tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post5563392860135464965..comments2024-01-28T05:20:01.172-08:00Comments on The Cynical Sailor & His Salty Sidekick: 5 Things That Surprise Me About (Re)Living In The States | Expat MusingsThe Cynical Sailorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11047491682363507834noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-82682954069715309142015-10-25T03:52:28.594-07:002015-10-25T03:52:28.594-07:00Interesting how the same things surprised you too....Interesting how the same things surprised you too. Thanks for popping by :-)The Cynical Sailorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047491682363507834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-38682952121749254582015-10-24T09:05:43.238-07:002015-10-24T09:05:43.238-07:00That's interesting!!! It also surprised me! :)...That's interesting!!! It also surprised me! :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05825097039582272346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-8411318577934743642015-10-24T05:33:35.804-07:002015-10-24T05:33:35.804-07:00Thanks Paula - glad you enjoyed this!Thanks Paula - glad you enjoyed this!The Cynical Sailorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047491682363507834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-41833435079392095312015-10-24T05:33:19.755-07:002015-10-24T05:33:19.755-07:00Yes, that's what we need - those nifty occupie...Yes, that's what we need - those nifty occupied/vacant dials. Would make things so much easier (and private)!The Cynical Sailorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047491682363507834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-63838483015515732902015-10-24T05:32:37.931-07:002015-10-24T05:32:37.931-07:00We do do some perplexing things, that's for su...We do do some perplexing things, that's for sure!The Cynical Sailorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047491682363507834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-9120546055321989682015-10-24T00:23:07.639-07:002015-10-24T00:23:07.639-07:00I do find some of our American ways perplexing!I do find some of our American ways perplexing!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06954477073768042790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-14541602061708778792015-10-23T23:44:35.333-07:002015-10-23T23:44:35.333-07:00We've been back in the USA for a year, and I h...We've been back in the USA for a year, and I have also noticed how public the public toilets are. In Malaysia, there was not a gap around the door, not even at the bottom. I figure the USA ones are designed so you can figure out if the stall is occupied. I much prefer full coverage and the little "Occupied/Vacant" dial that changes when you lock the door. (I always assumed haggis was horrible. I may give it a try after all.) Thanks for linking up with #WkendTravelInspiration.Michele {Malaysian Meanders}https://www.blogger.com/profile/18313351463568423694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-87202945831211489852015-10-23T15:41:23.623-07:002015-10-23T15:41:23.623-07:00We are about to go to the States for two months on...We are about to go to the States for two months on our 1st trip there. Gordon has wondered whether we would note many cultural and day to day differences. Suffice to say that from reading this post, we will. Enjoyed reading this a lot.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10725998933087860997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-37215713779589300402015-10-22T02:29:10.826-07:002015-10-22T02:29:10.826-07:00Thanks for popping by Lauren! It's interesting...Thanks for popping by Lauren! It's interesting moving back and viewing your own country with expat eyes :-)The Cynical Sailorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047491682363507834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-47790975404942447122015-10-21T12:10:29.242-07:002015-10-21T12:10:29.242-07:00This is hysterical!! I just moved back to the Stat...This is hysterical!! I just moved back to the States from Spain and can related to almost all of these things! My friends in Spain never understood the whole idea of litigation and how Americans can sue for almost anything. There's just not as much "liability" over there for everything! And I swear by this time next year I'm going to be so sick of listening to Presidential debates that I might not even vote!! Awesome post :DLauren on Locationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03374472341492687954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-88529516058842721842015-10-21T04:18:48.445-07:002015-10-21T04:18:48.445-07:00At least it's good exercise walking miles and ...At least it's good exercise walking miles and miles in the grocery/warehouse stores. Then you don't feel too guilty if a bag or two of chocolate chip cookies falls into the cart :-)The Cynical Sailorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047491682363507834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-37408799419823667562015-10-21T03:49:49.212-07:002015-10-21T03:49:49.212-07:00ALL of the choices I the U.S. get me every time, I...ALL of the choices I the U.S. get me every time, I could walk through the grocery store for hours. Courtney {Alkeks Abroad}https://www.blogger.com/profile/15272137936391016164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-80511206438753116602015-10-21T03:00:57.526-07:002015-10-21T03:00:57.526-07:00It would be interesting to see if non-Americans th...It would be interesting to see if non-Americans think the same thing when they visit the States. I wonder if the same things strike them which strike me. Thanks for stopping by!The Cynical Sailorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047491682363507834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-26401019020160180802015-10-21T03:00:02.239-07:002015-10-21T03:00:02.239-07:00Hi Byn - thanks for popping by! Like you, I've...Hi Byn - thanks for popping by! Like you, I've always wondered how people can campaign and manage their current role at the same time. If you're an elected representative, how can you represent your constituency if you're always running around from one campaign stop tot the next?