What Are America’s Quirks?
6th November 2011
According to foreigners, anyway.
From a Canadian perspective – being able to walk into a store at 3am and purchase a can of beer the size of my head.
Drive-through everythings. Drive-through ATMs, drive-through bank tellers, drive-through pharmacies, drive-through liquor stores in some states. On the flipside, the paucity of sidewalks/pavements in many parts of the US, where your European would receive funny looks from his hosts if he suggested walking to a relatively nearby destination, and might even be stopped by the cops if they spotted him strolling along a residential area.
The first time I tried to cross a road by myself, it took me at least 15 minutes to get the rhythm of the traffic lights and how much time I had to make it to the other side. Streets are a lot wider, so the timing is completely different. And drivers in Southern California do not give a shit about pedestrians. And the multi-lane intersections… aaah. So confusing.
This guy obviously hasn’t tried crossing a street in Boston.
People using checks is antiquated in terms of other developed countries.
DID YOU HEAR THAT, YOU ASSWIPES WHO HOLD UP THE LINE WHILE WRITING A CHECK? IT’S A NEW CENTURY. GET A DEBIT CARD LIKE A NORMAL HUMAN BEING.
A mate of mine was asked honestly if we have electricity in Australia.
Of course they do — they make it out of beer.
People without passports.
Passports are only for people who want to leave the country. Only wierdos want to leave this country; that’s why foreigners are always trying to come here, sneaking in if they can’t do it any other way.
The realization that while you may be familiar with American celebrities, journalists, politicians, and geography from it’s broader worldwide audience, no one in America has a clue about eqiuvalent sundry things from my country of origin.
That’s because no rational human being gives a shit about your country of origin; otherwise they’d be buying your stuff, not American stuff.
That it’s not unusual to see soldiers travelling in full uniform in the USA (I’ve seen this often at Grand Central, and at various airports around the USA). In many parts of the UK, soldiers, airmen, etc. are unable to wear their uniforms off base due to the level of abuse they get from the public. (Yeah, WTF?)
That’s why Britain (and other European countries) are turning into such behavioral sinkholes.
Read the whole thing — it tells you quite as much about how quirky non-Americans are.
November 7th, 2011 at 10:08
“DID YOU HEAR THAT, YOU ASSWIPES WHO HOLD UP THE LINE WHILE WRITING A CHECK? IT’S A NEW CENTURY. GET A DEBIT CARD LIKE A NORMAL HUMAN BEING.”
For heaven’s sake don’t sugar coat it. Spit it out will ya. How do you really feel?
November 7th, 2011 at 11:48
You skipped the part where the checkwriter DOESN’T EVEN GET THE DAMNED THING OUT OF HER PURSE UNTIL THE CLERK TOTALS THE PURCHASES!
Or, worse, when the reason for the delay is because she’s on the phone. And then has to borrow a pen.
Yes, the gender was intentional. My wife looks for the shortest line in the store, but I look for the one with the most men. Men are more likely to want to get the hell out of there and will pay cash or debit to expedite that.
November 7th, 2011 at 13:02
I have never yet seen a man write a check in the grocery line. Not once.