# Wierdest thing about the Non-USA **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 11, 2003, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wierdest-thing-about-the-non-usa/194423 "2003-08-11T16:58:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Aguecheek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Aguecheek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aguecheek)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wierdest-thing-about-the-non-usa/194423/21 "2003-08-11T22:12:40Z")
'Cause I like it. And I can’t stand malt vinegar. Pretty well wherever you go in Canada, there’ll be a bottle of white vinegar on the table beside the ketchup, mustard, salt and pepper. Malt vinegar (as far as I’ve seen) only started becoming popular in the past few years, but there’s been white vinegar since I was wee. And it’s great on fries and fish ‘n’ chips. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Slainte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Slainte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slainte)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wierdest-thing-about-the-non-usa/194423/22 "2003-08-11T22:34:08Z")
In Ireland: Having to pay for packets of ketchup - 10p a “sachet” - when I handed the girl a pound (?) and asked for 10 packets of ketchup for my fries she seemed shocked. No ice in soft drinks - it just didn’t seem the same to me. In Japan: The aforementioned vending machines… I saw one at a bus stop that sold porn videos and (IIRC) “used” panties. The toilets were bowls in the floor. Their porn: penetration (oral, vaginal - didn’t see any anal) was blacked out in pictures but the “school girl” porn was perfectly acceptable. Women urinating or defecting also seemed to be a popular theme. ---
**Author:** ![Slainte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Slainte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slainte)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wierdest-thing-about-the-non-usa/194423/23 "2003-08-11T22:36:21Z")
make that “defecating” :o ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wierdest-thing-about-the-non-usa/194423/24 "2003-08-11T23:32:56Z")
When using public toilets in Egypt I had to tip the woman who handed out the toilet roll as you went in! ---
**Author:** ![Trygve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4af34b/32.png) [@Trygve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trygve)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wierdest-thing-about-the-non-usa/194423/25 "2003-08-12T00:03:09Z")
No decent tacos in Europe… Best Mexican food outside the Americas is at Pancho Villas in Dubai, UAE. No Beef jerky either. But you do get public transportation that works and pedestrian-friendly cities. ---
**Author:** ![ShadiRoxan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@ShadiRoxan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadiRoxan)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wierdest-thing-about-the-non-usa/194423/26 "2003-08-12T02:28:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jonathan Chance \* > \*\*My ex-stepfather is from Iran. > > He puts Thousand Island salad dressing on cheese pizza and insists that everyone does it there. > \*\* I’ve never known any Iranian to do that. Actually I don’t know many Iranian that eat pizza. As to weird things (mainly concerning Germany)… Driving in Europe is odd to me. The person going right has the right of way and there is a lack of stop signs. Dr Pepper is hard to find. When you do find it, it tastes odd. Very syrrupy. Public transit systems that aren’t scary. Small refridgerators- which leads to almost daily shopping. Few one stop shopping places. Such a relief to not see a Wal-Mart in sight. Lack of grocery bags. Depositing money to use shopping carts. Windows that both swing open or lean inward. Radiators as standard heating units. I miss those sometimes. German keyboards. Had a hard time using those. That’s all that’s coming to mind right now. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wierdest-thing-about-the-non-usa/194423/27 "2003-08-12T03:29:59Z")
Street numbering in Helsinki. I’m still not quite sure how it works. A written address might look something like “Mannerheimintie 12 B 15” (a made-up number), with the number after the street name. The 12 is the building number, B might be a apartment block number or something if there was more than one building at the address, and 15 might be the apartment number. I say “might” because I’m not sure. When actually walking down the street, I noticed that the building number seemed to be placed on a standardized square light that was mounted on the building. It was oddly difficult to pick out for someone who is used to looking for a sign or painted indication on the face of the building or in a window near, preferably on or over, the door. I don’t know whether the square lights were just a style used in downtown Helsinki or what. Perhaps a FinnDoper could straighten me out? While on the topic, European address in general took a bit of getting used to: Street address CC\*-postal code City? (as in “Mannerheimintie 12 B 15 FI-2300 Helsinki”) [sub]\* CC = Country-code abbreviation[/sub] I deal with people whose addressing software seems to be locked into this style, and it completely breaks when faced with countries that have internal province or state designations, and need them, such as Canada, the USA, or Brazil. Or China. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wierdest-thing-about-the-non-usa/194423/28 "2003-08-12T03:53:58Z")
I would hope it has since changed, but in 1986 I had two major problems in England; Ice. Nowhere to be found, virtually impossible to get. I asked for some ice in a room-temperature Coke and the guy looked at me like I was completely insane. Then when I insisted that yes, it was ok that it watered down the coke, no I would NOT get sick by drinking it cold and damn it, yes I want that fucking Ice already, he delivered two (2) small fragments as if they were radioactive. Cold Soda. Hahahahahahahaha! You’ll drink it room temperature and like it! ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wierdest-thing-about-the-non-usa/194423/29 "2003-08-12T03:54:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Boscibo \* > \*\*Ireland: Where someone has died in a car accident, they put up a headstone on that spot. In the US, people put up temporary crosses in accedent spots, but these usually disappear after a few months (the flowers wilt, the crosses get blown down). It weirded me out to see permanent markers often along the roads. \*\* They have permanent markers in Montana. It is weird to see little clusters of white crosses on almost every bend on the mountain roads. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wierdest-thing-about-the-non-usa/194423/30 "2003-08-12T04:24:41Z")
In London I had a conversation about “salad” on a sandwich that was straight out of “Who’s On First?” But the strangest thing was hotel room service; I ordered cold cereal (Frosted Flakes) for breakfast, and it came with a little jug of hot milk. Weird. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wierdest-thing-about-the-non-usa/194423/31 "2003-08-12T04:50:00Z")
