Don't Assume... Help Your Foreign Guests!

[Madeleine]

The thing I will ALWAYS remember about the city you just visited is this:
In 1963 we were driving to California and Daddy said we HAD to see that city at night, otherwise it was just another city. As we drove down the blvd at 3 AM (took us that long to get there) I saw a sign on the marquee of a gas station - "We give free sympathy and aspirin". THAT is why you saw so many payday loan places.
Where I am from, we never met a stranger. You smile, you chat, the very least you do is say hello or good morning. And as Arks & his sister can attest - we do not even think about it - we HUG..

At the cashier, they also had a blue round thing, about an inch wide. I asked what it was and they told me it was for taking fingerprint for cashing a cheque. I had never seen that before in my life. The last time I gave my fingerprint was... never!
.

At the cashier, they also had a blue round thing, about an inch wide. I asked what it was and they told me it was for taking fingerprint for cashing a cheque. I had never seen that before in my life. The last time I gave my fingerprint was... never!

My sisters uncle-in-law was a priest there for a few years and he told me it got pretty old doing last rites over violent crime 'ends' for the most part. Everything was pretty extreme.
We had a guest here (speaking of the hello or a nod part) who was a prof at the univ there and said that the moment he got to know anyone they moved away, it was a very lonely place to work and live. He said, and I quote "This place (the community here where we live) is like being in Heaven" those were his exact words. I understood the sentiment, actually, as being an innkeeper is similar in a lonely place where we have people we talk to ALL THE TIME right here at our B&B, but no long lasting friendships formed, as they stay they pay and go away...
.

We had a guest here (speaking of the hello or a nod part) who was a prof at the univ there and said that the moment he got to know anyone they moved away, it was a very lonely place to work and live. He said, and I quote "This place (the community here where we live) is like being in Heaven" those were his exact words. I understood the sentiment, actually, as being an innkeeper is similar in a lonely place where we have people we talk to ALL THE TIME right here at our B&B, but no long lasting friendships formed, as they stay they pay and go away...

This is the part I like...they stay, they chat, they leave. That's about how long I can take the close contact. Good thing DH is like me. We're 2 little islands in the stream of life.
BTW, daughter moved away from 'that city' after 3 months. Hated it. Her brother told her not to come out there, it was no place for kids. But you sometimes have to live it for yourself to get it. He's been there 10 years now. And, yes, it's a lonely kind of place. He says the people he used to hang out with (all casino workers) were very superficial and made 'friends' to get something out of you. Now he seems to know 'real' people.

 

[Madeleine]

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do.".

The point being, if you aren't Roman, as a good host, you may want to ease them into the local culture.
For example, do people around your area tip 15%, 20% or 25% and is that before taxes or after taxes?
We stood in front of the gas pump for a while wondering why it wasn't coming on. If said to put your card in if you were paying by card, otherwise to just pump. Nothing indicated that we needed to prepay. I went in and asked why the pump wasn't working and then they told me about prepayment. But still, taking money without a receipt.... scary!
.

For example, do people around your area tip 15%, 20% or 25% and is that before taxes or after taxes?

20%. Or close enough to. (I used to tip on the whole amount, waitress daughter said not to. If she was saying it, I was doing it her way.)
But, like JB said, for those $1.99 breakfast places? I didn't use the price of the meal to get the tip. I think I started at $5 and went up if the service was good. And you hand the cash right to the person doing the serving. Never leave it on the table or put it on your cc. They don't receive it. (Says son, who has experience there.)
Ditto tipping at the hotel. Give it right to the person in the hall with the cleaning cart.
There. There's your tip from the 'locals'.

 

[user 26]

last hotel i stayed at in massachusetts (the one where two different people tried to get in the room in the middle of the night) asked for my license to verify my id. i couldn't get it out of the wallet compartment and they copied it within the plastic ...