<br /><br />NZ is very strict on animals and they have to be quarantined :-( The Cynical Sailorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047491682363507834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-48695788711291343252015-10-21T02:57:39.595-07:002015-10-21T02:57:39.595-07:00I know exactly what you mean about overwhelming ch...I know exactly what you mean about overwhelming choices! And the stores are so big so that they can hold all those options that you'll get lost unless you leave a trail of breadcrumbs back to the entrance! The Cynical Sailorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047491682363507834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-53436827774503956752015-10-21T00:04:44.132-07:002015-10-21T00:04:44.132-07:00I've never been to the States but some of thes...I've never been to the States but some of these sound hilarious! I'm interested to see what I notice next time I go back to New Zealand.Jessi (Two Feet, One World)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02923114548185795946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-75290889599618996352015-10-20T21:47:28.237-07:002015-10-20T21:47:28.237-07:00We're getting ready to head for our boat in FL...We're getting ready to head for our boat in FL and then off to the cruising life for the first time. We've lived in the US, but we haven't had TV for over 15 years, so thankfully we miss the drug commercials... but the politics are hard to miss. It frustrates us to no end how much money is wasted on the constant campaigning. How do they ever have time to actually DO anything???<br /><br />Our family is VERY much looking forward to cruising and visiting other places. We'd LOVE to visit NZ, but we've heard it is pretty difficult to do so with pets (we have two dogs), so I suppose we'll have to let that particular dream go unless we learn differently. Either way, there are SO many fantastic places to visit, we can't wait to get started.<br /><br />Now I'm off to read some of your other posts that caught my eye in the side bar!byn alwayshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13989620867093855329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-18745078466043409632015-10-20T09:56:06.499-07:002015-10-20T09:56:06.499-07:00The thing that gets me every time I return to the ...The thing that gets me every time I return to the US from abroad is the number of retail choices. After 3 months in the Bahamas we sailed into Florida and went to the grocery store and found 52 (!!!) different varieties of mustard. Free-market capitalism taken to its logical conclusion? Can they really be that different?<br />Dan N Jayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17910909942198901223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-57707132802995233622015-10-20T08:30:50.442-07:002015-10-20T08:30:50.442-07:00It's such a short list because I live on a sai...It's such a short list because I live on a sailboat - things are so chilled out when you're not living on land :-) I love the cruising community too because everyone is so down to earth and helpful. Same with the RV community. The Cynical Sailorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047491682363507834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-90828475064920517672015-10-20T05:49:23.936-07:002015-10-20T05:49:23.936-07:00I too am surprised your list is so short. In my e...I too am surprised your list is so short. In my experience the nice strangers here are usually ones that think they can get something out of you (service industry, favors, whatever) at least in the bigger cities. In comparison I was surprised how nice folks were to us two lost tourists in London a number of years ago. One of the reasons I like the cruising community, people just seem far more genuine than most of my neighbors in the 'burbs back home.<br /><br />-Mike<br /><a href="http://thisratsailed.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">ThisRatSailed</a>.Mike Boydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14279932231094933575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-8258234043688791202015-10-20T02:11:17.880-07:002015-10-20T02:11:17.880-07:00I think the level of cheerfulness varies in differ...I think the level of cheerfulness varies in different parts of the States. I've noticed that people in Portland OR seem super happy. But then again, why wouldn't the be? It's a great city :-)The Cynical Sailorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047491682363507834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-3164561307637032912015-10-20T02:10:30.897-07:002015-10-20T02:10:30.897-07:00It's funny because I hear Americans who travel...It's funny because I hear Americans who travel abroad talk about how unfriendly people are in certain countries. It's probably not that they're unfriendly, rather that they're low-key and more reserved. But if you come from a culture where service folk are super cheerful, then it probably seems odd. The Cynical Sailorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047491682363507834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-59260625065706251382015-10-20T02:08:41.636-07:002015-10-20T02:08:41.636-07:00Very true about smoking in public places in other ...Very true about smoking in public places in other parts of the world! It's hard to believe it used to be like that in America. I remember when airplanes had little ashtrays in the seat arms because smoking on flights was just the done thing :-)The Cynical Sailorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047491682363507834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-10806392133735713112015-10-20T01:11:01.917-07:002015-10-20T01:11:01.917-07:00LOL - We go through a lot of this whenever we go b...LOL - We go through a lot of this whenever we go back - which isn't too often. Especially the niceness - although we have thought it was just my Dad's building. We have been joking about it since our last visit - how they must be pumping in happy juice somewhere. Is it really the whole country and we just didn't notice. Rhonda Albomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17455873487349816911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1717926498377706091.post-55018933562108546792015-10-19T21:45:26.832-07:002015-10-19T21:45:26.832-07:00I loved the public restrooms in the UK! They were...I loved the public restrooms in the UK! They were so private, and there was plenty of water for flushing. Gallons and gallons rushed down the drain and it was no big deal. Some of the low-flow toilets around here (California) flush with a great roaring sound, like a mountain lion. It's very startling, and the force of the flush sends water flying all around and it's gross. <br /><br />As for service industry, they have to act happy, or they probably get fired or reprimanded for not being welcoming enough. I generally prefer low-key interactions, personally. I don't expect strangers to be delighted about my presence.Snipehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09691114613313099716noreply@blogger.com