Little things that surprised you about America
Jul 16th 2003, 2:36 pm
#46
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Location: Calgary AB, Canada (Ex Leicester)
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Originally posted by MrsLondon
I was extremely surprised and dismayed by the 'restrooms' in shops, restaurants etc. They have HUGE gaps under the doors so you can see most of your legs as you sit on the throne, and also big gaps at the sides of the door so that from a certain angle, people queuing up to 'go' can have a perfect view of you 'about your business.' Most disconcerting! I wonder why?
I was extremely surprised and dismayed by the 'restrooms' in shops, restaurants etc. They have HUGE gaps under the doors so you can see most of your legs as you sit on the throne, and also big gaps at the sides of the door so that from a certain angle, people queuing up to 'go' can have a perfect view of you 'about your business.' Most disconcerting! I wonder why?
Jul 17th 2003, 8:06 am
#47
Wurzel turned redneck
Joined: Feb 2003
Location: Columbia, SC (was Bristol, Wessex)
Posts: 363
Another thing that surprised me about America was the newspapers. From our respective national stereotypes, you'd expect British papers to be more news-oriented but a little staid, whilst American papers were simplistic, propagandist and obsessed with celebrity trivia. So it came as something of a shock to find that the exact opposite was true.
Jul 17th 2003, 1:25 pm
#48
Pagan Sex God
Joined: May 2002
Location: Living in Oblivion
Posts: 3,668
Originally posted by nxylas
Another thing that surprised me about America was the newspapers. From our respective national stereotypes, you'd expect British papers to be more news-oriented but a little staid, whilst American papers were simplistic, propagandist and obsessed with celebrity trivia. So it came as something of a shock to find that the exact opposite was true.
Another thing that surprised me about America was the newspapers. From our respective national stereotypes, you'd expect British papers to be more news-oriented but a little staid, whilst American papers were simplistic, propagandist and obsessed with celebrity trivia. So it came as something of a shock to find that the exact opposite was true.
Patrick
Jul 17th 2003, 1:27 pm
#49
Banned
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,933
Originally posted by nxylas
Another thing that surprised me about America was the newspapers. From our respective national stereotypes, you'd expect British papers to be more news-oriented but a little staid, whilst American papers were simplistic, propagandist and obsessed with celebrity trivia. So it came as something of a shock to find that the exact opposite was true.
Another thing that surprised me about America was the newspapers. From our respective national stereotypes, you'd expect British papers to be more news-oriented but a little staid, whilst American papers were simplistic, propagandist and obsessed with celebrity trivia. So it came as something of a shock to find that the exact opposite was true.
Actually, I find American newspapers quite boring. I much prefer some of the Canadian newspapers. I buy "Hello!" magazine each week. I guess I must miss the celebrity trivia
Jul 17th 2003, 1:40 pm
#50
Wurzel turned redneck
Joined: Feb 2003
Location: Columbia, SC (was Bristol, Wessex)
Posts: 363
Originally posted by Ranjini
Actually, I find American newspapers quite boring.
Actually, I find American newspapers quite boring.
Jul 17th 2003, 2:15 pm
#51
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Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Calgary AB, Canada (Ex Leicester)
Posts: 779
Surprised by Kindness
I was surprised by the kindness shown to my family by a stranger:
The first time we ever visited the States from Canada, we drove down into Montana in our newly-acquired, canary-yellow, 1957 Buick. Near the town of Kalispell we lost one of the U-joints on the drive shaft. I took it to a dealer in that town but had no money to pay for the repair. The owner fixed it without hesitation and trusted me to send him the money when I got back to Calgary.
I did have to sign a promissory note, but I had no idea what I was signing. Well I was only 21 and as green as grass.
I like the Western States. I have visited them all except New Mexico and have generally been treated very well.
The first time we ever visited the States from Canada, we drove down into Montana in our newly-acquired, canary-yellow, 1957 Buick. Near the town of Kalispell we lost one of the U-joints on the drive shaft. I took it to a dealer in that town but had no money to pay for the repair. The owner fixed it without hesitation and trusted me to send him the money when I got back to Calgary.
I did have to sign a promissory note, but I had no idea what I was signing. Well I was only 21 and as green as grass.
I like the Western States. I have visited them all except New Mexico and have generally been treated very well.
Jul 17th 2003, 7:23 pm
#52
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Location: Calgary AB, Canada (Ex Leicester)
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Surprised by locomotive horns
Boy, the first time you are exposed to those North American locomotives you sure know it.
We moved to a small village south of Calgary (now well within the burbs) a few months after emigrating. This old two-story house was on a crossroads one leg of which immediately crossed a railway track. Several freight trains pulled by anything up to 3 locomotives would trundle by each night, shake the whole house and sound those unmistakable air horns several times as they approached the railway crossing.
I moved in before my wife and family as they were in the UK on a quick visit. First night there, as the first train approached, my wife (fast asleep) jumps out of bed in her black negligee nightie (well, she'd bin away a long time) and tries to open the second story window. Turns out she was sleep-walking and thought one of our kids was on the railway track. If I’d not been there I hate to think what might have happened once she got that window open.
