General musings, and comparisons with England, France and the US
Nov 3rd 2007, 5:45 am
#1
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5,763
General musings, and comparisons with England, France and the US
After age 18, time spent in England: 6 years
In France: nearly 4 years
In the US: nearly 12 years. In that order.
Just my first few musings after being here 3 weeks and very much settled in and happy.
Driving here is dead easy, just watch out for that whacky right-turn rule.
Drivers are extremely pleasant and in driving here 3 weeks I've only been tailgated once. In the US I was tailgated on pretty much every single journey, and that's when going 5 over the limit too.
No drivers are more insane than in Paris.
The "can-do" attitude is very much in force here, and people lower down the ladder have more authority to just get stuff taken care of.
Pubs nearly exist here.
Mailboxes are US-style, out near the street. The post doesn't come through the door like in England and France
Pavements are US-style mostly, with a small amount of grass, just a few feet, between the pavement and the kerb.
The vast majority of drivers drive at or under the speed limit.
Motorways are free to use, like in the UK.
More people smoke than in the US, but less than in the UK. In my nearly 4 years in France, I only knew a handful of adults who didn't smoke.
Sweets are English in style, and you can get those French "chupa chups" lollipops.
Some schools have uniforms, but not too many (fewer than I thought would).
School starts at age 5, ie. Year 1, so a year earlier than in the US, and very slightly later (from memory) than in the UK.
People are SO friendly! Strangers on the street will smile and say hello. Children hold doors open for their elders.
Unlike the US, roundabouts are everywhere here (that took a little while for hubby to get used to!).
Although NZ uses dollars, the currency is more akin to UK coins and banknotes.
Statutory time-off is 4 weeks a year, thanks to legislation passed this year. In the US I had to work for one year before I got one paid week off.
Kiwis love their coffee almost as much as the French do. Don't expect to find filter coffee here. Closest is a "long black".
Cafes are in existence as much here (in Wellington at least) as they are in France.
The fare found in these cafes is much more like Europe than the US.
Security around the place is more like England in the 70s.
People here have a great sense of humour and aren't really motivated by the almighty dollar, certainly not as much as in the US.
The working week is more like France (40 hours), not the UK or the US.
You get paid for overtime if you're salaried.
(at least I do 
)
It doesn't rain nearly half as much as I was expecting!
Everything here is metric, like in France. Though people talk about "mileage" on a car, and some people use feet and inches when talking about a person's height. Those are the only two exceptions I've come across.
Um... I'll add more as I think of them.
In France: nearly 4 years
In the US: nearly 12 years. In that order.
Just my first few musings after being here 3 weeks and very much settled in and happy.
Driving here is dead easy, just watch out for that whacky right-turn rule.
Drivers are extremely pleasant and in driving here 3 weeks I've only been tailgated once. In the US I was tailgated on pretty much every single journey, and that's when going 5 over the limit too.
No drivers are more insane than in Paris.
The "can-do" attitude is very much in force here, and people lower down the ladder have more authority to just get stuff taken care of.
Pubs nearly exist here.
Mailboxes are US-style, out near the street. The post doesn't come through the door like in England and France
Pavements are US-style mostly, with a small amount of grass, just a few feet, between the pavement and the kerb.
The vast majority of drivers drive at or under the speed limit.
Motorways are free to use, like in the UK.
More people smoke than in the US, but less than in the UK. In my nearly 4 years in France, I only knew a handful of adults who didn't smoke.
Sweets are English in style, and you can get those French "chupa chups" lollipops.
Some schools have uniforms, but not too many (fewer than I thought would).
School starts at age 5, ie. Year 1, so a year earlier than in the US, and very slightly later (from memory) than in the UK.
People are SO friendly! Strangers on the street will smile and say hello. Children hold doors open for their elders.
Unlike the US, roundabouts are everywhere here (that took a little while for hubby to get used to!).
Although NZ uses dollars, the currency is more akin to UK coins and banknotes.
Statutory time-off is 4 weeks a year, thanks to legislation passed this year. In the US I had to work for one year before I got one paid week off.
