Things I've had to explain about the U.S.

[Cassie 8]

Well, as the immigrant, I've had to have a few things explained to me. Nothing major (I only moved 4 hours south of where I grew up in Canada) but one of my favorites was when we were discussing taking a trip.

We haven't had a honeymoon yet and when I mentioned that I thought Hawaii would be nice for us (relatively close, tropical, CAPS hasn't been there) we went through pros and cons of it. And then I mentioned that we'd need to get his passport in order before we went. (I hadn't been thinking clearly, obviously.)

The look on his face was priceless. And now I can't bring up Hawaii without him making a comment that he doesn't have his passport yet.

Sorry hun, TOO funny

[Jaylen Brit 0]

That sales tax thing I find iritating - I like having my money ready at the til, and I STILl do it even tho I expereinced the sales tax 'add-on' when I was in Ca. So..this means I can never get the right money which means I'm always carrying around about 3 ton of small change

Something that Len always nags me over is: 'its a YARD not a garden - gardens are just areas full of flowers'

To me a 'back yard' is like a paved over tiny, pokey area..usually cos the house has no space at the back.

[ceriserose 1]

Well, as the immigrant, I've had to have a few things explained to me. Nothing major (I only moved 4 hours south of where I grew up in Canada) but one of my favorites was when we were discussing taking a trip.

We haven't had a honeymoon yet and when I mentioned that I thought Hawaii would be nice for us (relatively close, tropical, CAPS hasn't been there) we went through pros and cons of it. And then I mentioned that we'd need to get his passport in order before we went. (I hadn't been thinking clearly, obviously.)

The look on his face was priceless. And now I can't bring up Hawaii without him making a comment that he doesn't have his passport yet.

We booked our tickets to Hawaii this past Friday to finally take our honeymoon in May. I will finally have enough vacation time from work again. I guess it's a good thing I have my passport alread

We're going to Oahu for a week starting May 13th. We'll be at the Outrigger Reef on the beach We've never been to a Luau and couldn't decide which one sounded the best, so we signed up for 2 different ones.

*highly jealous aura*

I liked Oahu. I was there by myself for a week, about 2 blocks off the beach. I felt completely safe being a single female there. (I'd also just come from 10 days on Maui with a bunch of people for a wedding, so the week by myself was soooo relaxing after that.) I still haven't been to a Luau...maybe when we finally get there together we will try it out.

I hope you two have a fantastic honeymoon!

Sorry hun, TOO funny

LOL 'sok, I don't post it about myself unless I can take the goodnatured ribbing on it.

[john_and_marlene 162]

*highly jealous aura*

<---- Outrigger Reef on the Beach

Edited February 13, 2006 by john_and_marlene

[I'm Gone 60]

hello, not to pick on you or anything...but if your wife-to-be went to school and finished college (and even if she didn't...she watched enough movies/tv and/or read books/newpapers/magazines)...you don't really need to explain to her the falling leaves or how the government of the US works. as i can remember, it was covered in my Science and World History/Government classes...in highschool..

Well I guess my wife was absent on the days they covered how the U.S. government works, because she took the citizenship test and before she started studying she didn't have a clue to the answer of any of the questions, except for maybe the name of the president and vice president.

[ceriserose 1]

*highly jealous aura*

<---- Outrigger Reef on the Beach

You know, I'm not above calling you a #######.

It does look heavenly though! You'd better enjoy it or else!

[john_and_marlene 162]

1. Deciduous trees. Why we don't cut them down when the leaves all fall off.

um, WHAT kind of tree?

my wife asked me when she first came here last month if all the trees were dead! And the first thing she asked about snow was could she eat it, so I told her the rule of yellow.

Marlene was reading this thread tonight ... I just explained yellow snow

[Texanadian 10]

It was a hot day in Texas. This was before I'd gone down to meet her for the 1st time. I was in British Columbia. I said to her Wow it's hot there today. You must have all the doors and windows wide open.

No. Why would I do that?

Well isn't it hot?

I have the air conditioning on (she lives in an apartment).

You have a window unit in the living room?

No silly. I have central air conditioning.

That absolutely floored me. Even $500,000 houses here don't have air conditioning let alone apartments. I couldn't figure out why the builders would shell out that much money so that each apartment had central air conditioning.

Houston has U-turns absolutely everywhere. Where I'm from, U-turns are either illegal or frowned upon. In Houston they are big enough that two cars can turn at the same time. I couldn't figure out why they would pass each other so the other car was next to your driver door. Wouldn't it be easier to cut the corner tight and not go around the other person?......No, because if you did that you wouldn't be able to see the oncoming traffic.

She couldn't believe it when I told her you can turn left on a red light here.

Lots of differences in food.

She's explained the whole sophmore, freshman thing a million times but I still don't get it.

I couldn't figure out what the "HC" signs on the highways meant. (Hazardous Cargo)

Had never heard of a co-pay before until she told me how her health care worked.

Tipping is a whole new ballgame in the US.

Her son told me about the 13 stripes representing the 13 colonies. I had never even considered that they might have any background significance. I just knew of the 50 stars = 50 states bit.

[chocolaterie 0]

I once had to explain milk bags to my husband.. Of course the only ones who will understand this are the Canadians out there... so i guess that one was backwards.. lol

[dollface41601 0]

Im probably gonna get beat up for this....but i blame the poor public schools here in Jordan. Now i consider my husband a very bright man, but he didnt study US history in school....so he is always confused on what is a state vs. major city...I know it sounds kind of dumb, but he though detroit was a state...lol...i pulled up a US map on the comp and taught him everything....also the fact that my grandparents are in the next state over (indiana) but it takes 4 hours to get there.....why it costs 100$ for a women to get her hair colored, and u still have to tip....the whole "free refills" on sodas at restaurants boggles him..(most places in jordan serve cans) drive thru banks...so many things, and he hasnt even been in the US yet...its only from things we have talked about

[MarieAnastasia 0]

Our biggest laugh was when Bruce starting talking about his 'dooryard'!! And I'm like, "What did you say?'....He explained and I tease him about it all the time. A dooryard is their yard in Maine.

He got a kick out of me saying, 'dem, dere'........we have a tendency to drop our 'h's so our t's sound like d's ...I asked him one day if they have a landfill of R's in Maine (they drop theirs) and he came back with 'Yes, it's right next to your landfill of H's'............ ......{{{{HUGS}}}}

[mandolinv 0]

Tornados

[LenJayUS 0]

Let's not forget... for you Brits out there... don't come here and go to the store and ask for a box of fags..... the person behind the counter might get really, really mad at you :-)

Jay mentioned the whole Garden/Yard thingie....

I think there was a conversation about what a tub was... as in a bath tub....

way too early in the morning for me to try and remember these things lol.

Hopefully it won't take her long to realize that most people pay for things with a debit card now, not cash... so the tax thing isn't a problem :-)

She's asked me about all these water towers around.. why are they up in the air... I never knew of them to be any way other then up in the air.. so no clue why they are :-)

There's definately more.. but lack of sleep and all... lol

[Jaylen Brit 0]

garden tub dear - which u told me was some kind of bath tub..which sounds so weird to me, lol.

And yes, why ARE those water towers up in the air like that? Anyone know?

[Welshcookie 17]

I do remember on first visit to the US and we drove into Sandestin FL, I asked why there was so much limey white deposit on the side of the road....to which he replied....

"THAT... Baby....is sand....welcome to the Emerald Coast"

*sigh*....memories....

Edited February 20, 2006 by welshcookie