We not only had to put up with the trains but with landlords who partied 'til six in the morning most weekends. How we survived those days I don't know. Ironically, one of my jobs during that time was working on those same types of locos on the CPR.
We moved to a small village south of Calgary (now well within the burbs) a few months after emigrating. This old two-story house was on a crossroads one leg of which immediately crossed a railway track. Several freight trains pulled by anything up to 3 locomotives would trundle by each night, shake the whole house and sound those unmistakable air horns several times as they approached the railway crossing.
I moved in before my wife and family as they were in the UK on a quick visit. First night there, as the first train approached, my wife (fast asleep) jumps out of bed in her black negligee nightie (well, she'd bin away a long time) and tries to open the second story window. Turns out she was sleep-walking and thought one of our kids was on the railway track. If I’d not been there I hate to think what might have happened once she got that window open.
We not only had to put up with the trains but with landlords who partied 'til six in the morning most weekends. How we survived those days I don't know. Ironically, one of my jobs during that time was working on those same types of locos on the CPR.
Jul 17th 2003, 7:34 pm
#53
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 8
Our toilets are bad?
You ought to go to China and try to take a dump. Never had to worry about aiming a dump till i got there!
Patrick_A
Patrick_A
Jul 17th 2003, 7:46 pm
#54
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2003
Location: Bristol, UK and Morehead City, N Carolina
Posts: 269
Our toilets are bad?
Sounds like the French hole in the ground toilets...'Ã la turque'....still to be found and still presenting problems with what to do with pants when squatting, and still giving feet placed in the footprints a good soaking if one doesn't jump out of the way quick enough!
It's easier the real French way.....by the side of the road and no-one cares if you have 'un pipi' there!
It's easier the real French way.....by the side of the road and no-one cares if you have 'un pipi' there!
Jul 26th 2003, 6:04 pm
#55
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Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 181
I've never been to the US but I know none of them understand the term is "I couldn't care less" not "I could care less".
Jul 26th 2003, 7:03 pm
#56
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Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Arizona
Posts: 3,113
No one says "Twice" here either. Its always "Two times"
Also on an earlier point, Fox news is the biggest right wing agenda drum beating news service that Bush could possibly hope for. Fair and balanced my ass.
Also on an earlier point, Fox news is the biggest right wing agenda drum beating news service that Bush could possibly hope for. Fair and balanced my ass.
Jul 26th 2003, 11:23 pm
#57
A lion in your lap
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Sparta NJ
Posts: 7,605
Until I moved here I was completely unaware just how, in the minds of so many people, the American Civil war is still very much an ongoing conflict. I've noticed you even have to even have to be careful what you call the war.
When I first visited the US I was utterly amazed at how inconvenient the whole add-the-tax-on-the-price-only-when-you-get-to-checkout thing was/is. I kept wondering why things were always more expensive than it said on the price tag. It still strikes me as a wierd way of doing things.
10 days holiday a year came also came as a bit of a shock.
Excess packaging - everything is double or triple wrapped. Even when they bag groceries for you they put one bag inside another, no matter the weight/number of items.
And as for the TV News, Fox news is what Josef Goebbels would have come up with if the nazis had had cable TV.
When I first visited the US I was utterly amazed at how inconvenient the whole add-the-tax-on-the-price-only-when-you-get-to-checkout thing was/is. I kept wondering why things were always more expensive than it said on the price tag. It still strikes me as a wierd way of doing things.
10 days holiday a year came also came as a bit of a shock.
Excess packaging - everything is double or triple wrapped. Even when they bag groceries for you they put one bag inside another, no matter the weight/number of items.
And as for the TV News, Fox news is what Josef Goebbels would have come up with if the nazis had had cable TV.
Jul 27th 2003, 2:47 am
#58
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Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Calgary AB, Canada (Ex Leicester)
Posts: 779
Originally posted by kaleb777
I've never been to the US but I know none of them understand the term is "I couldn't care less" not "I could care less".
I've never been to the US but I know none of them understand the term is "I couldn't care less" not "I could care less".
Have I mentioned the use of Sow-thern instead of Southern before? (I know I have.)
Last edited by TimEh?; Jul 27th 2003 at 2:49 am.
Jul 27th 2003, 3:31 am
#59
.
Joined: Nov 2002
Location: Where bad things rarely happen in movies
Posts: 8,933
Originally posted by TimEh?
Hokey Pokey is really an old English term for ice cream.
Hokey Pokey is really an old English term for ice cream.
Nursery Rhymes get changed as well - the grand old duke of york becomes the noble duke of york. 'Atishoo atishoo' in ring a ring a roses becomes 'ashes ashes', which both really bug me. Kinda sad that a grown man is complaining about the bastardisation of nursery rhymes on a website at 10.30 on a saturday night....I'd never hasve thought it possible a few years ago (ie pre-kids!)
Pimpbot- try 'fortnight' on them. Total blank.
Jul 27th 2003, 9:24 am
#60
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,894
Dont know if anyone has mentioned this before, ( ie could not be arsed checking) But why does nobody walk anywhere in the USA ? I noticed that in VA & DC area anyway, nobody was walking anywhere, even my fiancee commented on how strange it was to see everybody walking places in the UK compared to the US.
