I know not everyone on this sub is from the US but what are things you have been surprised to learn are not a “standard” in other parts of the world (compared to where you grew up)?
I’ll add a few of mine
- Ice is not standard outside the US
- We went to Ireland and I had recently broken a part of my ankle, finding any ice was a wild endeavor
- US food portions are actually substantial
- this one is super easy mode but still, it shocked me seeing how and what we eat against other countries
- Major cities/countries can have power grid issues (looking at you South Africa)
- I had no idea that the grid was that unstable in SA until this most recent season of Other Way
Based off of living abroad in the UK and traveling to various countries I find the way food is kept/presented in grocery stores or how people do food shopping interesting.
Prior to going abroad I rented out a room from a woman who was originally from Hong Kong. I noticed she didn’t refrigerate her eggs.
When I studied abroad in London I immediately noticed unrefrigerated eggs as the norm. Also in the US we use WAY more packaging and plastic for food (bread, fresh produce, etc). I remember having a French classmate who aired why Americans wrap everything in plastic.
I always feel like grocery stores in other countries present their fresh products in a more attractive way. Maybe I just am not used to the packaging and it looks more fun. I’m thinking of London, Stockholm, Tokyo, Melbourne, etc.
Our packaging is baffling in the US- I’d love to research why it became standard.