Things we take for granted in the USA

[Heracles 417]

Cherry Coke

Dr Pepper

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

The best chinese food I've had outside China/Hong Kong is here in LA - or more specifically Alhambra/Arcadia

I've been living in China for 8 years. After about 2 years, I stopped eating Chinese food here. I only eat "Chinese" food in the US, unless it is hot pot or Beijing duck. Of course, I live in the north of China. I hear it is much better in the Cantonese regions. Here it is meat chopped so that there is broken bone, flaps of undercooked skin and a little meat in each bite floating in oil with oversalted, overcooked bits of broccoli or undercooked potato, etc.

We had a 4 star Chinese restaurant in my small town in Louisiana where I grew up. I miss it.

I lived in Hong Kong - there are restaurants there that I think about and begin to weep I miss them so much. Probably a lot different than where you are!

[panamania79 2]

As in to eat or as in have a euphemistic baby...?

"They call me tater salad" - Ron White's pretty awesome American

And it's also awesome that whatshisface, the You Might Be a Redneck dude, is like, the biggest selling comedian um...ever or something in the US, because he's never actually been funny That's great.

Also great:

Andy Griffith show

You mean Jeff Foxworthy ?

I don't know but for some reason I could never get into the Andy Griffith Show.

[Imua 0]

A two day weekend - I was shocked to find out that Nepal observes a 6-day work and school week - but then there are so many Buddhist and Hindu holidays not to mention 'bandhas' they still get a lot of time off.

[Jack and Barbara 0]

QUOTE(Jack and Barbara @ Mar 24 2008, 10:46 AM)

QUOTE

Drive thru ATM's

Drive thru beer stores

I have never seen a drive-thru liquor store in the USA.They have them in Panama though.

There are drive-thru beer stores in states such as Pennsylvania, for instance.

[RIDION 0]

Toilet paper & paper towels in public restrooms...

No machine guns greeting you at every mall, banks, etc.

Edited March 25, 2008 by RIDION

[GabiandVi 34]

QUOTE(Jack and Barbara @ Mar 24 2008, 10:46 AM)

QUOTE

Drive thru ATM's

Drive thru beer stores

I have never seen a drive-thru liquor store in the USA.They have them in Panama though.

There are drive-thru beer stores in states such as Pennsylvania, for instance.

In Texas they are called Party Barns, I believe.

In New Orleans, we had drive thru dacquiri shops. We didn't have open container laws. That may have changed since I moved abroad 12 years ago.

[Susita 175]

QUOTE(Jack and Barbara @ Mar 24 2008, 10:46 AM)

QUOTE

Drive thru ATM's

Drive thru beer stores

I have never seen a drive-thru liquor store in the USA.They have them in Panama though.

There are drive-thru beer stores in states such as Pennsylvania, for instance.

In Texas they are called Party Barns, I believe.

In New Orleans, we had drive thru dacquiri shops. We didn't have open container laws. That may have changed since I moved abroad 12 years ago.

One great thing about America -

Fresh Milk.

Not canned, boxed or powdered

Straight from the cow's utter (well pasteurized and homogenized)

but you get my drift.

There was none of that in Perú. It just seems wrong.

Is there a severe cow shortage in South America?

[panamania79 2]

QUOTE(Jack and Barbara @ Mar 24 2008, 10:46 AM)

QUOTE

Drive thru ATM's

Drive thru beer stores

I have never seen a drive-thru liquor store in the USA.They have them in Panama though.

There are drive-thru beer stores in states such as Pennsylvania, for instance.

In Texas they are called Party Barns, I believe.

In New Orleans, we had drive thru dacquiri shops. We didn't have open container laws. That may have changed since I moved abroad 12 years ago.

One great thing about America -

Fresh Milk.

Not canned, boxed or powdered

Straight from the cow's utter (well pasteurized and homogenized)

but you get my drift.

There was none of that in Perú. It just seems wrong.

Is there a severe cow shortage in South America?

I hate milk so I really hadn't noticed.

[CarolynRitesh 0]

Skim milk... You can get all kinds of fresh milk in India, but it is always thick and heavy - which has its own charms, but sometimes I just want it light! I also miss milk that stays fresh for more than a day or two!

Big refrigerators - while tri-weekly trips for fresh veggies, etc. is healthier I'm sure, it can be a pain in the a$$!

[Enlighten one :) 5]

Clean and free restrooms at public parks, beaches.

Ah yes, I forgot. Not paying to use a public restroom. I seriously thought it was a joke the first time I saw it.

Oh yeah - I remember going to Germany for the first time at 17 and being like ' WHAT??? You have to pay to take a whiz?????'

Old Orchard Beach Maine has a pay per use bathroom on West Grand Ave. As a person living in a tourist area, I would love to charge more for tourist to use our highways to lessoning the cost of the local people.

[JeroenAndMichelle 28]

Clean and free restrooms at public parks, beaches.

Ah yes, I forgot. Not paying to use a public restroom. I seriously thought it was a joke the first time I saw it.

Oh you have free public restrooms in Germany and such as well but yah, I rather just hold it then to have to go there as it is usually a dump

Anyways, regarding this topic, reading through it really made me think and compare it all to my own country and I see so many people posting things which we also take for granted in Europe, it actually made me realize I am already so blessed. As for the states, I don't know... I see some pros but a lot of cons as well.

Pros for me would be that I will live with my sweet wifey, the weather, cheap food, cheap cars and such. Finally a chance to start my own business and such.

Cons would be simple things which I will have to miss like lots of the Dutch foods and the foods that are imported here and nowhere to be found in the state I'm going to live on in the US. Healthcare in the US is good but only if you got insurance, over here they fix you up first and then ask about your insurance, meaning you will live to tell and some other stuffs.

Oh well, I give a little and take a little in this scenario which is a good thing in my opinion ^^

[Enlighten one :) 5]

God! or your chosen higher self!

[CarolynRitesh 0]

God! or your chosen higher self!

Hmm... That one does not seemed to be limited to the US, we certainly have that freedom/ability to do that in India.

[eekee 182]

Not having to worry about my friends who are asian or just darker-featured being beat up/stabbed/having their throat slit by neo-nazis, and also not having to walk by racist graffiti all the time.

My university in the US has never not had paper because someone embezzled 20 million dollars.

Policeman in the US do not go around trying to get bribes from people and are actually there to help me (although i realize this could also be different if i were of a different race/gender).

Not having to register and being able to live in whatever US city or state I please.

You generally won't find a used heroin needle in your mailbox in the US.

Not having my boobs grabbed or my ### smacked by drunk strangers as they walk by.

Not being grinded into by drunk middle-aged men on transport so crowded you can't move.

Traffic lights actually work.

Drivers stick to the road and don't drive on sidewalks.

Not being unpleasantly surprised by an unflushing toilet because the hot water is turned off.

Not having to live without hot water in the summer.

Being able to drink the tap water.