Strange things you're not used to

[StillThePrettiest 4]

What you are reacting to is just ONE PART OF THE COUNTRY -- there are plenty of places that are not like that.

well, of course; I think we all know that... the problem is, we find ourselves IN one place, and most of us are not likely to move around in a hurry, being as we can't work and have no money and can't even open bank accounts and all that jazz, so we just react to - and have to cope with - the situation we find ourselves in

the list you quoted is pretty hilarious... sounds just like where I am (Texas)

not all of those things amaze me though - we had some of those weird church names, just for instance, in my part of London... and I avoid others, such as the bagging issues, by always taking my own bags to the supermarket (which is always an adventure, as I don't think it's at all common, but everyone's been nice about it so far... my accent always causes questions, so I guess they put it down to the vagaries of a furriner )

however, some things are just not that easy - take recycling, just for one... I think I would have made about twenty phone calls on that subject, to all manner of people, each of whom referred me on to someone else... I even attended a recent meeting of the HOA, which I would have done anyway, but my prime reason was to find out why recycling has been withdrawn from my neighbourhood... the answer? 'very few people participated'

so on my morning walks I see garbage bins STUFFED with aluminium cans and glass bottles and paper and so on, and I stack all my recyclables in the garage in a series of neat boxes, and every six weeks or so we drive down to the closest drop-off point (which is about twenty minutes away - the phone calls resulted in one piece of information at least ) and throw everything in the skips... I won't be letting it end there, but I have to be honest: I really don't know where to start with it

as for some of your other advice - I agree with it wholeheartedly in principle, but the practice can be somewhat different! go to local restaurants? try finding one! I think I've found something new and interesting, and then my husband says he 'went to one in Georgia', or 'there's another one over by Highway X', and I say, all disappointed, 'it's another chain?'

I've started calling those places 'links', for obvious reasons

of course, there ARE some, just far fewer than I would like

and farmers' markets... oh boy, we have looked and LOOKED, and there are some good ones in our area, but most a reasonable drive away, and not a huge selection, and quite pricey, for the most part... there are few natural food stores, too, and those we have found are also on the expensive side, which, as I mentioned above, is a bit of an issue with the one salary thing

I think in the end the thing I'm noticing the most - and that will be the single biggest factor for me wanting to move back to Europe - is the set-up of places... these enclaves of neighbourhoods, all stop signs and low speed limits, with JUST houses, and a few exits out on to the main streets round the edge, and EVERYTHING, but EVERYTHING you could want to do a drive away... and the strip malls and other businesses are just so damn ugly! neon signs and ugly shoddy buildings and yuk yuk yuk everywhere you look... I'll live with it, because I have to, but I'll be actively investigating our options of getting out in a year or two

Edited August 1, 2008 by StillThePrettiest

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I can't believe you people don't think drive-through ATMs aren't amazing - I LOVE them!

Edited August 1, 2008 by rkl57

[newenglander 0]

Me again. I can't stay away.

Drive up windows at banks are a good thing, imho, they're great when it's snowing and freezing cold, also in the sweltering summer weather. Where I live it's either one way or the other most of the time. Better to use a drive up window than fall on the ice or to get all sweaty and yucky from walking.

I still can't believe you don't have recycling -- I think it's a LAW where I live.

Different parts of the country.

I think in the end the thing I'm noticing the most - and that will be the single biggest factor for me wanting to move back to Europe - is the set-up of places... these enclaves of neighbourhoods, all stop signs and low speed limits, with JUST houses, and a few exits out on to the main streets round the edge, and EVERYTHING, but EVERYTHING you could want to do a drive away... and the strip malls and other businesses are just so damn ugly! neon signs and ugly shoddy buildings and yuk yuk yuk everywhere you look...

I've seen that when I go anywhere near Boston or any other large city and it is SAD. They've taken lovely places and purposely made them UGLY. They'll take farmland and make it into enormous condos. SAD. It's all due to greed for money--whoever will sell off their land to get money for it and whoever buys it and wants to make even MORE MONEY. Everything here is MONEY. Where I live there is good zoning though, although the towns can vote to override the zoning laws and often they need the tax money that all these new developments would bring in.

It's happening here in New England too -- one day there are horses grazing and next time you pass by, there are condos and businesses. Some towns take a stand against it and do not allow these things, thank goodness. Some towns won't allow a Walmart or a McDonalds. I've read about areas of this country that have those tight little neighborhoods with HOAs (I think it means home owners associations) that enforce strict rules on the residents -- and it does sound surreal and horrible.

