# Dumb questions you have about other nations/cultures. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 9, 2012, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-questions-you-have-about-other-nations-cultures/621427 "2012-05-09T21:20:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-questions-you-have-about-other-nations-cultures/621427/201 "2012-05-17T02:29:03Z")
Then the joke was on that writer. And all the other Brits I hear over here complaining about the word. ---
**Author:** ![Shmendrik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shmendrik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shmendrik)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-questions-you-have-about-other-nations-cultures/621427/202 "2012-05-17T03:47:30Z")
> [@Noone\_Special](#): > > although a Jew won’t remain a citizen by coming here, declaring intent to live here, going through the motions and then promptly leaving the country. Do you have a cite for that? At what point can someone who acquired Israeli citizenship through the Law of Return move out of the country without losing it? ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-questions-you-have-about-other-nations-cultures/621427/203 "2012-05-17T04:41:27Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > How do phonebooks work in Punjab? The majority of people are Sikhs and all Sikh men have the last name Singh and all Sikh women have the last name Kaur. Do the phonebooks just skip the last names and alphabetize everyone by their first name? And how do they include the Hindus and Muslims living there who do have last names? Which Punjab? And the majority of people in Punjab are most certainly not Sikhs. ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-questions-you-have-about-other-nations-cultures/621427/204 "2012-05-17T05:23:09Z")
> [@Shmendrik](#): > > Do you have a cite for that? At what point can someone who acquired Israeli citizenship through the Law of Return move out of the country without losing it? No time to look it up right now – I’ll try to find something over the weekend – but IIRC something like 3 years. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-questions-you-have-about-other-nations-cultures/621427/205 "2012-05-18T15:12:14Z")
> [@simple\_homer](#): > > Why do some Brits seem to prefer fighting over sex ? What, you’ve never fought over sex? ---
**Author:** ![Double\_Foolscap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85e7bf/32.png) [@Double\_Foolscap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Double_Foolscap)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-questions-you-have-about-other-nations-cultures/621427/206 "2012-05-18T15:33:23Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Then the joke was on that writer. And all the other Brits I hear over here complaining about the word. It’s not exactly common knowledge that we invented the word. It dates from the time when Rugby football was a more common term (or “rugger”), so it was more likely to be confused with Association football (hence “soccer”). At least, that’s the version I head. It might be apocryphal (or “crapper”). ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-questions-you-have-about-other-nations-cultures/621427/207 "2012-05-18T17:38:53Z")
> [@Noone\_Special](#): > > No time to look it up right now – I’ll try to find something over the weekend – but IIRC something like 3 years. OK, upon further checking (not enough to call it “research” :)) it appears to be just one year – from [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_nationality_law#Return)(yes, Wikipedia, I know…): > [@](#): > > “Eligible applicants under the Law of Return have no claim to any of the rights or privileges of an Israeli citizen unless they are formally cleared by the government, given an Oleh’s certificate, and granted Israeli citizenship. **This is possible after one year of residency in Israel under the Oleh’s certificate.** New arrivals making Aliyah (return to Israel) are issued an Israeli Travel Document during this year, after which they can apply for citizenship.” (bolding obviously mine) ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-questions-you-have-about-other-nations-cultures/621427/208 "2012-05-21T19:45:30Z")
**Alessan** , did you happen to see my question? ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-questions-you-have-about-other-nations-cultures/621427/209 "2012-05-22T10:08:03Z")
Since the title includes “cultures”, here’s one I’ve always wondered about. Why do black people not like camping? I’m a second-generation RV-er/camper who spends a lot of time in campgrounds, and I can’t recall _ever_ seeing a black family camping in any of the parks. Disposable income is the first answer that comes to mind, but there are lots of families in state parks with inexpensive Wal-mart stuff, so I don’t think money is the entire explanation. I usually spend 30+ nights per year camping and I’ve seen at least some of every major culture/race represented. But I never see black people. ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-questions-you-have-about-other-nations-cultures/621427/210 "2012-05-22T10:38:50Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Basque women tend to be leg women Note to self: Work out and invest in shorts before visiting Euskadi. ---