 

[2cat_lady]

Talking to Strangers - People saying good morning to people they don't know is a bit foreign. We only greet those who we know and often in the morning it's more of a nod than anything else. It's like "Do I know you?"
Welcome to America my friend! People NOT saying good morning is poor etiquette here.You know us Yanks with our big bright smiles and warm handshake or hug.
You may not survive a day where I am, really, you would have overload of these items. If these things jump on your radar. For all the things you feel are secure where you live we find insecure. Interesting observations Jon.

You were in a place where the mafia owns the town and every illicit thing is the norm. They have a higher transient population than anywhere else, you were not in a typical place. Don't even consider that or nearby that as being typical. Majority there are not from that area, even remotely, anyway..

You may not survive a day where I am, really, you would have overload of these items. If these things jump on your radar. For all the things you feel are secure where you live we find insecure. Interesting observations Jon.

I can't survive a day where you live. Seriously. I shut down. Leave me alone is all I can think. A quick 'good morning' or a nod is fine, but after that? Back in my shell. I'm moving to Canada.
.

Ha ha. Canada? Read your reply a few times and I'm thinking that you think people will leave you in your shell in Canada? Then don't move down to Newfoundland. Half of the time, people want to know where you're from ( no accent, moved from Ontario ), and the other half, when they find out my DH was born here, they try and find out how they're related. And 9 times out of 10, at some point down the line, they are! I have lovely chats when I go shopping anywhere and I find out all about what they're going to have for supper, when their family is coming for a visit,etc. That's what one of the attractions of our province is. People are super friendly and everyone wants you to fall in love with their 'home'.
.

Ha ha. Canada? Read your reply a few times and I'm thinking that you think people will leave you in your shell in Canada? Then don't move down to Newfoundland. Half of the time, people want to know where you're from ( no accent, moved from Ontario ), and the other half, when they find out my DH was born here, they try and find out how they're related. And 9 times out of 10, at some point down the line, they are! I have lovely chats when I go shopping anywhere and I find out all about what they're going to have for supper, when their family is coming for a visit,etc. That's what one of the attractions of our province is. People are super friendly and everyone wants you to fall in love with their 'home'.

Funny, we were just talking about going to Fogo Island. And everyone kept saying how friendly it is there. I took that to mean you can't walk down Main St without someone talking to you.
No, I didn't think Canada was going to be standoffish. Also asked DH could he stand to live somewhere (Edmundston area) where everyone knows his family (on both sides) and all of his relatives and stories about his parents that no one has ever told him before? Probably not, so we'd move to NS instead. ;-)
Or stay put. People here are friendly but they really don't care where we're from or where we're going...
.

Edmunston? What a coincidence. Stayed over night there when we moved down here. We got there late (left Ontario at 4:00 that morning, and we had to drive to the ferry for the night crossing to Port Aux Basques. NS was very pretty from what I recall but couldn't enjoy the scenery due to following DH in our car while he drove a Penske truck with what worldly possessions we had. And Fogo Island? I'd LOVE to go there and stay in the new place they just built there. Rates are extreme but they include everything but your booze. I've drooled over the pictures online. Maybe one day.....hard to go when I have to stay open here and I'm not crazy about going during the winter months. I'll have to be wildly successful here first and then I'll be able to afford to shut down here for a few days AND afford to stay there!! But if you ever head down Fogo way, I'm just a big hop, skip and a jump away.

 

[Joey Camb]

in the UK you don't have to show ID - but in most European countries its the law to show it when you check in some place. in the UK you have to fill in a registration form which we have no way of checking so its all a nonsense anyway.

 

[Generic]

in the UK you don't have to show ID - but in most European countries its the law to show it when you check in some place. in the UK you have to fill in a registration form which we have no way of checking so its all a nonsense anyway..

I need to keep a register as well. Of course, the law doesn't give them the right to view it without a court order. So I don't see the point, really.

 

[Madeleine]

last hotel i stayed at in massachusetts (the one where two different people tried to get in the room in the middle of the night) asked for my license to verify my id. i couldn't get it out of the wallet compartment and they copied it within the plastic ....

last hotel i stayed at in massachusetts (the one where two different people tried to get in the room in the middle of the night) asked for my license to verify my id. i couldn't get it out of the wallet compartment and they copied it within the plastic ...

