7 Things I Had Never Seen Before I Came to the US [Pt. 2] | Feli from Germany

[@FelifromGermany]

What are some of the things that YOU saw for the very first time when traveling to another country? 😃🤔 Let me know in the comments!

[@lavaha6627]

Das im Paris war Müll auf der Straße und war fast keine Benzin im Paris wann mein eltern brauchen eine

[@folkehoffmann1198]

Water fountains! And a local High School that has its on TV channel. Oh and back in 2006 I had never seen string cheese in Germany either.

[@folkehoffmann1198]

And I had never seen a money order either.

[@GRT1865]

While at a market I noticed the police were dressed in 3 different uniforms. One had no weapons, another had a pistol, the third had a riffle. Some local stole something from a shop. The first police yelled and chased maybe 10 ft. The second chased to the end of the block. The third shot into the air and the thief immediately laid on the ground and waited to be arrested. It seemed like nobody at the market even flinched or noticed.

[@michaelodonnell824]

When I first visited Germany in the late 1970s, I could not get over the fact that there are cigarette machines on every corner. I don't think we ever had them in Ireland.

[@fakecubed]

Regional ads are because the major nationwide networks are actual networks. In many parts of the country, they are local TV stations that are affiliated with a national network but independently owned, rather than directly run by the big media company. The deal is, the local TV station gets to run the nationwide media broadcasts (pulled down from some satellite), and then the ad time is split between the big media company and the local station for that time, so both the local station and big media company can make money from it. This results in a mix of nationwide and local ads. This also results in some differences in programming as well, with local news broadcasts taking place during some of the day, and others coming from the nationwide broadcasting center (usually in NYC). And then the local stations sometimes will choose to run different content based on anything from regional preferences to contract disputes with the main network.

[@stevegfromnc3482]

The lengthy warnings at the end of the prescription medication ads only started when one of the companies lost a huge lawsuit based on failure to warn consumers and had to pay out billions in damages.

[@ACGreyhound04]

I write disclosures like this for financial companies. All of them begin as litigation settlement requirements.

[@dead-claudia]

and they'll still get sued if it's incomplete - just ask johnson & johnson on what happened with risperidal

[@bill45colt]

@@ACGreyhound04 all her life, my great grandmother was the neighborhood pharmacist. She would scour the woods in the late spring to gather up lots of buds and sprouts and roots to dry for making up her potions. She had all sorts of things and didnt charge anyone if they wanted to use her. They were 34 miles from town off the front porch, and the nearest neighbor to the rear was a 38 mile trek through the woods as there were no roads. She lived kinda remote. She was half indian. They had all sorts of concoctions over the years, and most tasted like the soup of hell!! But many of them worked.

[@ACGreyhound04]

@@bill45colt - My great-grandma, straight off the boat from Greece, was similar. She was a peasant woman from a mountain village, and her home remedies were legendary in my family. She lived to be 98 years old, so she must have done something right. RIP Yiayia!

[@DataCab1e]

Apparently the list of side effects is only required if the ad states what the drug is for. Which is why some just vaguely say "Ask your doctor if ___ is right for you."

[@ohioguy9512]

I have hosted six German exchange students here in Ohio. It’s great that you’re pointing out things they’ve noticed as well. And it’s fun for me to see my home through their eyes. I’ve also been to Germany to visit them, and I loved it. Experiencing different cultures is so important, and as an educator, I think it’s the best classroom!! Thanks for sharing!

[@jlandon6028]

Nice testimony. May it happen throughout the world without ceasing.

[@The_Sound_Doctor1957]

Checks are great for people who like to keep a hard copy of payments made.

[@davevann9795]

8:09 In the US, the term "coffee grounds" usually refers to the leftover wet mess of coffee beans after coffee is made. The packages on the store shelves is called "ground coffee". Simply reversing the order of these two words seems to make a big difference in the US.

[@JPaterson8942]

I never noticed that before - omg cat just let me type this and then I'll pet you geeze!

[@psirrow]

I've never heard of "coffee grounds" only referring to used grounds. I've definitely seen and used the term for unused or "fresh" grounds. When it's important to distinguish, the qualifies "used" and "fresh" are used. However, context often makes things clear. I've never used the term "ground coffee" and that term only seems to exist on packages as an adjective or past tense verb to distinguish from "whole coffee".

[@andrewwhitehead2002]

Definitely in British English “ground coffee” is the stuff you make coffee from and coffee grounds is what is left after you have made the coffee 😂

[@chawndel8279]

@@psirrow must be where you live. I'm in the Pacific Northwest and the word order distinguishes meaning. Coffee grounds are what's left over. No one here calls fresh ground coffee "coffee grounds".

[@danielcarroll3358]

@@chawndel8279 Same in California.

[@Steve-hu9gw]

Part of the point of a drinking fountain is having cold rather than tepid water. We Americans love our cold water. Tepid water just doesn’t quench our thirst.

[@bigbrewha]

Storm doors in the northern area's actually help to insulate the door way! The idea being that the extra layer of non/minimally moving air helps to insulate similar to double paned windows. It also helps to prevent heat loss around the door stops by creating that buffer. Even with modern doors the biggest heat loss is from the crack, so it helps to keep the air from moving and drawing the heat from the home. You can also get security doors that have laminated glass and stronger locking mechanisms to provide extra deterrence.

[@kkarllwt]

And, before foam filled metal doors, the wood was a so/so insulator and air moved thru the cracks in the joinery. South facing doors turn into solar heat collectors when the inner door is open.

[@solicitr666]

And, conversely, in the South before air conditioning, a screen door was a way to get air circulation without letting in flies and mosquitos.

[@csnide6702]

EXACTLY --- big thing here in Michigan ... ! 👍

[@bothellkenmore]

The storm doors at my parents house had a sliding glass pane and a screen so you could have the airflow in summer and the protection/insulation in winter.

[@csnide6702]

@@bothellkenmore yup - I've got the same thing

[@xfdrtgfd]

The thing that amazes me about flavored coffee creamer is that there is a huge selection of them in the grocery store. I don’t use them, I don’t like my coffee sweet. Nothing wrong with cream cheese on toast, to me anyway. Cream cheese and jam works too, on toast or bagels.

[@deutschmitpurple2918]

😊😊❤❤

[@CdA_Native]

oooh, cream cheese and jalapeno jelly on a Triscuit cracker.........

[@VersedNJ]

I use cream cheese on toast, most like soft, maybe whipped. I do think it's regional and ethnic. I don't care for flavored cream cheese except for lox cream cheese. As far as coffee, half the time I drink it black, sometimes with milk, on and off with half and half, since the price soared on half and half, stopped buying. Went through a short month or two flavored creamer thing, not worth the health and calorie risks. Fine for a late afternoon cup of coffee more of a trade off for a candy or cake, but just a little.

