What was your biggest surprise about America?

[RabFlmom]

I agree with most of what has already been mentioned but

I love being called Ma'am, it is just so nice.

Being able to drive in any lane on the freeway scares the bejeezus out of me and i'm not the one driving

But for me the number one thing is that astounds me, every single time is the patrotism. I love how much the americans love their country and their culture and each other. I love their history (part our history) and how it's never forgotten and is in fact celebrated.

The other thing I love is how much and how well they look after their veterans and serving members of the forces. That salute at Seaworld always makes me shed a tear

Using the word Ma'am is kind of a Southern thing. We teach our kids to use it, but I have found that a lot of women under the age of 50 really resent being called ma'am. They think it means they are old. It is generally a term of respect though. Have to admit when a really difficult woman that is in her 20s or 30s is giving staff a hard time I throw out a lot of ma'ams just to get their goat. LOL


As for driving on I-4 , I live here and it still scares me to drive on it. Too many people not knowing where they are going coming on or off, shifting lanes, and still driving 70 leaves me shaking by the time I get off sometimes.

 

[iwrbnd]

I knew someone from Georgia about 5 years ago at college and he said is grandmother refused to step foot in a shop if there was a black person in there shopping, she couldn't believe they would be allowed in the same shop as her. Some of the things he used to tell was shocking that people exist with that attitude.

I'm from the midwest and that attitude shocks me, too!

 

[taylor3297]

"I knew someone from Georgia about 5 years ago at college and he said is grandmother refused to step foot in a shop if there was a black person in there shopping, she couldn't believe they would be allowed in the same shop as her. Some of the things he used to tell was shocking that people exist with that attitude."

Chances are that persons grandma was raised before the Civil Rights movement. I was born and raised in the South and I have never encountered that type of attitude in my soon to be 44 years. My grandparents would tell me stories about how people had those type of views many years ago. Thankfully, my family didn't not agree with that view and raised me to respect all people.

As to the Ma'am and Sir thing. It is mostly a southern thing and it is a form or respect. When I was teaching school, I would even say sir and ma'am to my students. It isn't supposed to mean that a person is old.

I want to also say that on every trip to the UK, I have met the most friendly people. On our first trip we were staying in a cottage in Cartmel. We stopped in the local grocery store which was extremely small. Mr. and Mrs. Grace owned the store and were very helpful in helping us get our groceries. We didn't know you had to bring your own grocery bags, so they gave us some to have for our two week trip.

 

[wideeyes]

"I knew someone from Georgia about 5 years ago at college and he said is grandmother refused to step foot in a shop if there was a black person in there shopping, she couldn't believe they would be allowed in the same shop as her. Some of the things he used to tell was shocking that people exist with that attitude."

Chances are that persons grandma was raised before the Civil Rights movement. I was born and raised in the South and I have never encountered that type of attitude in my soon to be 44 years. My grandparents would tell me stories about how people had those type of views many years ago. Thankfully, my family didn't not agree with that view and raised me to respect all people.

Yes, thankfully her grandson didn't share her views. He did tell us that the attitudes still exist with some people however I have never had the view that it is a common attitude at all. I also don't see it as an American thing, I see it as a human thing.

 

[bavaria]

I want to also say that on every trip to the UK, I have met the most friendly people. On our first trip we were staying in a cottage in Cartmel. We stopped in the local grocery store which was extremely small. Mr. and Mrs. Grace owned the store and were very helpful in helping us get our groceries. We didn't know you had to bring your own grocery bags, so they gave us some to have for our two week trip.

I believe that friendly people exist everywhere; they just display it in different ways (although reading the regular Community Board here sometimes and all the whinging about grocery shopping etc one would think that America is filled with 'rude' people!)

The American friendliness tends to be very overt - making small talk, or smiling at strangers, or using first names, for instance. In other cultures friendliness may be displayed through different norms, such as the use of the formal 'you' I mentioned earlier. In fact, there is a culture clash sometimes when people from different cultures meet, because the American way of small talk and asking personal questions may actually be uncomfortable for someone from a culture which sees formality and distance as the norm. Or smile at a stranger in another part of the world and they make think that you are not quite ok! Or Americans may think that we are overly formal.

Again, they are just differences in the way people display and perceive friendliness or hospitality, but sometimes they are misunderstood.

Another big difference which my friends used to comment on whilst watching American television was weddings - the fact that one could have the 'official' wedding almost anywhere!

 

[HighlandLass]

nice teeth. Americans have very nice teeth. It must be the law or something.

 

[iwrbnd]

nice teeth. Americans have very nice teeth. It must be the law or something.[/QUOT

No, just very large orthodontic bills!


(I just realized I'm hijacking the UK boards! Is that legal?)

 

[Liberty Belle]

I believe that friendly people exist everywhere; they just display it in different ways (although reading the regular Community Board here sometimes and all the whinging about grocery shopping etc one would think that America is filled with 'rude' people!)

The American friendliness tends to be very overt - making small talk, or smiling at strangers, or using first names, for instance. In other cultures friendliness may be displayed through different norms, such as the use of the formal 'you' I mentioned earlier. In fact, there is a culture clash sometimes when people from different cultures meet, because the American way of small talk and asking personal questions may actually be uncomfortable for someone from a culture which sees formality and distance as the norm. Or smile at a stranger in another part of the world and they make think that you are not quite ok! Or Americans may think that we are overly formal.

