What was your biggest surprise about America?

[eddiemcgarrigle]

That everyone went scurrying away to cover anytime there was the slightest bit of rain. I will never forget the first raindrop to land on me in Florida, it was warm!!! Just picture two Scots walking up a deserted, slightly damp, Main Street and completely bemused as to the fear shown by the locals at nothing more than drizzle.

 

[arielrocks]

on my first trip i was suprised how unpleasent immigration were! but now I pay no attention to it

 

[RweTHEREyet]

I'm bumping this per NikitaZee's request..... they would like to hear more responses



my contribution is also the water level in the toilet, and only having one flush option instead of two (and one consistent way to flush a toilet, instead of the 107 ways found around Europe to flush a toilet! )

My dear friend, Bavaria, if you are around, please clean out your PM mailbox. I have sent you a message and it has been returned. I don't know another way to get in touch with you.

 

[cherjp]

Would love to join in too..

I found the size of the roads amazing and they are long and straight too!
The amazing trucks on the roads.
The friendly people who seemed to love our scottish accents.
The hot humid weather.
How clean the streets were, no dog poo!! and no litter!
Loved being called ma'am!
gobsmacked as being asked my age when i went to get a drink at the bar!! do I not look 40ish.. waiter got a big tip for making my day.

I am sure more things will come to me.

great thread

 

[Evi]

I loved seeing the post about everyone running from the rain. This is so true on our last trip it rained for an entire day and It felt as if we owned Main St. Everything was empty and it was raining fairly hard but it was very warm. Being from Boston warm rain in December is a godsend compared to the snow we usually get.

I also have to admit to loving the sound of a Scottish accent. It just sounds nice I can't explain it.

 

[Feralpeg]

I'm so happy to have found this thread! I'm a very friendly person...probably too friendly for many. I could talk to a rock. I just like to talk. Since I live so close to WDW property, I get the opportunity to talk to people from all over the world. Sometimes, when I strike up a conversation, it doesn't go well. I can tell that the person just wants me to leave them alone. I understand and immediately back off, but it makes me sad. The great thing is that it hardly ever happens with someone from the UK. I've had so many lovely conversations with folks from your neck of the woods! I love talking about the UK and sharing the differences between our countries. I so want to visit the UK and really hope to do so someday! I'm just so glad that you guys don't all think I'm a pest!

 

[scotlass]

Got lots but watchin Denzel Washington so on a timer but I'll be back just had to say...THE JAGGY GRASS...holey moley !!

Great for puttin between yer thumbs and blowin tunes though.

 

[becpee]

OK, i'm an Aussie but thought I could chime in here.

The thing I didn't get and still don't is automatic flushers and taps in restrooms but nearly every entrance you go through you need to push the door handle.

If they're trying to stop the spread of bacteria why not have automatic opening doors as well as automatic flushers and taps?

 

[torsie24]

I'm so happy to have found this thread! I'm a very friendly person...probably too friendly for many. I could talk to a rock. I just like to talk. Since I live so close to WDW property, I get the opportunity to talk to people from all over the world. Sometimes, when I strike up a conversation, it doesn't go well. I can tell that the person just wants me to leave them alone. I understand and immediately back off, but it makes me sad. The great thing is that it hardly ever happens with someone from the UK. I've had so many lovely conversations with folks from your neck of the woods! I love talking about the UK and sharing the differences between our countries. I so want to visit the UK and really hope to do so someday! I'm just so glad that you guys don't all think I'm a pest!

Awww, I hope you're in line with me at some point! I could hear about America all day!

We just love how friendly everyone is, especially on WDW property!

In October we had gotten SO used to talking to everybody, and saying hello, and thank you and making small talk.

On our first day back we visited the garden centre, and the way it's laid out you walk in and the checkouts are right there. All the people on the counters were just standing around with nothing to do, so they watched us enter. In our competely Disney-fied state we both smiled and said "Good Morning" to them, and they looked at us like we had 4 heads!

Miserable Surrey!

 

[Dimplenose]

On our first day back we visited the garden centre, and the way it's laid out you walk in and the checkouts are right there. All the people on the counters were just standing around with nothing to do, so they watched us enter. In our competely Disney-fied state we both smiled and said "Good Morning" to them, and they looked at us like we had 4 heads!

Miserable Surrey!

I grew up in the midlands. The reservation of the people down south took a lot of getting used to when I moved here as an adult. I still say good morning to total strangers when I visit my family, but down here I'm far more reserved.

 

[torsie24]

I grew up in the midlands. The reservation of the people down south took a lot of getting used to when I moved here as an adult. I still say good morning to total strangers when I visit my family, but down here I'm far more reserved.

Yeah it's definitely a Southern thing, when we visit our friends who live in Norton Canes we instantly notice the difference!

 

[kamik86]

I have never been anywhere but the US and canada but have to ask... what are the doors to the bathroom stalls like in the UK? I have never seen ones without the gaps in them!!

For the person who mentioned being asked their age at a bar, most bars ask EVERYONE because there are large fines for selling alchohol to minors and they don't want to miss one or take the chance that an employee might forget.

 

[torsie24]

I have never been anywhere but the US and canada but have to ask... what are the doors to the bathroom stalls like in the UK? I have never seen ones without the gaps in them!!

For the person who mentioned being asked their age at a bar, most bars ask EVERYONE because there are large fines for selling alchohol to minors and they don't want to miss one or take the chance that an employee might forget.

Just like a normal door...no gaps at all.

 

[Dimplenose]

I have never been anywhere but the US and canada but have to ask... what are the doors to the bathroom stalls like in the UK? I have never seen ones without the gaps in them!!

For the person who mentioned being asked their age at a bar, most bars ask EVERYONE because there are large fines for selling alchohol to minors and they don't want to miss one or take the chance that an employee might forget.

Well, there is often a gap at the top and bottom of the door, but never at the sides where the hinge and lock are - you certainly can't tell if a stall is occupied by looking.

 

[Booknut]

I've been going to America since I was a kid (I grew up in Alberta, Canada) and never really noticed any difference although we only ever went to Washington State which was nearby (Seattle, Olympic Peninsula etc) and they were just like us, never noticed much difference.

This however was NOT the case when years later as an adult I visited Florida. It was obvious I was 'not in Kansas anymore' The difference I thought was huge! And for some bizarre reason people in the shops kept asking me if I was from Australia or Scotland My accent is still pretty much the same, perhaps a bit less twangy, but still, I sound Canadian and some of them didn't have a clue! I mean, a lot of you have met me, do I sound even slightly Aussie?!

So I guess that was my biggest surprise about Florida - I think because America and Canada are so big that the regional disparity means I have more in common perhaps with north west Americans than any others. I was expecting it to be like home I guess and it really wasn't - but not in a bad way because I love Florida!