Habits you learned "foreign" and can see yourself using for the rest of your life.

ArtSmart · 25-07-2012 12:32AM

PseudoFamous wrote: »

That sounds ridiculous. A queue is a straight line. Everyone is organised and ready to purchase when their turn comes. Bloody anarchy, can't even queue correctly.

lol.

as for taking habits home - hardly. i remember a 'queue' in Oz, "after you mate. nah, mate after you' and one in Dub when i came home, 'i woz here first, so fuk off'.

cant bring everything home.

hardCopy · 25-07-2012 12:34AM

Stinicker wrote: »

I also Shower every single day after spending time in South East Asia, wheras you could often get away without showering every 2nd day depending on the level of exercise before.

Before, like in the 1800's?

nice_very · 25-07-2012 12:39AM

Wibbs wrote: »

Never mind the beer and lemonade, what about that odd Spanish(in some areas) of coke and red wine. Kalimocho? IIRC. Tastes better than it sounds and I've been a bit hazy of eye on it more than once.

Kalimotxo, the rumour is it was invented in the town I lived in:

from wiki - The current name, "Kalimotxo", is attributed to the "Antzarrak cuadrilla" ("Geese young friends circle"), which supposedly coined it during the 1972 Puerto Viejo festivities (in Algorta, Getxo, Basque Country). Legend has it that the servers in one of the "txozna" (stands in Basque festivals where drinks are served) noticed that the wine they had bought was not in good condition, so they decided to mix it with something to kill the sour taste. The inventors of the mixture named it after two friends of the cuadrilla known as "Kalimero" (after the Calimero chicken character) and "Motxo", hence the name "Kalimotxo". The name caught on and became popular throughout Spain.

also clara is called Pika in Euskadi

keith16 · 25-07-2012 12:41AM

staying on the right hand side of an escalator is an interesting one. Seems to be done everywhere but Ireland. And not just escalators, those flat groundy "escalators" too.

Nothing says "self-entitlement" more than a load of morons standing/blocking the groundy escalator things as they are wheeled along at 0.02 k/h.

Cedrus · 25-07-2012 12:47AM

The london escalator learning curve is steep alright, I was knocked down on my first day there and was pinned under my rucksack heading straight to the bottom end. Never made that mistake again.

JupiterKid · 25-07-2012 12:50AM

Standing to the right on escalators and travelators for me too.

Eating burritos for lunch - picked up that when on my J1 in California many, many moons ago.

Taking my shoes off when I get home and putting on a comfy lightweight pair of sandals.

Swimming in the nip (when I can).

HazDanz · 25-07-2012 12:53AM

Wibbs wrote: »

Never mind the beer and lemonade, what about that odd Spanish(in some areas) of coke and red wine.

I learnt that here in Ireland befriending two spainish people at a wine reception in University! It kept me drunk for two weeks straight drinking the coke/red wine combo with those lads.

Nobody believe me when I explain "the spanish" do it, I always get laughed at over it

policarp · 25-07-2012 01:00AM

Kissing on both cheeks is an uncomfy one for many older Irish folks. . .

khmk · 25-07-2012 01:01AM

Eve_Dublin wrote: »

Was having a nice glass of lemonade and beer tonight otherwise known as a "Clara" here in Spain. I usually drink it when I don't want to get gee-eyed on a work night and make a small can of beer last. I love it...but being Irish, can't believe I'm mixing beer with anything. I used to actively scoff at people putting blackcurrant in their Guinness but now I'm doing something similar! What's happening to me!

Following on from the load of emigration threads we've had recently, I'd be interested to hear what things people picked up from living or spending time abroad. Keep it light-hearted pleeeease! My other ones are as follows:

- When I walk into the reception of anywhere, I greet everyone with a "Buenos Dias" as is the done thing here.

- I always stay on the right hand side of an escalator after living in London and now here. In London it was kind of bet into me after getting shouting at repeatedly for not doing so. I do it out of fear...

- I send short, to the point emails to bosses with no flowery language.

- I protest fairly regularly.