[@mikeh720]

@@CdA_Native cream cheese and medium salsa on a triscuit is my kryptonite! I'm rendered helpless until one of the three is completely consumed

[@janaaj1an889]

My parents told me at 12 if I wanted to drink coffee it had to be black (my father drank it that way). I have ever since (65 years and counting).

[@mutzekiepchen]

Definitely with on the check thing. I live in New Jersey and came over from Germany in 2020. When I came over, I opened a bank account and could order my own personalized checks (of course I chose animal pictures lol). I had to use them especially in the beginning, setting up rent payments and such. Luckily, now I can do online banking and auto payments almost everywhere. Occasionally though I get checks from insurance companies or have to use one for payments still.

[@steveschainost7590]

With a glass storm door, on sunny days, we can leave the front door open in cool/cold weather. The glass door keeps the cold air out and additional light and warmth into the front room. Our dogs love the lay on that warm spot in front of the door.

[@fakecubed]

As a kid I would lie in that warm spot in the sun a lot too.

[@user-yf3cr5ev5p]

Fun fact: In upper Wisconsin, they call water fountains "bubblers".

[@vasilkraychev8194]

The US Department of Labor states that every employer across the US must provide drinking water. Specifically, the drinking water must: Be in accordance with public health standards Come from a drinking fountain, covered container, or single-use bottle Amusement parks are also obligated to have them so you don't have to pay $10 for a bottle of water. They usually put water fountains in hard to find places :)

[@Nostripe361]

I am wondering how water fountains will be affected by the pandemic long term. Even afterwards, I still see many now afraid to drink from something that everyone else has touched or put their lips on.

[@randyhawley7202]

@@Nostripe361 Put their lips on? I've never seen a drinking fountain designed for you to put your lips on?

[@Nostripe361]

@@randyhawley7202 You're not supposed to but I have seen some weird people who put there mouth right on the are where the water comes out of. Also it wasn't uncommon where I went to school to see some people use the fountain to gargle and spit out the water when they were done back into the fountain basin.

[@dead-claudia]

only really mandated for employees tho doesn't need to exist for the general public - that's just a social norm

[@golden.lights.twinkle2329]

Most water in the US tastes so horrible you have to buy bottled water anyway.

[@johnedwards9051]

Hello! I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the things you cover on your channel. I am middle-aged and blind. I am in the technological Stone Age. But, I started using KZbin specifically to learn German. Your channel was my very first subscription and this is the very first comment I have ever left. I love your content. Learning all of the small cultural differences is great. Armed with this knowledge, I have recently made two German friends from Paderborn. They are blind as well. The things that you cover on your channel was a great spark to ignite conversation. I’ve been learning German for the past two years and will be playing host to them when they come to America. I am looking forward to this and I have to give you credit where it is due. Since all three of us are blind, charades is out. You have created a desire to learn German and German culture. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart. Addendum: your marketing and your products are amazing! It is almost as if you have a history in marketing lol. Thank you for sharing so much of your life with us viewers and I hope you and your boyfriend have an amazing Oktoberfest!

[@johannesmontoya6936]

Hey, greetings from germany! I feel you in my heart and it was very emotional and beautiful to read your comment. Wish you all the best in life my brother 🙏🏽❤️

[@ferlou2373]

❤️

[@flobi2306]

This was so heartfelt. I hope we can welcome you in Germany too and you will have a wonderful time here. Thank you for sharing your story💓

[@pigoff123]

My German friends always asked me if it was true that Americans live in wooden houses. I get frustrated when it gets cold and we are told to let our water drip to keep the pipes from freezing. We never did that in germany.

[@greatscot04]

Re: storm doors: Mine actually have a removable pane that you can either put glass or a screen in depending on the season. I don't use the glass by itself that often, but having the screen is quite nice during warm weather.

[@anthonyfuqua6988]

Most have glass that slides up and down.

[@loboheeler]

Europeans don't treat doors and windows like we do in the US. It's a thing of bugs in the Summer, and insulation in the Winter. Older houses needed the extra outside insulating glass panes, which you had to install seasonally. Storm windows as extra insulation are not as common now with modern double pane windows. I had an older house in Chicago that had glass, screen, and storm window all in one frame.

[@JPaterson8942]

We've got doors with the sliding pane. Although if it's too cold or nasty to not have it open, we're not going to use it with the pane closed.

[@mrcryptozoic817]

That's a really old model. I've never seen one like that since about 1970.

[@jonmkyle1]

Hello Feli, The reason there are regionalized commercials in the US, is that the major networks set aside a certain number of commercial slots for the local affiliates. For example, the local NBC affiliate sells adds that are only broadcast on that channel. The NBC affiliate in the next major city will air a different add in the same slot because the commercials are inserted locally. Hope that makes sense.

[@clinthowe7629]

when i was a kid we went to visit relatives in New Jersey and at breakfast i excitedly reached for a chocolate donut, only to find out it was a pumpernickel bagel 😂😂😂 our Jersey host thought i was out of my mind, but my parents actually bought large devils food chocolate donuts and regularly kept them on the refrigerator, they looked exactly like those pumpernickel bagels. ☺️

[@kenjf1009]

Some dip weed USAF inspector complained that the complimentary donuts we provided his team were stale. They were bagels.

[@mrcryptozoic817]

@@kenjf1009(chuckle)

[@eh5806]

Former TV guy here. Local/regional ads works like regional program slots; just on a smaller scale. The networks and affiliate stations all have agreements for a certain amount of local ads in every network show, and the network will provide timings that basically say like, "At 11:17 into the show, commercial break 1 will start, and the first 2:02 are yours (usually 1 second of pad per minute to help make transitions smoother), then you go back to the network satellite feed for another minute of national commercials and more of the show." And it's up to the local stations to switch the on-air source as needed. Also, cream cheese on toast is wonderful and not the least bit weird, and I agree cream cheese in Germany is on a different level, even if you're just buying a pretzel from a vendor at a train station.

[@GhostIntoTheFog]

One way to get around manually writing and mailing a check yourself is to use your bank's bill-pay option. Usually, if the person/company you're sending the check to hasn't signed up for electronic payment, the bank will mail a bank check to them at no extra cost to you.

[@michaelbcohen]

I think there is a good reason why Bagels are not commonly found in Germany, but lets not bring up that issue. But it was a Jewish Ethnic bread from what is today Poland (first mention of this type of bread in the 13th century and bagel name in the 16th century in Jewish records), Eastern Germany, East Prussia (Kalingrad today), Northern Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Slovakia. It became popular in New York because of Jewish immigrant culture, and then made its way into mainstream American Culture, like many other immigrant foods.

[@kriswarren2469]

Maybe something to note about watching a nationwide broadcast and seeing local ads is the fact that your local broadcaster has the rights to air the national coverage. They then splice in local adverts. It happens up here in Canada when watching American television. Sometimes when the local ad finishes you'll see the last second of the American advert

[@qedsteve]

We live in the Desert and during this heat, we can leave the doors open and get decent ventilation when relying on natural ventilation and cooling. Our front is a hard, secure steel lockable screen so we can go to sleep with it open (we just have to remember not to run from the shower naked since you can be seen from the street with the light on). It saves $$$ by not needing to run the air conditioning overnight.