Kiwis love their coffee almost as much as the French do. Don't expect to find filter coffee here. Closest is a "long black".
Cafes are in existence as much here (in Wellington at least) as they are in France.
The fare found in these cafes is much more like Europe than the US.
Security around the place is more like England in the 70s.
People here have a great sense of humour and aren't really motivated by the almighty dollar, certainly not as much as in the US.
The working week is more like France (40 hours), not the UK or the US.
You get paid for overtime if you're salaried.
(at least I do )It doesn't rain nearly half as much as I was expecting!
Everything here is metric, like in France. Though people talk about "mileage" on a car, and some people use feet and inches when talking about a person's height. Those are the only two exceptions I've come across.
Um... I'll add more as I think of them.
Nov 3rd 2007, 6:28 am
#2
Banned
Joined: Sep 2007
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 128
Re: General musings, and comparisons with England, France and the US
I think you need to get out more, some of that I will disagree with but its not Politically Correct to be negative publically anymore. 
Nov 3rd 2007, 6:51 am
#3
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Whitby Wellington
Posts: 2,440
Re: General musings, and comparisons with England, France and the US
After age 18, time spent in England: 6 years
In France: nearly 4 years
In the US: nearly 12 years. In that order.
Just my first few musings after being here 3 weeks and very much settled in and happy.
Driving here is dead easy, just watch out for that whacky right-turn rule.
Drivers are extremely pleasant and in driving here 3 weeks I've only been tailgated once. In the US I was tailgated on pretty much every single journey, and that's when going 5 over the limit too.
No drivers are more insane than in Paris.
The "can-do" attitude is very much in force here, and people lower down the ladder have more authority to just get stuff taken care of.
Pubs nearly exist here.
Mailboxes are US-style, out near the street. The post doesn't come through the door like in England and France
Pavements are US-style mostly, with a small amount of grass, just a few feet, between the pavement and the kerb.
The vast majority of drivers drive at or under the speed limit.
Motorways are free to use, like in the UK.
More people smoke than in the US, but less than in the UK. In my nearly 4 years in France, I only knew a handful of adults who didn't smoke.
Sweets are English in style, and you can get those French "chupa chups" lollipops.
Some schools have uniforms, but not too many (fewer than I thought would).
School starts at age 5, ie. Year 1, so a year earlier than in the US, and very slightly later (from memory) than in the UK.
People are SO friendly! Strangers on the street will smile and say hello. Children hold doors open for their elders.
Unlike the US, roundabouts are everywhere here (that took a little while for hubby to get used to!).
Although NZ uses dollars, the currency is more akin to UK coins and banknotes.
Statutory time-off is 4 weeks a year, thanks to legislation passed this year. In the US I had to work for one year before I got one paid week off.
Kiwis love their coffee almost as much as the French do. Don't expect to find filter coffee here. Closest is a "long black".
Cafes are in existence as much here (in Wellington at least) as they are in France.
The fare found in these cafes is much more like Europe than the US.
Security around the place is more like England in the 70s.
People here have a great sense of humour and aren't really motivated by the almighty dollar, certainly not as much as in the US.
The working week is more like France (40 hours), not the UK or the US.
You get paid for overtime if you're salaried. (at least I do )
It doesn't rain nearly half as much as I was expecting!
Everything here is metric, like in France. Though people talk about "mileage" on a car, and some people use feet and inches when talking about a person's height. Those are the only two exceptions I've come across.
Um... I'll add more as I think of them.
In France: nearly 4 years
In the US: nearly 12 years. In that order.
Just my first few musings after being here 3 weeks and very much settled in and happy.
Driving here is dead easy, just watch out for that whacky right-turn rule.
Drivers are extremely pleasant and in driving here 3 weeks I've only been tailgated once. In the US I was tailgated on pretty much every single journey, and that's when going 5 over the limit too.
No drivers are more insane than in Paris.
The "can-do" attitude is very much in force here, and people lower down the ladder have more authority to just get stuff taken care of.
Pubs nearly exist here.
Mailboxes are US-style, out near the street. The post doesn't come through the door like in England and France
Pavements are US-style mostly, with a small amount of grass, just a few feet, between the pavement and the kerb.
