30 Culture Shocks People Were Not Ready For When Traveling

Ah yes, the freshly caught gyros in Greece is the best 😅

Weeeell, not quite silence, it is a mega city after all, but yes a packed train in peak hour Tokyo (and that IS packed let me tell you) can be remarkably quiet

I spot a market opportunity for Uber Ambulance.

You can almost hear the sound of thousands of graffiti enthusiasts packing their bags now.

Of course they know their rights! There's a whacking great sign telling them!

I love separating my trash, feels like I’m helping in some way

My wife and I went to Belize earlier this year. Beer (and maybe soft drinks also) came in glass bottles. You paid a deposit when you bought it, and got the deposit back when you returned the bottle. The bottles are returned to the bottling plant, where they are washed and re-used. That practice was common in the US decades ago.

In the UK we call them Lollipop ladies/men as the big sign they hold yup to stop traffic for the kids looks like a lollipop

NZ police only carry pepper spray and batons. They have tasers in a locked box in the car. I remember when a guy was threatening me with a machete on the street three police cars screamed up and three officers jumped out of each car with their their batons at the ready. They seemed a little disappointed I'd already talked the guy into sitting in his car and waiting for the police to arrive.

Yes, mandatory reusable bags. Much less plastic waste.

Stardust she/her

Stardust she/her

Community Member • points

posts

comments

upvotes

FollowUnfollow

Premium

Premium user. Get details.

Elephants is a bit of a stretch. Everything else wanders wherever they want. You’ll have to watch out for cows wherever you go

When I was pregnant I once had to use one of those squatty hole toilets in Italy. The walls and the floor were nasty so I didnt want to touch anything but I could barely get back up again due to my huge belly 🙈

Probably the only time they are asked for consent.

Whaaaaat??? No! This one gets me. If I bring something to your house, it’s yours - that half packet of barbecue chips? Yours. Those 3 remaining beers in the 6-pack? Yours. That unopened box of chocolates? Yours (damn it)

People jump from moving buses and trains in several African countries...

You haven't lived until you've ridden a tuktuk through downtown Thailand open air on a 6-lane road with the driver cutting through 2 of those lanes to avoid the on-ramp onto an expressway that is above another expressway. True Story

That's about $37, for anyone who was wondering.

In the UK Lunch is referred to as 'dinner', except when it is referred to as 'Lunch', or 'luncheon'. Dinner is referred to as 'Tea', except when it is referred to as 'supper', or when it is called 'Dinner'. 'Tea', is dinner, except when it is drunk. Or when it is in the afternoon or cream (then it's scones, finger sandwiches, and cake). Sometimes Tea will be high, then it is is sandwiches, cold meats and scones.

You were shocked to see people sticking to traffic rules? What country do you come from?

Don’t have light to store milk? 🤔 I don’t get it

if you wrap it in bacon then you have yourself a Swanson

In Greece we go to the supermarket in sweats or leggings, but when we go shopping or for coffee we're dressed casually/relaxed but not overdressed. At least me and my friends.

Are you boasting about how quickly you found parking?

Or in Kiwi: "Yeah, nah."

I'm assuming you meant napkin, right? Fun fact, the word serviette in Greece means period pad

As a woman I would feel very stressed there...

Why?

This is oddly specific and somewhat unusual

And this is strange because … ? (Non American thinking I do this too)

They used to do that in many places.