# Things you've seen abroad you wish were adopted world wide **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 28, 2021, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-seen-abroad-you-wish-were-adopted-world-wide/943094 "2021-05-28T14:31:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-seen-abroad-you-wish-were-adopted-world-wide/943094/343 "2021-07-13T01:16:55Z")
The nearest CVS closes at 8. The nearest Walgreens closes at 9. The nearest pharmacy to me, though – by a number of miles – closes at 6. So, on most days, do the hardware stores, the office supply, the bookstores if not sooner, the auto supply stores, the bicycle shop, some of the groceries (though the grocery nearest that Walgreens is open till midnight). The building supply/lumberyards and the car repair places close at 5. The used goods store closes at 4. One of the farm supply stores is open till 7 most days, and another one till 9, though. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-seen-abroad-you-wish-were-adopted-world-wide/943094/344 "2021-07-13T03:11:23Z")
Pretty much anything I want to shop for, save small mom & pop shops or specialty shops, which do often close at six or so. Most are open to 9, with some open until 10 and a few open even later, such as grocery stores (typically 11) drugstores and Wal-Marts. Maybe it’s a big-city thing, but my whole life, the majority of shopping has always been able to be done after working hours. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-seen-abroad-you-wish-were-adopted-world-wide/943094/345 "2021-07-13T05:31:27Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > I was also surprised when I was in England a few years back and everything except restaurants and pubs seemed to close at 5pm. Was it a Sunday? ---
**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:** [July 13, 2021, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-seen-abroad-you-wish-were-adopted-world-wide/943094/346 "2021-07-13T06:57:35Z")
> [@bump](#): > > I’d kind of like to flip the OP around a bit; one thing we have in the US that I wish was worldwide is retail that stays open past the early evening. I have always found it a bit frustrating to go to foreign countries, go see the sights during the day, only to have them roll up the sidewalks at 5-6 pm, leaving only the most touristy of retail outlets, restaurants and bars open. Sometimes it might be nice to do a little shopping in the early evening without having to choose to do that over some sort of more touristically significant outing or location. Once, after spending three weeks in balmy southern France, I arrived in Paris for a few days before heading home. All of a sudden I, wearing shorts and t-shirts, was confronted with cold, rain and wind. But it was Saturday, and the unions had closed all clothing stores and department stores. I finally located a GAP that was open. I still have my “GAP PARIS” hoodie. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-seen-abroad-you-wish-were-adopted-world-wide/943094/347 "2021-07-13T07:18:55Z")
Part of staying open may be due to labor laws and decent working conditions. Do American store clerks get overtime pay for working long shifts or night shifts? Maximum number of working hours in the EU is 48 hours per week, including overtime. At least four weeks paid leave per year guaranteed. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-seen-abroad-you-wish-were-adopted-world-wide/943094/348 "2021-07-13T10:29:40Z")
Sorry- I guess I wasn’t clear. I meant what sort of shopping are you looking to do in the early evening while you’re on vacation. I’ve always been able to shop after work too - just not in my neighborhood. Where my response to the local business association’s slogan of " Shop \_\_\_\_\_ Avenue" has always been " Maybe if you stayed open past 6" ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-seen-abroad-you-wish-were-adopted-world-wide/943094/349 "2021-07-13T11:51:07Z")
> [@GreenWyvern](#): > > Part of staying open may be due to labor laws and decent working conditions. > > Do American store clerks get overtime pay for working long shifts or night shifts? > > Maximum number of working hours in the EU is 48 hours per week, including overtime. At least four weeks paid leave per year guaranteed. Staggered hours. The opener will work, say, 8-4. The mid 10-6. And the closer 2-10. I get a pay differential for working night audit. ETA: It’s Federal Law that unless you are salary you are paid a minimum of time and half for working over 40 hours a week. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-seen-abroad-you-wish-were-adopted-world-wide/943094/350 "2021-07-13T12:55:42Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Was it a Sunday? To be fair, most shops in the UK shut around 6pm (except supermarkets). Sunday trading is more restrictive, with major stores only allowed to open for six hours. Supermarkets included. Most open 10am-4pm, or 11-5. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-seen-abroad-you-wish-were-adopted-world-wide/943094/351 "2021-07-13T22:49:02Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > The latter fear exists because passengers often bring carry-on luggage that’s well over the official size limits, and carry-ons are more common these days because airlines often charge for checked bags. On my most recent flight, the gate crew were practically begging people to check their carry-on for no charge so as to avoid running out of overhead bin space. By the time I got aboard with my modestly sized carry-on, I had to stow it five rows behind my seat. 😡 Is that for internal US flights? The flights I’ve taken have almost all been international and they’re really strict about your carry-on fitting into the little cuboid. It would definitely be very annoying, I’m with you there. IME in England there’s always a corner shop open till 11 even if you live in an area where there aren’t small supermarkets that are open till 11 (sometimes 10 on Sundays). It’s been that way since the mid-90s, when a law change allowed shops that were under a certain square footage to stay open till 11 if they chose to, though the small branches of supermarkets have really proliferated in the last ten years or so. There are even three 24-hour corner shops within a five minute walk of my flat, but that is fairly central London so I wouldn’t expect that to be very common. There could be rural areas that are more restricted and everything shuts at five, I guess, but it doesn’t fit my experience of living here and travelling in England pretty extensively - I’ve been to pretty much every major city and always had to do some basic shopping in the evenings there. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-seen-abroad-you-wish-were-adopted-world-wide/943094/352 "2021-07-14T00:06:48Z")
