"sometimes they go through an elaborate switch-fork-to-left-hand-pick-up-knife-in-right-cut-up-food-then-switch-fork-back-to-right-hand dance."
This is how the KGB used to identify American agents in Russia.
This is how the KGB used to identify American agents in Russia.
America's Quirks noticed by Non-Americans
- 07/11/2011 06:55:22 PM
2292 Views
Wait, in Europe they leave soap on dishes to dry?
- 07/11/2011 08:25:33 PM
1356 Views
It's very regional. They always do that in that other country where they are insane. Like denmark. *NM*
- 07/11/2011 09:18:26 PM
648 Views
I had to ask one of the Brits I worked with about that one
- 08/11/2011 04:48:11 PM
1253 Views
I can't even imagine not rinsing them. Like you, I didn't realize anyone did that? *NM*
- 08/11/2011 04:55:33 PM
637 Views
Depends on how much washing-up liquid you put in the water.
- 09/11/2011 08:13:51 AM
963 Views
I don't think it's different.
- 09/11/2011 04:30:58 PM
1086 Views
It isn't. I was going to say exactly the same thing about the laziness and "soap."
- 09/11/2011 05:42:44 PM
1171 Views
*NM*
We are talking about washing dishes by hand, right?
- 09/11/2011 06:50:09 PM
1027 Views
Yes. And here's the difference between what you do and what I do:
- 09/11/2011 07:08:06 PM
1039 Views
EWIE!!! I can't imagine eating soap with every meal... That can't be good for you. *NM*
- 10/11/2011 01:48:16 AM
666 Views
Who are these weirdos who say Americans write checks to pay for things?
- 07/11/2011 08:27:24 PM
1275 Views
The problem with these things is that you always get the entire US answering them
- 07/11/2011 09:32:07 PM
1117 Views
I'm guessing everybody who's been to the US outside NYC, then. 
- 07/11/2011 09:42:10 PM
1081 Views
- 07/11/2011 09:42:10 PM
1081 Views
No pretty much everywhere in the US people use plastic 99% of the time *NM*
- 08/11/2011 12:31:49 AM
691 Views
This totally depends where you are.
- 08/11/2011 12:57:11 AM
1257 Views
Once again, that isn't what they were talking about
- 08/11/2011 01:29:19 PM
1186 Views
You know I worked in a store, right?
- 08/11/2011 01:49:36 PM
1150 Views
I repeat: I have NEVER seen someone pay by check in a store since 1989. *NM*
- 08/11/2011 01:56:59 PM
681 Views
I know you travel quite frequently, but I'll refer you to Paul's comment above re: New York. *NM*
- 08/11/2011 02:10:36 PM
713 Views
I spent 1990-1999 in the South, you know. *NM*
- 08/11/2011 02:46:19 PM
590 Views
I knew you'd gotten around.
- 08/11/2011 03:06:20 PM
1193 Views
I would call one to two checks a week pretty rare
- 08/11/2011 06:28:59 PM
1057 Views
Which is still more often than places that never use them.
- 08/11/2011 06:58:30 PM
1196 Views
- 08/11/2011 06:58:30 PM
1196 Views
Oops. This is Jen. Don't start attacking! Eep. *NM*
- 08/11/2011 06:59:09 PM
651 Views
Always good to see couples know each other's passwords 
- 08/11/2011 07:19:18 PM
1152 Views
- 08/11/2011 07:19:18 PM
1152 Views
I think I know it, but I actually was accidentally in his account. He put the computer down.
- 08/11/2011 08:08:45 PM
1091 Views
*I* at least was mostly thinking about rent checks. But yes, I've seen it in stores too.
- 08/11/2011 09:47:58 PM
1135 Views
so paper checks are history in ???
- 08/11/2011 10:51:01 PM
1053 Views
Belgium. *NM*
- 08/11/2011 11:13:22 PM
579 Views
Rent checks. Utility checks. *NM*
- 07/11/2011 10:47:58 PM
834 Views
Exactly - instead of automated bank transfers. *NM*
- 07/11/2011 10:50:39 PM
661 Views
They still do this in Britain too.
- 08/11/2011 01:13:52 AM
1136 Views
What's weirdest about British rent...
- 08/11/2011 09:48:43 PM
1282 Views
Re: Who are these weirdos who say Americans write checks to pay for things?
- 08/11/2011 05:52:19 PM
1076 Views
I pay the chiropractor with a check. He doesn't have a card reader and I never have cash.
- 08/11/2011 10:56:47 PM
1003 Views
Can you buy alcohol in the US at any time?
- 07/11/2011 08:41:41 PM
1143 Views
Oh, I can explain beer pong to you.