**Author:** ![DrumBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@DrumBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrumBum)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-questions-you-have-about-other-nations-cultures/621427/211 "2012-05-22T14:44:18Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > What’s breakfast like in China or India or South Africa or Uruguay - pick any country. Does the rest of the world start the day with sugary cereal and little marshmallows? Or leftovers from supper? Or tea and toast? Here in Angola ( queue Al Stewart song… 🙂 ) a traditional breakfast consists of fruit and Cassava porridge. Cassava is the root of a plant of the name name is is quite common here and much of Africa. It is pretty bland so sugar, milk, or cinnamon is usually added to make it more palatable. Those of you in the Chicagoland area can sample it at [Cassava](http://cassavachicago.com/index.html). In our house, I prefer Cheerios and a reasonably current newspaper like the Sunday Times. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-questions-you-have-about-other-nations-cultures/621427/212 "2012-05-22T16:07:49Z")
I haven’t read all previous comments, but I heard people in England will go to the beach on a 50 degree day as long as it’s sunny and think they’re having a swell time! ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-questions-you-have-about-other-nations-cultures/621427/213 "2012-05-22T16:11:55Z")
Yeah. Who are they to think they’re having a swell time? ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-questions-you-have-about-other-nations-cultures/621427/214 "2012-05-22T16:17:39Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I haven’t read all previous comments, but I heard people in England will go to the beach on a 50 degree day as long as it’s sunny and think they’re having a swell time! But remember, they don’t use the same definition of 50 degrees as we do. Their 50 degrees is about 122 in our degrees. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-questions-you-have-about-other-nations-cultures/621427/215 "2012-05-22T16:17:41Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I haven’t read all previous comments, but I heard people in England will go to the beach on a 50 degree day as long as it’s sunny and think they’re having a swell time! A 50 degree day in England would be pretty noteworthy! I sure wouldn’t spend a day like that on the beach. Not without a lot of shade, cold drinks, and a strong breeze. ---
**Author:** ![Double\_Foolscap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85e7bf/32.png) [@Double\_Foolscap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Double_Foolscap)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-questions-you-have-about-other-nations-cultures/621427/216 "2012-05-22T16:27:37Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I haven’t read all previous comments, but I heard people in England will go to the beach on a 50 degree day as long as it’s sunny and think they’re having a swell time! Who needs the sun? We can just sit in the car with some fish and chips and watch the rain battle the sea spray for supremacy over the land 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-questions-you-have-about-other-nations-cultures/621427/217 "2012-05-22T17:40:22Z")
> [@Double\_Foolscap](#): > > Who needs the sun? We can just sit in the car with some fish and chips and watch the rain battle the sea spray for supremacy over the land 🙂 Alas, too soon that will be part of the far past golden age. According to the Daily [del]Outrage[/del] Mail, the wet weather is causing potato blight, increasing their cost, if any potatoes can be found at all. (The wet-weather stories are neatly sandwiched between drought stories about garden-hose bans.) Thanks to Blighty’s blight plight, coupled with no fish left in the sea, I see no hope for Brighton, whether it’s a balmy 32ºF or not. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-questions-you-have-about-other-nations-cultures/621427/218 "2012-05-22T17:46:23Z")
Agent Foxtrot, was your question about Hindi and Urdu adequately answered? ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-questions-you-have-about-other-nations-cultures/621427/219 "2012-05-22T19:47:24Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Agent Foxtrot, was your question about Hindi and Urdu adequately answered? Yup, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-questions-you-have-about-other-nations-cultures/621427/220 "2012-05-22T20:18:55Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > What’s Cracker Barrel? The only place in town that serves grits! … at least up here in the Tundra-Formerly-Known-As-Frozen (yay, global warming!) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-questions-you-have-about-other-nations-cultures/621427.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-questions-you-have-about-other-nations-cultures/621427.md?page=12)