From what I'm reading here, I don't think I ever want to see the rest of the USA! I saw CA once a long time ago -- it was all crowded in with houses crammed next to more houses, not much greenery (plastic grass!!!!!!!!!!!!), and no character to the neighborhoods at all. No independently owned stores either. I wanted to go home immediately. If it was that bad back then, how bad is it now!

I have zero tolerance for what I hear about the South. Those crazy churches with their nut-case "preachers", the food, mostly fried -- I'd be obese if I lived down there, I just know it. No recycling? Huh????

I agree about the giving out of your SS # -- what's with that anyway? We were always told to never give it out to anyone, it's top secret -- and now everybody seems to ask for it. One rule I heard lately is to not give it to anyone you did not call on the phone yourself. Don't know if that helps very much.

My fiance complains about the UK but I'd rather live there because it's more like how it used to be HERE. I keep telling him, Wait until you actually LIVE here, wait until you try to get health insurance, wait until you have to pay a heating bill in winter and an electric bill in summer due to air conditioning, wait until I take you to a city where no one even speaks English (his big complaint about England), wait until you try to keep a car on the road with excise tax, yearly inspection, registration, high insurance, etc., wait until you want to use a mobile phone over here $$$$$$$$$$$$$$. He says tv is more expensive over here and you get a lot of nothing.

Wait for a summer heatwave or winter blizzard -- then see how much you like it here. (Actually blizzards can be fun, but it sounds better the other way. We plan to take up skiing.)

He misses our ice cream, the courteous treatment of customers in stores, lack of crime--he can't believe I leave the car unlocked with things on the front seat and no one ever takes anything, can't believe that farmers leave produce out for people to buy on the honor system --just put your money into the box).

He also says that if things don't work out here after two years, we can go and live in England.

Things I don't like about England -- too much drinking. Too much smoking. Clothing is more expensive. Fear of not being able to go to a dentist -- horror stories about that. People think it's HOT when it's in the 70s F -- but they still won't buy a simple FAN to cool off. (They wouldn't be able to complain then.) So far, in my visits, those are the things I cannot get used to.

That's plenty from me for now. LOL. I'm off to eat some freshly picked tomatoes!

[*julez* 124]

I can't believe you people don't think drive-through ATMs aren't amazing - I LOVE them!

I'm with Robin on this one! The drive thru ATM is one of life's great conveniences, especially when its 10F outside, which it is very often in my neck of the woods!

and then there's the frustrations of dealing with drive thru food service....

[Jeraly 4]

I can relate to the bag thing - Trader Joes actually pack bags properly and ENCOURAGE you to bring the bags (paper with handles ) to reuse them - that is great I keep forgetting though and we have a large pile of bags on the fridge (including my two co-op ones from the UK that I brought ) We don't have a garage which is really annoying - we have a tiny square piece of counter in the kitchen and when that gets full, it all goes into a carrier bag (after all - we have thousands - I really don't see the point of putting just one thing in a bag - wouldn't it be better to just carry it on its own???) and we take it to the next city over where they pay you to recycle - you get a voucher to use in the grocery store (which has a deli and stuff which is cool - fresh meat!).

But yeah - the bag thing really annoys me

[Alex & Rachel 78]

The very first thing that I noticed that honestly amazed me is --- a lot of fat people just anywhere you go. I mean, there are lots of fat people too in the Philippines, but not as fat as the fattest here. The second observation justified my first----the food servings in the restaurants are way too big for a single seating. Also, in the grocery shops, there is a special cart for obese people to ride. Do they need to exercise more? Anyway, these are just some of it, but eventually I gradually understand the culture I am in now.... so it's fine.

I have had the opposite experience. San Jose seems to be full of short, petite people of Asian or Latino descent. Walking around the malls I'm about 4 inches taller on average and probably 4 sizes bigger! On the plus side I may finally find clothes my size in the sales.

[pegbert64 0]

I can't believe you people don't think drive-through ATMs aren't amazing - I LOVE them!

I love them too! Now, if I can just learn not to scrape my rims on that darn curb that they put alongside the teller window, then my car might love them as well

[StillThePrettiest 4]

I can't believe you people don't think drive-through ATMs aren't amazing - I LOVE them!

I'm with Robin on this one! The drive thru ATM is one of life's great conveniences, especially when its 10F outside, which it is very often in my neck of the woods!

oh, I'd love drive-thru ATMs if I had a car to drive through with

and if they let me get a bank account...