Sorry, no way does anyone write my drivers license info on anything with all of the other details. Why not just draw a map? If every hotel isn't doing it, then it's not a state law you have to abide by.

 

[Madeleine]

Talking to Strangers - People saying good morning to people they don't know is a bit foreign. We only greet those who we know and often in the morning it's more of a nod than anything else. It's like "Do I know you?"
Welcome to America my friend! People NOT saying good morning is poor etiquette here.You know us Yanks with our big bright smiles and warm handshake or hug.
You may not survive a day where I am, really, you would have overload of these items. If these things jump on your radar. For all the things you feel are secure where you live we find insecure. Interesting observations Jon.

You were in a place where the mafia owns the town and every illicit thing is the norm. They have a higher transient population than anywhere else, you were not in a typical place. Don't even consider that or nearby that as being typical. Majority there are not from that area, even remotely, anyway..

You may not survive a day where I am, really, you would have overload of these items. If these things jump on your radar. For all the things you feel are secure where you live we find insecure. Interesting observations Jon.

I can't survive a day where you live. Seriously. I shut down. Leave me alone is all I can think. A quick 'good morning' or a nod is fine, but after that? Back in my shell. I'm moving to Canada.
.

Ha ha. Canada? Read your reply a few times and I'm thinking that you think people will leave you in your shell in Canada? Then don't move down to Newfoundland. Half of the time, people want to know where you're from ( no accent, moved from Ontario ), and the other half, when they find out my DH was born here, they try and find out how they're related. And 9 times out of 10, at some point down the line, they are! I have lovely chats when I go shopping anywhere and I find out all about what they're going to have for supper, when their family is coming for a visit,etc. That's what one of the attractions of our province is. People are super friendly and everyone wants you to fall in love with their 'home'.
.

Ha ha. Canada? Read your reply a few times and I'm thinking that you think people will leave you in your shell in Canada? Then don't move down to Newfoundland. Half of the time, people want to know where you're from ( no accent, moved from Ontario ), and the other half, when they find out my DH was born here, they try and find out how they're related. And 9 times out of 10, at some point down the line, they are! I have lovely chats when I go shopping anywhere and I find out all about what they're going to have for supper, when their family is coming for a visit,etc. That's what one of the attractions of our province is. People are super friendly and everyone wants you to fall in love with their 'home'.

Funny, we were just talking about going to Fogo Island. And everyone kept saying how friendly it is there. I took that to mean you can't walk down Main St without someone talking to you.
No, I didn't think Canada was going to be standoffish. Also asked DH could he stand to live somewhere (Edmundston area) where everyone knows his family (on both sides) and all of his relatives and stories about his parents that no one has ever told him before? Probably not, so we'd move to NS instead. ;-)
Or stay put. People here are friendly but they really don't care where we're from or where we're going...
.

Edmunston? What a coincidence. Stayed over night there when we moved down here. We got there late (left Ontario at 4:00 that morning, and we had to drive to the ferry for the night crossing to Port Aux Basques. NS was very pretty from what I recall but couldn't enjoy the scenery due to following DH in our car while he drove a Penske truck with what worldly possessions we had. And Fogo Island? I'd LOVE to go there and stay in the new place they just built there. Rates are extreme but they include everything but your booze. I've drooled over the pictures online. Maybe one day.....hard to go when I have to stay open here and I'm not crazy about going during the winter months. I'll have to be wildly successful here first and then I'll be able to afford to shut down here for a few days AND afford to stay there!! But if you ever head down Fogo way, I'm just a big hop, skip and a jump away.
.

Yes, the new place! What views! What prices! And it's a bit of a project to get there.
I thought we might try a less extravagant place to start... But I'm still looking for a place that posts prices and info about the rooms. Seriously drives me bonkers when there is no info about what something costs.

