What is it like on the flip side?

I have hundreds of questions like this in reverse, as an American going to Europe.

Jazz, don't take it personal. I lived in Chicago for 30 years. I edited it just for you.

I enjoyed this and i like your humor!

I picked up a travel book for San Francisco in a bookstore in York, England, and read through it. It was fascinating to me to read the advice and tips from a British perspective.

Hilarious...thank you

We did have a taxi driver in NYC drive crazy. He was blowing past traffic in the parking spots/bike lane. It was oddly terrifying & fantastic

What is a chicken fried steak and why doesn't it contain chicken?

That really threw me the first time I saw it on a breakfast buffet in the Southwest just like the time I observed people gorging on chocolate fudge cake at the breakfast buffet in a Las Vegas casino simply because it was there.

I have had many an enjoyable breakfast in the US but I just can't get into grits or biscuits and gravy.

Do women really wear pajamas outdoors?

That's common in the UK as well. Dropping your kids off at school in your pyjamas and slippers and then returning home to bed, presumably to sleep off the hangover.

I loved these questions. One more: Can I drive from New York to California in one day?

If they want to fit in down here, they need to say y'll and wear clothes from an SEC football team.

This is awesome Threadwear, thank you for the chuckles :) fun to prospectively view from the other side (with humorous intentions).

JC, you don’t have to apologize about not liking biscuits and gravy for breakfast . I can’t even look at them and I live in the US. I have never eaten chicken fried steak nor seen it in the Southwest.
You do want to try a lobster roll but get ready for the high price.

Ouch

But also 😆😂

I like the original post and this thread!

I hear there are Killer Whales in Puget Sound around Seattle. Is taking the ferry safe?

Do I have to travel with just hand luggage?

Is it ok to pay for hotels and air fares rather than use points?

"We have a whole week. We want to see New York, New Orleans, Chicago, Washington DC, and Los Angeles. Oh, and the Grand Canyon. Should we rent a car, or can we take the train?"

"Do people really eat chicken and frites with their hands?"

JC, the people wearing pajamas are not just dropping the kids off at school; they're shopping at Wal-Mart or the grocery store.

As someone who used to work in tourism in Alaska, I have been asked this from Europeans.

Do I need a passport to visit?
Where can I get Alaska dollars?
What time do the bears come out?
Seriously, how do these people have jobs?

Do they really drink their beer cold?

Do I have to say howdy when I meet someone in Texas?

When our driver picked us up at FCO, he heard we were from Texas, and said "HOWDY MA'AM". A good laugh was had by all.

• Should I dress like an American when I am there? I don't have a baseball cap or flip-flops.
• Do women really wear pajamas outdoors?

You should refer them to "People of Wallmart"....

Threadwear, your post made me laugh out loud! And sign up for an account after lurking for years...

From personal experience:

Heading to USA next summer, do I really need to pack a sweater?

Why does everything taste sweet? And 30 ft of shelf space just for cereal???

Does everyone carry a gun? What do I need to do to stay safe?

I'm invited to a friend's house, do I need a map? a whistle? I might get lost...

I'll be renting a car. Do they drive on the right side? ( yep, including passing!)

Why do they call this 🏈 game football???

Isn't New Jersey where they bury all of the bodies?

I would love to watch a travel show about the US from a European's perspective. A Rick Steves or Samantha Brown type of show.

Aslo, be in a forum like this for Europeans travelling to the US..

I hear there are Killer Whales in Puget Sound around Seattle. Is taking the ferry safe?

Today it was safe. Just got off the Kingston-Edmonds ferry.

Do I need to wear a money belt?

A kevlar vest would be a better choice. US criminals are not subtle like pickpockets; they just shoot and loot

Should I dress like an American when I am there? I don't have a baseball cap or flip-flops.

Shoes and socks ( not flip flops) and hat-less is my normal. Never been mistaken as a 'foreign tourist'

Fun thread! Thanks for the laughs!!

• I want to visit Yellowstone to see Aimee’s bears she mentioned but I don’t drive. I can’t find a shuttle or bus schedule for the park. (Hint, none available). And can I get there on the train. (No).

I have stopped my car in Mammoth Hot Springs area where there are lots of Elk and screamed at an Asian tourist to get away as she tried to hug an Elk. She looked at me and said No English. I said Mean. Will bite. They won’t really bite but I figured “they will stomp the cr*p out of you” definitely would not have been understood.

