What was the biggest culture shock when you moved to the USA?
#92
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: What was the biggest culture shock when you moved to the USA?
Actually, the driving test was probably one of the biggest culture shocks I had. My UK test lasted about an hour, in Friday afternoon rush hour traffic in a busy part of Belfast, which I barely passed. My test here was 10 minutes, involved very little actual technical stuff and I had to stop myself from asking 'is that it?' once we got back to the DMV building.
The written test was a piece of piss on both sides of the Atlantic though, just rote learning really.
The written test was a piece of piss on both sides of the Atlantic though, just rote learning really.
#93
Re: What was the biggest culture shock when you moved to the USA?
Actually, the driving test was probably one of the biggest culture shocks I had. My UK test lasted about an hour, in Friday afternoon rush hour traffic in a busy part of Belfast, which I barely passed. My test here was 10 minutes, involved very little actual technical stuff and I had to stop myself from asking 'is that it?' once we got back to the DMV building.
The written test was a piece of piss on both sides of the Atlantic though, just rote learning really.
The written test was a piece of piss on both sides of the Atlantic though, just rote learning really.
#94
Re: What was the biggest culture shock when you moved to the USA?
Sat at a computer playing a video and clicked the mouse every time you see something dodgy, they print out your results at the end. It's probably changed now but that's what I did.
Written test was multiple choice on the computer too as I recall.
My practical test was also done in rush-hour. We were an hour late back to the test centre (because of the absolutely enormous traffic jam he directed me into), so I passed with the car largely stationary.
#95
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
#96
Bloody Yank
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: USA! USA!
Posts: 4,186
Re: What was the biggest culture shock when you moved to the USA?
#97
Re: What was the biggest culture shock when you moved to the USA?
So you'll appreciate why us British immigrants to the US find US driving standards to be so poor.
#98
Re: What was the biggest culture shock when you moved to the USA?
I assume that's before you start talking about signage. Putting one sign up 300 yards before the exit on a 60 mile an hour road is not good planning.
#99
Bloody Yank
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: USA! USA!
Posts: 4,186
Re: What was the biggest culture shock when you moved to the USA?
Americans are more self-centered behind the wheel and are less inclined to cooperate with others to facilitate the flow of traffic. Sharing the road here is akin to communism: it's me, me, me.
#100
Bloody Yank
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: USA! USA!
Posts: 4,186
Re: What was the biggest culture shock when you moved to the USA?
What really drives me nuts are the French direction signs that are pointed in such a way that it is hard to tell where they are pointing. This would be fine if I was on a horse and had time to look at them, but it doesn't make much sense in a car.
The North American practice of displaying street names in conspicuous places also makes more sense. Only the Germans seem to have figured out that it makes sense to not rely on the sides of buildings to inform drivers of the names of cross streets.
#101
Re: What was the biggest culture shock when you moved to the USA?
Introducing Mr Chog to driving on country lanes in Suffolk and Norfolk on our last trip was amusing for me.
Less so for him
Less so for him
#102
Re: What was the biggest culture shock when you moved to the USA?
In one case a T junction has become close-to a threeway STOP during the morning and evening rush hour because so many drivers recognize it as a complete disaster - in other words drivers going across the top of the T are stopping for drivers waiting to turn out of the leg of the T.
#103
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: What was the biggest culture shock when you moved to the USA?
In one case a T junction has become close-to a threeway STOP during the morning and evening rush hour because so many drivers recognize it as a complete disaster - in other words drivers going across the top of the T are stopping for drivers waiting to turn out of the leg of the T.
#104
Re: What was the biggest culture shock when you moved to the USA?
In defense of NY state, things are far more orderly with merging than the UK ever was.
The mentality in my town at least is, there are two lanes merging to one, better spread out and let people slide in to keep the flow of traffic.
The mentality of my town in the UK was who the F do you think you are sneaking in front of me? F that, i'm going to hug the guy in-fronts bumper to block you and cause gridlock (note I was one of the bumper huggers, I used to *hate* people using lanes in-front of a merge to skip a minor bit of traffic).
The mentality in my town at least is, there are two lanes merging to one, better spread out and let people slide in to keep the flow of traffic.
The mentality of my town in the UK was who the F do you think you are sneaking in front of me? F that, i'm going to hug the guy in-fronts bumper to block you and cause gridlock (note I was one of the bumper huggers, I used to *hate* people using lanes in-front of a merge to skip a minor bit of traffic).
#105
Re: What was the biggest culture shock when you moved to the USA?
I have noticed a significant cultural change in my neck of the woods in the fouteen years I have lived here, most notably at several badly designed and/or uncontrolled junctions, as well as exits from parking lots and even driveways. A lot more drivers are willing to stop to allow other drivers their turn, especially in heavy traffic, whereas that was not the case a few years ago, and most drivers seem to have learned what flashed headlights and a wave means - "go ahead!"
In one case a T junction has become close-to a threeway STOP during the morning and evening rush hour because so many drivers recognize it as a complete disaster - in other words drivers going across the top of the T are stopping for drivers waiting to turn out of the leg of the T.
In one case a T junction has become close-to a threeway STOP during the morning and evening rush hour because so many drivers recognize it as a complete disaster - in other words drivers going across the top of the T are stopping for drivers waiting to turn out of the leg of the T.