[@80cardcolumn]

I went on a motorcycle tour in 1991 that went through parts of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, and France. Some things I never saw in the USA: - Border crossing posts and passport inspection at every country line. - Changing currency for every country. - Turning in your passport while staying at a hotel. - Giant vending machines that sold all kinds of groceries. You selected a loaf of bread at B17, for example, and it was moved to the dispensing door. - Large spreads of food served at smorgasbord breakfasts at hotels. - Stores closed for several hours in the afternoon. - Bathroom where the toilet was just a porcelain slot in the floor. (Small restaurant in Italy) - Beer gardens and humongous beer glasses.

[@minihamster]

Of course you wouldn't experience changing money or border controls in the USA since it's one big country. But Switzerland, Austria etc are different countries. It's like you would need to change money and maybe getting stopped by border control when you're driving to Canada or Mexico. Europe is not the same as the EU. But since the introduction of the Euro there isn't a mandatory border control or changing money anymore - except for Switzerland, which isn't a member of the EU :)

[@jasonbabila6006]

I would recommend watching the German In Venice(GIV) he’s fun to watch and his vacation in Germany visiting his mom and showing us different places in Germany.

[@MPerski]

One of the first things that stood out to me when I first travelled to Germany, and actually many European countries, were the outdoor cafes. I really like having a coffee or espresso sitting outside, watching people go by (another observation I don’t necessarily see in the US), and I don’t know if it’s because of our weather in the Midwest (I live near the IL-WI border) or because we have more bugs; but we don’t have many outdoor cafes or coffee shops. Would love another video of shops/restaurants, etc you miss from Germany, and those in the US that you really like. For example, what about our massive shopping malls? Keep up the good work 👍🏻

[@MrPip9999]

Outdoor cafes in the US ?? they will run away without paying the waiter for their drinks 😜

[@largol33t1]

I used to find it funny that Germans don't blink an eye at public nudity. I've learned to live with it. It isn't hurting anyone so it doesn't bother me.

[@MPerski]

@@MrPip9999 LOL 😂

[@vasilkraychev8194]

@@MrPip9999 Do you know that as a fact, or from your own practice? And don't forget, US waiters often carry guns😉

[@jeffreysahaida1111]

In Wis. we have outdoor seating but like you say, a times it's too cold or muggy or mosquitoes, but with all the beer tap rooms and bars, they offer out door seating for the smokers. And thye either start a tab or you go inside and pay for the beer. If you run off without paying they just bill your debit account

[@richardtodd6843]

Some things I noticed when I visited Europe as a teen in 1976: 1) When visiting a grocery store down the hill from Marienplatz in München, you had to bag the items yourself (minor surprise) and the cashier sat on stools (bigger surprise). 2) A coin-operated beer machine in a hotel hallway in München. 3) Cars on the streets of Amsterdam in perfect condition where in Cincinnati rusty cars were common. I wondered if that stemmed from cars being more of a luxury item there with tighter maintenance regulations. 4) What appeared to be poor people living in beautiful neighborhoods in Amsterdam. 5) Trams running in Heidelberg when they didn't exist in far larger US cities. 6) Coca-cola and carbonated fruit drinks sold in ⅓ liter cans. It made realize that there wasn't much difference between those and 12 ounce cans. Subsequent developments made me realize Americans have no trouble understanding the metric system when it is applied to soft drinks, yet somehow the 12-ounce cans persist alongside the .5, 1, 1.25 and 2-liter bottles. 6) Mind-blowing air pollution levels in Brussels due to a heat wave. Possibly because of Europeans driving less, they were a few years later than the U.S. at instituting air pollution controls for vehicles.

[@SJHFoto]

6-From Canada. A 12 oz can is 355mL, so you are correct. 1/3L cans are SLIGHTLY less

[@hydrolito]

12 ounces is smaller than half a litter. Gallon of milk or gallon of ice cream is 3. 78 litters.

[@SJHFoto]

@@hydrolito I know! That is why I said it is 355mL! There are 1000mL in a litre (I assume you mean "litre" or "liter" when you said "litter", yes?

[@georgiancrossroads]

Feli I was just in Germany two weeks ago for half a month. Every German had one thought on their mind: "Winter is coming!" And I'm sure you know what that means this winter. Maybe you can do a video on this sometime. By the way having watched your channel for several years it really paid off. Still didn't make it to München though. But I did visit Heidelberg for the first time. My new favorite German city.

[@Zireael83]

I´m from germany too and I don´t think about winter and high gas prices. But I´m in the luck position that I´m not one of the poorest in my country (not one of the riches either) but It won´t kill me if things cost double. But there are many people that don´t have any spare money left each month. For these the winter probably won´t be as pleasant.

[@lionmuesli4321]

Yes, Heidelberg is such a remarkable (and delicious) city.

[@RandolphMcguttersmelf]

Probably because the wonder if they will freeze when Russia turns off the natural gas.

[@camovets5719]

Checks: I own a small service business, we like to take a check over a card because than we save the fees that go along with taking a card & we get the funds a lot faster.

[@martinherrington9499]

Good list. I remember being surprised when we moved from Belgium to the US that the US was still using checks so much. In my business, we have customers who regularly pay us amounts like $100,000 by check. I still find this amazing!

[@csnide6702]

you can send that 6 figure check to me if it becomes a problem.... 😅😉

[@WalterGreenIII]

@@csnide6702 As long as it is not printed on Latex...

[@csnide6702]

@@WalterGreenIII or 🏀

[@martinherrington9499]

@John Smith I still write "cheque" when I am in the UK, but "check" seems to be the usual spelling in the US.

[@michaelmedlinger6399]

@John Smith Not in the US.

[@thr8061]

Harlan Huckleby (worker at nearby Kohler Water Works) invented the "Water Bubbler" in 1888. "Water Fountains" are for decorations (like in parks & hotels) and water bubblers are to drink from.

[@SnowmanTF2]

Water fountains long predated the popularity of personal water bottles, if my experience is common in the US it would be by around a hundred years. Sure various similar products existed even back then, but when I was in elementary in the 80s basically only type of drinks students had was in a lunch box's thermos or sealed containers (generally juice or pop, not water), I did not start seeing people commonly using water bottles either at lunch or the rest of the day till around early 2000s. Granted they did seem to start finding niches in recreationally sports or exercise in the 90s, before which it was more common to just see only a team water dispenser with a lot of paper cups.

[@spellbinder3113]

I agree. Water bottles were not a thing in the 80's.

