Rachel Rollins
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Rachel Rollins • upvoted 40 items 2 weeks ago
People, Social Issues
50 People Who Decided To Drastically Change Their Lives And Are Now Motivating The Internet (New Pics)
embarrassing-things-foreigners-should-not-do-in-different-countries
If it's your birthday you bring cake to work. When it's someone else's birthday they will bring the cake. Yes, I'm serious. No, it doesn't make sense.
embarrassing-things-foreigners-should-not-do-in-different-countries
In Portugal, taking your shoes off in someone else's home would be weird as f*ck. There's obviously exceptions, like if the host is close family or a very close friend and you've asked permission, but to take the shoes off out of the blue when entering would be seen as disrespectful.
embarrassing-things-foreigners-should-not-do-in-different-countries
Always, always get your round in. People are not buying you drinks for free; they expect one back.
embarrassing-things-foreigners-should-not-do-in-different-countries
Queuing is the obvious one in the UK. Not understand our (apparently complicated) queuing systems is generally taken as being a faux pas. To Brits all the rules are just obvious but apparently the little things beyond "stand in the line and wait your turn" are hard for some foreigners. Another would be, if you bump into someone there's a good chance they will apologise. You do not accept this, you apologise back. Everyone knows it's your fault, but you will probably both apologise. This does not mean the other person believes they are at fault.
Spynner987 reply
Spain: Talk about politics. You could lose friends because of that, since people here are heavily divided, because, whatever some guy say, the Civil War wounds are far from healed.
DiggimonUKR reply
Don't say that Ukraine is part of Russia. Don't call us russians when you hear our language or see Cyrillic.
Grzechoooo reply
Saying that our language sounds like Russian. There *will* be violence. Saying that we are Eastern European. Especially around older people, saying *anything* bad about Pope John Paul II. He's like a second God to some of them. That makes any conversation about pedophilia in Catholic Chruch especially difficult, since he didn't do much about it. Current government calls every person trying to criticise The Polish Pope a danger to our nation, our culture and our independence. Don't ask me how, I have no idea. But sadly, due to our propaganda TV called TVP(iS), people believe that. Wow, by making a comment about big No No's in Poland I managed to end up criticising our government. Guess this subject is inevitable.
Junohaar reply
Denmark: Bragging is VERY frowned upon here. Alot will cite the law of Jante should you do it, and even more people will think of it. The law of Jante is basically a long list of sentences which exclaim that you are nothing compared to the collective. Examples. "You are not more than us." "Don't think you are smarter than us." If you think of the ten commandments but all centered around you being small and nothing then you're more or less there.
CarolineManihot reply
Wearing your outside shoes indoors, seriously who does that? Calling the icelandic horse a pony just because it's small, that might not be true for everyone though just people that are into horses. Jokes about accidentally sleeping with your cousin, we have a small population but we know our cousins. Edit to add: Off-road driving is illegal and people have been fined and made to fix what they ruined. The landscape is delicate and there's been a lot of work in the last few decades to grow the areas that are full of sand. When icelandic people talk about off-road driving it's not off-road driving, we follow paths that should be visible to just about anyone.Phunkstar reply
Invading people's personal space in public (Norway). It's fine to ask for directions or something practical but other than that...
barbatex reply
Doing the "Italian accent" like Super Mario. It doesn't sound like an Italian trying to speak english, it sounds like a very very dumb Italian trying to speak English. It amazes me how much Americans love to mock Italians. Also pineapple on pizza.
randascuriosity reply
Italy: Please don't sing Bella Ciao in a joking way. It's a serious song about Resistence against the fascists. La Casa de Papel did a disaster with that song. Please don't call us mafiosi, even if you're joking, much less if you use the Godfather as a major source of info about italians. Italians are very talkative people so if you're not used to strangers approaching you it may shock you a little. Don't be scared tho, many italians are just curious about tourists and would be pretty offended if you just ignored them! This is what comes to my mind at leastmki_ reply
Austria: The usual, as with most countries: - Calling us [bigger, neighbouring nationality or people group that speaks the same or a similar language]. (Seriously, we are not Germans. Yes, we all know, we would have been considered as such 100 years ago, but it is in fact not 100 years ago. Believe us, if we say that we are not Germans, we mean that, and we know the history behind it. Don't try to teach us as to why we are acktually "ethnically" or "genetically" or whatever, Germans. Not only is that incorrect, but you'll look and sound like a fool.) - Doing [certain taboo gesture] or expressing favourable views towards [historical totalitarian or autocratic regime, which is viewed very negatively nowadays]. (Seriously, don't do the Hitler salute here, it's not edgy, but only incredibly shitty. Also it's not only incredibly unfunny and unoriginal, but also incredibly illegal. And you might get punched in the face, and you would deserve it.) - Eating [national food] wrong.
hybeve000 reply
Turkey: Do NOT say "Oh, i thought you would be speaking arabic." or " I didnt know women were allowed to not wear hijabs."