There really are some of these questions on Trip Advisor…especially the wanting to see the whole country (or all the Western National Parks!) in 2 weeks.

"How many US Dollars should I bring with me, and are there ATMs in the US"

"How do I ask in American to not get ice in my drink".

"Can someone recommend a hotel in Houston, Texas without air conditioning"

"What's the weather like in the US in March"

Many years ago, was watching a minor game show on German TV. The couple that won, got a trip to a Ohio. The looks on their faces! Where is Ohio, what is there to see there? They looked so puzzled and I laughed so hard.

Germans want to go out to the Wild West and see Native Americans, NYC, San Francisco, and Florida. They do worry about getting shot and the gun violence.

They are puzzled by Root Beer in the drink machines in motels. First, that beer is being sold there and 2nd, when they buy it, the taste shocks them. Universally hated.

Angel food cake is a surprise, as nothing like it exists here. Nor does German Chocolate Cake, pumpkin desserts, or warm German Potato Salad.

I’m fully vaccinated and boosted, do I need to get a QR code before entering the United States?

I hear that I don’t need to wear a mask, on the airplane or public transportation, is this true?

What should I do if I test positive while visiting the United States? Will I need to isolate myself?

What if I have an accident and end up in the hospital? I hear I’ll have to pay thousands of dollars, is this true?

I’m having second thoughts about my trip.
Is it safe to travel to New York where polio is on the rise? And what about monkeypox?

Perhaps I should postpone my trip…

I omitted one last question.

Do I need to carry my passport while walking around the cities I’ll be visiting, or can I just leave it in the safe in my hotel room?

As I recall, a few years ago an Aussie(?) poster asked a few cheeky questions before an intended visit to Texas, along the same lines.

"Do they really drink their beer cold?" - Carroll, yes they do. But Guinness also has to be served very cold.

Tammy - when I took the Alaska State Ferry, some of the locals regaled us with questions from American tourists - can I use dollars here? What's the altitude of Juneau?

Some rangers used to post FAQ's at the national parks: What time does the 3.00 movie start? How long is the 30 minute ranger program?

I can think of a lot of possible questions, but these were real ones.

BTW a good friend originally from Uruguay went coast to coast with his wife and kid on a 6 week trip, mostly by car. When he came back he said what made it easy for him was that everywhere he went people spoke Spanish (his English was very basic).

I've been visiting the US for over 15 years but there are two things that catch me out every time I first arrive:

Turning right on a red light if the road is clear.

Prices on the shelves in the supermarkets exclusive of tax.

I've pretty much got the hang of everything else. I'll be heading to Arizona and southern California in December to visit some of the National and State Parks and I'll be bringing a lot of clothing to accommodate the various climates I'll encounter, definitely not a 'carry on' trip.

I took a visitor from Europe to a local bar. He asked if they had any beer at room temperature. The perplexed bartender offered, "no, but I could warm one up in the microwave for you."

One thing that I notice in traveling to Europe and other overseas areas when returning to the USA is that America has to be the fattest country in the World.
You see way fewer fat or obese people in Europe and even fewer in East Asia, Africa or South America.

I saw an Irish guidebook in the late 90’s (geared towards Irish college students coming to the US to work for the summer). It warned them against trying to joke with Americans, saying we’re much more literal and likely to get offended.

Once in Bangkok, I was struggling to communicate with a taxi driver. He handed us his English phrase book. One of the phrases was, “Are you Tom Jones?” Then I understood why we were having such a hard time communicating 🤣

Thank you, Threadwear, for the giggles!

This is a great thread, mostly to roast ourselves.

Absolutely AMann. We forget how we must look like from the "flip side" with all our customs, traditions and our tastes in food.

Nick, you should have offered to pay the sheriff the fine on the spot, in cash. Just follow the customs where you live, not where you are.😏

"Prices on the shelves in the supermarkets exclusive of tax."

Oh, yes, JC. This is always a problem. This is often a reminder we give on the TA Wyoming forum for overseas visitors to the park. No, they are not being scammed. Yes, there are taxes. Yes, I am always shocked when the tax is $25 on a hotel room! Plus for groceries, some states have tax on food, some do not so the fact that it can be inconsistent from location to location is puzzling.

Nick...agree with yours too! Just now on the Wyoming forum there is a thread with someone (American) complaining bitterly that a small town in Wyoming is targeting out of state car license tags and ticketing them for speeding thru town. There is truly a place south of Spokane that is known by the locals as a "speed trap" so everyone gets their speed down to 25mph when you hit the city limit sign!