[@aquilapetram]

@@spellbinder3113 Certainly not in individual drink sizes. Larger bottles (liters and so on) started appearing in the 1970s, but they were mostly imported sparkling mineral water. I don't think I saw still water in bottles until nearly 1990, and I didn't see it in the pint/0.5 liter or less individual drink sizes until the late 1990s. And this is in the SF Bay Area, which tends to pick up on fads earlier than most places.

[@davidkermes376]

when i was in school, elementary through high school, students couldn't bring bottled drinks into classrooms. .that made drinking fountains pretty much a necessity.

[@maxwill6408]

I'm not sure what Feli is referring to when it comes to check writing and Americans use of electronic banking. My wife and I do have a checking account along with a checkbook but I can't remember the last time we wrote a check and mostly use our debit cards for purchase (I usually don't care more than $30 in cash on me). Most of our bills ie.. home mortgage, utilities and car payments are completed through bank transfers from our checking account. I think this is normal for a lot of Americans.

[@christophb2736]

As a German I was nearly unable to buy myself a cup of coffee back in 2001 in a Starbucks in Detroit. They asked weird questions about size, taste, topping and my name...

[@Habakuk_]

asking for their names is a no-go :)

[@scvcebc]

You can make up a name, but then when they call it, you better remember that it is your order that is ready!

[@icerepublic]

@@johnp139 In Germany we usually only have these endless questions with American restaurants like Starbucks, Subway etc. Many people (including myself) avoid to go there for this very reason: They don't like to answer so many questions. I'd definitely go there way more often without all those stupid questions. In a normal German restaurant you just go there and say in a single sentence what you want and that's it. You don't usually configure it that much. I guess it's a cultural thing. In the US people have the feeling it's a customer-friendly service if they can customize their order to a T. In Germany we find this annoying and a waste of time. How do German restaurants know whom to give it to without asking the name? Well, they usually serve one after the other or they just remember. Due to high labor costs there are in fact way less people working. So usually it's less confusion and the person who took your order is also the one preparing it and giving to you.

[@hannahk1306]

@@icerepublic I'd say it's similar in the UK and even when they need to call you over they just call out the order, e.g. "2 teas, a cheese toastie and an omelette", or they have table/order numbers. Some places also have these fancy vibrating coasters that buzz when your order's ready.

[@icerepublic]

@@hannahk1306 I don't know what the Americans are thinking with their constant name-asking. On vacation in the US, I always had to give my name. Ordering a coffee? Name please. Waiting for a free seat in a restaurant? Name please? I gave my name, even spelt it letter by letter, they wrote it down. And when they finally called me... my name was completely unrecognizable due to bad pronunciation 😂😭 They wondered why I didn't react and looked at me. So they knew who they where looking for without the name anyway. 🤣 Why didn't just tell me that my coffee is ready. After a while I honestly thought about pretending I was Peter to circumvent all the trouble. Weird. If they have really trouble discerning their customers why don't they just hand out numbers? It really seems unnecessarily complicated.

[@dperreno]

The use of personal water bottles did not become a "thing" until perhaps the 1990's. Public water fountains have been used in the U.S. since the early 1900's with the advent of sanitary public water systems. And I agree with you that the newer fountains with the bottle filling feature are great!

[@RolandHutchinson]

Also, old-style drinking fountains that without the bottle-filling feature don't supply filtered water. It's just tap water -- often but not always refrigerated.

[@sammijean06]

The first time I traveled abroad from the United States, I couldn’t figure out how to keep my hotel light on 🤣. Apparently you insert your room key. This is absolutely genius for (1) saving on electricity and (2) not losing your room key. However, it took me a good 15 minutes and a Google search to figure out what the heck I was doing wrong.

[@michaelodonnell824]

I was confused as hell when I first encountered them. Also, why do you have to TWIST lamp buttons to turn them on in the US, at home we just push them through. I literally could not turn on the lamp my fist night in the US and reported it as broken the next morning - then they Twisted the thing I had been trying to push...

[@nathan1821]

ist doch in Deutschland auch so?

[@captain_context9991]

You are so right :)

[@sammijean06]

@@michaelodonnell824 I also don’t know why we still have twist lamps. Nothing is worse than trying to turn your bedside lamp off before bed after applying lotion to your hands and you just can’t gain enough traction to actually turn the darn thing.

[@Mirabellism]

We used to have twist switches in the cellar of my parents house 40-50 years ago (in Germany). I almost forgot about that. 💡😂

[@mmosbauer]

When I lived in Germany I loved how the windows could swing open or you could simply tilt the top portion in. This was great when it was raining to still get fresh air. Here in the US windows simply slide up or down.

[@aphextwin5712]

In regards to drinking fountains, there is one exception in the German speaking world that I know of: Zurich. They have about 1200 outdoor drinking fountains that are even fed by a different water supply (created in case the primary one fails or is compromised). Many of them have the form of conventional ornamental fountains, but a good number of them also resemble the traditional American water fountains with a small upwards-directed stream (though they are continuously running, not user-operated) or, while looking like ornamental fountains, have water volume suitable for direct consumption and easily accessible for your head.

[@freakyfelt]

Berlin has outdoor drinking fountains in the summer time as well

[@manveroo1340]

Also nice to know: Public fountains in Switzerland need to be marked (icon or in writing) if the water is NOT drinkable. So, go ahead and fill your bottle!

[@TheRavenir]

I've actually lived in Zurich almost my entire life, and while you are correct that Zurich has a ton of public drinking fountains, they're still not really found inside buildings. At school, we do the same thing they do in Germany: fill our water bottles with tap water in the restroom (many classrooms have a small faucet with a sink as well) or just drink directly from the faucet.

[@loboheeler]

Public water fountains have been a thing in the US, as long as a centralized water supply has been available. Using bottles that you carry around is a new thing. Many water fountains are refrigerated, which you know is the preferred way here.

[@jsat5609]

6:38 Having to time shift live TV programs in the 1950s to show them at different times in different time zones, led in no small part to the invention of the videotape recorder which first became available to TV stations and networks in 1956. Before videotape they had to record live programs on film by an inferior process called kinescoping. CBS estimated that switching to reusable videotape cut their cost for time shifting programs in the 1950s from $300 per hour to $9 per hour.

[@jsat5609]

The oldest videotape still in existence, The Edsel Show, broadcast live, October 13, 1957, with Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, and Bing Crosby. This is the complete show, including Edsel commercials: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJaTcq1vqcmefsk

[@munsters2]

Thanks for explaining what those comments are that request people to call or text them. I've received several replies like that from other channels and have been wondering who it is really from. You are probably saving many people from malware.

[@briantrumpower8108]

During my time in the Navy, We had a port call in Italy. My shipmates and I went to a bar (celebrating my 21st birthday!). I went to the restroom, and found there was simply a tiled floor with a big hole in the center of it. So glad I didn't need it for a #2!

[@SwordsmanRyan]

reminds me of the Patton movie from the 1970s: journalist: "Is it true you're using Italian POWs to dig latrines?" Patton: "Latrines? They didn't know what they were until I showed them."

