What's The Difference Between UK & US?

by Englishman 62 Replies latest jw friends

  • Englishman
    Englishman

    I'm only posting this so as to get a buzz from looking forward to our trip to Joy & Steve's place in October.

    I last went to the USA when I was 12 years old and I'm keen to know what differences to expect. I know that their service industry is vastly superior to ours, someone told me that restaurant staff are actually helpful over there!

    What else? Umm, driving on the opposite side is going to be strange. I'm used to it in Europe in my own car, but having the steering wheel on the other side seems very odd.

    Prices..are things cheaper / dearer? Anything special that I should buy?

    I heard that going through US immigration is a bit like meeting a bunch of rottweilers, is that right?

    Can I stick my tongue out at policemen? Is it socially acceptable to drink lots of beer?

    Are there any social gaffs to avoid?

    All info will be gratefully appreciated!

    Englishman.

  • rocketman
    rocketman

    Size.

  • rocketman
    rocketman
    Can I stick my tongue out at policemen? Is it socially acceptable to drink lots of beer?

    No. and Yes. But don't dare drink and drive.

    And the yes is a qualified yes. It depends on the occasion and where you are. Drinking lots of beer could be cool and yet end up making one look like a fool. Hard to say when that transistion occurs.

  • Prisca
    Prisca

    Don't forget to tip.

    Servings in restaurants are much larger than in Oz or UK - their "small" is our regular-to-large. And they serve salads separately, they expect you to eat the salad as a course, not part of the main meal.

    Oh, and they talk in funny accents

  • smack
    smack

    You may have to double your intake of beer, apparently US beer is like making love in a canoe

    f****ng close to water

    Steve

  • Simon
    Simon

    ooh ... lot's of differences.

    The car thing which you think is going to be the worst isn't that bad - you soon get used to it.

    4 way stops take a bit of getting used to though and are always a bit nerve wracking!

    You are not supposed to have beer within reach of the driver so best put it in the boot (trunk). Also, don't spend half an hour looking round Safeway for it ... you can't buy it in supermarkets, only in Liquor stores. Actually, that may be wrong and just for Canada - if memory serves they sold beer at gas stations in the states !!

    The service in Restaurants and stuff is usually better but then they are more into tipping than we are.

    Prices for a lot of things are cheaper but you really need to check because not everything is.

    Tips? Don't call them Yankee's and don't laugh at some of the really cheesy stuff (it may be serious to them).

    Make sure you pack union jack shorts and a knotted hanky for paddling.

  • Simon
    Simon

    re: the beer - yes, it's weak. Buy imported European or Canadian or go for a 'micro brewery'

  • Prisca
    Prisca

    And that orange stuff that they put on Big Macs that they call "cheese"? That's regular cheese in the States. Just warning ya so you don't recoil at the sight of it like I did.

  • Simon
    Simon

    one more: Apparently you can't just cross the street where you want like we do here ... I always wondered what "J-Walking" was and this is it.

    Don't speed 'cause they have policemen sewn into the back of every advertising sign and planted behind trees and bushes.

  • ballistic
    ballistic

    Are you serious!!! Can't cross the road where you want? I thought it was the free country?

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