Things this alien loves about America

[monster]

1. just-add-water breakfast pancake mix
2. drive-up everything
3. no reason returns in stores
4. pay at the pump gas
5. gas pumps you can leave running while you clean your windows
6. the summer swim culture
7. the encouragement of a huge variety of sports from a very young age
8. waiter service in Britich style pubs
9. roadtrips
10. hash browns
11. right turn on red
12. no speed cameras
13. cup holders
14. school buses
15. Halloween
16. armadillos
17. huge effective tumbe dryers
18. amazing thunderstorms

I'm sure there are many more, and there are certainly many things that drive me nuts, but right now, I'm feeling very content, so I thought I'd share. .... the kids wanted toad-in-the-hole for dinner but it was late so I substituted with breakfast pancakes from the mix, grilled sausages and british (Bisto) gravy ...and the growed-ups had fried onions too. It worked a treat, and got me thinking how there are many things all-american that work so well for this bunch of limeys

[DanaC]

We use the yellow school buses these days

[Pie]

Lessee, as differs from the land of my birth:

1. Female equality
2. Tolerance of religious differences (such as it is)
3. Effective, uncorrupted government (by comparison!)
4. Racial equality (again, it's all relative)
5. Healthcare (same caveat)
6. No requirements to carry government-issued biometric IDs at all times (for now!)
7. Standard of living
8. 4 seasons per year
9. Infrastructure (roads, telecom, sanitation, food)
10. Bacon!

[SteveDallas]

Originally Posted by monster

the summer swim culture

Around these parts, the pools tend to be a) private and b) expensive. (Typical membership fees are $600-$700 per summer; if there are cheaper ones they're well-hidden.)

Originally Posted by monster

right turn on red

In Pennsylvania, we actually have left turn on red.... as long as it's from one one-way street onto another one-way street.

[monster]

Originally Posted by SteveDallas

Around these parts, the pools tend to be a) private and b) expensive. (Typical membership fees are $600-$700 per summer; if there are cheaper ones they're well-hidden.)

Yup here too re expensive, in fact more like $1500, but there are cheaper and they are well hidden. -our membership is $425 but you get rebates for work and introducing new members. new member family is $325. And the pool is 20 yards by 10 with a half-meter diving board. But everyone knows everyone. And there are 3 public outdoor pools, two of which have swim teams who compete in the summer league, and the third trains the high school swimmers who also swim for summer teams (mostly us, hurrah!).

In Pennsylvania, we actually have left turn on red.... as long as it's from one one-way street onto another one-way street.

here too. In UK, though, no turns on red whatsoever.

[lumberjim]

Originally Posted by monster

I'm feeling very content, so I thought I'd share.

thanks!

remember to come re read this thread when you're feeling frustrated!

[SteveDallas]

There are no public pools around here, though. (There are rumblings about building one in a new rec center planned for our town, but there's also lots of opposition--"why build a public pool when there are so many private clubs?")

[lumberjim]

there's one 10 minutes from me, and another 20 minutes away.

neither are enjoyable

[SteveDallas]

I've always liked Marsh Creek myself. But it's pushing an hour drive for us.

(Damn, I've only been back a few hours, and I'm threadjacking already.)

[Shawnee123]

In Pennsylvania, we actually have left turn on red.... as long as it's from one one-way street onto another one-way street.

In my podunk town, there are no one-way streets. Where I work, the city is lousy with one-way streets. I'm sure I've pissed off many a person by not turning left on one-way streets, but I'm not sure of the rules or even that we were allowed (there are no signs allowing left on red but I imagine it's like right on red: if there is no sign prohibiting it, turn at will.)

It's like I have an inner barrier to turning left on red.

[jinx]

Originally Posted by lumberjim

there's one 10 minutes from me, and another 20 minutes away.

neither are enjoyable

You forgot this one.

[Clodfobble]

Wow. You guys are seriously lacking in swimming locations.

We have three public pools just in our suburb (it does cost to get in, but you don't have to be a resident and it's like 2-3 bucks per person) and they're talking about building a fourth one indoors. Expand to a 10-mile radius, and there are two YMCAs, another four or five suburb pools, three "sprinkler" park things, the big rec center, the little rec center, and two more pools I can think of off the top of my head that belong to the neighboring county but are still within 15 minutes of the house.

We, ah... like swimming around here I guess.

[kerosene]

I have heard that about Texas.

[monster]

I've heard other things about Texas....

[Stormieweather]

Florida - go to the beach..only thing that costs is parking, maybe $3? Also, many community centers have pools (only requirement is that you live within the city limits). I also have a family YMCA membership with unlimited pool priviledges, except when classes are being held.

What I love about the US:

You don't get your ass/boobs grabbed or fondled routinely on the streets.