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General discussionNational/local weirdness(178 posts)(178 posts)
(178 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted September 22, 2015
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JudasIscariot: In Poland. shaking someone's hand without taking a glove off is considered offensive. Yes, this means you have to take your glove off in winter before shaking someone's hand.
Isn't it also rude to refuse to help the other two guys screw the light bulb in? *rimshot*
Posted September 22, 2015
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JudasIscariot: In Poland. shaking someone's hand without taking a glove off is considered offensive. Yes, this means you have to take your glove off in winter before shaking someone's hand.
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tinyE: Isn't it also rude to refuse to help the other two guys screw the light bulb in? *rimshot*
Only if they are helping to turn the house :P
Another bit of weirdness that some people might not know about :)

If you see someone in Poland standing near a bus stop and waving their arm in front of them, they aren't crazy, they are simply telling the bus driver to stop there and pick them up as the bus stop may be a "by request" (na żądanie) stop and if the passenger DOESN'T do this the bus will just drive right on by :)
Post edited September 22, 2015 by JudasIscariot
Posted September 22, 2015
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ZFR: In Ireland you almost always get two separate taps in a sink. One for hot and one for cold water. No idea why.
It doesn't help that the water in one is scorching hot and in the other freezing cold.
I see that only in old houses. I think you are supposed to mix the hot water with the cold water in the sink, like you would do before plumbing was common. Old habits, I suppose... Plus, it is easier to connect the taps that way.
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blotunga: In Germany tap water is actually good btw. Also many people don't drink plain water, they instead prefer the bubbling variant.
I was told that Germans only drink mineral bottled water. Probably a bit of an over generalization.
Posted September 22, 2015
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ZFR: In Ireland you almost always get two separate taps in a sink. One for hot and one for cold water. No idea why.
It doesn't help that the water in one is scorching hot and in the other freezing cold.
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Gede: I see that only in old houses. I think you are supposed to mix the hot water with the cold water in the sink, like you would do before plumbing was common. Old habits, I suppose... Plus, it is easier to connect the taps that way.
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blotunga: In Germany tap water is actually good btw. Also many people don't drink plain water, they instead prefer the bubbling variant.
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Gede: I was told that Germans only drink mineral bottled water. Probably a bit of an over generalization.
What I said :D

And nope - it's not a generalisation. In restaurants, if you ask for water, they will serve mineral water and Most people will also buy crates of mineral water and will serve this to you rather than offering you tap water. One interesting thing I liked about Germany was the practice of charging for bottles and cans - there's like a 15/25c charge on every bottle you buy, but this is refundable at most stores. You return the bottle and get a receipt that you can use towards a new purchase. Not only does this encourage recycling, but it also gives homeless people a means of income, so if you see people digging in rubbish bins and pulling out bottles, you'll now think better of them... Or not.
Posted September 22, 2015
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B0SC0: One interesting thing I liked about Germany was the practice of charging for bottles and cans - there's like a 15/25c charge on every bottle you buy, but this is refundable at most stores. You return the bottle and get a receipt that you can use towards a new purchase.
The returning of bottles happens here but so far I've only seen it with beer bottles >.>
Posted September 22, 2015
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B0SC0: One interesting thing I liked about Germany was the practice of charging for bottles and cans - there's like a 15/25c charge on every bottle you buy, but this is refundable at most stores. You return the bottle and get a receipt that you can use towards a new purchase.
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JudasIscariot: The returning of bottles happens here but so far I've only seen it with beer bottles >.>
I wondered about that since I see people digging through trash all the time >.>... I've also seen some other "interesting" homeless behaviours I'd rather unsee. Where can you return them though? I've never seen a machine in any of the shops I've visited, though shops in Germany would have machines at the entrance that handle the recycling
Posted September 22, 2015
Stuff about my country is literally a click-bait meme!
Speaking of which I can related to almost all of these but can I ask whether it's REALLY just a British thing or if people from other countries worry about leaving shops without purchase or job across Zebra crossings? (does anyone else even CALL them 'zebra crossings'?)
http://www.tickld.com/x/30-problems-only-british-people-will-understand
Posted September 22, 2015
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JudasIscariot: The returning of bottles happens here but so far I've only seen it with beer bottles >.>
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B0SC0: I wondered about that since I see people digging through trash all the time >.>... I've also seen some other "interesting" homeless behaviours I'd rather unsee. Where can you return them though? I've never seen a machine in any of the shops I've visited, though shops in Germany would have machines at the entrance that handle the recycling
You can go to a local store that will take them. Most of the mom-and-pop sized stores AKA "warzywniak" will take certain beer bottles back as a "kaucja" but not all brands, though.