- I think the queuing system we have in Ireland, UK and America is ridiculous.

- I gesticulate all the time while I'm talking.

- I can't drink pints anymore

- I'm probably a bit more blunt than I was.

- I eat my dinner at 10 at night.

Loads more but that's to get the ball rolling....

You?

You left out the one where you mention that you live in Spain in every single post you make. It doesn't matter what thread either, you manage to sneak it in.

Not meant as an insult just an observation.

I learned to be a dick on the internet.

Jimoslimos · 25-07-2012 01:03AM

Eve_Dublin wrote: »

- I always stay on the right hand side of an escalator after living in London and now here. In London it was kind of bet into me after getting shouting at repeatedly for not doing so. I do it out of fear..

Unfortunately in Australia it's the other way around - stand on the left. Took me a while to adjust, and then unlearn again when I returned to the UK.

ArtSmart · 25-07-2012 01:05AM

policarp wrote: »

Kissing on both cheeks is an uncomfy one for many older Irish folks. . .

and the younger ones as well. last time i tried that to some girl i met at a nighclub...well, I was apparently the one 'out of order'. unbelievable.

mackg · 25-07-2012 01:09AM

How much coke and how much red wine? This sounds like a winner.

emzolita · 25-07-2012 01:16AM

Taking my shoes off at my front door. Was a big thing in Canada, I even seen workmen taking off their shoes going into houses.

ArtSmart · 25-07-2012 01:18AM

mackg wrote: »

How much coke and how much red wine? This sounds like a winner.

em, coca-cola and wine.

RDM_83 again · 25-07-2012 01:19AM

mackg wrote: »

How much coke and how much red wine? This sounds like a winner.

50:50 is quite good or if your feeling like some classy al fresco imbibing one bottle of wine in a 2 litre plastic bottle, works well with very cheap rough red.
Its called vörösboros kóla or VBK in Hungary (for some reason calling it Kalimotxo sounds really pretentious to me

)

ArtSmart · 25-07-2012 01:20AM

emzolita wrote: »

Taking my shoes off at my front door. Was a big thing in Canada, I even seen workmen taking off their shoes going into houses.

yes, done in Europe and Asia as well. maybe even the states. but here? lol.

Brinimartini · 25-07-2012 01:23AM

Dangerous Man wrote: »

After a few visits to London I definitely do the 'standing to the right' thing on the escalators now. The first time I saw those signs on the underground I thought it was just an example of how uptight the English were (and it probably is, in fairness) but it really does make sense. It drives me nuts when I'm trying to get past people on the escalator and they stand there like pigs.

As for where I live now, I don't call the toilet the toilet, I call it the washroom. It's just what it's called here. I tip barmen. I eat poutine... yum. Lots of stuff.

The Germans say "Links Gehen Rechts Stehen" but they're a shower of b'stards anyways.

Rabies · 25-07-2012 01:29AM

I do the escalator thing too.
Drive in my bare feet and walk to the shop with no shoes on in summer, kiwis do it at all times.
Hardly ever drink more than a pint or two on a night out, straight to spirits.
Take my shoes off at the front door of every house I enter.
Say "sweet as" with every thing

mackg · 25-07-2012 01:30AM

RDM_83 again wrote: »

50:50 is quite good or if your feeling like some classy al fresco imbibing one bottle of wine in a 2 litre plastic bottle, works well with very cheap rough red.
Its called vörösboros kóla or VBK in Hungary (for some reason calling it Kalimotxo sounds really pretentious to me )

Yeah I was thinking about it for festival/beach party drinking.

Pace2008 · 25-07-2012 01:32AM

Eve_Dublin wrote: »

They go in, take a number and wait their turn. Sometimes they queue but they're pretty disasterous at it (which is annoying). If you get your number, you can take a seat and wander round...

Sorry, forgot....they go into a shop and ask, "Who's the last person?". Someone tells them, so everyone knows who's next. Great system.