...oh, and if they let me earn any money to put IN said bank account...

you know what? I hate bloody drive-thru ATMs

I was fortunate with the bag thing... I've spent quite a bit of time in Germany, where for AGES they've been recycling champions, and where for at least fifteen years you've had to pay for any plastic bags you wanted, along with your shopping (at least at some supermarkets; I can't speak for them all)

so when I was studying there (1993! egad) I got into the habit of always having a couple of calico bags in my shoulder bag, to pull out when necessary... my favourite shopping bag I bought back then, and it's still going strong (had to mend a tiny hole once), and I've used it in Germany, Australia, the UK and now the US

no joke, it fits about what would normally go in around five plastic bags... I can't even beGIN to imagine how many plastic bags it's saved me over the past fifteen years :D

[pegbert64 0]

I can relate to the bag thing - Trader Joes actually pack bags properly and ENCOURAGE you to bring the bags (paper with handles ) to reuse them - that is great I keep forgetting though and we have a large pile of bags on the fridge (including my two co-op ones from the UK that I brought ) We don't have a garage which is really annoying - we have a tiny square piece of counter in the kitchen and when that gets full, it all goes into a carrier bag (after all - we have thousands - I really don't see the point of putting just one thing in a bag - wouldn't it be better to just carry it on its own???) and we take it to the next city over where they pay you to recycle - you get a voucher to use in the grocery store (which has a deli and stuff which is cool - fresh meat!).

But yeah - the bag thing really annoys me

Back in Canada, there were some stores where you HAD to bag your own groceries. Thus, I have no trouble jumping in and bagging my own stuff here.... I always get a funny look from the clerks, but at least I know it will be done right; they think I'm helping THEM, but really I'm looking out for myself I've even had occassion to rebag something right infront of the bagger..... as in "soup cans do NOT go on top of the bread, thank you"

The other thing that I find strange is when they DON'T bag things (large juice bottles, 2liter sodas, etc). Not all of us have the luxury of driving into an enclosed garage, and carrying single items from the street doesn't make a lot of sense. I solve this by grabbing a couple of extra bags on the way out, and rearranging my groceries once I get to the car. Not a big deal, but I kind of think there is no point in doing something if it's not going to be done right the first time. Oh well!

[StillThePrettiest 4]

are there any supermarkets in the UK where you DON'T have to bag your own stuff? I was used to it - cashiers in Sydney were always like deer in the headlights when I produced my own bags, so I got used to doing it myself there - but some Aussie friends of mine took a while to come round to it

[StillThePrettiest 4]

and pegbert, why not keep some spare bags in the car, for that sort of situation, instead of always getting new ones? you could re-use the same ones a few times before they broke, or maybe even supply stronger ones of your own; maybe the sort you get clothes in (which, for some odd reason, are often tougher than the ones made to carry much heavier items)... maybe even keep a box in the boot (or trunk, for heathens ), which could be stacked full of stuff and then be carried inside

Edited August 1, 2008 by StillThePrettiest

[Jeraly 4]

Oh I've re-bagged in front of the bagger

[Marilyn. 340]

i have a whole collection now of those canvas bags things (some I got for free, some my mom made for me and some were like $1 each)..

I usually only use them at the grocery store though.. I love them for packing tins and heavy things..

[Reba 2]

canvas bags are really cheap to buy. Tonnes and tonnes of stores have them! Everyone from craft stores to "go green" on-line shops. Plus, a lot of stores sell their own re-usable canvas bags or made from recycled materials bags. Some are pricey (Harris Teeters are like $5! Aldi and Big Lots are like 99 cents!)

AC Moore

Michaels

lots and lots of selection at Eco-Bags

Oriental trading company

I have like 10 canvas bags that I've been using for several years. Most of them I got when I used to work for a software company. Any conference that we had we always got a canvas tote bag to carry away all our swag Each bag can carry about 5 - 2 litre bottles of pop. If I had to use the grocery store plastic bags for those, they usually only put 2 bottles per bag, and double bag 'em, so that I'd end up with 20 plastic bags every time I did shopping if I happened to forget to bring my bags with me.

I even take them now into clothing shops and K-Mart and Wall Mart. I get strange looks, but I really don't give a shite

[StillThePrettiest 4]

I have about twenty too, and I take them EVERYWHERE

sometimes I get a plastic bag for clothing, if the cloth bags are a bit manky and have been recently used for carrying fruit and milk and what have you, but we probably get less than one plastic bag per week