If you see them looking through the trash bins they're either looking for cans or unfinished cigarettes.
Posted September 22, 2015
TIL - Cheers Judas *^_^*

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Fever_Discordia: http://www.tickld.com/x/30-problems-only-british-people-will-understand
What's with the author and hairdressers... We call 'em Zebra crossings in Ireland... For non-British/Irish natives, is there any other nation where J-walking is a national past-time, rather than an enforceable crime at 4 in the morning, when there' NO TRAFFIC AROUND?
Posted September 22, 2015
Tipping: in restaurants, servers don't make minimum wage. They might make $3USD/hour. I don't know what asshat thought it was a good idea, but they don't. Instead, they make most of their income through tips left at the end of the meal. I have traveled to Mexico and England and tried to leave tips not thinking, and given very odd looks. 15% of bill is average tip, 20% is for excellent service, 10% is a F- you. No tip? Don't go back, they will remember you and do things to your food ;)

We are loud and friendly (for the most part), but are very serious about personal space. We don't like people being too close, and strangers touching you, unless it's a handshake, is weird. If there is a park bench or bus seats that are empty and you sit close to someone, they will appear agitated.

Flags!! They are everywhere! And not just US flags: state flags, sports flags, war flags (POW: MIA, etc), peace flags, rights flags (gay, etc), ethnic flags (polish, irish, italian). Flags saying places are open, having sales; it just goes on and on.
Posted September 23, 2015
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Crewdroog: Flags!! They are everywhere! And not just US flags: state flags, sports flags, war flags (POW: MIA, etc), peace flags, rights flags (gay, etc), ethnic flags (polish, irish, italian). Flags saying places are open, having sales; it just goes on and on.
That is an unfair stereotype! I'll have you know that this guy is NOT an American! :P
Posted September 23, 2015
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Fever_Discordia: Stuff about my country is literally a click-bait meme!
Speaking of which I can related to almost all of these but can I ask whether it's REALLY just a British thing or if people from other countries worry about leaving shops without purchase or job across Zebra crossings? (does anyone else even CALL them 'zebra crossings'?)
http://www.tickld.com/x/30-problems-only-british-people-will-understand
Number 5 is a quite common feeling here in Poland, at least for me, as the stores have only ONE particular exit that you can go through before you leave the store and there is usually a security guard scowling at you as you leave. I make sure to look as non-threatening and hope to God that nothing in my inventory sets the alarm off for some unknown reason :D

Number 7 I know I do myself when crossing "zebra crossings" (we call them "pasy" or "stripes" here) that are NOT in front of a traffic light. I consider it a kind gesture towards the driver because I know they have to be someplace as well so why hold them up?

Number 11 seems to be a British thing as some of the CVs we've seen were a wee bit on the opposite side of modest :D

Number 12 i\would be a common occurrence here as no one eats crunchy foods at their desk as a snack :)

Number 19...oh man, I suffer that one a lot myself, not sure about other people in the office :) Do I use a smiley in this email three times or can I just leave it as-is? Oh the suffering of the written word...

Number 22...depends on how close I am to the person in question as I'm near-sighted and I would hate to have an awkward conversation with someone about how they look like someone I know :D


As for the rest, Poles seem to be a bit opposite of Brits :) They'll happily tell their hairdresser/barber that the water is too hot and they can rattle off a succession of "dzięki!" (thanks!) when it comes to having a succession of doors held open for them :)
Posted September 23, 2015
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B0SC0: TIL - Cheers Judas *^_^*

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Fever_Discordia: http://www.tickld.com/x/30-problems-only-british-people-will-understand
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B0SC0: What's with the author and hairdressers... We call 'em Zebra crossings in Ireland... For non-British/Irish natives, is there any other nation where J-walking is a national past-time, rather than an enforceable crime at 4 in the morning, when there' NO TRAFFIC AROUND?
Here, you're perfectly allowed to walk at red light, as long as you're not disturbing the traffic. Not that people care much, as they frequently cross the street regardless of whether or not there are cars passing by, or whether or not there's even a crosswalk there at all - there might very well be one five metres to either side, or even both sides.
Posted September 23, 2015
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ZFR: In Ireland you almost always get two separate taps in a sink. One for hot and one for cold water. No idea why.
It doesn't help that the water in one is scorching hot and in the other freezing cold.
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Luned: Both double and single-handle faucets are common in the US nowadays, depending on personal preference. If you're replacing a broken faucet set, but not the entire sink, you buy a replacement that fits the sort of sink you have (single-hole or three-hole). If you're going completely new, you buy whatever sink+faucet combo you prefer aesthetically/functionally.
looking at the comments from others and also from personal experience Americans seem to be the only people who actually call them 'faucets' - what's that about? Seems a bit overly grand and posh for a simple tap!
Posted September 23, 2015
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B0SC0: TIL - Cheers Judas *^_^*

What's with the author and hairdressers... We call 'em Zebra crossings in Ireland... For non-British/Irish natives, is there any other nation where J-walking is a national past-time, rather than an enforceable crime at 4 in the morning, when there' NO TRAFFIC AROUND?
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Maighstir: Here, you're perfectly allowed to walk at red light, as long as you're not disturbing the traffic. Not that people care much, as they frequently cross the street regardless of whether or not there are cars passing by, or whether or not there's even a crosswalk there at all - there might very well be one five metres to either side, or even both sides.
Jaywalking will get you ticketed here...even if you are crossing the street at 4 AM and the city guard happens to catch you doing so :)
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussionNational/local weirdness(178 posts)(178 posts)
(178 posts)