10 September 2015

FIVE THINGS I LEARNED ABOUT AMERICA


ONE. the public restrooms are terrifying (please be aware that there is actual sarcasm dripping from my fingertips as I write this). I used to have nightmarish dreams about public restrooms, where the doors were small and had huge gaps down the sides, bottom + top. then I went to america...and they became a reality. I waltzed into one the day after I arrived in california, naive + ignorant. and I came out, scarred for life with my british heritage screaming something about privacy and the lack of therein.



TWO. going out for breakfast/lunch/dinner is way more popular! in england + new zealand, going out for food isn't uncommon necessarily, but it's not something you do everyday. whereas, in america, going out for food everyday isn't uncommon at all. we stayed with some murican friends for a while when we were in cali, and we went out for meals everyday and it was flippin awesome, coz hello chick-fil-a and claim jumper. if I moved to america, I would get vurrrrrry fat, because I haven't tried chipotle yet and I know that once I do? there'll be no going back.



THREE. driving for hooours on end is also something that is really normal! in england, we would drive for forty-five minutes, have twenty stops in between, question why we decided to go at all and complain about the mileage (and fuel. and tires wearing down. and the traffic.), but in america, they drive for five hours+ and don't even bat an eye! I realise that I probably suffer from tiny island syndrome, but when I hear people say they're going to drive nine hours to get to a place and then the next day drive back? my briwi brain practically explodes. but for obvious reasons, I think we can safely say that americans are the best travellers. ain't no distance gonna scare no murican. 



FOUR. picking up on the kiwi accent isn't their...er...strongest asset. I went to numerous coffee shops, all of which took my name to write on the cup and during the whole time, only two people got my name right (see above for evidence. well done, random starbucks dude.). I was jane, jiss, janes, janet, joss, and then the real epic fail, john. coz jess sounds a LOT like john, right? the plus side was that everyone said they loved my accent, but I guess they just couldn't understand it (which isn't altogether a shame, because I talk a lot of rubbish anyway)! and I do remember being asked quite a few times if I was australian (not a good thing to say to a kiwi, for future reference) and also a south african (say whaaaaat?).



FIVE. friendly, friendly, friendly! compared to england (where people won't look you in the eye for fear they'll have to smile at you), america is full of "hi, how are you?"s and smiles and "good morning!"s and "so nice to meet you!"s. they're altogether a lot cheerier + more pleasant + when you tell them you're from england, you've sealed the deal (I got asked quite a few times if I knew the queen). sidenote: they also like to have bare feet in the house, which is ultimately very disturbing, because feet should live in socks or shoes (can I get an amen from at least one person?).

have you ever been to america? or maybe you're american? tell me what you think of my points or if you have any of your own, then shout them out in the comments below! 

love you all.
jess
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30 comments:

  1. Oh no, the public bathrooms are atrocious, no doubt about that. But aren't they all? As for the misspelling of a name, and having the personal experience of working in a coffee shop myself, when people come in with an accent, it's a bit intimidating. (Even for a future English Teacher.) The accent is abnormal around here, therefore, some tend to think the name is going to be too. Judged before you speak. I humbly apologize on my country's behalf.
    As for the bare feet. We are savages compared the the glorious manners of England. What did you expect? ;)

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    1. awww, I'll have to keep that in mind next time I go to a coffee shop! although I figured that in LA people would be used to tourists + stuff? might be different in other states though!

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  2. This post is the joy of my days. <3

    Also, YES, the shoes thing I get. In Korea, you take your shoes off, step into the house with your right foot (for "good luck"), and then IMMEDIATELY put on house shoes. Houses will often have a line of house slippers next to the front door designed for the sole purpose (hehe, puns) of avoiding the bare-foot savagery. :)

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    1. hahaha, glad you enjoyed it! PRAISE BE, YOU UNDERSTAND. wow. I need go to korea.