- 07/11/2011 09:19:46 PM
1099 Views
- 07/11/2011 09:52:48 PM
1164 Views
- 07/11/2011 09:52:48 PM
1164 Views
In most countries of Europe you can too, to my knowledge... as long as the store is open.
- 07/11/2011 09:43:47 PM
1123 Views
I t varies ste to state or even county to county and city to city
- 08/11/2011 12:35:27 AM
1154 Views
We can turn right on a red light too
- 07/11/2011 09:48:38 PM
1288 Views
Really? I thought that was unique to the US.
- 08/11/2011 12:34:14 PM
1400 Views
The French can do it too.
- 08/11/2011 03:34:39 PM
1060 Views
The French are shameless; first they stole our national colors, now this. 
- 09/11/2011 01:19:47 PM
1084 Views
- 09/11/2011 01:19:47 PM
1084 Views
That's mostly Italy, France is not so bad.
- 09/11/2011 08:02:51 PM
953 Views
That makes sense, but I have heard horrible tales about French farmers in trucks.
- 09/11/2011 10:24:01 PM
938 Views
Cops
- 08/11/2011 06:31:08 PM
1089 Views
It is important to distinguish between cautious and combative attitudes.
- 09/11/2011 02:24:43 PM
1273 Views
If there's a green right-turn filter light, then you aren't turning right on a red at all . *NM*
- 08/11/2011 03:33:36 PM
611 Views
. *NM*
- 08/11/2011 03:33:36 PM
611 Views
It's not a light. It's a sign of a green arrow
- 08/11/2011 03:47:22 PM
1055 Views
But it's a light that goes on and off.
- 08/11/2011 06:02:48 PM
1013 Views
Yes, a permanent sign.
- 08/11/2011 06:18:26 PM
1018 Views
Ah, I see. We don't have those, so I thought you meant something different.
- 08/11/2011 06:47:23 PM
974 Views
For me, the strangest thing is the phrase "could care less"
- 07/11/2011 10:43:54 PM
1219 Views
In fairness...
- 07/11/2011 10:50:13 PM
1232 Views
I think that's just a case of it being said too quickly and slurred too much
- 08/11/2011 02:14:14 AM
1016 Views
"you have another thing coming" and "it all goes well" grrrrrrrrrrr
- 08/11/2011 10:19:27 AM
1224 Views
Your last question, and a variation of it, was my recurrent thought while reading the list.
- 08/11/2011 12:38:53 PM
1116 Views
that is really what stood out to you the most going from Australia to the US?
- 08/11/2011 04:45:21 PM
1064 Views
It's "couldn't care less" in America, or at least it is in the part where I live. *NM*
- 08/11/2011 06:01:50 PM
569 Views
It's couldn't care less everywhere- some people just say it incorrectly. *NM*
- 08/11/2011 06:09:08 PM
606 Views
*NM*
Interesting about the flag.
- 08/11/2011 04:16:12 AM
1141 Views
I wonder how much of that is American and how much is European culture.
- 08/11/2011 12:53:15 PM
1094 Views
More like "we tend to equate respecting a flag with liking a country"
- 08/11/2011 01:57:26 PM
1194 Views
Part of it is, as Joel notes, a general European trauma that isn't shared by some.
- 08/11/2011 09:56:22 PM
1207 Views
Because my husband lived in England and has family there, I knew some of these. BUT...
- 08/11/2011 12:42:07 PM
1191 Views
It varies here, it's certainly not unusual to have a space between.
- 08/11/2011 10:00:38 PM
1197 Views
Huh. Only ever saw those holes in the ground in Belgium. and had to pay to use them.
- 09/11/2011 03:28:35 PM
1134 Views
I've never seen them in Belgium - nor in France outside highway parkings, to be fair.
- 09/11/2011 08:05:09 PM
1118 Views
When I was in England we saw way more flags than we typically see in the US.
- 08/11/2011 01:32:47 PM
1190 Views
Ooh...
- 09/11/2011 12:50:02 AM
1230 Views
So many fat people.
- 09/11/2011 01:19:24 AM
1258 Views
We do have high calorie intake and low inclination to exercise. *NM*
- 09/11/2011 01:26:40 AM
641 Views
That's half-true
- 09/11/2011 02:09:48 AM
1096 Views
I think there was a Family Guy episode about this.
- 09/11/2011 02:27:07 PM
1159 Views
Re: I think there was a Family Guy episode about this.
- 09/11/2011 02:33:18 PM
1152 Views
Ah, that makes a difference.
- 09/11/2011 03:05:44 PM
1079 Views