What's a common practice or tradition in your country that the rest of the world thinks is really bizarre?

[Siri137]

In New Zealand and Australia, you might often see people in public without any shoes on. Now, to me that's weird, so I can only imagine what foreigners must think ("There are a lot of poor people here who can't afford shoes"). I've heard that Europeans and Asians think the common American practice of wearing shoes indoors is strange, but we do that too, and I don't think it's strange.

[KostasKouvalis]

Really? Are their feet sexy? :p

As for US, small talk with strangers seems to be one that comes up a lot. I don't know if everyone things that, because I know in the whole of the Americas they don't. But I know a lot of Europeans and Asians find it strange that someone would just randomly start talking to a stranger.

Wearing pajamas and slippers in public is also a popular one

Our obsession with veterans/soldiers and giving them special treatment. In other countries, soldiers are treated as regular people and don't demand special treatment either.

And one big one, is Americans are huge sticklers when it comes to obeying rules and laws, often to the point that it becomes paranoia. Whereas in other countries, people are more laid back and flexible when it comes to rules.

Also, filming people's bad behavior and posting it online, and crime suspects having their full names and pictures plastered all over the news. And also, weird sentences like 200 years or 3 consecutive live sentences.

Damn, the U. S. has A LOT!

[Siri137]

Ah yes, "small talk"! I HATE that too! We're cursed with it as well. I get strangers, usually old men, just start talking to me when I'm (for example) in a shopping queue, waiting my turn. Ugh! I always try to say as little as possible, just to be polite, but wish they'd just go away.

[KostasKouvalis]

LOL. Yeah, I figured NZ and Australia were similar in that aspect. With me, it depends on my mood and who's doing the small talk.

[DarkLegacy]

The last three are the same in the UK

[purplepoppy]

The small talk thing varies across the UK, in London, it's a definite no but here in Wales its very common. You will occasionally see low class people in pyjamas in 24hr supermarkets buying beer at 1am as for obeying the law, this might amuse you www.independent.co.uk/.../...nthorpe-b2458049.html

[KostasKouvalis]

@purplepoppy I'm so confused, because I would've done the same thing. Couldn't they get run over if someone went through the intersection they were crossing? I'm so confused about why what they did was wrong.
Also, he could've told them, he didn't have to be a dick about it😂

I still think the US and UK are similar in many aspects.

https://youtu.be/PT0ay9u1gg4?si=YIkjiQTqCeeV7OSI

[purplepoppy]

They weren't crossing the road they thought that the lights were for the pavement.

[KostasKouvalis]

@purplepoppy Okay yeah. It looked like they were turning, but the video cut off so I wasn't sure. In that case yeah, that's funny as hell, but how did the guy know they weren't crossing?
I'll admit, as an American, that is a weird way to set up a traffic light

[Dhi99]

Yes , in Aus it is common. Roads are a lot cleaner here due to the small population.

by the way.

Do you think she knew who I was when she texted me (via her private number) or do you think she just texted without checking who it was ( without realising that it was my number) ?

Context: I came across her at the bus stop and I asked her for her number. I am not her client but she gave me her work mobile number not her private number. I didn't realise this until yesterday. I have sent her happy new year text etc to this work number. I even called this number and spoke to her. All this time it seemed to me that it was her number.

However, yesterday when I gave a call, she no longer had that phone. Someone else now was carrying that work number. Yesterday, I gave a call to her work mobile, her colleague picked it up. I asked for her, the colleague said she was not in the office. I asked for her number but the colleague hesitated to give her number. The colleague told me that she d text her. The colleague did not ask for my name ( therefore this means perhaps that previously the girl has saved my number in this work phone)

The girl in question texted me after 10 minutes (not from work mobile) but her private number. This is the first time I realised that she had another number. Her text was saying “ you gave a call to XYZ company hotline (mobile number which she previously gave me) and my colleague said you were looking for me. How could I help you “ . She did not write my name. But I have a feeling she knew that it was me. Because will a girl call from her private number to some unknown person who called the work mobile?

