# Weird (for you) customs in foreign countries **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 28, 2004, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-for-you-customs-in-foreign-countries/281910 "2004-12-28T08:23:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-for-you-customs-in-foreign-countries/281910/121 "2005-01-19T12:24:09Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > A “custom” I found strange during my first trip there was the tendency of people giving directions to mislead with hand motions. Kiwis are among the most friendly and helpful folks on planet Earth, so it was never difficult to get directions. But they would often accompany words such as “Now, just past the panelbeater’s shop, turn left…” with an outward motion of their right hand. It was actually just a series of honest mistakes, and not a national custom. Hey you may have gotten directions form me! I’m one of those slow types who can take a while to decide left from right, I have to pretend to be writing to decide. Why yes, now you ask… I am a bit dim. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-for-you-customs-in-foreign-countries/281910/122 "2005-01-19T12:27:32Z")
> [@Harimad-sol](#): > > You bang on the door and yell, “I have to pee! Can I come in?” 😃 At least that’s how we do it in my house. I will freely admit that my family are savages, though. Hey we are savages too! Maybe that is why we have a seperate loo, someone in the shower finaly just got way too pissed off with the gatecrashing. ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-for-you-customs-in-foreign-countries/281910/123 "2005-01-19T12:30:51Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#): > > Hey we are savages too! Maybe that is why we have a seperate loo, someone in the shower finaly just got way too pissed off with the gatecrashing. They were wise. It’s a good plan. Pissed off, hee! ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-for-you-customs-in-foreign-countries/281910/124 "2005-01-19T12:30:59Z")
> [@betenoir](#): > > I just want to say…I tried it. I was making a hamburger and remembered the beetroot and horseradish pickle I had in the fridge. Even with the horseradish it didn’t overwhelm it. It was just like a particularly interesting relish. I’m having it again. > > Now I have to go to Australia to see how they do it at McDonalds. Good on ya! You don’t have to go to Oz though, you could just come to NZ. I have no idea what McDonalds Oz calls it but here just ask for a “Kiwiburger”…it’s probably an Aussieburger there! Damn whorish McDonalds but you can’t beat beetroot on a burger. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-for-you-customs-in-foreign-countries/281910/125 "2005-01-19T12:32:33Z")
> [@Harimad-sol](#): > > They were wise. It’s a good plan. > > Pissed off, hee! Pissed off with the pissing 😃 You are good people Ms Harimad-sol ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-for-you-customs-in-foreign-countries/281910/126 "2005-01-19T12:33:14Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#): > > Pissed off with the pissing 😃 > > You are good people Ms Harimad-sol Likewise, m’dear. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-for-you-customs-in-foreign-countries/281910/127 "2005-01-19T12:36:14Z")
And I have the added bonus of being able to pee while you shower in all different rooms 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-for-you-customs-in-foreign-countries/281910/128 "2005-01-19T12:38:37Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#): > > And I have the added bonus of being able to pee while you shower in all different rooms 😃 Hee. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-for-you-customs-in-foreign-countries/281910/129 "2005-01-19T18:06:16Z")
> [@Bendarr](#): > > I remember a friend telling me about the time that he was hitchhiking in Australia several years ago. He was standing alongside the road with his thumb out and several cars passed him by. Then this small car came to a screeching halt and this **huge** man sorta “Unfolded” himself out of the car and said to my friend “Hey! What did you do that for?” To which my friend in a very nervous voice replied with a slight stammer “I was only trying to hitch a ride.” “Bloody Hell! You’re an american aren’t ya?” and then proceeded to teach my friend that the thumbs up gesture can be taken as a rude gesture in Australia. My friend was taught non violently I might add. Yes he did get a ride. > :smack: I’ve heard this one about 4 or 5 times now. I must be living in some bizarro alternate Australia because I’ve even gone out of my way to ask several friends and none had any idea why someone would find it offensive. btw: How DO you hitchhike in Aus? ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-for-you-customs-in-foreign-countries/281910/130 "2005-01-19T19:12:03Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > It’s not uncommon in France to have the toilet be in a totally separate room than the rest of the bathroom. > > It’s not 100%, but it’s not uncommon either. I’ve seen it at probably around half the places I’ve stayed in France. This is how they’re starting to build master bathrooms here in the US. Every new home we’ve looked at in the last 10 years has had a master bath with a seperate “water closet.” The other trend I’m finding odd is having a separate tub and shower in the same bathroom. I can see having a tub/shower in one bathroom and just a shower stall in a smaller bathroom, but these bathrooms all have an excessively large tub, an excessively large shower stall (like 5’x5’, and almost all glass, so there’s zero privacy and is a nightmare to keep clean) in addition to the separate toilet room. Usually there is the double sink, as well (which I have NEVER understood.) Add on the giant walk-in closets and these master bathrooms end up being larger than the bedroom itself, and almost bigger than some houses I grew up in! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-for-you-customs-in-foreign-countries/281910.md?page=6)