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Post by rose on Jul 17, 2012 10:40:28 GMT -8
Ok, so Josh and I were just in Costa Rica for the first time and the most baffling thing to me while there was the fact that they do not have street names. Yes, you read me correctly...not a single street in the entire country has been named! Addresses are many sentences long and other buildings/monuments, etc. are used to describe how to get where you're going. I literally could not stop talking about this - how could a country in the 21st century not have street names?!
So, are there other "oddities" you've experienced in countries outside your own? I'd love to hear from those of you outside of the U.S. who have been here...what seemed odd to you about our country.
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Post by atheist jon on Jul 17, 2012 19:23:36 GMT -8
In the United States of America, when they write the date, they put the month BEFORE the day! How crazy is that?
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Post by lesbrewer on Jul 18, 2012 4:42:26 GMT -8
In the United States of America, when they write the date, they put the month BEFORE the day! How crazy is that? I can't think who would do that...... 07/18/2012 |
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Post by lesbrewer on Jul 18, 2012 4:52:08 GMT -8
Ok, so Josh and I were just in Costa Rica for the first time and the most baffling thing to me while there was the fact that they do not have street names. Yes, you read me correctly...not a single street in the entire country has been named! Addresses are many sentences long and other buildings/monuments, etc. are used to describe how to get where you're going. I literally could not stop talking about this - how could a country in the 21st century not have street names?! So, are there other "oddities" you've experienced in countries outside your own? I'd love to hear from those of you outside of the U.S. who have been here...what seemed odd to you about our country. Can't relate to other Countries because I have only seen a few places and nothing really appeared odd. UK is not bad for signs and street names, if you can fine your way around that is. I kind of rely on satellite navigation, even though most of the time it never works..... One occasion we were on a long journey and on route we were sent into a private car-park and had to drive right through it to reach the other side (Suddenly many eyes were upon us  ). Fortunately they have got a bit better now; we do now have one that at least it knows its way out of our street...... |
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Post by Josh on Jul 18, 2012 8:06:57 GMT -8
In the United States of America, when they write the date, they put the month BEFORE the day! How crazy is that?  |
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Post by stevekimes on Jul 18, 2012 21:33:24 GMT -8
I loved walking through a small town in India and having the kids run after my white skin and blonde hair yelling "OK! OK!"
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Post by Douglas on Jul 19, 2012 5:10:03 GMT -8
One oddity that makes me laugh every time is we have the lady cop who directs traffic near our house. Josh and Rose know who I'm talking about. Anyway she directs traffic with this awesome pair of knee high leather boot with three inch heels. We keep wonder if they are standard issue or she has freedom of expression. Sexy Latin American style meets police officer practicality.
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Post by atheist jon on Jul 19, 2012 10:21:51 GMT -8
Steve. I spent six months travelling around India and I remember all the kids running up to me to talk. Usually their fist line was either "What is your country?", or my personal favourite, "From where do you hail?"
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Post by stevekimes on Jul 19, 2012 14:15:48 GMT -8
Yeah, if I wanted to meet new people, all I had to do was to sit in a park, reading a book. It wouldn't be longer than five minutes when someone would approach me, want to practice their English and invite me to their home.
Got a lot of free tea that way.
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Post by Douglas on Jul 19, 2012 16:48:57 GMT -8
I'll have to remember that one. Free tea rocks.
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Post by rose on Jul 23, 2012 8:04:45 GMT -8
One oddity that makes me laugh every time is we have the lady cop who directs traffic near our house. Josh and Rose know who I'm talking about. Anyway she directs traffic with this awesome pair of knee high leather boot with three inch heels. We keep wonder if they are standard issue or she has freedom of expression. Sexy Latin American style meets police officer practicality. "These boots were made for walkin" - that was a pretty awesome sight...I tried to snap a photo, but just couldn't capture it in time |
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shirley
Advanced Member
Advanced Member
Posts: 114
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Post by shirley on Jul 23, 2012 17:45:36 GMT -8
I remember when I visited Brazil I was on a bus and the traffic leaving Sao Paulo was horrible. The lanes were so narrow you could literally reach out the window and touch the bus next to you. The 'odd" thing is, that didn't stop motorcyclists from driving in between. Later that night I was in a car with my home-stay family. When the driver approached a red light, he slowed, checked for cross traffic and then proceeded through the light. The really "odd" thing is that when his cell phone rang he handed it to the passenger - because it was against the law. Running red light OK, Cell phone bad.
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Post by LadyAjax on Sept 3, 2012 8:13:03 GMT -8
Alex says of his trip to India that he was surprised by how they use the ENTIRE road. There were no emergency lanes off to the side, no generous buffer spaces between lanes of traffic, and often, if most of the traffic was going in one direction they even used the opposing lanes!
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). Fortunately they have got a bit better now; we do now have one that at least it knows its way out of our street......
