Discussion»Questions»Travel» The last time you were in a country other than the one where you normally live, what product or service that's readily available back home
The last time you were in a country other than the one where you normally live, what product or service that's readily available back home
was completely non-existent in the foreign country, so much so that you didn't realize how much you may have previously taken it for granted?
*I noticed that salt and pepper shakers aren't usually placed on tables in restaurants in many countries other than the United States, and that if a customer asks for salt or pepper, it's brought from the kitchen in the large container that cooks and chefs use, if it's brought at all.
I was in a country home in Northern Belgium and got an infection. We were staying in a house with several other couples, one husband being a local doctor. I told him my symptoms and asked for a prescription for antibiotics. He wanted me to drink some kind of tea. I became a bit quarrelsome and he eventually wrote an antibiotic for me.
I am sure there have been many examples... but typical of me I never remember at the right time. All I can think of was that when I was in the States I was continually shocked about sales tax... I prefer to know what I am paying up front. That said there were many things over there that we don't have.. neosporin, pepcid AC, and so much choice... For some reason everywhere we visited had candy... My daughter and my friend's son were in heaven... but I may have come away with the illusion that every store in the states sells candy, which I am sure is not the case. I was lucky not to have become unwell at all, but much as I moan about the NHS I do appreciate that we do have free healthcare.
VERY good examples, Day. You're certainly right about sale tax. Imagine how it is for we Americans when in foreign countries, we have to think the opposite way when making purchases: whatever is on the price tag is what you'll pay, so if you add up your purchases before arriving at the cash register, you'll know the exact figure.
I believe candy IS sold in every single retail establishment in the US.
I wish we didn't have the sales tax added on after the purchase either. I'd rather have the price listed be the price I pay so I'm not sure why stores just don't include the sales tax in the listed price.
I think I would probably get used to it, and it would certainly make me better at doing arithmetic in my head. But it was a shock to me most of the time and I spent way more money than I should have :P
Another one was tolls... I was truly shocked at how people have to pay out to travel along a certain bit of road.. and sometimes in one journey my friend had to pay several tolls. We have only a very few tolls in the UK, usually over some fancy bridge.. We do pay for the upkeep of roads, via road tax, so its not like we don't pay - it's just I was glad I don't have to stop and pay all the time. I'd never have enough loose change for a start :P
Hot showers in the morning. Been to a few countries near the equator, where the water is solar heated on the roof. If you take a shower in the evening, you can get a hot shower, but morning, the first person who showers gets a warm shower, every one else gets cold showers. (this even happens in the cheaper or older hotels)
"Bad tasting water." I couldn't remember ever liking the taste of water. As I matured and started traveling, I found that the farther north I traveled the better the water tasted. By the time I got to Canada, I couldn't find bad tasting water anywhere! :)
Adaydreambeliever 