Mantis_Ateista reply
Spain: do not assume that flamenco is the national culture. IT IS A SOUTHERN THING. In absolutely every TV show in the UK that takes place in Spain (and there are many) they insist on playing flamenco sounding music even when the show is about Catalonia, Galicia or the Basque Country, for example. It is infuriating.mpld reply
Estonia: Violating personal space. We might not say anything but you certainly won’t be making a friend. We’re massive introverts for a reason. Also don’t call us or any other baltic countries russian or imply anything similar, there’s a lot of bad history there and quite frankly it’s a bit offensive.
cdanisor reply
Romania: Never ever bring someone an even number of flowers (it is reserved for the dead)
Burglekat reply
In Ireland if you are out to lunch or dinner with family you must literally fight or deceive them so that you can pay for it. If you don't try then you are a bad person. In England I found that people thought it was rude and awkward when I kept trying to pay! My granny is a pro at this. One time when we were eating dinner in a restaurant, she went to the bathroom during the meal. I saw my chance, and ran to the cashier to pay. I was stonewalled. My granny had already told the staff in her local restaurant not to let me pay. Absolute pro. Also on another occasion my mother literally fell over and hurt her knee because she was racing her sister to the cashier.
Anaptyso reply
In the UK: * Using the wrong national label for someone. * Skipping ahead in a queue * Similar to above, attempting to get served at a pub before someone who was at the bar before you. * Being that person who takes part in rounds in a pub but never gets one themselves * Standing on the left on an escalator in London * Starting a conversation about religion or politics with someone you don't know, unless it is very context appropriate e.g. in a church/political rally.
AL_O0 reply
Most countries are: do not mistake us for a different nationality, do not mention bad parts of our history Italians: DO NOT PUT THE WRONG STUFF ON TOP OF OUR FOOD
Ing0sion reply
Don't mention Hitler or other famous Nazis in public spaces. U may get yourself in a awkward situation. It's kind of like Voldemort in Harry Potter. U just dont mention these names in public. Be as respectful as possible when visiting Memorials of the war, especially concentration camps. I grew up in Dachau so I've had the pleasure of meeting and seeing people from all kinds of places but foreigners sometimes seem to underestimate how much of a sensitive place these camps are for germans. I'm talking about taking pictures of yourself and your travelling partners in the camp and not turning off your phone while watching a short documentary which are being offered in Dachau. It's not natural even for western standards that countries with a horrible past are as open and inviting in terms of learning about their war crimes and so on like germany. Don't try to be judgemental when visting those sites (apart from judging the fkn nazis ofc) but rather be thankful that you've been given the opportunity to see and learn about these atrocities in person.
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People, Social Issues
50 People Who Decided To Drastically Change Their Lives And Are Now Motivating The Internet (New Pics)
From 230 Lbs To 148 Lbs. I Lost 82 Lbs. Maintained For Two Years. Getting My Loose Skin Removal Surgery In Two Months As An Early 30th Birthday Gift To Myself
Celebrating 50 Pounds Lost! Most Days I Am Doing OMAD, But I Don't Sweat It If I Happen To Eat A Second Or Even Third Meal. Another 40-50 To Go For Next Year
Start Weight 325 Lbs, Current Weight 235, Goal Weight 190. This Is The Best Thing I’ve Ever Done For Myself
(290 To 165, Lost 125 Lbs In 26 Months) "Calories In, Calories Out" Based Diet. Slow And Steady And Now Maintenance Mode
Never Thought I Would Look Forward To Stepping On The Scale And I Never Thought I Had A Jawline Until Now. Yay IF
Lost 163 Lbs Throwing Hay Bales, Pulling Frozen Pallets Every Day For 15 Miles, Working At A Sawmill, And Shoveling Snow. If You Wanna Lose Weight, Get A Physical Job
Feeling Incredibly Proud Of How Far I’ve Come And Looking Forward To Continuing This Fitness Journey
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