The vast majority of drivers drive at or under the speed limit.
Motorways are free to use, like in the UK.
More people smoke than in the US, but less than in the UK. In my nearly 4 years in France, I only knew a handful of adults who didn't smoke.
Sweets are English in style, and you can get those French "chupa chups" lollipops.
Some schools have uniforms, but not too many (fewer than I thought would).
School starts at age 5, ie. Year 1, so a year earlier than in the US, and very slightly later (from memory) than in the UK.
People are SO friendly! Strangers on the street will smile and say hello. Children hold doors open for their elders.
Unlike the US, roundabouts are everywhere here (that took a little while for hubby to get used to!).
Although NZ uses dollars, the currency is more akin to UK coins and banknotes.
Statutory time-off is 4 weeks a year, thanks to legislation passed this year. In the US I had to work for one year before I got one paid week off.
Kiwis love their coffee almost as much as the French do. Don't expect to find filter coffee here. Closest is a "long black".
Cafes are in existence as much here (in Wellington at least) as they are in France.
The fare found in these cafes is much more like Europe than the US.
Security around the place is more like England in the 70s.
People here have a great sense of humour and aren't really motivated by the almighty dollar, certainly not as much as in the US.
The working week is more like France (40 hours), not the UK or the US.
You get paid for overtime if you're salaried.
(at least I do )It doesn't rain nearly half as much as I was expecting!
Everything here is metric, like in France. Though people talk about "mileage" on a car, and some people use feet and inches when talking about a person's height. Those are the only two exceptions I've come across.
Um... I'll add more as I think of them.
Nov 3rd 2007, 10:58 am
#4
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5,763
Re: General musings, and comparisons with England, France and the US
I've found the children here to be really really polite, it's lovely!
Nov 3rd 2007, 11:03 am
#5
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2006
Location: Rangiora
Posts: 1,201
Re: General musings, and comparisons with England, France and the US
Nov 3rd 2007, 2:57 pm
#7
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 243
Re: General musings, and comparisons with England, France and the US
Hi Maz,
Intersting post, in which order would you rank the countries you have lived in?
Intersting post, in which order would you rank the countries you have lived in?
Nov 3rd 2007, 9:22 pm
#9
Happy in Wellington
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Tawa, Wellington, Aotearoa
Posts: 2,286
Re: General musings, and comparisons with England, France and the US
And I agree with most of that stuff.
I don't get overtime though
So I mostly work my 37.5 hours and bugger off home
Nov 3rd 2007, 9:22 pm
#10
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5,763
Re: General musings, and comparisons with England, France and the US
That was a bit of a non-answer wasn't it?
Nov 3rd 2007, 9:25 pm
#11
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5,763
Re: General musings, and comparisons with England, France and the US
Nov 3rd 2007, 9:29 pm
#12
Happy in Wellington
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Tawa, Wellington, Aotearoa
Posts: 2,286
Re: General musings, and comparisons with England, France and the US
From what I've read it sounds like US employers screw over their staff at every opportunity
I can claim time in lieu for weekends if I work but it's at normal time, so not worth my while I reckon.
I have better things to do than work.
Like sit at the computer on forums. Hmm.
I can claim time in lieu for weekends if I work but it's at normal time, so not worth my while I reckon.
I have better things to do than work.
Like sit at the computer on forums. Hmm.
Nov 3rd 2007, 9:32 pm
#13
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5,763
Re: General musings, and comparisons with England, France and the US
Nov 3rd 2007, 9:45 pm
#14
By name and by nature
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,852
Re: General musings, and comparisons with England, France and the US
That's a great post Maz. I've been here nearly 2.5 years and what you're saying still holds true for me.
Nov 3rd 2007, 9:48 pm
#15
By name and by nature
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,852
Re: General musings, and comparisons with England, France and the US
In over 2 years travelling by bus the only kids who will offer me a seat are Maori and Islander. Our bus is always full of 'international students' who obviously needed a good clip around the ear from their mothers ..... and didn't get it :curse: