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Post by Julius CMXCIX on Feb 23, 2009 18:31:40 GMT
A handful of days ago, I got back from the USA, which was a lot of fun to visit. Here are a few observations/questions that one of you natives might want to answer. I'd be grateful for any response.
1. Travelling through five states, the American countryside was extremely desolate. Is it always that brown? Whereabouts would I have to go to find nice scenery?
2. People were on the whole a lot less fat than I was expecting. Is the stereotype true elsewhere?
3. How do you justify exclusively private healthcare? It seems fairly barbarian to us from across the Atlantic.
4. Why is tax not included in prices? It's actually illegal to do this in the UK, unless you state clearly. It appears to be a conspiracy to load down us idiot tourists with tons of change.
5. Why no 20c coin?
6. Have you ever noticed how much like toy money dollars feel?
7. What was the 1812 war exactly? I've never heard of it, but the helpful tour guide informed us that the British burnt down Washington. Or was this a ruse to make us feel guilty?
8. Americans have a lot more respect for their servicemen than the British or European public. Is there a particular reason for this?
9. Is crazy tipping unique to Washington and New York, or is it like that everywhere?
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Jatayu
Stormwind Member
Jatayu
Posts: 1,064
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Post by Jatayu on Feb 23, 2009 18:54:53 GMT
True enough, a lot of people are in really good health. But there are a large no. of really obese ones as well.
Private healthcare, meaning you have to pay for medical treatment ( not sure if I understand that )? Why not? It's fairly common in India , for eg., cheap enough to be affordable to the middle class who want better health service than a govt. hospital.
I found that pretty absurd as well. As soon as you buy anything, you get 12% tax slapped on it. Pretty soon you get used to estimating what you're actually going to pay. Oh that goes for tips as well.
Because there's a 10 and 25c ?
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Post by Julius CMXCIX on Feb 23, 2009 19:20:23 GMT
Yes, but the US apparently has no government hospitals at all. And judging by the adverts, it's certainly not cheap either. 20 is a more convenient denomination in my opinion. The UK also has 50s, which are absent in America by the looks of things. And $1 notes are fiddly and annoying too. I suppose it's more about what you're used to. I accidentally paid with a $100 note in Starbucks too. Damn notes all look the same.
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Post by jon. on Feb 23, 2009 21:18:55 GMT
[q]1. Travelling through five states, the American countryside was extremely desolate. Is it always that brown? Whereabouts would I have to go to find nice scenery?[/quote] Only the midwest (i.e. Nebraska, South Dakota). Other parts are a lot greener (such as Minnesota ). Minnesota is gorgeous in the summer. [q]2. People were on the whole a lot less fat than I was expecting. Is the stereotype true elsewhere?[/quote] I never really thought of the fat stereotype to be true. It is fact that Louisiana has the largest fat:normal person ratio in the US. [q]4. Why is tax not included in prices? It's actually illegal to do this in the UK, unless you state clearly. It appears to be a conspiracy to load down us idiot tourists with tons of change.[/quote] To trick the people who don't know anything. If it isn't illegal, people are going to do it for the extra few pennies. [q]5. Why no 20c coin?[/quote] I personally prefer working with quarters, not fifths, but that's probably because I'm so used to using them. [q]6. Have you ever noticed how much like toy money dollars feel?[/quote] Not really, but that's probably because I can't compare it to anything else (such as the pound, or European toy money ). [q]8. Americans have a lot more respect for their servicemen than the British or European public. Is there a particular reason for this?[/quote] No, it's just being nice. [q]9. Is crazy tipping unique to Washington and New York, or is it like that everywhere?[/quote] Please clarify your question. Thank you. Feel free to ask any more questions.
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Post by Morgoth on Feb 23, 2009 21:45:28 GMT
It's becoming more and more toy money with the crisis.
