1. KFC
So far, it's the only chain that I've recognized. That's nice. And it's not that there aren't plenty of other fried chicken fast food places. It just feels like KFC is not what we want to be known for around the world. Maybe Culvers, but it seems like a Applebee's would be a good step up. So far, I've avoided it simply out of pride, but I'll probably check it out at some point in the next 11 months.
[Just realized: I don't know what I'll compare it to, I don't remember the last time I ate at KFC in the US]
2. Look left-right-left before crossing the street.
This is what children are taught in schools here. It's what I was taught, and it seems like a pretty good rule. However, traffic flows the other way here. The first cars you meet will be coming at you from your right. And if you start taking a step while you're still looking left, that step could easily be your last (I've had some close calls). Again, it's not a big deal, but a better safety education program would probably tell them to look right-left-right.
3. WWE "Professional" Wrestling
I was in a store the other day and all the display TVs in the store were showing this theatrical, "athletic" and gratuitously violent show. If I listed the shows I'd rather watch than wrestling, I would be blogging until next week. I think it would also put a good spin on how we choose what we're going to watch. If the world knew one thing about Americans, do we want it to be that we watch Jersey Shore and The Bachelor?
4. The '+Tax' button on the calculator
It's a great idea, especially as the tax rate here is 14%. One problem: tax is already included in all prices. That's right, Things that are marked 9.95 actually cost 9.95. Well, actually they cost 8.73, but with tax you pay 9.95. It's wonderful. If you have E100, and you pick up something that costs E80, and see another thing that costs E20, you can get both! Also, we don't have pennies. 5 cent pieces are worth less than pennies, but at least we don't have pennies.
4. Oreos
I think there are some sort of oreo snacks here, but not the double-stuffed creme stuck between chocolate cookies and stuck in rows into a thin plastic tray. If you are wondering how I've lasted a month without eating oreos, trust me, the thought is mutual. Cookies here are called biscuits (British) and mostly resemble Girl Scout shortbread cookies. While this would be great for my father, I miss the soft, pink-frosted sugar cookies that fell apart as you ate them.
5. Biscuits
When I ask if we have biscuits that aren't hard here, everyone kind of looks at me. Someone really shold to start selling Pillsbury buttermilk dinner biscuits over here. Not only are they delicious and pretty cheap, they are the perfect size for a poor recent graduate who can bake one can and eat them before they get stale.
6. Plastic currency
You know what I mean: credit & debit cards. While some people have them, the vast majority of transactions are completed in cash and coins. This is perfectly fine most of the time. But when you go to the bank, and the guy in front of you pulls out his shop's weekly deposit, you know you'll be there a while as the teller counts stack after stack of cash.
Of course most things that you would think were standard are available here. I can even get a loaf of banana bread at the store (but it's nowhere near as good as Grandma's). And Ramen noodles, and snickers bars, and all sorts of fruits and vegetables. Pizza isn't huge here, but I'm surviving (who would've guessed?).
On a different note, if you'd like to see where I'm living (at least the roof), you can go to google maps and search: -26.319657,31.133709. There are 3 small buildings, garages. Then there's a big building that is the 6 apartments that make up the main complex. On the far southwest corner of that is a 7th apartment (probably constructed for a groundskeeper or something). That's mine! It's a nice little place, and it's home for another 11 months.
-Ben
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