[NathanDavis]

I've heard of two which are funny... and they're actually kind of true

if you're lost in Mexico and ask for directions... most people won't say "they don't know" and many will just send you towards their best guest even if not accurate, or just an entirely wrong direction lmfao... but I hear that they will never say "don't know"

the other might be entirely true... if you ask a Mexican just how spicy hot a certain hot sauce is, they will say "it's not, or not at all" when it actually can be hot AF... but they are no longer able to tell the difference... lmao, just assume that any hot sauce in Mexico is always going to be fairly above a jalapeño at the very least

[Smashingdoozy]

When I went to NZ I thought it was weird, I was struggling to get my shoes on my wet feet before crossing the road from the beach... My friend who is a Kiwi was walking on the hot road like it was nothing then walked barefoot into the store 🤯 took a while to get use to but the cold store floor feels so good after the hot road 😂

Now that I live in the UK. It's tea, everyone drinks so much tea, it's rude to say no to tea, no matter how hot it is outside you have a cuppa tea if you're visiting. With biscuits of course

[purplepoppy]

Given Australia is awash with poisonous snakes and spiders that just want to bite you, I'm not sure going barefooted is wise.

Like most Western countries we have St Valentine's Day but we've also got St Dwynwen's Day three weeks earlier which is practically the same thing.

[exitseven]

In America restaurants have drive through windows and people eat while they drive.

[Siri137]

Drive-throughs exist in other parts of the world though, and even though I don't eat while driving, I sometimes drink coffee (my car has coffee-cup holders).

[exitseven]

It is a whole cultural thing/

[goaded]

I think eating while driving is illegal in Aus.

[goaded]

It's not as bad as nearly everybody in Australia openly wearing thongs. :)

In the UK, salt and vinegar on fish and chips (even though it's delicious!). In Germany: Sauerkraut. Perhaps I've been here too long, but it's delicious with mayonnaise, which disgusts Brits and Germans equally!

[goaded]

Even the men wear thongs!

[Siri137]

Mayonnaise on sauerkraut? YUCK!

[goaded]

Try it, it's yummy! In my defence, I also like Marmite and Vegemite.

[Siri137]

Yeah, I hate those as well.

[WhiteSteve]

Probably everyone walking around with guns on them. Wild shit, lmao.

[goaded]

Oh hell, yes!

[wiltingrosepetal]

Nah, going shoeless is nothing. Foreigners get really freaked out over us riding kangaroos everywhere. I used to take the roo to school everyday. I can't believe other places have buses, the roos are so much more convenient 🥱

[Siri137]

I realise you're just joking, but there have been instances of people (mainly Americans, which you are one of) actually believing that Australians ride kangaroos.

[goaded]

Let them try!

[standardguy]

Both wearing shoes inside the home and walking barefoot outside can introduce bacteria into the home, leading to poor hygiene. Additionally, walking barefoot can cause the feet to develop thick layers of calluses, which are less aesthetically pleasing and more unattractive.

[jjj101010]

Having alcohol at every event, baby’s 1st birthday party, alcohol will be provided, christening, funeral, etc

[ShellyBo]

America is expected to be the world police, and hated for doing it.

[Siri137]

Expected? By whom? You shouldn't listen to what your government tells you. They're lying.

[ShellyBo]

I'm not listening to my government. Morons on this site are saying that America should stop the war in Israel and the war in Ukraine. I have a good idea, why doesn't New Zealand stop those wars?

[ChicoFromThe305]

Wait so in Australia they don't wear shoes anywhere? Even away from the beach?

[Siri137]

Yes, it's weird, I know. Also potentially dangerous.

[ChicoFromThe305]

Yep I heard that's one way to get parasites

[Siri137]

I'd be far more worried about stepping on glass, or something else sharp.

[ChicoFromThe305]

Right and not knowing what it can infect or whatnot is crazy

[DarkLegacy]

Drinking large amounts of alcohol for practically everything here in the UK, the Spanish police are particularly baffled when dealing with drunk Brit tourists.

[Anonymous]

We have a holiday where we stuff food into other food.

[ThrillSeeker01]

When I was staying in Europe, I noticed that there were a lot more clothing optional places.

[sheikalana]

Where I live is normal to see men holding hands.

[Siri137]

Saudi Arabia?

[sheikalana]

Nearby.

[love_conquers_lust]

I don't we. We drive a lot.

[Kelly6]

Bull fight

[KostasKouvalis]

I didn't know you were a Spaniard?