There's an increasing number of Michiganders who wear shorts even in the deep snow and dead of winter. My 30 year old nephew can't explain to me his ludicrous winter attire. I can imagine that image is confusing when seen in the media!

Silas Marner, years ago we had houseguests from Poland for Christmas. They were absolutely freaked out when my husband shovelled the driveway in shorts.

Or, Americans wanting to visit Canada (no offence, but I've actually heard these at one time or another):

I want to visit Canada next summer, because I've always wanted to see snow.

I've heard you live in igloos. Will there be a place for me to stay?

I'm going to visit my cousin in Toronto. Do you know them (says the name)? (Note: I live in Calgary...which is 1700 miles away as the crow flies.)

Oh, and then there were the two women--with midwestern accents--at Lake Louise, walking along the asphalt path behind us. "I wonder if this path is natural or manmade."

I've heard you live in igloos. Will there be a place for me to stay?

"Yes, you will stay in an igloo when all the wigwams are filled up." LOL

They were absolutely freaked out when my husband shovelled the driveway in shorts.

:), it's becoming de rigueur isn't it? I have good circulation but perhaps not enough insulation!

:)))

Yes, we here in Canada get our fair share of ....unusual ...questions.
I worked in one of the gift shops at Expo'86, and frequently was asked "Can I use this money outside of the Expo site?"
Our money is very colourful.
It was Americans asking the question......

We had cousins come over from the UK a few years ago, they didn't ask us for any help planning their trip despite me offering, but were annoyed at having to drive huge distances just to stay one night in each place, and that was just in BC.
They "didn't realise" that Canada was enormous.

Maps, anyone?

Prices on the shelves in the supermarkets exclusive of tax."

If each item were priced with the tax added, the 'rounding' would lead to paying more than adding up all the items pretax and then calculating the tax. It really does work in favor of the consumer to do it the we do it in the US.

That there will be a state sales tax added ( except in a few states) is something one should just know, (like validating a bus/train ticket :-) )

Silas Marner, years ago we had houseguests from Poland for Christmas. They were absolutely freaked out when my husband shovelled the driveway in shorts.

I can understand your husband's point of view. I barely feel the cold so clearing a driveway of snow in shorts wouldn't feel odd to me but part of the reasoning is that I'd be back indoors before long. If I was out for a long walk in the snow then shorts wouldn't be an option.

I find Continental Europeans to be quite rigid by their seasonal wear. Walking around Sorrento in February dressed in shorts and T-shirts because it was 20c whilst the Italians were wrapped up in full winter gear earned me plenty of odd looks, likewise in Barcelona for similar reasons.

Do I have to say howdy when I meet someone in Texas?

Yes, if he is an Aggie (check for the ring)

If each item were priced with the tax added, the 'rounding' would lead to paying more than adding up all the items pretax and then calculating the tax. It really does work in favor of the consumer to do it the we do it in the US.

But that makes budgeting really difficult. If you only have a set amount to spend it's easy to add up as you go along and know when you've reached your limit. Trying to work out the percentage of tax to add to each item and keep a tally as you go is so much more difficult and really does discriminate against those confined to a tight budget. Besides, calculating the tax at the till would lead to the same price if the tax was added to the price on the shelves. If I go to my local supermarket I don't pay VAT on groceries (except alcohol, confectionary, crisps and some other items) but I will on other items available in store. The prices on the product are reflective of the tax included and all recorded by the till system, I won't be paying more tax at the till by having it included in the prices displayed on the shelf.

But that makes budgeting really difficult.

I get that it does for you but we're used to it. If I buy something that costs $103 in Duluth, I know that I'll be paying around $9 extra since Duluth city/state tax combined is around 8.87%. It's an automatic calculation in my head.

Also keep in mind that states tax items differently. For example, Minnesota has no sales tax on clothing. But people do pay tax on food for take away, which is different than when I lived in Ohio. There you only paid tax if you ate inside but if you got food to go, there was no tax. And we did pay sales tax on clothing.

The tax thing at the register drives me nuts. Just put the tax on the item on its' price tag! You can fix your registers to show how much tax was paid on the receipt. Why add it on at the register if everyone knows they have to pay it anyway?

The tax thing at the register drives me nuts. Just put the tax on the item on its' price tag! You can fix your registers to show how much tax was paid on the receipt. Why add it on at the register if everyone knows they have to pay it anyway?