How is that any more, if even as, efficient as the Irish system? You walk into a shop, grap your victuals, and make your way towards the counter. If there is no one waiting to be served you proceed to the counter and complete the transaction. If there are people being served you stand behind them. You know who's next ahead of you because you're standing behind them. In my 24 years in this country I have yet to see this system fail, and I cannot see the flaw in it, yet alone how how it could be described as ridiculous.

Jimmyhologram · 25-07-2012 01:46AM

Pace2008 wrote: »

How is that any more, if even as, efficient as the Irish system? You walk into a shop, grap your victuals, and make your way towards the counter. If there is no one waiting to be served you proceed to the counter and complete the transaction. If there are people being served you stand behind them. You know who's next ahead of you because you're standing behind them. In my 24 years in this country I have yet to see this system fail, and I cannot see the flaw in it, yet alone how how it could be described as ridiculous.

I'd have to disagree with you here.

Most people in the shop situation you describe will recognize and abide by the queue (it's really not that difficult, as you yourself rightly observe), but from time to time you get one oddball/ignoramus/chancer who will linger, waiting to leap ahead. Obviously, you can hold your ground or issue them a verbal barracking, but this can be quite tense.

The beauty of the ticketing system is that after you get your ticket, you can relax and even wander around looking at the displays after you sort out your ticket.

pontia · 25-07-2012 01:49AM

was in middle east for a while,dont leave home without a backpack full of dynamite now

Pace2008 · 25-07-2012 02:21AM

Jimmyhologram wrote: »

I'd have to disagree with you here.

Most people in the shop situation you describe will recognize and abide by the queue (it's really not that difficult, as you yourself rightly observe), but from time to time you get one oddball/ignoramus/chancer who will linger, waiting to leap ahead. Obviously, you can hold your ground or issue them a verbal barracking, but this can be quite tense.

The beauty of the ticketing system is that after you get your ticket, you can relax and even wander around looking at the displays after you sort out your ticket.

I was referring to the latter "Hai guize who's last?" system.

And I honestly can't remember seeing anyone in Ireland skip the queue before, which I find surprising.

Princess Peach · 25-07-2012 02:36AM

I only drink pints now! And good locally brewed beer

Dunno if I could ever feel right about wearing shoes inside the house again :eek:

Saying Eh at the end of a sentence is really handy to ask for a shared opinion.

And start every day with a tall fresh glass of maple syrup.

Funglegunk · 25-07-2012 02:40AM

I rub a brand new pair of chopsticks together to remove any potential splinters from my hands and food.

charlemont · 25-07-2012 02:52AM

I always call speed bumps Drempels.

teddybear178 · 25-07-2012 03:13AM

Wibbs wrote: »

Never mind the beer and lemonade, what about that odd Spanish(in some areas) of coke and red wine. Kalimocho? IIRC. Tastes better than it sounds and I've been a bit hazy of eye on it more than once.

I have Greek friends and they drink red wind and ginger ale... nasty!

I have picked up the habit of kissing hello and goodbye once on each cheek from them.

teddybear178 · 25-07-2012 03:22AM

Dangerous Man wrote: »

I eat poutine... yum. Lots of stuff.

Poutine is a french Canadian creation consisting of chips, gravy and cheese curds. Gourmet poutine shops have sprouted up all over Canada were they add foo-foo ingredients but the original is the best.

Is there poutine in Ireland? You have the chips, the gravy and some of the best cheese in the world.

Rabies · 25-07-2012 03:26AM

teddybear178 wrote: »

I have picked up the habit of kissing hello and goodbye once on each cheek from them.

Ya, same here. Great all girls I know with a kiss on the cheek, same for goodbye. Was weird at the start, normal practice now.

Jesus Wept · 25-07-2012 03:29AM

Eve_Dublin wrote: »

- I always stay on the right hand side of an escalator after living in London and now here. In London it was kind of bet into me after getting shouting at repeatedly for not doing so. I do it out of fear...

Why the right? Makes no sense. We drive on the left, pass out on the right.
I stand on the left for the above reason, it makes sense.

Habits you learned "foreign" and can see yourself using for the rest of your life.

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