[@jwhiskey242]

First place I saw that was in Greece.

[@briantrumpower8108]

@@jwhiskey242 I've been to Greece a few times, and Crete, but fortunately never ran into one of those there.

[@maximipe]

@@SwordsmanRyan lol talk about white saviour complex, latrines existed since ancient Rome imagine thinking people 'didn't know what they were'

[@lorrefl7072]

30-40 years ago you still had quite a few of those toilets in France too. Never seen them in Belgium (where I'm from) so whenever I saw one of those toilets in France I would hold it and look for a "normal" toilet because as a women I really didn't want to squat and try to avoid my shoes and pants.

[@annahopp]

Thanks!

[@neilis2405]

@13:44 For anything that needs a monthly mailed check, most banks have a free service where you can just specify an address and an amount and they'll mail the check to that address monthly for you. I used to do that with my last bill that didn't accept e-checks or other online payment, but that bill was eliminated about 6 years ago so I haven't dealt with checks since then. But yes if you're dealing with an individual for large sums of money like renting a house from someone it certainly is still common.

[@jrgptr935]

Mein Vermieter schätzt Überweisungen gar nicht, und versucht jeden neuen Mieter von den Vorteilen der Barzahlung zu überzeugen.

[@Hephzibah16]

I like cream cheese on something like banana bread (though I like the one we call pumpkin bread), or mixed with eggs and sugar baked into the bread. I also like our cranberry apple chutney served by lining a small bowl with cream cheese, putting the chutney on top, and scoop some of the cheese with the chutney onto crackers. As well as on bagels or bread. It's also good on a ham sandwich!

[@chrisbegger8684]

I like this one as it wasn't a total " Bash America, Germany does it so much better" video I have seen mostly as of late

[@patriciadurio562]

I use cinnamon/ brown sugar cream cheese on cinnamon raisin swirl bread. And as an American I have used cream cheese on toast also. Cinnamon/brown sugar to be exact.

[@stevenprichard1925]

I stayed in an AirBnB apartment in London five years ago and was surprised to see that the “shower” was in the middle of an open bathroom with a squeegee provided to push excess water toward a drain in the floor. This feature is super impractical for wheelchair users as I had to tape together trash bags and drape it over my chair to keep it dry while taking a shower.

[@bothellkenmore]

When I first saw those European style bathrooms on HGTV's House Hunters International they did seem weird but I could see being OK using one. Then I saw on another reno show where they made a "wetroom" bathroom in that style in the US and I really liked it from a cleaning aspect, just hose everything off, but it also seemed like it might be AMA compliant. But I think what I'm hearing from you is that you need to get as close to the shower area so you can transfer yourself with as least effort as possible and have your mobility device protected by a barrier like a glass wall. Am I close?

[@davidcosta2244]

Many other countries don't have laws like the U. S. 's ADA laws.

[@lorrefl7072]

I'm from Belgium and been to the UK many times (especially to London), and both in Belgium and the UK I've never seen an open bathroom. 30-40 years ago they did still have some toilets in France that were just a hole in the floor (so no seat or anything) but I've never seen showers that where open. Maybe it's a popular AirBnB thing because they can just hose everything off?

[@scelestion]

8:58 Sweet cream cheese also is a thing in Germany. We always had strawberry cream cheese at home when I was a child. There even was this "Frauentausch" episode that got a little famous many years ago for the woman who had an unhealthy diet, but claimed that cold cuts and strawberry cream cheese was rich in vitamins.

[@Piratenbraut]

Erdbeerkäse!

[@scelestion]

@@Piratenbraut Und Wuass!

[@georgehale9625]

Feli, Regional ads on national programs are not shown nationally. These ads are inserted by either the local TV station or cable company locally in time slots provided by the😢 national program. Only the intended area sees the regional ad.

[@McFlingleson]

What I always think is silly about medication ads is that there's usually nothing in the ad that's explicitly about whatever the medication is supposed to treat. Like, it will show a person doing things that people like to do, and the voiceover talks about the medication, and with the context you understand that the message behind the ad is that using that medication to treat your health problems will help you lead a full and happy life, but just by watching the scene it shows you you would never think that the video of a guy helping his kids build a tree house is about cancer medicine or whatever it is.

[@jlandon6028]

if you were not born with it you don't need it. Talk to your creator and healer Jesus Christ.

[@michaelschaefer1943]

You are right about the medical ads, should not be done. Checks.... I write, typically no more than 5 per year. As far as rent goes, it is a good tracking tool for you. You can look at your account online and see when it was written and when they deposited it. Screen doors are great for letting in the outside air on a cool autumn or spring night.

[@christianbrolich9499]

Storm doors: In Deutschland haben manche Häuser, vor allem ältere, einen Windfang. Also auch zwei Türen mit einem Abstand von vielleicht 1 bis 2 Metern.

[@maikehudson333]

When I went to gymnasium in Germany, we had a water fountain. There was also one at the local zoo. Those were the only two places in Germany I have ever seen one.

[@captain_context9991]

So what was weird. The water fountain? Or the place where it was.

[@maikehudson333]

@@captain_context9991 The fact that I haven't seen one anywhere else.

[@captain_context9991]

@@maikehudson333 Then I very much agree. Thats weird. But things that are "public" arent very popular in the US, are they. Because thats SOCIALIST water.

[@pprimiani]

I stayed in Gütersloh for nine weeks in my company’s guest house. The lack of window screens was the toughest for me to get used to, especially after waking up in the middle of the night to a huge mosquito dancing on my face. But one thing I miss after coming home is the fact that juice one buys in Germany is made with sparking water instead of flat water. I don’t like sparkling water on its own but it’s delicious with juice so now I mix all my juice half and half with sparkling water.

[@rettawhinnery]

I agree that prescription drugs should not be advertised on TV. Plus, I think that doctors get paid for prescribing certain drugs, so it does make the product seem untrustworthy. On a similar but different note, a PA (Physician's Assistant, who can prescribe drugs) wanted to put me on Metformin for diabetes. I don't like taking pills at all, so I objected. She apparently thought I was asking for a designer drug because she explained to me that it was the least expensive. We were not on the same wavelength at all.

[@Ghost-ur7kq]

It is actually illegal for doctors or PAs to get paid for prescribing it.

[@rettawhinnery]

@@Ghost-ur7kq Good to know. Thanks for the update.

[@captain_context9991]

Yes this is a huge american problem. How doctors get paid to push meds on patients completely without any medical benefit. Just to cash in. Its a corrupt system to the very core. This has been linked to RAMPANT pill dependancies, crisis-levels opioid epidemics, and entire communities ruined. You would come into a doctor with a bruised hand, and leave with enough hard drugs to sedate a village. For no reason. These drugs are strong enough to knock you completely out for days. I was given one once and it was scary. Also..... Whats wrong with Metformin for diabetes?