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Matt
Stormwind Member
The Come And Go Man
Monsieur Mercredi
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Post by Matt on Feb 23, 2009 21:59:02 GMT
1. Travelling through five states, the American countryside was extremely desolate. Is it always that brown? Whereabouts would I have to go to find nice scenery? A: You have to come to Canada 2. People were on the whole a lot less fat than I was expecting. Is the stereotype true elsewhere? A: depends on the area I guess. It isn't as bad as they make it out to be. 3. How do you justify exclusively private healthcare? It seems fairly barbarian to us from across the Atlantic. A: Take the load of tax money you save, and buy an insurance plan. Only like 15-20% of the US doesn't have health insurance, and a lot of those people are healthy folks that don't think they need it. 4. Why is tax not included in prices? It's actually illegal to do this in the UK, unless you state clearly. It appears to be a conspiracy to load down us idiot tourists with tons of change. A: I don't think it is a great idea either, but you get used to it. 5. Why no 20c coin? A: 2 dimes 6. Have you ever noticed how much like toy money dollars feel? A: I dunno, it looks better than Canadian money, and that is all I can compare it to. 7. What was the 1812 war exactly? I've never heard of it, but the helpful tour guide informed us that the British burnt down Washington. Or was this a ruse to make us feel guilty? A:War of 1812 was fought over here while you chaps fought Napoleon. British naval ships refused to allow the US to trade with France, and impressed american merchant seamen into the UK navy. This happened several times until a war started, in which the Brits did in fact burn Washington, for which the Americans later retaliated by burning York, the capitol of then British Canada. 8. Americans have a lot more respect for their servicemen than the British or European public. Is there a particular reason for this? A: you get it drilled into you that those guys are heroes from the time you are young. I think it comes from being perhaps the most patriotic country, that it follows you are more respectful of the people that protect it. 9. Is crazy tipping unique to Washington and New York, or is it like that everywhere? Not sure, I do know euro's have the reputation for being cheap here, so maybe there is something to that. Typically, if you go to dinner, standard good tip is 15%, if you didn't get great service or only got a few appetizers, maybe less.
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Post by Julius CMXCIX on Feb 24, 2009 16:03:54 GMT
European money is a bit better than dollars. But for proper currency you have to come to the UK (or some other place I haven't visited perhaps). British notes are bigger, more colourful and feel more substantial. Here is an example: I'm sure that's loads of fun if you're not earning enough to pay substantial taxes. So what do they do when they get involved in a car crash? It just seems awful to deny poor people healthcare. If there is one aspect of society you really shouldn't make class-based surely this is it? Over here it must have been totally over-shadowed historically. The Wikipedia article about it is quite interesting. Then I suspect the shop-owners of Washington and New York adore me. 10. Why all the odd American words? Sidewalk? It's the pavement damn it. 11. Why did I need to have my bag scanned and walk through a metal detector to go into a cafe? 12. Mysteriously, security at Congress was surprisingly unrestrictive. That's in comparison to the UK House of Commons, where the politicians are separated from the public gallery by a sheet of bullet proof glass. 13. Is there much inter-state rivalry? Can't say I noticed any major differences between New York, DC, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland. 14. Could you point out the city of Liverpool on a map? Have you ever heard of Manchester? After a while I gave up trying to specify which part of England I was from.
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Post by Scuddles! on Feb 24, 2009 19:13:50 GMT
Also we have Darwin on on notes, while in America they have that silly "In God we trust" (which is why the American economy is in such a healthy state!) Us, of proud home county stock, can't do this either. Damn northern towns, all "the north" anyway.
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Post by Morgoth on Feb 24, 2009 19:41:58 GMT
Go away, damn commie, back to Commisia. *angry*
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Post by Julius CMXCIX on Feb 24, 2009 19:55:57 GMT
Says the Estonian. Scud, you wouldn't confuse it with Bristol of all places though, would you?
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Post by Scuddles! on Feb 24, 2009 21:22:58 GMT
I know of course, I just get in a blur with Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle. All northern cities with funny accents which I have no reason to go and visit - apart from that, my british geography (including up north) is good.
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