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Country stereotypes can be harmful, but other times they can be downright hilarious. No matter where you are from, you've probably had someone spout of some ridiculous stereotype about your city, country, or continent. But this list of memes proves there may be some truth to those funny stereotypes.

'Meanwhile, in X' is a viral country meme series based on the participial phrase 'Meanwhile in…,' "a literary device that allows an easy segue between two concurrent events in different places. Scroll down below to check out some of the most hilariously funny memes from places around the world (including your own). Don't forget to upvote your favs!

The first account of the "Meanwhile in" meme appeared sometime in February 2010. A flipped image of a Holden Commodore (a very common Australian-made sedan) with the caption "Meanwhile in Australia" appeared on 4chan via /b/ board. The image alluded to the age-old joke that everything in Australia is "upside-down" (due to its southern hemisphere location), and the new meme quickly went viral across imageboard sites, blog networks and aggregator services. Since then, multiple variations with other countries and their stereotypes have been posted.

#3

Meanwhile In Canada

Meanwhile In Canada

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Daria Z
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've only once seen a man in a women's bathroom, and that man was peeking in my stall from above. Well, I wasn't inclined to be as understanding as this ad tells me to :/

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Before there was the internet and memes there were books. This meme originates from a much older expression "Meanwhile, back at the X," a plot transition technique that is as old as Homer. It rose to popularity in the nineteenth century, when most novels were serialized in popular magazines. 

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This literary strategy made its way to film and was used in silent movies when transitions were achieved through title cards interspersed between scenes. In the earliest days, studios didn’t make custom cards for each new movie, but instead used a set of stock cards: “One Year Later,” “Comes the Dawn,” and most famously “Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch” were the cards used when the action cutaway. 

#7

Meanwhile In Japan

Meanwhile In Japan

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Troux
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is in Nara, Japan, where the deer are treated as fellow citizens.

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Radio programs took on the phrase as well for their popular Western programs - such as The Lone Ranger. "During the course of a battle between settlers and Indians or cowboys and outlaws, there would be a flashback to the ranch preceded by the caption (or radio message), “Meanwhile, back at the ranch.” The phrase became part of the common lexicon and was used in casual conversation. During Lyndon Johnson’s presidency (1963–69), according to William Safire, the phrase was used to refer to activities at the LBJ Ranch in Texas.

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While not everyone knows the origin, this phrase has evolved to take on a meaning all its own. According to Robert Hendrickson, author of the "Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins" (Facts on Files, New York, 1997) says: "meanwhile, back at the ranch. An expression that originated as a movie caption in the silent film era at the beginning of the century, these words are used humorously today when someone wants to get back to a story after going off on a tangent."

#10

Meanwhile In Texas

Meanwhile In Texas

Just moved to Texas. Fitting in perfectly

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engineer_nope.avi
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

*in David Attenborough's voice* Here, we are able to witness a wild Honda trying to blend in with his bigger cousins. It seems that he is doing quite well.

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#13

Meanwhile In Iceland

Meanwhile In Iceland

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Elsker
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4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

makes me wonder what this place is, to be mistaken 4 a penis museum so often

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#15

Meanwhile In Canada

Meanwhile In Canada

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Paul K. Johnson
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reminds me of Florida. You're sitting at a traffic light dry as a bone with the sun beating down on you and right across the intersection the cars have their wipers on high as buckets of rain is unleashed on them.

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#18

Meanwhile In Russia. Seems Legit

Meanwhile In Russia. Seems Legit

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Lil Bare
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Residents better be urinating with precision and elegance upon this very sign of glamour and capitalism

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#30

Meanwhile In Finland, We Really Do Love Our Personal Space

Meanwhile In Finland, We Really Do Love Our Personal Space

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#31

Meanwhile In Canada

Meanwhile In Canada

Zeref-117 Report

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Koalamonster
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No it's not on THAT Street it's on THE OTHER Street. Just go down This Street and turn right on The Other Street and you can't miss it.

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#32

Meanwhile In USA, While Dogs Nationwide Are Hiding Under Beds

Meanwhile In USA, While Dogs Nationwide Are Hiding Under Beds

Big0Lkitties Report

#33

Meanwhile In China (50 Lane Highway Merges Into 4)

Meanwhile In China (50 Lane Highway Merges Into 4)

j4ckmull Report

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Cassie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is actually a rare occurrence and is the result of a nationwide holiday coupled with some other factors. It doesn't happen all the time.

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Ben Smith
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also, this is a toll booth. It’s 4 lanes that merge into 50 toll lanes and then back into 4 lanes for travel.

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Sue Grigg
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh my god. I need blood pressure medication just looking at that.

