A general community for asking and answering questions about other countries and cultures.
Please state which country you're answering for when you answer a post.
You have to put your hand up when the bus is coming or it doesn't stop (Ireland). This is because multiple routes service the same stops, so it wont stop by default.
This is a pretty fun thing to learn the hard way when you need to be somewhere important and you stand there doe eyed when the bus you made sure you were there for on time barrels by you in the rain
Oh it's the same in Taiwan!
Also, to stop, you need to press the stop button in the bus. In my country (Lithuania) all buses had these stop buttons, but they were never used. Took me a bit to understand, that people actually use them here.
We use the stop button in the US too. But they do stop when they see someone waiting at a stop by default.
yeah, we also have the stop button, you have to use them or on you go
Every visitor I've interacted with personally has commentented on the fact that we pay before we pump our gas in America.
I imagine adding sales tax to sticker price is another big one.
Even I hate that we don't do that!
im from the states but live in Ireland for well over a decade, and when I go back to the US I'm like what the fuck do you mean 7.86 it said 5.99.... ooooooooooh
I'm pretty sure that everyone hates it. I live in a state with no sales tax, which is nice, but it affects local revenue and is noticeable in our infrastructure vs neighboring states that use sales taxes to pay for transportation upgrades and maintenance.
Mysteriously appearing mosquito bites, even if there seems to be no mosquitoes around.
That's in Taiwan. They have fruit fly looking mfs, which make no sound and are almost invisible, however their bites are as painful as mosquitos. Pain kicks in after some time, so you can almost never tell.
These insects are called Forcipomyia taiwana.
Oh wow, that explains a lot. I've visited Taiwan many times before (have family from there) and I often wake up with a lot of bites.
Oh don't worry, you're not alone. Me and my wife were convinced we had bed bugs first 3 months living here. Now you'll know what to prepare for next time!
I'm gonna say, school shootings, violent cops, homophobia and trans phobia. I didn't forget racism. Racism is still a huge problem, it just doesn't confuse people as much
Please state which country you’re answering for when you answer a post.
That eating street food can get you sick. It's kind of funny. I try to tell people that Street food and small restaurants are not well regulated and might be not hygienic but that goes right over their heads because it's unfathomable where they're from.
What country is this?
Could apply to most countries outside of Europe and North America. I personally know this is true at least in Egypt, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Thailand, Indonesia and Cambodia.
Driving on the correct side of the road.
What country is this?
Probably the one where they drive on the wrong side of the road...
That we don't move from one place to another on a donkey, and that we don't wear sombreros.
Being more serious, the thing they really get surprised, is that global media (specially from the US) depict us as a narco state. Life here is secure, people is friendly, and if you don't mess with the bad guys, you'll be fine 95% of the time. Just use common sense as you do while you visit any country in the world and you'll be fine.
Please state which country you’re answering for when you answer a post.
Sorry, I thought it was pretty obvious: Mexico.
Yeah, I knew that, but I think it's still important to say. I want this place to be an educational community, so I think it's important to avoid preaching to the choir or assuming everyone's part of the US-centric zeitgeist. I appreciate your understanding.
We somehow keep electing cavemen into office. One actually became president in 2016, despite his "pussy grabbing", baldness and rudimentary grasp on the local dialect.
Please state which country you’re answering for when you answer a post.
USA