>>>In Europe we use to say that everything is bigger in USA. This is a good example, not even Bill Gates would be a billionaire in Europe. :-)

>>Frankly, the first thing that shocked me (culturally) within hours of arriving to this side of the ocean was the size of some unexpected things. Five lane roads, OK, seen that, looks real, fine. Menu in McDonalds (the only visit I made)... too big, too complicated, almost gave up. Toilet (before I learned that it's not a toilet and that I shouldn't ever, under any circumstances use that word - it's the restroom, where you go when you are tired, to have some rest, though the only chairs there have holes in the middle)... toilet shocked me. The spacing between the pieces of porcelan was just huge. Any European restaurant would have at least twice as many, or would have a room less than half the size.

>What about Great Britain were they go to the bathroom? I have never seen any bathtub or shower there. And of course the ladies never go there because they have to, they always need to powder their nose. (Giggle, giggle!) :-)

>>Off the top of my head, things which are bigger:
>>- milk (gallon, not liter), onions (smallest here compare to largest at home), teaspoons, coffee mugs, parking space per car, cars.

>And of course the people, at least a lot of them.

That actually was the first thing that shocked me when I arrived at Seattle airport. The size of people on the average. Not in length (I believe the youth in holland belongs to the tallest in the world), but in weight. Not unexpectable when you see what you get when you order a burger. But your view on the slim people of america you see in TV series is completely shattered.

>>But there are things which are smaller:
>>- beer (12 oz vs 0.5 l), beets (about half size compared to ours), cabbage (also).

>And people's time?

Well I doubt that is much different up here.

How about understanding the world outside of america?


Walter,