Whats the most benign / innocent thing you like the most in the US?

[TBoneTX 45,288]

Oh, gosh -- great observations.

Carpet is probably less frequently found in tropical or equatorial countries, because of humidity.

That's dead-nuts on about paper. In Ecuador, the KFC gives you one teeny-tiny napkin (as though it would be adequate when eating fried chicken by hand). I rapidly learned to carry copious pocketsful of fast-food napkins from the U.S. Even the Ecu natives (Mrs. T-B.'s family) appreciated it when I whipped some out and offered them.

The napkins also came in handy at one of Mrs. T-B.'s hen-parties, at an outdoor pub with her hyskool girlfriends. They kept leaving to go to the bathroom, and I would hand each a napkin beforehand.

Mrs. T-B. explained that few Ecu bathrooms have toilet paper, because people steal it.

Even in Mexican border-towns, the paper products are wimpy in comparison to those in the U.S. An exception was in a motel in Ojinaga, Mexico, where the toilet paper was narrower than I prefer but otherwise of excellent quality. I magically ended up with a couple of rolls as souvenirs.

[heo luoi 206]

https://www.ted.com/talks/joe_smith_how_to_use_a_paper_towel?language=en

Educate your friends!

Oh, gosh -- great observations.

Carpet is probably less frequently found in tropical or equatorial countries, because of humidity.

That's dead-nuts on about paper. In Ecuador, the KFC gives you one teeny-tiny napkin (as though it would be adequate when eating fried chicken by hand). I rapidly learned to carry copious pocketsful of fast-food napkins from the U.S. Even the Ecu natives (Mrs. T-B.'s family) appreciated it when I whipped some out and offered them.

The napkins also came in handy at one of Mrs. T-B.'s hen-parties, at an outdoor pub with her hyskool girlfriends. They kept leaving to go to the bathroom, and I would hand each a napkin beforehand.

Mrs. T-B. explained that few Ecu bathrooms have toilet paper, because people steal it.

Even in Mexican border-towns, the paper products are wimpy in comparison to those in the U.S. An exception was in a motel in Ojinaga, Mexico, where the toilet paper was narrower than I prefer but otherwise of excellent quality. I magically ended up with a couple of rolls as souvenirs.

[TBoneTX 45,288]

I might have mentioned coupons, above.

"Frequent-shopper" or customer-loyalty programs are probably also unfamiliar concepts in many countries. Mrs. T-B. was at first puzzled when I told her to present the Kroger or CVS card at point of sale, but when she grasped the purpose, she became enthusiastic.

Sidebar story: On the above trip to Ojinaga, I visited the only huge store in town -- called Al Super -- much like a Super Target, perhaps, with the addition of a manned butcher-counter. At the checkout register, the cashieress asked me something in Spanish, which of course I didn't understand. A bagger, who spoke a little English, said that she was asking me whether I had a frequent-shopper card. I regretfully muttered that I was a tourist, and they were gracious about it.

https://www.ted.com/talks/joe_smith_how_to_use_a_paper_towel?language=en

Educate your friends!

Don't these people have anything better to do?

[SunflowerSweet 1,321]

My fiancé claims the food service is much faster here, and loves the fact that you can easily take your extra food home with you from a restaurant. Apparently that is not common in the UK, or at least according to him!

[heo luoi 206]

Cashieress? Another first for me....love it. hehe.

Do people 'want' to bring food home in UK? sounds like its not that great ?! hehe j/k. Portion sizes probably aren't 'american' either.

My fiancé claims the food service is much faster here, and loves the fact that you can easily take your extra food home with you from a restaurant. Apparently that is not common in the UK, or at least according to him!

Edited October 16, 2015 by heo luoi

[TBoneTX 45,288]

My fiancé claims the food service is much faster here, and loves the fact that you can easily take your extra food home with you from a restaurant. Apparently that is not common in the UK, or at least according to him!

Sorry, but this brings to mind an off-topic sidebar:

An Englishman was touring the U.S. farm belt. Impressed with the crop production, he asked his host, "And what is done with all of this?"

"We eat what we can and what we can't, we can," said the host.

The Englishman found this to be hilarious, and he told his friends about it upon his return to England.

"And you know what the Colonist said to me?" he asked. "He said, 'We eat what we are able and what we cannot eat, we put into tins.'"

Edited October 16, 2015 by TBoneTX

[heo luoi 206]

TBone you couldnt possibly have watched it in the time you responded! #disappointed

I might have mentioned coupons, above.

"Frequent-shopper" or customer-loyalty programs are probably also unfamiliar concepts in many countries. Mrs. T-B. was at first puzzled when I told her to present the Kroger or CVS card at point of sale, but when she grasped the purpose, she became enthusiastic.

Sidebar story: On the above trip to Ojinaga, I visited the only huge store in town -- called Al Super -- much like a Super Target, perhaps, with the addition of a manned butcher-counter. At the checkout register, the cashieress asked me something in Spanish, which of course I didn't understand. A bagger, who spoke a little English, said that she was asking me whether I had a frequent-shopper card. I regretfully muttered that I was a tourist, and they were gracious about it.

Don't these people have anything better to do?

[TBoneTX 45,288]

1. Cashieress? Another first for me....love it.

2. Portion sizes probably aren't 'american' either.

1. Actor, actress; tiger, tigress; cashier, cashieress; dude, dudess... moderator, moderatrix...

2. Nothing is American-sized except our waistlines. I wonder how many cultures never experience eating leftover pizza for breakfast.

[heo luoi 206]

I officially propose Tbone start a Google Hangout VJ ESL Course he self moderates alongside one Mrs Tbone.

Just take my money.

1. Actor, actress; tiger, tigress; cashier, cashieress; dude, dudess... moderator, moderatrix...

2. Nothing is American-sized except our waistlines. I wonder how many cultures never experience eating leftover pizza for breakfast.

Edited October 16, 2015 by heo luoi

[TBoneTX 45,288]

Here's the first joint lesson:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/382775-mrs-t-b-the-citizenship-test/

[heo luoi 206]

Thats already been bookmarked.

[TBoneTX 45,288]

The sign of an intelligent, well-educated member!

[Jawaree 717]

Sample freebies in the mailbox I found awesome as a kid

[TBoneTX 45,288]

I asked Mrs. T-B. directly. She said, "The size and variety of so many stores, and all the sales." In thinking about the stores in Ecu, I can definitely see her point.

[jfgk1987 303]

Apparently my husband's internet in Canada had a monthly data cap. How silly!