[@jonathangullett3143]

Again, it is illegal for doctors to receive money for prescribing drugs. Drug companies try to fund information sessions in a variety of awesome location, and market thought leaders with meals etc, but these practices often come to light and diminish credibility of pharma and prescribers.

[@jonathangullett3143]

@@johnp139 simple, there are gatekeepers who make money on simple services that do not require an advanced degree.

[@kryos_100]

11:15 here in berlin, where i come from and where i live, there are a lot of water fountains- translated with Google translate

[@CaraBirkholz]

A number of years ago my husband got a traffic ticket on a Germany trip. The only way to pay was by bank transfer, but since we don't have a German bank account, that was impossible. Ended up having a German friend pay it and then got them cash.

[@lorrefl7072]

I don't get why you couldn't transfer the money with your American bank account. My American BFF who lives in Belgium now was able to transfer money without any problems before she permanently lived here with her belgian boyfriend and was here on visits.

[@volodymyrkleban1484]

​@@lorrefl7072my bank has $45 fee for international SWIFT bank transfers. Also I assume the German government requires some kind of identifying information on the payment, which might not be possible from the US. IBAN is purely a European thing

[@charleselertii6187]

Hi Feli. I was born in 1958 and grew up in Detroit, Michigan. My Mom made me cream cheese and jelly sandwiches on regular bread all the time when I was in grade school. I never even saw a bagel until I was in my 20s. Chuck in Florida.

[@thorstensaccount1565]

As for coffee creamer … No, flavored creamer is not what virtually all Americans use in their coffee. Good “third wave” coffe shops almost never even offer it. In fact, flavored creamer is basically limited to grocery stores, gas station coffee stations, and workplace cafeterias. Even massive chains like Starbucks, Dunkin or McDonalds don’t have flavored creamer.

[@Chiaroscuro1991]

The storm door is a funny observation. Just like “storm windows” it is one more layer of insulation to keep out the cold air.

[@emily_gross1990]

One of my favorite things is a French toast bagel with whipped cream cheese. So delicious! You also must try a baked potato with garden vegetable cream cheese on it. It's actually really good. It's more luxurious than just butter and sour cream but a bit better for you than slathering it in both of those.

[@Zireael83]

I, as a german, like sour cream or "Quark" way more than cream cheese on my potatoes, but thats maybe a personal thing ^^

[@ghostrider88jinetedelfanta31]

While cream cheese & lox are classic on bagels 🥯 😋, to my knowledge, people substitute cream cheese for butter, when they have to watch their cholesterol or cut down on the fat in the diet. At least my mother did. I grew up on the West Coast & the Mid West. We always had cream cheese & jelly sandwiches 🥪 along with peanut butter ones. Never even saw a bagel until I joined the Navy ⚓️. I live in South now. A local potluck contribution, is a ham/turkey roll-up with cream cheese & maybe lettuce. Sometimes they use potato rolls. 🥐🧀🐖🦃🫔

[@PanniMezei]

The checks were a big one for me too. Thankfully I can use my bankcard most of the times, but ALL the landlords want the rent via check, it's so weird. Oh, and when the airways lost my luggage, they also sent me a check in the mail, it was so weird 😂

[@SuprousOxide]

I remember my first checkbook back when I was in my teens. Really made me feel like an adult being able to pay bills that way. Now it's a hassle, where did I put it, why won't they accept credit cards like civilized people...

[@robicog1864]

Being paid by check means that random people don’t have access to your bank account number. A landlord asking for rent to be paid by check keeps tenants from having access to the landlords bank information. It’s a privacy issue and some people prefer the “paper trail” to track financial transactions. A line item in your bank statement doesn’t always have enough info.

[@RottenRottys]

@@SuprousOxide I think there are a few reasons landlords wants checks. 1. no transaction fees 2. In order to setup ACH, you'll get information that could potentially be used to steal money from the landlord. 3. Credit card charges can be appealed, and the amount can be held by the CC company for months during the investigation. Personally, I prefer people to pay me in cash.

[@lilg2300]

the land of the credit card use checks. that's kind of funny! i really love that online banking is popular in germany, wouldn't want to go back to checks. i know in italy they still use checks. but elsewhere in europe?

[@maxw1567]

There are plenty of water fountains in Germany too. For example at my university or in Schwimmbädern (I don’t know how to translate that properly) or in saunas or regular fountains in the village/city etc. .

[@campidor]

Sweet cream cheese does exist. There's Philadelphia Milka as well as several fruity Exquisa ones for example.

[@jessec5643]

@Evi1 M4chine Philadelphia cream cheese is salted in the USA as well. Even the sweet varieties. In the US it contains 315 mg of sodium per 100 g. In Germany it contains 300 mg of sodium. So there's even a tiny amount less salt in the German version compared to the US version. And the other common brands are also around that level (Almette 290 mg, Exquisa 280 mg, Buko 320 mg). There might still be a taste difference between American and German cream cheese due to other factors, but there's not more salt added in Germany (actually, it's a tiny bit less).

[@Habakuk_]

@Evi1 M4chine then take Sanella ideal for baking

[@clarencesmith2305]

Feli part of the thing with regional advertisements is A we are such a large country and B we have stores that we only have on the west coast for example we have a members only store called Bi-Mart in the area of Oregon and a fast food joint called Burgerville and you won't find either one say east of say the cascade mountain range for the burgers and east of Idaho for Bi-Mart.

[@Sailor-Dave]

I pay with a check for the electric bill, my Discover Card bill, the phone bill, and the water bill. Other than that, I almost always pay with the Discover Card. I'm very sorry for how unkind this sounds, but I'll bet prior to the 1930s, there were bagel bakeries in Germany. Screen doors were used to allow ventilation and keep out the flies and mosquitoes prior to the ubiquitous use of air conditioning.

[@stparisian]

Finally! Even tho’ we didn’t do it, I had to scroll thru hundreds of comments to find someone “brave enough” to comment on bagels! 😅👍❤️

[@aphextwin5712]

In a way, one main purpose of screen doors seems to be to turn doors into additional windows.

[@realmainer]

I use checks! Online transfers can be hacked! Storm & screen doors are very common here. Storm doors help with retaining heat during the winter, screen doors keep out most insects during warm weather.

[@Rivercoon]

I have never been to Germany but did work for a travel trailer manufacturer that bought part of similar company in Germany. We brought over some German made trailers to compare with what we were making. One thing that struck us all as odd was the lack of bug screens in the German made windows. We all wondered why Germans liked being bitten by mosquitos.

[@Nils.Minimalist]

You can order suitable bug screens here in Germany on the Internet, which are delivered after measuring the window (inside dimensions) and can then be inserted exactly into the inner frame of the window. I have them in all my windows. In the office at my work we also have them in all the windows, i would say they are very common now.

[@weinbergfahrer4048]

@@johnp139 Depending on the region and season, bugs are not really an issue.