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James Totally
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The wording is not true. this is a 4 lane highway opening up into 25 tollbooth lanes, then merging back into 4 lanes. See for yourself: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.5485894,116.0341314,714m/data=!3m1!1e3

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Wyndmere
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most vehicles are white, then black, with a few other colors thrown in.

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Jim Price
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This way, the government knows EXACTLY where everyone is at 5:30 PM.

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Donna Mixon
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reminds me of the Hurricane Rita evacuation. Took us over 24 hours to evacuate to a place 2-1/2 hours away...because people who didn’t need to evacuate (inland over 50 miles) decided they neede to get ahead of those of us directly in the storm’s path and under mandatory evacuation.

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Donna Mixon
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like I-45 from Galveston thru Houston. All. The. Time. Even during hurricane season.

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Hannah Kelly
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4 years ago

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Fabian Meresse
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's 25 lanes to 10 and not such a mess in comparison to what I witnessed on the Italian roads .Stop tryin' create stories where's no story

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Magpie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The hilarious thing is the people trying to change lanes before the toll plaza. What difference could it possibly make??

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Dalton Andrade
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To whoever did this, you have an special place in hell. How is it supposed to work? It gives me cramps by just looking at this.

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Yves Moquin
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's 4 lanes splitting into 50. It's in china, they drive backward. (Or is it on the left?) ;)

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Kimberley Thom
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

the math alone makes it sound like a disaster. Hope someone is on the hand for this road rage.

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Shuang
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

good old china. Where logic was never really a native concept.

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NWB
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

50 lanes is mental, and 100% you need to get into the one furtherest away!

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Anja Schmidt
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

how long is the average time from bottom to top of the Pic ???

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Linda Kirkland
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's not China. That's Atlanta, where 400 South merges onto I-85.

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B
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is insane. Waaay too many people on my planet...

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Rose the Cook
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is not a "50 lane highway" but rather a mass of people trying to exit some special event. Nowhere in China is there a highway that wide it would simply be impractical. I would like to hear the exact time and location from the person who submitted it.

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Valerie Lessard
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Anxiety increases merely looking at this. It increases further by thinking about it. Then sadness for the people actually living there to experience this

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elfin
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wonder how many years some of those cars have been waiting.

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Katreise Ruffin
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

THEre is a engineer out there in charge of roads that is a COMPLETE A**hole!!

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Kenny Kulbiski
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The person that designed this probably has the local Xanax franchise.

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Erika Jones
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

AAAAA! This makes me want to go find a nice empty field somewhere and just stay there.

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jamie1707
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It makes me sick thinking about all the c**p those cars are pumping into the environment.

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Zoe's Mom
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not nearly as bad but the SF Bay Bridge counts down lanes as well once through the toll. Traffic however is just as bad.

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Sadie Jayne
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wonder what the murder vs. suicide rate is over there......

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Plummy
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My worst nightmare. I sure hope the Chinese merge better than Americans. Bc Americans CANNOT for the life of them understand the concept of merging.

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Travis Sichel
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What the rest of the world looks forward too. Car ownership seems unsustainable, or an uncontrolled population growth. We best we make a choice.

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Gerard Collins
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How lame are the architects of such a dimwitted system? These are the same geniuses that built the world's most massive dam on an earthquake fault--Murphy's Law will get them--just a matter of time.It won't be catastrophic--more like apocalyptic. No accounting for human stupidity.

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Ben Smith
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is literally no connection between this toll booth and a dam built on a fault line. Also, please check your definition of apocalyptic....

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Vilkas
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Chinese have no idea what birth control is. Please, keep having more kids - maybe China will sink into the ocean under the sheer weight.

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María Hermida
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If there's one thing they know is what birth control is. There has been a very strict one-child policy for the last 30 or 40 years, I think, and the fines for having mire than one child are astronomical. They have stopped the population growth, but this policy has created other very serious social problems.

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Joyous Cat Birb
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you don't care about a comment one year later, don't downvote this and don't reply

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#38

Meanwhile In Poland

Meanwhile In Poland

szyy Report

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Wyndmere
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sisters from the Angels of Mercy Convent requested a car with wings. They got one.

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#40

Meanwhile In Australia, High Is The Second Lowest Fire Danger Rating

Meanwhile In Australia, High Is The Second Lowest Fire Danger Rating

Brinq Report

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Ceredwyn Ealanta
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For those who are curious about the last one, Catastrophic has this definition: "For your survival, leaving early is the only option. Leave bush fire prone areas the night before." That is, basically, the fire fighters know they cannot control or affect a fire which starts in these conditions. NOTHING they can do will stop it, and if you are still at home, you are risking their lives by being there.

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Note: this post originally had 81 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.