Another ‘Paying to use the toilet’ : Pay to use in Belgium but not in the Netherlands. ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wierdest-thing-about-the-non-usa/194423/32 "2003-08-12T05:07:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Paul in Saudi \* > \*\*-People who do not think a black (or asian or hispanic) is an American. No really, I am wanna see my passport? > \*\* In Japan, that would read: “People who think _all_ blacks are American.” ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wierdest-thing-about-the-non-usa/194423/33 "2003-08-12T05:11:27Z")
> [@](#): > > **cowgirl** As a Canadian in England I really missed dill pickles, red licorice and proper donuts. The abominations they called “American Donuts” don’t count… I heard just this week that Harrod’s has opened a separate entrance for selling Krispy Creme doughnuts. I think they used to just be in the Southern USA and about ten years ago they seemed to sweep the country and the stock went public. Try one and you will understand why. Maple or pumpkin in the fall is really fine. Weird to me: Amsterdam: If the steps in my hotel room had been any steeper, they would have justly been called a ladder. It was hard to get luggage up them. Water front property is expensive so the houses were built narrower and that required narrow steps. Not always having a shower or toilet in the hotel room. Denmark: At a party, you shook hands with the hosts and then with a lineup of the people who had already arrived. Then you took your place at the end of the line to shake hands with others arriving after you. You did this even with your friends. Standing in chairs to sing. (Well, the schnapps had gone 'round 17 times and we were singing old Danish folk songs whether we spoke any Danish or not. Eating fried eel. It’s GOOD! In Denmark, what Americans call a “Danish pastry” is called “Vienna bread.” Room temperature beer! (But worth it to get Tuborg!) Vienna: I saw a shop that sold only gloves. There were molded hands in the widows to display each glove. There must have been thirty of them. All of them had their middle fingers extended. ---
**Author:** ![c42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a87d85/32.png) [@c42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/c42)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wierdest-thing-about-the-non-usa/194423/34 "2003-08-12T05:18:10Z")
I moved to New Zealand from Canada many years ago. What struck me is that they have seperate rooms here for their toilets. I don’t know if thats common in the states or not, but it sure wasn’t in Canada! And you can’t get a decent donut or hot-dog here either. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wierdest-thing-about-the-non-usa/194423/35 "2003-08-12T05:19:44Z")
BTW, I am old enough to remember when there were pay toilets everywhere in the USA. Of course it was sexually discriminatory since men could use urinals for free. ---
**Author:** ![aaaaaarrgg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@aaaaaarrgg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaaaaarrgg)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wierdest-thing-about-the-non-usa/194423/36 "2003-08-12T05:28:33Z")
central american soda is sooo much better (read: stronger, yes, mroe syruppy). i went to a restaurant on a school trip in rome and the woman who drove a few of us there was a friend of one of the teachers. anyway, we all put on our seatbelts upon entering the vehicle and she thought we all had three heads. ‘nobody uses those!’ people don’t understand the concept of vegetarianism very well in some countries. the tiny, tiny cars. itty bitty. and their long skinny license plates the amount of people who are fluent in multiple languages outside the usa astounds me. they make it look so easy! in belize, the popularity of ‘passions’ – probably the worst soap opera every written, and therefore by far the most entertaining. watching american movies on tv dubbed over in a foreign language. there are more. that’s all i can think of at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wierdest-thing-about-the-non-usa/194423/37 "2003-08-12T05:29:33Z")
In Ireland, you cannot use an ATM to make a deposit, you have to actually go into the bank. If the bank isn’t open, tough shit. This annoys me no end :mad: ---
**Author:** ![benthames](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/58f4c7/32.png) [@benthames](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/benthames)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wierdest-thing-about-the-non-usa/194423/38 "2003-08-12T05:41:36Z")
Boxing Day and bank Holidays. They are weird. ---
**Author:** ![cajela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cajela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cajela)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wierdest-thing-about-the-non-usa/194423/39 "2003-08-12T06:06:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by stick monkey \* > \*\*I’ve only been out of the US once … to Australia. > > Things that got me as wierd most were the food. > Thing 1: Steaks (and meat in general) can only be purchased in one way. SUPER well done. Being a Rare man (READ: still mooing) man myself, I found the shoe leather they referred to as steak, quite unapatizing. > \*\* Stick Monkey, where on earth were you? Some weird country town way outback? Even if I go for a cheap meal down the pub they ask how I want my steak, and they understand rare. You might have to go to a proper steak restaurant if you want “blue”. Some of those will even sneer at you if you want it well done. Not that I do. Rare for me. I’m thinking here of places I’ve been like Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, Hobart, Alice Springs. I’ve honestly never encountered what you describe outside a country RSL club populated by an over-70s age group. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wierdest-thing-about-the-non-usa/194423/40 "2003-08-12T06:26:51Z")
**Canada** Milk in plastic bags. Cable sports channels that broadcast nothing but curling. Absolutely, positively no decent pizza. Maple leafs incorporated into the logos of almost every American chain restaurant and retailer, as if to say “Hey, McDonald’s is really Canadian!” Stores like Kmart and Wal-Mart located in indoor shopping malls. Government-operated beer stores. Protected left turns at intersections are signalled by a seizure-inducing blinking green light. **Mexico** Dangerous public infrastructure with no signs or warnings; i.e. missing manholes in streets, open water meter vaults in sidewalks, and so on. American school buses used as public transportation vehicles. Two door taxis. Government sponsored displays dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe. What separation of church and state? Banners on light poles depicting elected officials. Ego check, folks? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wierdest-thing-about-the-non-usa/194423.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wierdest-thing-about-the-non-usa/194423.md?page=3)