[@jwhiskey242]

A friend of mine visiting the US for the first time (he was from South Tyrol) asked me if "all of the windows had those grates" - meaning window screens. I said pretty much. He said bugs in Europe just flew in and out as they wanted.

[@Bacopa68]

Here in the southern US your entire house would be filled with mosquitos and flies. Plus, we have giant flying cockroaches. Roaches 3-4 cm long. They'd be everywhere without screens. And we have minor outbreaks of mosquito spread diseases. West Nile most recently, which I have had and was a very bad two days. Guy I know went into a coma from it.

[@hanh2161]

9:30 In Germany there is now also Philadelphia with strawberry or coffee flavor in Germany.

[@michaelodonnell824]

In Ireland something weird happened with cheques a couple of years ago. The Government introduced a basic "Water Charge" and we were all supposed to register. Those who did had our charges withdrawn directly from our Bank Accounts. There was a HUGE political controversy about this and in a later election, while the government remained in place, their new majority depended on them abolishing the "Water Charge". Because a large number of people had never registered for Water Charges, the government decided to refund those of us who had. Despite the fact that they withdrew the Water Charge directly from our Bank Accounts, the gave the refunds by cheque, which I always found very strange.

[@rabbiezekielgoldberg2497]

Why would you register in the first place?

[@rabbiezekielgoldberg2497]

@Nicky L That didn't bother the people who didn't register.

[@AV-we6wo]

@@johnp139 It's spelled checks in American English, but (usually) cheques in British English, that's why it is spelled that way in Ireland, too.

[@csnide6702]

that way they could prove you got it back...... nobody could say they didn't get theirs......

[@haukenot3345]

@@csnide6702 You know that banks keep records of all transactions, right? Why would a paper based cheque be more secure or reliable than a digital transaction? If anything, I would have thought the opposite. But I've never used a cheque in my life, so maybe I am missing something.

[@pixelbartus]

Süßen Frischkäse gibts seit ein paar Jahren auch in Deutschland überall. Nicht so viele Sorten, aber Erdbeere, Ananas, Honig und Milka gibts eigentlich überall.

[@DreamingRealist]

I only needed to go from Germany to the Netherlands to be suprised, when I tried to open a window unsuccessfully at first. The house I stayed in had a tild mechanism but not like in Germany. You have to open it on the downside outwards, with two handles. There wasn´t an option to open it fully either. I´ve never seen something like that before and it left me confused for a few moments. lol

[@DreamingRealist]

@Evi1 M4chine Same thought!

[@erikbakker6974]

Windows that open on the downside outwards? That’s not common in NL. Most our windows swing open. And since the 1990s, most houses have the Tilt and Swing windows that Feli calls ‘German style’.

[@reinhard8053]

@@erikbakker6974 I observed these kind of windows a lot in Denmark.

[@Mirabellism]

@@reinhard8053 Same! 🇩🇰

[@DreamingRealist]

@@erikbakker6974 That´s what I wondered about too. I don´t know how old these houses were or if it was a special style by the architect.

[@PaulsToolReview]

Of course you can put cream cheese on toast including "kaiser" rolls which German bakery's and deli's sell. Cream cheese is also great on Thomas English Muffins which aren't English at all. Any American who thinks cream cheese is only for bagels never lived in a major US city like New York. Also in the northeast Breakstone's "Temp Tee" is a competitor if you seak more if a whipped option. Lastly, many people I know prefer butter on their bagels, but one of the many cream cheese options is the most popular.

[@aguyinnc2865]

Yea it's always been confusing to see ads for prescription meds, because they are basically saying, " if it doesn't kill you, it might help you!" LOL!

[@celiabrickell2500]

When I was young, prescriptions weren't advertised on TV. Neither were lawyers! I think that it was better for both to not be advertised.

[@davesaunders7080]

The anti vaxxers risk management decisions are baffling too, how many of these med's do they take while ignoring the laundry list of side effects while ignoring the vastly safer vaccines we have available to us.

[@davesaunders7080]

@@johnp139 It is also about marketing, you do not have to spend a nickle on a marketing campaign to promote a product that everyone in the world needs , and as much as you can produce you use it all. Side effects are really about statistics and risk analysis which few seem to comprehend properly.

[@NormanF62]

In Germany and Austria, the outdoor mall or market is a thing. In the USA, they tend to be in enclosed air conditioned buildings. The shopping experience is already different even with the crowds that frequent them.

[@oldwillytc6296]

My cultural shock find was unisex toilets in Korean restaurants. I was so enthralled I married my Korean language teacher and we will be celebrating our 52nd anniversary in December and are still sharing a unisex toilet by the way.

[@positivechannel_1]

Dear Feli, thanks for your great videos about the US and Germany. I find them very interesting and informative 👍 and also entertaining 😊 Regarding your question about the bagel. I am very happy to live in Munich right now and have to study German. I can only do it in the places which have WiFi and long working hours. So, it is Starbucks. They have bagels 🥯 and good WiFi;)) ❤ would still prefer to have them in delicious German bakeries. Look forward for your next videos. Best wishes and love from Munich to you!

[@ch94086]

Speaking of water fountains, it reminds me of a long bike ride through wine country in southwest Germany. In the villages there was a cigarette machine on every corner but no water anywhere. It was Sunday so everything was closed. I finally had to go to a restaurant to order water. Now I know to carry extra water. In the US most parks and trail heads have a water fountain, but during COVID many were closed.

[@idnwiw]

Hm strange - are you sure you didn't overlook dozens of hydrants? Those also carry tabwater which is perfectly drinkable.

[@full700kb]

there are hundreds of public fountains in all the wine countries

[@saragwaltney5725]

I just love your content! I was blessed to live in Germany for 4 years and I miss it daily. One of the first things that confused me when we first arrived was I asked for some milk at our hotel for my 2 year old. They looked a bit confused and kindly brought me shelf stable milk. I was so confused!!! It was room temp. Still cracks me up when I see shelf stable milk here in the US. 🤣🤣

[@dawnmiller6899]

What is shelf stable milk

[@jeromemckenna7102]

This kind of advertising didn't exist during my childhood and the only advertising allowed was aimed at medical professionals. I didn't realize that there was sweet cream cheese either. As far a bagels go, since they originated among Polish Jews it makes a lot of sense that they are common in the US and uncommon in Germany.

[@doug112244]

And more common in the Northeast which has a large Jewish and Polish dispora.

[@trentpettit6336]

Did you know bagels are uncommon in ISRAEL despite many Polish Jews (as well as Jews from many other lands) having settled in Israel/Palestine starting over 150 years ago? Also, MONTREAL is famous for its bagels and other traditional Jewish foods, but most of the Jews in Montreal (there aren't many Jews in the rest of Quebec though) are native English speakers, without any French colonial heritage, even though Jews have a long history in Montreal!

[@jeromemckenna7102]

@@trentpettit6336 I didn't know that bagels are uncommon in Israel.