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  3. BAHAHAHAHA. THE SHOES. Watch it, Jess. We Americans quite enjoy going barefoot. Especially, in Georgia because there is all this bright red clay that we get on our shoes (a pain to clean out of carpet, really) so it's polite to take your shoes off at the front door for some people so you don't track the stupid stuff all through the house.

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    1. haha, I know I know. you americans and your bare feet. oh, nice. make it practical + a social custom so I feel bad whydontcha. ;)

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  4. As an American this is oh so accurate. You should come to the South (where I'm from!) and you'd have the culture shock of your life. We obliterate English manners, I'm sure, but we never usually pass a car or stranger without a "Howdy" or a "How y'all doin?" :P
    This post is so spot on!

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    1. but that's so cool! I love how friendly people are! it's the exact opposite here :(

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  5. This is great. Of course you were in California... And well, they think they're a whole country of their own. Haha. I guess we are just a bunch of barefooted hillbillies over here who don't drink afternoon tea. ;) No Queen, no shoes.

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    1. haha, SO true. california is it's own lil america ;)

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  6. I am an American, so your points teach me the reverse about your country. :D I never that other people would think it strange to drive long distances. I guess it's because in America we often have family and friends scattered far and wide so if we want to visit, we've got to drive and we just get used to it.

    I know a lot of people do eat out, and it's a regular way to meet up with friends. But my family never did it very often. . .

    Wait, so you're telling me there's more privacy in public restrooms in England and New Zealand? I feel cheated. I thought this was the norm for all public restrooms.

    I didn't realize we were friendlier by comparison either. That's interesting.

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    1. hahaha, yep with the distances, Our country New Zealand, fits in the state of California, just to give a size comparison, so yes driving in America is HUGE compared to New Zealand :) My brother and I travelled for 3 weeks, and for me get to my flight home, I travelled from Portland, Oregon to LA, in about 15 hours straight (Basically the length of New Zealand).

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  7. I'm now jealous of British bathrooms. Why do Americans have to have the vulgar restrooms? haha
    You wear shoes or socks all the time? How could you not like going barefoot in the house?!? Bare feet are amazing! :)

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  8. These are hilarious. I am an American but I am moving to the UK for school next week. When I visited last March I was struck with

    1. How ridiculously nice the bathrooms are. Oh they are so lovely. I have never been able to stomach American public restrooms since.

    2. How close everything is! I mean London is just two hours from Cardiff. In such a short road trip you can experience a whole new history, culture, and language. AMAZING! Britain may be a smallish island, but it sure is packed with wonderful sights, cities, nature, history, and just an overwhelming amount of things to see and eat and do.

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  9. Guilty as charged! Last weekend my friends and I drove nine hours to Texas for a friend's wedding and....the next day we drove back!! I try to no go out to eat every day because it's not good for my budget (and yeah, I would get really fat too) but you're definitely right about that as well.

    Unfortunately friendliness is not universal in the U.S. The west coast and Midwest tend to be super friendly but I've heard that the northeast can be pretty "hostile"...glad you had such a great trip! And I'm so sorry we got your name wrong so many times. We must do better next time. :)

    Dani from A Vapor in the Wind

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  10. yeah, there's really no return from beginning to like chipotle. love-at-first-taste.

    but I have to echo joanna and natalie on this one, bare feet inside is the best.

    and the amount of hi-how-are-you-friendliness shown by strangers here in America is either really annoying or the bestest thing. do you mind the no-eye-contact-quietness of english strangers?

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  11. Hhehe I've never been so this is like a forewarning come happiness =D
    I shouldn't have laughed at the Australian part but I did being the true blue Aussie I am (with british heritage). As an Aussie I say to you all don't do that.. Especially around Cricket or Rugby season :P

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  12. Come here and visit me, John. I will give you all the Chipotle.

