- pay phones still exist
- When in shoe stores there is never a pair of shoes on display. Always one shoe
- men wear speedos to go swimming (I told Owen this was not acceptable no matter what country he is living in)
- you go through a metal detector everywhere (I am sure my radiation levels are high)
- there is always a security guard at every store
- stores tear the receipts (I don't get this one)
- you purchase your plastic bags at the supermarket
- you bag your own groceries
- the cashier is always sitting
- you leave your trash at the table in the food court
- stores hire a separate person to clean
- they don't use dryers (they air dry everything)
- cash is the preferred payment (sometimes the only payment option and mainly at grocery stores)
- can't read what you are buying (hopefully this will change with language lessons)
- not wheelchair or stroller friendly
- people push (shove) you around
- cutting in line is the norm (stand strong)
- you can buy corn on the cob ready to eat at a vendor stand and it is always a long line
- there are beer stands and Nestle ice cream stands everywhere
- the American restaurant chains are always packed (I think Chick-fil-A and Taco Bell would be a huge hit here)
- Mixed meats is common (hamburger and lamb for example)
- Everybody smokes (which a pack of cigarettes is like 20 rubles. It is 28 rubles to the dollar. so cheap)
- People park on the sidewalk (It is okay to walk in the street because a car is on the sidewalk)
- If it is asphalt people drive on it. Lines and signs don't mean anything.
- Milk is prepackaged so you can buy it warm and keep it in the pantry until opened
- To eat you have to take out a loan (okay not really but it is pricey so you just cope. but buying and cooking is not any cheaper)
- There are very few obese people here (I think I have seen 3)
- I have learned not to go to the bathroom when out (they are tiny and usually down stairs so there is no way to take Owen with me)
- Cars have the right away not the people even in the cross walk
- you buy all condiments (ketchup, sauces, etc)
- you don't drink the water
- Mayonnaise is huge here. There is a huge section in the grocery store of different flavors for your dressings. (Jordan we will stay away from this for you :)
- free wifi is everywhere here
- I have seen tons of luxury cars (tons of Bentleys)
- all the babies are bald (maybe not all but a lot of them)
There are a few things that I will probably always say differently from here on out:
- lift for elevator
- toilet for bathroom
- time in military time
- temperature in Celsius
- date (day/month/year)
I am sure there are many more things that are different but that is all I can think of for now. When I first came it was all different. After a couple of months I see the differences a bit better and the similarities. So now I feel a bit more like a pro, so visitors welcome!
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