Weird / freaky quirks of your country

[Yzz]

Mexico, not the US, is the country with the largest consumption of carbonated soft drinks, or 'refresco' as we call it here. This is mainly in part because FEMSA, the distributor of Coke, is one of the most powerful corporations in the country.

If you go to a meal or a party there will be always a selection of soda at the table. Other drinks like juice or cold tea, are almost non-existent here.

Coca-cola has branded itself as an integral part of mexican culture to the point that some people are shocked when you mention the fact that the drink originated in the US. People love the black liquid here, perhaps even more than America. The concierge of a building where I used to live was a massive Coke fan, who claimed that he drank 2 liters of the thing per day. He suffered from obesity and his teeth were yellow and decaying.

It's no secret that the people who are most affected are rural and working class people. This is because this drinks are cheaper and more available than healthier options here, in a lot of rural communities Coke is even cheaper than water. There has been cases where mothers feed their babies Coke instead of milk, which is really fucked up when you think about it.


What is something from your country that will make people go WTF?

 

[7threst]

I'm from the Netherlands. When I was young my parents would mash my diner all together. In the Netherlands, we call it "een prakje".

@ 3:40:

 

[Fercho]

Mexico also.

No matter if you are (very) poor person, in here it is thought since childhood that if you have "more" than your neighbor ( no matter what that "more" is or how it is percieved) you are entitled to shit on that neighbor , calling him/her classist insults and also to make you feel as a member of the "upper" class (Whatever that "Upper Class" means). Thankfully this is changing.

Also, Latin-American as a whole: We do really love in engaging in discussions on which Latin-American culture/country is the "whitest" and brag about our European grandparents, no really, from Europe. This is not changing at all......

 

[7threst]

Also, Latin-American as a whole: We do really love in engaging in discussions on which Latin-American culture/country is the "whitest" and brag about our European grandparents, no really, from Europe. This is not changing at all......

Ok wtf???? Is this really a thing? Sorry, but Latin American countries have so much great culture, why this? I really don't understand?

 

[Fercho]

Ok wtf???? Is this really a thing? Sorry, but Latin American countries have so much great culture, why this? I really don't understand?

Beats me, but, at least in my experience, when a bunch of Latin-Americans starts having discussions among each other, eventually the discussion devolves about how white their ancestors are. I can link several examples (Especially from a known, currently-implosioning place) but it's not worh it.

And I agree, we are a varied, rich selection of amazing cultures, no need for that type of discussion when we are talking to each other (which is very difficult as it is).

 

[menx64]

Mexico also.

No matter if you are (very) poor person, in here it is thought since childhood that if you have "more" than your neighbor ( no matter what that "more" is or how it is percieved) you are entitled to shit on that neighbor , calling him/her classist insults and also to make you feel as a member of the "upper" class (Whatever that "Upper Class" means). Thankfully this is changing.

Also, Latin-American as a whole: We do really love in engaging in discussions on which Latin-American culture/country is the "whitest" and brag about our European grandparents, no really, from Europe. This is not changing at all......

Oh boy, that's the saddest thing ever. In Costa Rica some people not only think they are the "whitest" but also "the more European descend" people of Latam...


For Costa Rica... The coffee break is a real thing. Sometimes when going to a public office people tells you whomever you are looking for is on a coffee break. My uncle was a bus driver, and he would stop the bus in the middle of the road to buy coffee... private business offer short coffee breaks because people need it.

 

[Mazzle]

• We (not everyone, not every day) eat raw meat for breakfast called Mett
• We prefer sparkling water that we buy from stores called Mineralwasser
• Watching Dinner for One on New Years Eve is a tradition
• Being completeley naked in the Sauna, a nude beach or locker room? Yeah that is totally normal
• Once it is 12:00 you don't say Good Morning anymore but "Mahlzeit" at work at least
• We have quiet hours ever day around noon and in the evening. And don't let me start with Sunday

 

[Donnie]

Scotland

Deep fried pizza in batter lol never fails to get a reaction out of my American friends

 

[7threst]

Scotland

Deep fried pizza in batter

I love Scotland and think it's one of the greatest countries in Europe, but this dish had me like:

 

[Yzz]

Ok wtf???? Is this really a thing? Sorry, but Latin American countries have so much great culture, why this? I really don't understand?

It's definitely a thing (I don't really know how it's outside of Mexico tho):

Malinchism - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

As for my experience living in a semi-rural place where everybody knows each other, I can say that talking about class and race is taboo as hell, even in dinner tables. However in urban upper-class circles it's not rare to find Trump supporters and people who are openly racist against indigenous people.

 

[7threst]

It's definitely a thing (I don't really know how it's outside of Mexico tho):

Malinchism - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

As for my experience living in a semi-rural place where everybody knows each other, I can say that talking about class and race is taboo as hell, even in dinner tables. However in urban upper-class circles it's not rare to find Trump supporters and people who are openly racist against indigenous people.

It's the first time I here of malinchism. Oh man, that is so strange to me. Like, there is such rich and diverse culture in latin-American countries which is beautiful, and than 'malinchism' is a thing. I feel that is horrible to be honest.

 

[Fercho]

As for my experience living in a semi-rural place where everybody knows each other, I can say that talking about class and race is taboo as hell, even in dinner tables. However in urban upper-class circles it's not rare to find Trump supporters and people who are openly racist against indigenous people.

This is true. But also it is important to mention that the rural and semi-rural places in this country tend to hold very conservative values still, such as rampant (and even murderous ) sexism, anti abortion, anti (and murderous ) LGBT views, anti Trans views (even by some members of the Gay community, specially the ones who percieve themselfs as wealthy etc) and also let the church to dictate how they live and think. Let's no go that far and let's remember the "make Tijuana great again" situation when people from that town were protesting the migrant caravan from El Salvador.

It's the first time I here of malinchism. Oh man, that is so strange to me. Like, there is such rich and diverse culture in latin-American countries which is beautiful, and than 'malinchism' is a thing. I feel that is horrible to be honest.

This is changing to be honest, at least in Mexico and on baby steps, but changing little by little.

 

[samouraï]

A lot of people here have guns

 

[GJ]

Here in the Netherlands we all pick tulips while wearing wooden shoes and we all live together in one big mill next to a river. It's very cozy!

 

[WestEgg]

Scotland

Deep fried pizza in batter lol never fails to get a reaction out of my American friends

Dude, bring that over here and pitch it to the state fairs, we’ll eat up anything deep fried.

 

[Dr_Phishshoe]

Here in the Netherlands we all pick tulips while wearing wooden shoes and we all live together in one big mill next to a river. It's very cozy!

Putting chocolate sprinkles on breakfast toast is the real quirky thing. Oh and living below sealevel without fearing it stupidly quirky

 

[Donnie]

Dude, bring that over here and pitch it to the state fairs, we’ll eat up anything deep fried.

Haha that'll be our secret weapon after indyref2, we can steal that trade deal with y'all right out from under the UK they're tough enough we can probably frisbee them over or something

 

[Thorakai]

Yes, my extended family is from Mexico and I visit them from time to time. Coke is a staple drink for almost every single meal. If it's not Coke you are drinking Manzanita (Apple flavored soda). Every time I go there I feel like the odd man out who requests to drink just regular water. They bring a small pitcher of water just for me. It's crazy how ingrained soda consumption is.