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Original poster

Things that exist in other countries that you wish existed here

81 replies

emkana · 19/02/2006 20:08

One thing I keep thinking about:
Suppositories for babies/small children! Sooooooooooooooooo much easier to administer than blooming sticky medicine from a spoon, can be done without baby noticing anything at all, also no need for nasty add ons to make it more palatable, so much more pure!
Why why why can't they be generally available in this country????

OP posts:
Mazzystar · 19/02/2006 20:50

Danish cleanliness standards on public transport
Tolerance of bicycles
Tolerance of children
Quality city centre living
Ramblas
Portuguese tartes de nata

Original poster
emkana · 19/02/2006 20:54

If you think this country is child-unfriendly you don't want to go to Germany! In many ways Britain is heaven in comparison.

OP posts:
kittyfish · 19/02/2006 21:00

Emkana - in what way is Germany so child-unfriendly?

expatinscotland · 19/02/2006 21:00

Those Ziploc bags with an actual zipper and not that crap seal thingy!

Baby and child-friendly toilets out in public.

Lack of people using curse words on the pavement.

Original poster
emkana · 19/02/2006 21:02

General attitude to children far more unfriendly in Germany.

Then lots of little things - smoking allowed absolutely everywhere, many restaurants don't have high chairs, many shops are so lacking in space that you can't get around with a pushchair...

OP posts:
Blandmum · 19/02/2006 21:03

Echo moondog's comments about the child friendliness of Turkey.

French street markets full of fantastic local produce

kittyfish · 19/02/2006 21:04

Always assumed all Euro countries more child-friendly than GB. Having said that GB has improved hugly over last few years.

kittyfish · 19/02/2006 21:04

Or even hugely.

expatinscotland · 19/02/2006 21:05

Whole Foods Market

Excellent pizza parlours

Terrific vegetarian takeaway places

Cheaper property prices

TwoIfBySea · 19/02/2006 21:07

Emkana, when we visited Germany dts were just under 2 years old and we found people to go out of their way to help us. We've always liked the German attitude to life and wanted to stay there at one time.

Of course you would know better than us but it was getting to the point that I was glad we didn't live there or dts would end up spoiled brats with the attention. They even had the hotel staff running after them and giving them little toys and making different food from everyone else! Old ladies at the Christmas markets kept giving them sweeties. Was this just how people are in different parts of the country? We were in Weisbaden and the Rhineland.

eidsvold · 19/02/2006 21:13

doormat are you in the UK

get onto here

FrayedKnot · 19/02/2006 21:14

Going out for a "Passegiata"
Individual shops selling delicious, good quality food the shopkeepers are proud to sell, will tell you how to cook, let you taste beforehand etc
Cheap and efficient public transport
Appreciation of good manners
Siesta

moondog · 19/02/2006 21:18

Expat, Whole Foods are on their way to the UK.
Read a big article on the guy that founded it in Austin TX in last week's Observer.

My sister lives in France and has 4 kids.What I think is fantastic there is that every town seems to have state run nurseries,where you can drop your kid off for a couple of hours at a time as and when it suits for a very small anmount.

Isn't that brilliant???

scienceteacher · 19/02/2006 21:46

Postmen that pick up mail from your house

moondog · 19/02/2006 21:48

Ooh,where do they do that st???

doormat · 19/02/2006 22:09

eidsvold I cant thankyou enough
for making my day, have missed this stuff soooo much
will be ordering tomorrow and put it on faves
thanx again
xxx

laundrylover · 19/02/2006 22:48

My mum (farmer!) always gives her post to her postman!! Seems to get delivered too.
I would like a better levelof service and the end of 10% surcharge inc.!

blossom2 · 19/02/2006 23:06

in paris and new york (apparently), you can go shopping in the supermarket and then get it delivered, within 3 hrs. they even pack your groceries as well ... wish they had that here. i hate loading and unloading the car ...

Original poster
emkana · 19/02/2006 23:15

twoifbysea - I'm from the Rhineland. Maybe it's to do with you being "foreign visitors"? I've just noticed that when we are in Germany it doesn't seem to happen as often that people smile at my children or say a friendly word.

OP posts:
Avalon · 19/02/2006 23:23

I found Germany child friendly and friendly to us as foreigners.

Original poster
emkana · 19/02/2006 23:25

Well I'm pleased that those of you who have visited Germany had a good impression.

I find my fellow countrymen and -women in Germany very grumpy sometimes, but I'm glad that that's only me.

OP posts:
kittyfish · 20/02/2006 09:58

Blossom2 - we have internet shopping here which means you don't even have to go to the supermarket. Much better.

Kerry74 · 20/02/2006 10:25

Twisties are cheese flavoured crisps that are called twisties because of their twisted shape

poppiesinaline · 20/02/2006 10:25

SUN SUN and HOT SUN - ALL YEAR

2ManyPimms · 20/02/2006 11:31

My list!!!!

Selective education.
Efficient, clean and safe public transportation.
Comprehensive recycling - fully participated in by the public.
Bicycle friendly.
Pedestrian friendly.
Child friendly.
CLEAN!!!
Community-minded.
Shops shut on Sunday so people can have a life!

I lived in Switzerland for 7 years. Although I found the people hard-going, I admired how well their society rubbed along.