Foreign Fascination
What is Foreign and Fascinating?
Foreign countries are full of social and cultural differences as compared to your own. While I was abroad, I kept a list of oddities I noticed that I found especially confusing or hilarious. Below I mention 41 differences and explain them in detail.
Sometimes you cannot use Scottish pounds in London, but can use British pounds in Scotland.
When I traveled to Edinburgh someone mentioned to us that Royal Bank of Scotland pounds were sometimes turned away in parts of London. It turns out many banks throughout the UK can produce pounds and must be accepted, but sometimes various notes will be turned away in England in smaller businesses because their legitimacy is in question.
Note-issuing banks:
-England and Wales: Bank of England
-Scotland: Bank of Scotland, Royal Bank of Scotland, Clydesdale Bank
-Northern Ireland: Bank of Ireland, First Trust Bank, Ulster Bank, Northern Bank/Danske Bank
-Crown Dependencies: States of Guernsey, States of Jersey, Isle of Man Government
-British Overseas Territories: Government of Gibraltar, Government of Saint Helena, Government of
the Falkland Islands
Brits do not refrigerate eggs.
Most of Europe does not clean off eggs’ natural protective coating. This coating keeps out bacteria which is why eggs with coating do not need to be refrigerated. American law says this coating must be cleaned off to prevent salmonella. Many plants in Europe vaccinate their chickens from this disease.
Light switches outside bathrooms.
Often due to electrical safety precautions, or the building was built a very long time ago.
Hot and cold faucets.
This was how water was put in home in victorian times when separate hot and cold pipe lines were used, and it is now traditional.
The spelling of bagel.
The popular Beigel Bake on Brick Lane in London spells it this way. It seems bagel was spelled differently in the past in European countries, and so is sometimes spelled in this way.
Parks close.
When it becomes dark police lock the gate doors so no one can commit crimes or engage in any risky behaviors.
Paying for bathrooms.
Europeans have figured out how to profit from needed bathroom usage. Good thing America has not caught on...
Random dumpsters are locked.
Due to the bombing that have occurred. They do not want bombs put into these bins.
Brit children wear nighttime biker vests.
Children on field trips or walking in the streets wear brightly colored reflective vests so they can be seen. Unclear as to whether it is a popular trend or a government requirement.
Everyone smokes.
The smoking trend that seemed to die out a ton in America is still going strong in Europe. People seem to smoke socially and it is a more prevalent norm among young people than I had ever seen in America.
Everything closes early except drinking facilities.
This comes from christian tradition, and has turned into cultural norm.
People leave newspapers on the trains for other people to read, mostly central lines a.k.a. the Central Line.
There really is not a place to dispose of papers picked up outside stations so many people just leave them behind on the tops of Tube seats. This is convenient for disposal and also people who forgot to grab a paper outside the station.
Poundland.
In the same way Americans have dollar stores, Englanders have Poundland…which sounds pretty hilarious from an American point of view.
Adults ride around scooters.
The child scooters are ridden around by teens and adults. A silly trend Americans find funny along with some Europeans.
People carry the cloth totes as bags or purses.
The bags Americans might used as grocery bags are used by European as fashion statements.
No turkey in grocery stores.
Europeans do not eat turkey as a normal dinner or as lunch meat, only for special occasions like Christmas so it is difficult to find any in grocery stores.
All ages wear clothing from Primark and same outfits.
European styles tend to be more similar between men and women and between people of different age groups.
Brits do not wear shorts.
Even during days of extremely hot weather like 80+ degrees Fahrenheit, Brits would wear shorts. They may not own them since it is not usually ever that hot.
Paper is longer.
Europe measures paper in metric units, with the normal paper called A4. It is a little narrower and a little longer than US Letter, the typical American sized paper.
Teachers tell you to go clubbing.
The social culture of clubbing and alcoholic consumption is extremely different in that it is seen as less of a taboo among social and work relations. It is also allowed at 18 vs 21 years old so professors or teachers of University often recommend going out or speak of it. If JMU Londoners are reading this, yes, I am talking about Sheila.
It can be difficult to get take-out or carry-out.
I often had trouble getting take-out in London. I do not finish meals at restaurants often but when I would ask for “take-away” I would sometimes be met with quizzical looks or a simple no. Once I got a literal paper bag and other time at a bar someone had to ask their manager if they could do that.
Parking both ways on both sides of the street.
In America it is illegal, but apparently not in Europe.
Tour guides are all best friends.
In the many foreign countries I visited and toured, the guides would often be on specific routes, and say hi to their other tour guide friends also leading groups. They are all friends they call each other by name.
Military time and different time phrasing.
24-hour military time is odd. Europeans use it interchangeably with 12-hour am-pm time. They have two names for hours where 12-hour time users (Americans) have one. For example, 2pm is called 14 or 2, 10pm is called 22 or 10. They also say phrases like “fifteen past,” or “a quarter until” when Americans would say 12:15 or 8:45. We obviously know what they mean and use them sometimes, but the context in which Europeans use this phrasing is what I found to be out of the ordinary.
You cannot take pictures anywhere.
In normal stores you often get told off for talking pictures for no reason.
Friends is not on Netflix.
Euro-Netflix has partially different content from the US.
Spiny stairs of death.
The spiral staircases are abundant, a popular and traditional design.
"Coffee shops."
This is purely in Amsterdam. Store that sell marijuana legally are often called coffee shops much to the confusion of tourists like me.
Low-Top Doc Martins.
These are extremely popular and knock-offs are sold almost everywhere. Most Americans I know seem to be put-off by this trend.
Crossing streets diagonally.
There would often be four way intersections where light would turn red at once, allowing pedestrians to cross the street diagonally.
Fast escalators.
Escalators move at extremely raid speeds, especially leading to Underground stations.
Brits do not talk or look at each other on the Tube, but it is just the custom.
The social culture on public transport in the UK is to pretend others around you do not exist, and to whisper on public transport. This goes as far as ignoring when others lightly bump into you and not smiling at other if making accidental eye contact. This is just a social custom, people often help random strangers with luggage or strollers up and down stairs.
Train colors change inside for different lines.
The Tube cars on different lines would have different interior seat design and colored railings.
Free Metro newspapers at Tube stations.
The Morning and Evening Metro Newspapers are available for free at every Underground station. I am used to having to pay for quality newspapers, but this is by far may favorite ever to read. The stories, headlines and topics capture my attention and of course the British point of view and word choice is stellar. The app Standard has a permanent place in my iPhone today.
Brits are not on their phones a lot normally or when they go out.
Americans seem to be stuck to their smartphones, but Brits tend to actually engage when they leave their homes.
Brit shoes are slimmer.
Many clothing items just have a different look, often slimmer.
Thrift stores are not actually cheap.
They have normal pricing for used items.
Gauchos are back in London.
This pant style I wore in elementary school is cool again in London.
No trashcans at Tube stations.
This is another product of post-bomb safety precautions put into place.
Outlet Conversion.
Flat irons and curling rods from home will not work due to differences in the voltage of USA and UK electricity systems.
Street signs are on buildings.
The typical street sign posts that most places have are nonexistent in central London. The street signs are usually on the sides of building if they are there at all. This often makes it very difficult to navigate by foot if you do choose to walk to your destination.
