Interesting things observed in other countries?

[Anonymous]

In Amsterdam, you smoke joints in a coffee shop, and drink beers in a cafe. And a table of people would sing softly in a restaurant - not rowdy ones, just canal side boutique restaurants.

[Anonymous]

Lol, yes American beer in Ireland. My family is from Ireland and whenever any of them has a party, all their Irish friends drink Bud Light and all the Americans drink Guiness (as if they like it)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In Soviet Union they had these drink machines that would dispense beverages into a glass that just stayed there and everyone would use.

http://readrussia.com/blog/made-in-russia/00135/

I remember this and I used it! It was in 83 and I was 10 years old. Didnt seem dirty - I guess I was impressed by the washing process.

I also remember seeing this too when I was in St. Petersburg!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In Egypt I saw a dead body that had just been hit by a car. People covered it with newspapers.

40 minutes later I passed by the area again, still no ambulance, still there.

Well if the person's already dead, no need to rush over - not like there's anything that can be done for them anymore.

I doubt that they knew, or cared.

This is true. Living in America, we're taught that every human life is valuable. Just call 911, they'll come and help you! In certain other countries, it is not like this at ALL. Nobody is coming. You watch out for yourself and don't expect anyone else to be doing it for you.

Oh, Americans, the monopolizers of good in the world. Really? See NYC metro story of this week...

No, I didn't mean this as Americans *would* care and help you. Just that we're taught we're all special snowflakes and we matter in the world and if we call for help it will come. Doesn't mean it will.

[Anonymous]

People like to sue each other - sue the restaurant because they made the coffee too hot (and it's not my fault that I spilled it on myself), sue charity because the donated food has gone bad, sue the manufacturer because they didn't warn you that you were not supposed to use the hair dryer in water, etc. Oh, this is America.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People like to sue each other - sue the restaurant because they made the coffee too hot (and it's not my fault that I spilled it on myself), sue charity because the donated food has gone bad, sue the manufacturer because they didn't warn you that you were not supposed to use the hair dryer in water, etc. Oh, this is America.

Is this the post a non sequitur thread?

[Anonymous]

Clinging onto rules without using common sense or flexibility, like not letting a baby in a fast food restaurant because it says "no shoes no service", and the infant was not wearing shoes. In America. I know this is a little extreme, but I find similar tendencies here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In Amsterdam, you smoke joints in a coffee shop, and drink beers in a cafe. And a table of people would sing softly in a restaurant - not rowdy ones, just canal side boutique restaurants.

Speaking of interesting things in Amsterdam, a few years ago I visited my friend there (she is American, but she married a Dutch man so they are living there). Every single restaurant we went in to, there was a cat just roaming around! My Dh said it's to keep out the rats...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dosens of Babies sleeping in buggies out in the cold on Danish streets while their moms ate lunch at a cafe inside. Totally unattended.

There was a story, about 15 years ago or so? A couple from Europe (may have been Denmark) was living or visiting in the US, and they did that! Left the baby in it's stroller asleep while they went into a restaurant to eat. Of course, the police were called, and they were arrested, but I think in the end charges were dropped....anyone else remember that? I can't remember what US city this happened in...

[Anonymous]

In Israel, they call New Year's Eve the "Sylvester." They all think that's what we call it. I would see signs for discotheque's advertising "Sylvester Parties."

[Anonymous]

When I lived in Nepal I would semi-regularly see dead bodies floating down the river. Often people who were too poor to have a funeral would just put the body of the deceased in the river (instead of burning it).

[Anonymous]

On my first international trip to Israel I was shocked to see horse carts in local traffic with dogd attached desperately trying to keep up. Broke my heart. The other image was the cobbled horses outside Jerusalem on the way to Messada -- and the kids who bum rushed our car begging.

On a lighter note, we got to Messada as the su was rising over the Dead Sea and decided to walk the Snake Path...Bad idea! I had 60 yo Germans passing me up as I huffed and puffed my way up those damned 600 metres!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In Soviet Union they had these drink machines that would dispense beverages into a glass that just stayed there and everyone would use.

http://readrussia.com/blog/made-in-russia/00135/

I remember this and I used it! It was in 83 and I was 10 years old. Didnt seem dirty - I guess I was impressed by the washing process.

They don't have those machines anymore, for better or for worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In Israel, they call New Year's Eve the "Sylvester." They all think that's what we call it. I would see signs for discotheque's advertising "Sylvester Parties."

Oh, that's interesting, but not solely an Israeli thing. In parts of Europe it's "Sylvester", too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:American cars are the Mercedes of foreign countries, for the rich.

In Cuba, maybe. Not in civilized countries.

I agree with second poster.