the milk etc, whilst saying look photo please, whilst 2 new members of staff snapped away. No just stop, Im paying for a cup of coffee not a photo shoot with the westerner at your convenience.

Also if you go to the cinema, apart from the 12 min interval, in the middle of the film, the national anthem is played before the main film comes on, you must stand as well and anyone just getting to their seats or on the stairs they just stop and stand with every one else then continue on.

Mathanxiety, the thing I found really tricky is visiting multiple households or visiting after having just eaten a large meal when traveling in Eastern Europe. I’ll never forget the look on one lady’s face when I made the faux pas of telling her I was really sorry but We just came from visiting X and I overate so I literally can’t take another little bite. I don’t think I even have room for a coffee, I feel so full. The look of shock on her face... You would have thought I just called her a fat slag. . I had to quickly learn to I fein upset tummis and learn to politely accept mineral waters that aid in digestion.

Gah. Fat fingers

Ambulances/Fire Engines with sirens/lights are not really given any sort of precedence or right of way - they sit in traffic with everyone else (no one moves)

Same in Korea with the ambulances, really shocks me every time. In fact most of the stuff mentioned about Hong Kong is similar.

Cambodianhound

“Kiasu”

never give way, never lose face. Don’t acknowledge or move for emergency vehicles. Never rver indicate, never give way to help a driver out of a side road etc. If you see someone indicating on the motorway to pull out into a space in front of you - speed up to cut them off.

I used to pull out of my side road into the main road and just sit there till someone finally had to stop to let me out. The faces were interesting.

I also had a group of grown adults stand round in a circle taking pics and videos of my 6 yr old when he got into a fight with his friend / both rolling on the ground hitting each other. Ah, glory days - i do miss it sll actually.

there are no impolite nations, nor inhospitable nations. They are polite according to the norms of their society

Irish psyche very similar to the Russian psyche.

I am furiously agreeing with you, @Toomanynamestoremember and think that society will account for a good chunk of the different influences. For examples, customs in rural places are likely to show similarities, so that everyone being expected to attend a funeral would be understandable in a rural area, just be impractical in a big city. Likewise, people working for a big corporate organisation will have much in common with others in the same type of role, in the same way that the experience of a waiter or waitress will have things in common with others, regardless of the country in which they are working.

uk (london I know london is different to rest of uk)

• disregard to many rules, especially traffic rules by drivers. red lights seem merely advisory
• queues. what queues?
• dirty dr/hospital waiting rooms
• general selfishness (though also incredible kindness)
• bureaucracy - omg opening the first bank account was a nightmare. took months to sort out. meanwhile my work paid me in cash

bureaucracy - omg opening the first bank account was a nightmare. took months to sort out. meanwhile my work paid me in cash

My work wouldn’t do cash. I had to get paid into my friend’s bank account and then withdraw it in cash. It was bizarre.

I could work in the country, had an NI number, but couldn’t open a bank account?

Opening presents during the birthday party is the done thing here in Australia too.

What’s an expat again?

Oh yeah, a migrant. Just a well off , white, English speaking one.

I've moved to Britain and I find the national hard on for the NHS impossible to understand-do you just not understand how shockingly bad the service it provides is? And why bag on Bournemouth it being free when it isn't? Do British people just not understand the concepts of government borrowing, taxation, budget deficit etc?

The NHS is something people will fight for to the death. But it is not free and never will be. Maybe at point of entry but taxation contributions and NI funding will never be enough to keep it OK anymore, sadly.

It is being run down to be sold off and privatised. Watch this space.

Where have you NHS naysayers come from?? There is no way I’d want a system like the US, where poor people can’t afford basic healthcare. That is not a society I want to live in. And having to pay for things like giving birth is fucking ridiculous IMO. And God help you if your baby ends up ill with a lengthy NICU stay, it’s worrying enough in that situation without having to think about paying for it as well!!!

Yep - may not be perfect but far better system than the alternatives.

The nhs isn't perfect but it's still a lot better than the healthcare set up in many other countries especially USA where those in most desperate need (homeless, mentally ill, poor...) are left suffering, medics are beholden to drug companies and there seems few ethical boundaries.

Dairyisclosed
Please share with us the wonderful health care system from your country of origin that should be such a shining example to us, please.

American living in the UK.

Thought of some more...

• That people in the UK look surprised that I like living here.

• That there don't seem to be laws enforceable with fines or the police for disabled parking and giving priority to disabled people in other circumstances.

• That people just cross the road wherever they like without even looking to see if a car or bus is coming. I thought it might be due to low numbers of pedestrian injuries and deaths but my research revealed that's not the case.

• That you pretty much can't carry anything to defend yourself.

• The drinking culture.

• How ugly the more affordable clothes are.

• How much makeup women wear.

Being so paranoid about going out that I'd have to carry a gun with me? Nah, not a place I want to live. Nor do I fancy walking around with a knife or some other weapon. Women wear loads of makeup in the US too, I'm sure.

FGS. Of course people look before they cross the bloody road.

Of course you can't carry weapons. Not that carrying guns is working out to well in America anyway.

And I've seen plenty of American women wearing too much make up. It is most certainly not a feature of all British women.

There really is some crap on this thread.

From spending 7 years in NZ..

Kids and adults barefoot everywhere regardless of whether it's Winter or Summer
Kids being lollipop men/women (road patrol they call it)
Instead of saying "Hi" or "Hiya" they say " How's it going?" Whether they know you or they are a stranger passing you in the street.

They say "yeah...No" during a conversation. Very confusing but they are agreeing with you!
They exclaim "yis" (yes) and repeat it a million times during a very animated conversation when they are telling you they know what you mean.
They lift up the end of their sentences
You never buy any fruit or veg unless it's in season..and if it is in season, buy tonnes of it and eat it til it's coming out of your ears.
Adverts on the TV come with their own super annoying jingles that everyone hates
At work, your morning break is called "Morning Tea" or "Smoko"
You can't park on the opposite side of the road the wrong way round or you will get fined.
Dominos Pizza is super cheap (worked out at £3 per pizza)
If you get invited to a BBQ, you take your own chilly bin (cool box) full of meat and beers
If you have bought land and built your own house, you have a "roof shout" which is beers and snacks laid on for your builders
If you get asked to "bring a plate" it means a selection of food. Generally "home baking"
Speaking of home baking, I did not meet one kiwi woman who did not bake a lot. Everyone bakes and shares it around friends, neighbours, work colleagues.

Fond memories!

Fascinating thread.

I’ve never lived anywhere else but I loved the tidying up method in Japanese cafes when on holiday.
If you are in the likes of Starbucks where you take your drink to your table then you are expected to tidy it up after you by taking your tray to a hatch where someone will take it and wash up.

Why are people so shocked by mayo on chips? I’ve always eaten mayo with chips and I’m in my 40s. It was standard in the West Country in the 80s. (Where I lived anyway)

Oh, and you can run down everything else about this country but fuck off running down the NHS.
Everyone knows it’s not free, but free a the point of use.
I know that I would sooner that someone can take a sick child to the hospital without worrying about the cost than pay less tax thanks.

I meant pepper spray, geez overreact much? And you not feeling a need to carry pepper spray has absolutely nothing to do with how I feel.

Some people have completely missed the point of the thread.

Of course there are some women in the US that wear too much makeup, my sister is one of them. But it's the wearing of false eyelashes every day vs for special occasions that stands out here. Also the horrible caterpillar eyebrow trend. Luckily the horrible eyebrow trend we had in the US awhile back finally (mostly) died.