We have pedestrian tunnels in Chicago and although it is not unheard of for homeless people and/or puddles of pee to be in there, it’s not ubiquitous. I’m sure violent crimes have happened, but they tend to be in pretty busy areas, so they’re not ideal spots to lurk for victims. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-seen-abroad-you-wish-were-adopted-world-wide/943094/353 "2021-07-14T13:11:22Z")
These kinds of threads are among the best that message boards can offer because of the new perspectives they can offer. Good on youse all. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-seen-abroad-you-wish-were-adopted-world-wide/943094/354 "2021-07-14T13:35:33Z")
When I was in Sweden years ago it was common to have bathrooms with a single room for the shower, sink, and toilet with no shower wall. The whole room was waterproofed and smooth (no tile with grout lines etc) and there was a floor drain in the shower area. After your shower you were expected to squeegee the whole room down with the provided long-handled extra large sqeegee tool which I have never seen sold elsewhere. Took three minutes. No crevices to collect mildew and grime, simple to clean, easy to air out … ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-seen-abroad-you-wish-were-adopted-world-wide/943094/355 "2021-07-14T13:41:38Z")
I think that’s called a wet room, appropriately enough. I was in a hotel overseas about 25 years ago where that’s how the bathroom was setup. I was looking for a place to put the toilet paper so it wouldn’t get wet. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-seen-abroad-you-wish-were-adopted-world-wide/943094/356 "2021-07-14T14:47:46Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > After your shower you were expected to squeegee the whole room down with the provided long-handled extra large sqeegee tool which I have never seen sold elsewhere. You mean a squeegee mop? I’m always surprised to find out how rare they are outside my country. They’re very useful tools. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-seen-abroad-you-wish-were-adopted-world-wide/943094/357 "2021-07-14T14:48:53Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > You mean a squeegee mop? I’m always surprised to find out how rare they are outside my country. They’re very useful tools. Yes. Wish I could get one in the US! ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-seen-abroad-you-wish-were-adopted-world-wide/943094/358 "2021-07-14T16:36:41Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Yes. Wish I could get one in the US! Your description sounds like a floor squeegee, of which there are many to choose from in the US: [https://www.amazon.com/s?k=floor+squeegee&ref=nb\_sb\_noss](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=floor+squeegee&ref=nb_sb_noss) Did you mean something else? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-seen-abroad-you-wish-were-adopted-world-wide/943094/359 "2021-07-14T17:25:51Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > The latter fear exists because passengers often bring carry-on luggage that’s well over the official size limits, and carry-ons are more common these days because airlines often charge for checked bags. Not only that, but too many put their “personal item” in the bins. Those are supposed to go under the seat in front of you. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-seen-abroad-you-wish-were-adopted-world-wide/943094/360 "2021-07-14T19:02:29Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Your description sounds like a floor squeegee, of which there are many to choose from in the US: > > [https://www.amazon.com/s?k=floor+squeegee&ref=nb\_sb\_noss](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=floor+squeegee&ref=nb_sb_noss) > > Did you mean something els The world has changed since last I looked for a squeegee. Clearly. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-seen-abroad-you-wish-were-adopted-world-wide/943094/361 "2021-09-06T22:59:41Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Roundabouts. I used to think they were dangerous until I went to Milton Keynes north of London. We have a few of those in Eugene, and they even call them roundabouts here. I always thought the usual term in the United States was traffic circle. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2021, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-seen-abroad-you-wish-were-adopted-world-wide/943094/362 "2021-09-07T03:49:26Z")
Roundabouts are different from traffic circles, as traffic engineers will rush to explain. The old traffic circles or rotaries were quite large, and often had confusing right-of-way rules—or traffic signals to avoid right-of-way rules. Modern roundabouts have radii just longer than the average auto, with the idea that you can see the one or two vehicles already occupying the roundabout and adjust your speed to first yield and then take your turn without coming to a stop. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-seen-abroad-you-wish-were-adopted-world-wide/943094.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youve-seen-abroad-you-wish-were-adopted-world-wide/943094.md?page=19)