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  13. I died laughing at the barefoot thing!! I'm currently barefoot in my house right now and I CANT STAND wearing socks in the summer!!! haha

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  14. 1. I totally agree, our public restrooms are terrible!
    2. And I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks that Americans eat out really often! (I am American, but I rarely eat out for some reason.)
    3. I want to live in New Zealand now! Where I live, it takes at least 2 hours to get to a decent city with good food and somewhere to buy clothes besides a Walmart. *packs bags to move*
    4. Hehe, how the heck did they get John? *whispers in embarrassment* I'd probably mistake you for an Aussi too... XD
    5. *looks down at bare feet* #guilty

    Your posts are so fun, Jess! And if you ever get a chance to come to America in the near future, swing by AZ and we can drive two hours to the nearest Chipotle. XD

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  15. hahaha your 5 points are very accurate, to I think I would add as a point, tho you do mention it is about 'No shoes. No Shirt, No Service' :D

    the trip to America I mentioned in a reply above, also involved, Accents, and Bare feet (aka My brother being kicked out of McDonalds lol)
    In New Zealand, it is a common sight to see people walking around in Bare feet (sorry Jess :D ), so much so, that when we were in America, we did the same, walking around Department stores barefoot, we got the odd look a few times, like 'are you homeless' lol, but never once actually not being served etc, until one day I can't remember where we were (we were travelling interstate somewhere), but we my brother and I walked into McDonalds and the Manager happened to walk by when we entered, asked my brother where his shoes were, Ben said 'in the car', and the Manager pointed at the door and just said 'Out', it was rather funny.

    And as for accents, in America, except for the few friends we were with, Only 1 person guessed correctly where we were from, and it was from this adorable older lady when we were visiting Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs, (we were waiting until Whits End opened to order a Wodfamchocsod, Adventures in Odyssey fans will get the reference :D ), who we started talking to, and told us not to tell her where we were from, as she wanted to guess, after a little bit of thinking, and umming, said said first guess New Zealand, and we were so thankful that she didn't say Australian :P lol...
    So that's a little bit of my funny story of being in America, there were more funny times, but it was an amazing trip :D

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  16. Socks? No. I hate to wear socks. Maybe it's the all-American in me :) Your right... bare feet is the thing. I get claustrophobic in socks. My feet really feel trapped. Even when going outside... no better feeling then grass between your toes!! Amazing!

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  17. This was so funny! Oh yeah, we love traveling in the US. And I'm barefoot right now! :)

    blog

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  18. Cracked. Up. This is the best.
    I have to say, I never thought of us as being particularly friendly - maybe that's why American's think of Brits as so "hoity-toity" and "reserved", though. Weird.
    The bathrooms are a Thing, and it's not fun - but some are worse than others, and at least it's not consistently horrific!
    I've driven 15 hours in a day before. No big deal. ;D
    I think Starbucks in general has issues with names. I've gotten "Caramel", "Karml", "Carmelle" - I just spell it out verbally at this point...

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  19. Oh, Jess! As a born-and-bred-murrican........this post made me laugh so hard!!! All your points are very true. Especially about bare feet. Like. All. The. Time. I pretty much live barefoot. So good job on your observations of America! I hope you enjoyed your visit. :)

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  20. jess, this is actually perfect and rather hysterical. and yes, when you come to the states next time, chipotle & in n out will change your life. we could also add to the list of different things about America #loudamericans and/or #obnoxiousamericans. ;)

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  21. 1. Ugh, yes, our restrooms are awful!
    2. It's pretty different for everyone. My family really doesn't go out much, but others in Southern California may. CHIPOTLE IS DE BOMB! xD
    3. I live in the Central Valley of CA and we have to drive quite a ways at least twice a week for classes my brother and I take. Many of my so cal friends think we're crazy because in LA everything is within 15 mins drive.
    4. US Starbucks are notorious for misspelling names. I'm sorry. x)
    5. Do you never have bare feet? Most people around here consider it polite to take your shoes off at the front door, whether you're be-socked or not. :) Bare feet feel stupendous. Excepting winter, I never sleep with socks on. :)

    You're posts are so fun to read! Love hearing your thoughts. :)

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