Without boring you to death and having spent 30+ years in this tax world; I can tell you the systems in the majority of small retailers can barely get the tax or exempt right, let alone taxing it per item. America is the land of plenty....taxes!

Also keep in mind that states tax items differently. For example, Minnesota has no sales tax on clothing. But people do pay tax on food for take away, which is different than when I lived in Ohio. There you only paid tax if you ate inside but if you got food to go, there was no tax. And we did pay sales tax on clothing.

It's irrelevant that state taxes differ, if an item is taxable include the tax on the price. Prices in the UK differ if you're dining in our taking out so both prices are displayed.

When I shop at a supermarket here in the UK I use the self scan method mostly, the current total is displayed on the scanner so you know exactly how much you're spending, far easier than trying to work out what 8.87% is on everything you place in your trolley and struggling to keep a total in your head!

If sales tax varies, why is it not shown as part of the cost on the shelf label? In Britain, some goods are regularly bought both by trade and retail customers, but the trade customers can claim back the VAT paid because they add VAT to the final invoice given to their client. Building materials are an example.

In such cases, the shelf label shows the normal price but also the price without VAT. The price without VAT would be used when giving an estimate.

Generally, because the labels aren't large enough to accommodate every piece of information

The only information required is the total price inclusive of tax if relevant. I don't need to know the percentage of tax, it's irrelevant as I know I'm going to have to pay it anyway.

It's irrelevant that state taxes differ, if an item is taxable include the tax on the price. Prices in the UK differ if you're dining in our taking out so both prices are displayed.

LOL...There are 45 states which have a sales tax. All of them are different. Please believe me when I tell you it is a nightmare for both small and major retailers. For example, in some states food is exempt from tax, candy is not. Licorice has flour in it, so in some states it is considered food, some states it is not.

Buy one-get one free, what is the tax? What if you have a coupon? In some states a mfg coupon lowers the tax base, store coupons do not. What is a juice drink? In some states, juice is exempt, others are not. Some drinks are exempt if they have a certain volume of juice.

For a final example. Clothing might be free from tax in a state. However, work boots with steel toes are not.

Sales tax is a completely complex animal compared to VAT and each state has its own special lobby reasons for it. VAT is a simpler tax to administrate because there are generally few exceptions.

So how is the sales tax worked out at the point of payment?

JC...For major retailers they have a staff who tracks law changes per state, product codes, maintain taxability matrix and programs central computer systems. Small retailers, which there are very few anymore, just don't go to that extreme. "When in doubt, tax". There are actually consumer groups who purposely purchase specific items to see if a store is taxing correctly. If not, they file class action lawsuits. Usually against major retailers. Then there are the state governments who audit the retailers to make sure no mistakes were made so the states can get their money.

I guess my point is that putting a tax included price on a shelf is a very big undertaking for the local store and staff. Also, I should have mentioned, there are states were it is against the law to advertise or show tax included prices. Doing business in the US has mountains of red tape and bureaucracy.

AMann--I can just picture that! Those flights to Bettles get booked up so you can't just easily catch the next flight!

Tammy-- I have had people ask those same questions to me when they hear we are going up there. We go to the bush, which I am thankful for as there are fewer questions. Once they find out there is no running water/electricity/roads people stop asking as it is too far out of their comfort zone. I'll take that, lol!

Thanks Threadwear. It looks like taxation should be a Federal responsibility, makes it a whole lot easier.

JC, in the US, state and local governments, have found it a lot easier to raise revenue by passing small sales tax increases to fund specific things than to upset the mob by just increasing income taxes. In my state, we have several tiny sales tax add ons, and each city has their own. For an example, we pay 1/8 of a cent tax (on top of all else) to fund a wildlife conservation fund. Other bits of sales tax fund trash pickup, extra cops, libraries, development subsidies, etc. It's smoke and mirrors.

I'm afraid none of these explanations are making our foreign visitors any less amused.

AMann--Yes, BRA! They are great, but we have been stuck in Bettles a few times as they are rushing to bring other people out of the bush. One year the rains had set in and they were frantically trying to get hunters out, so we had to wait until almost 6pm. The flight to the lake where we get dropped at is only like 10 minutes, but then you have to hike for 5 hours to get to the cabin, so we didn't get there until after 11pm. We lucked out though as the northern lights appeared shortly after we arrived, so that made it all worth it. Jay and Judy are great!

I'm afraid none of these explanations are making our foreign visitors any less amused.

No, but they're amusing me at how much we are trying to win them over. 😊