Again, they are just differences in the way people display and perceive friendliness or hospitality, but sometimes they are misunderstood.

Another big difference which my friends used to comment on whilst watching American television was weddings - the fact that one could have the 'official' wedding almost anywhere!

And it's different in the North vs the South, too. I hate being called Sweetie or Honey by cashiers, servers, and other people I only meet briefly. I think it's rude. I do realize, though, they're just trying to be friendly.

 

[Sammie]

The grass in most of Florida lawns and definitely Disney is called St. Augustine and it is a very dense tough grass that holds up to the heat and the traffic on it. Anything soft would never make it.

Roundabouts, yes we have them. They are very common on Hilton Head Island and they are becoming more common in other areas.

 

[taylor3297]

Roundabouts, yes we have them. They are very common on Hilton Head Island and they are becoming more common in other areas.

Most places here call them traffic circles instead of roundabouts.

 

[~Piglet~]

not seeing a roundabout anywhere (do they have them?)

Yes! there's one at the end of the memorial causeway, Clearwater. We were staying opposite at the Hilton and it was strange watching from our balcony the cars going around the roundabout anti-clockwise instead of clockwise

 

[BingsingsWaltDisney]

How forthright American women are. They know what
they want, and don't beat about the bush asking for
it. Put me on the back foot

 

[PelletierBears]

Hello to our UK friends! Fun thread!

Just an fyi for those of you who have not travel outside of Florida. The US is such a large landmass that not only does the geography / seasonal weather change from region to region but also customs, slang, architecture, etc

Here in New England we definately have roundabouts (they're called rotaries), a great public transportation system so people don't have to be as dependant on their cars (although we are anyway!), soft grass , and no man would call a woman he doesn't know sweetie or honey without getting a swift setdown The one thing in common though is large gaps in restroom stalls...what the heck is with that?!

It's fun to travel to different states/regions just for the culture differences. Unfortunately with the world becoming a smaller place there's less of a difference these days. I swear my kids sound Canadian sometimes because of the Canadian accents they hear on so many TV shows

 

[tony64]

I swear my kids sound Canadian sometimes because of the Canadian accents they hear on so many TV shows

Funny we used to say that about are Kids sounding American from all the US TV over hear.

 

[wishspirit]

Hershey bars taste like you've thrown up. Seriously, how exactly do they get that unique taste?

Agreed! It's just nasty!

Just an fyi for those of you who have not travel outside of Florida. The US is such a large landmass that not only does the geography / seasonal weather change from region to region but also customs, slang, architecture, etc

It's the same in the UK, even though we are a much smaller size. Wide arrange of accents, customs and slang!

One big thing I can't believe no-one has mentioned! Toilet seat covers! We don't have them here, but after 2 weeks using them in the states, I miss them when I get back! Although I never understood if you are meant to flush them or throw them away... I guessed they would have a sign if you had to throw them away... I hope I haven't been blocking up Disney toilets!!

 

[Dimplenose]

Toilet seat covers! We don't have them here, but after 2 weeks using them in the states, I miss them when I get back! Although I never understood if you are meant to flush them or throw them away... I guessed they would have a sign if you had to throw them away... I hope I haven't been blocking up Disney toilets!!

I've used toilet seat covers over here but not in America. If the designs are the same as the British ones then their shape meanss that they automatically get pulled into the toilet when you flush.

I swear my kids sound Canadian sometimes because of the Canadian accents they hear on so many TV shows

As much as I've tried, I just can't hear a difference between the Canadian and US accents - is there something I should particularly listen out for?

 

[wishspirit]

I've used toilet seat covers over here but not in America. If the designs are the same as the British ones then their shape meanss that they automatically get pulled into the toilet when you flush.

Funny! I have never seen them in the UK!

The design means a bit always falls into the loo, which then makes it get sucked up when you flush, which made me guess they were meant to be! However some places you aren't supposed to apparently...

 

[irongirlof12]

1. arriving and thinking that the heat and humdity was from the engine of the plane.
2. the massive gaps in the door of the toliet - omg!
3. being politely asked the time by a young 'hoodie' " do you have the time ma'am?" to which i replied "yes 25 minutes past 2", the youngster just didn't understand so i converted to "2.25".
4. the washing machines - my Nanna had one like that!
5. having a walkway for a balcony. people walking past your window is just plain weird!
6. the best scrambled eggs in the world.
7. a pitcher of beer.
8. when it rains ... be jezzus it sure does rain.
9. the firework displays .. I have never seen anything like it before and my birthday is 5th Nov so i am a pyrotechics expert
10.I could eat my food off the pavements in the parks - so clean and no gum deposits that seem to affect UK pavements

 

[luke]

no gum deposits that seem to affect UK pavements

They purposefully don't sell gum in the parks for said reason

 

[xxxxvickyxxxx]

I can agree with lots of the posts here already, especially the toilets!! I can see you washing your hands surely you can see me ha ha. I love shopping there everyone is so helpful you ask for anything here and your told whats out is all they have and make up shopping here is awful but when Im in the US I get a makeover at every counter I buy at!