[@cylonred8902]

@@trentpettit6336 I wonder how many yeasted breads they have in Israel. Wonder if it has to do with the climate and lack of needed high protein flour. If you are going to make yeasted breads you are going to need AC to control the proofing and to prevent the dough from getting too hot in the mixer. Can't imagine that hand rolling them would be practical either, so they would need more equipment than say in NY at a shop that still hand rolls them.

[@jrgptr935]

Ich hätte gedacht, daß Beigel ungarische Brötchen sind; nach dem Klang des Wortes könnte es (das Wort) durchaus jüdischer Herkunft sein.

[@beckysimeone4882]

Flavored creamers are great for making cake/muffin mixes or icing instead of water/milk/vanilla. I especially like the Amaretto flavor for this. Cinnamon Sugar Cream Cheese on Raisin Bagels is the bomb!💣

[@SJHFoto]

What does "the bomb" mean? I can't tell if that is good or bad

[@Podderich]

Actually there is Strawberry, Mango and Milka cream cheese in Germany. Always see them at Kaufland, tried the strawberry one, regretted it.

[@robertsmith5744]

A check is a contract, it can be written out on a clean piece of paper and actually be legal.

[@laserwolf65]

I think checks might be a regional thing. I just moved to Ohio from Utah about 6 weeks ago. Before then, I lived in Idaho for a spell and I grew up in Upstate New York. Ohio is the first place I've ever had someone request I pay with things with checks.

[@wakannnai1]

Yep, I live in California, and haven't been asked for a check in around 10-15 years. Bank transfers are the norm here, even for rent unless you're renting from and individual. Quite interesting to see the differences here.

[@aquilapetram]

@@wakannnai1 In the San Francisco area, the only bill I still pay with a check is the water district bill. They built themselves a palatial corporate office tower some years ago, but they farmed their online payment service out to a third party, and charge two dollars per transaction to pay online. I am enraged at the thought of paying someone for the privilege of giving them my money faster and at lower cost to them; so every two months, I write out a check, stick it in an envelope, ride my bicycle the six miles to their corporate office, drop it in the mail slot, and ride home. THAT"LL show them! Most of my clients pay me in checks, though (both individuals and companies).

[@davidbraun6209]

Pumpernickel bagels with peanut butter and Concord grape jelly is the Bomb!

[@lilg2300]

sounds... ehm... important is tha YOU love it ;-)))

[@garrettwinkler3687]

The thing about checks in the US is that while you don't really need them in day-to-day purchases, nearly everyone has a checkbook in case a check is needed for a security deposit or a down payment or even rent payments for some landlords. They're more rare, but nearly every American has learned how to write and use checks.

[@boomboombaby9140]

In Nashville I pay my rent and all my bills online

[@Habakuk_]

As a European, I think it's a good alternative who doesn't feel like a credit card :) we abolished them in 1999

[@Neville60001]

@Boomboom Baby, here in Canada, I also pay bills online (sometimes), and my rent is automatically deducted at the beginning of each month.

[@Habakuk_]

@@johnp139 That has nothing to do with it, it's our mentality not to get into debt bondage. Preferably with cash.

[@Habakuk_]

@@johnp139 Credit card has nothing to do with freedom but is a bondage.

[@teri526]

TV ads are driven by local consumer behaviors and regionally specific products and services. Supermarkets or grocery retail stores tend to be regional.

[@tammyblack2747]

I agree totally about the drug ads! They have gotten way put of hand and should NOT be marketed to the general public, who are not doctors and have no medical training! Those ads used to be illegal here too. Greed prompted the change I think. Drug makers want to sell more drugs, and it isn't enough for them to try selling just to doctors.

[@tnit7554]

👍

[@jasonrodgers9063]

Not to mention the TRUCKLOADS of erectile dysfunction clinic radio ads. TOO MUCH INFORMATION!!!

[@rabbiezekielgoldberg2497]

Makes you think what other unethical practices they do, for example by sponsoring news channels whenever a new drug or vaccine comes out.

[@suedenim]

The thing I don't get is, who are these doctors who prescribe whatever their patients ask for because they saw an ad? "Ask your doctor about Xylinimanital!" If I asked I'd just get a quick "No, you don't need that."

[@Neville60001]

@Jason Rodgers, the same could be said about sanitary napkin ads.😏

[@What_Makes_Climate_Tick]

When I was a young kid in a small town in the 1970s, most people had a checking account at one of two banks in that town. At most stores, even if you didn't bring your checkbook with your own personal checks, the store had stacks of blank checks from each of those banks. When it got back to the bank, they would have to manually look up which account was yours to charge that check against.

[@jeffg.8964]

They called them “counter checks” and my father had them for customers to use in his pharmacy if they left their check book or cash at home. This was in the 1960s in northern NJ.

[@matthewgerlach2420]

The prescription drug side effects one is funny because I have seen a commercial that said "please call your doctor if death occurs"

[@grinner68]

A lot of businesses prefer checks to avoid paying the 2-5% fees to do electronic payments. Banks also charge for wire transfers here. When I paid for my last car, the dealer asked for a personal check for the down payment. My car mechanic gives a discount for using a check for payments, and we just did two bathroom remodels where the contractor wanted personal check, or there would be a “surcharge” for using credit (i.e., we would have to pay for the 2-5% electronic fees).

[@flowergirl2090]

One of the things that was different for me when I lived in Germany and traveled throughout Europe was having to pay to use a public restroom. I have never heard of such a thing.

[@kenbrown2808]

in southern california, it's pretty common that in fast food places, you either have to ask for a token from the counter when you buy your food, or pay to use the toilet.

[@raymondmuench3266]

Was common in NYC when I was a kid (‘50’s). Not sure when it changed.

[@wendelynmusic]

Everything you mentioned above I do online, including taxes. I don't pay rent anymore but when I was I did have to use checks for rent. I used to get frustrated because I had to get checks just to pay rent and nothing else. but I don't have to pay rent with checks anymore either. yay!!

[@fairgreen42]

About the regional ads: on private TV channels like RTL, Sat1, Pro7, etc. we in Austria have an "Österreich-Werbefenster" i.e. regional ads.

[@antediluvianclockwork9769]

I bet I could guess why bagels aren't popular in Germany nowadays...

[@antediluvianclockwork9769]

@@johnp139 perhaps!

[@pghsanta]

She needs to talk to her grand parents or read a history book about the bagel lovers from Germany

[@dougdanielson9145]

Growing up we usually had cream cheese in celery, you would cut the celery into short pieces and fill the center with cream cheese.

[@bobfinnecy4231]

Did you know that in Wisconsin water fountains are called “bubblers”

[@FreezyAbitKT7A]

and sinks are called.. "the other urinals" at sporting venues... home and away games.

[@jaredaberry]

Yeah. About bagels. Modern bagels originated from Ashkenazi Jews in Poland, so it’s not really a surprise bagels aren’t really a thing in Germany, especially in Bavaria.