 

[OnTheShore]

Talking to Strangers - People saying good morning to people they don't know is a bit foreign. We only greet those who we know and often in the morning it's more of a nod than anything else. It's like "Do I know you?"
Welcome to America my friend! People NOT saying good morning is poor etiquette here.You know us Yanks with our big bright smiles and warm handshake or hug.
You may not survive a day where I am, really, you would have overload of these items. If these things jump on your radar. For all the things you feel are secure where you live we find insecure. Interesting observations Jon.

You were in a place where the mafia owns the town and every illicit thing is the norm. They have a higher transient population than anywhere else, you were not in a typical place. Don't even consider that or nearby that as being typical. Majority there are not from that area, even remotely, anyway..

You may not survive a day where I am, really, you would have overload of these items. If these things jump on your radar. For all the things you feel are secure where you live we find insecure. Interesting observations Jon.

I can't survive a day where you live. Seriously. I shut down. Leave me alone is all I can think. A quick 'good morning' or a nod is fine, but after that? Back in my shell. I'm moving to Canada.
.

Ha ha. Canada? Read your reply a few times and I'm thinking that you think people will leave you in your shell in Canada? Then don't move down to Newfoundland. Half of the time, people want to know where you're from ( no accent, moved from Ontario ), and the other half, when they find out my DH was born here, they try and find out how they're related. And 9 times out of 10, at some point down the line, they are! I have lovely chats when I go shopping anywhere and I find out all about what they're going to have for supper, when their family is coming for a visit,etc. That's what one of the attractions of our province is. People are super friendly and everyone wants you to fall in love with their 'home'.
.

Ha ha. Canada? Read your reply a few times and I'm thinking that you think people will leave you in your shell in Canada? Then don't move down to Newfoundland. Half of the time, people want to know where you're from ( no accent, moved from Ontario ), and the other half, when they find out my DH was born here, they try and find out how they're related. And 9 times out of 10, at some point down the line, they are! I have lovely chats when I go shopping anywhere and I find out all about what they're going to have for supper, when their family is coming for a visit,etc. That's what one of the attractions of our province is. People are super friendly and everyone wants you to fall in love with their 'home'.

Funny, we were just talking about going to Fogo Island. And everyone kept saying how friendly it is there. I took that to mean you can't walk down Main St without someone talking to you.
No, I didn't think Canada was going to be standoffish. Also asked DH could he stand to live somewhere (Edmundston area) where everyone knows his family (on both sides) and all of his relatives and stories about his parents that no one has ever told him before? Probably not, so we'd move to NS instead. ;-)
Or stay put. People here are friendly but they really don't care where we're from or where we're going...
.

Or stay put. People here are friendly but they really don't care where we're from or where we're going...

In the state where the locals refer to all others as PFAs?

 

[Madeleine]

Talking to Strangers - People saying good morning to people they don't know is a bit foreign. We only greet those who we know and often in the morning it's more of a nod than anything else. It's like "Do I know you?"
Welcome to America my friend! People NOT saying good morning is poor etiquette here.You know us Yanks with our big bright smiles and warm handshake or hug.
You may not survive a day where I am, really, you would have overload of these items. If these things jump on your radar. For all the things you feel are secure where you live we find insecure. Interesting observations Jon.

You were in a place where the mafia owns the town and every illicit thing is the norm. They have a higher transient population than anywhere else, you were not in a typical place. Don't even consider that or nearby that as being typical. Majority there are not from that area, even remotely, anyway..

You may not survive a day where I am, really, you would have overload of these items. If these things jump on your radar. For all the things you feel are secure where you live we find insecure. Interesting observations Jon.

I can't survive a day where you live. Seriously. I shut down. Leave me alone is all I can think. A quick 'good morning' or a nod is fine, but after that? Back in my shell. I'm moving to Canada.
.

Ha ha. Canada? Read your reply a few times and I'm thinking that you think people will leave you in your shell in Canada? Then don't move down to Newfoundland. Half of the time, people want to know where you're from ( no accent, moved from Ontario ), and the other half, when they find out my DH was born here, they try and find out how they're related. And 9 times out of 10, at some point down the line, they are! I have lovely chats when I go shopping anywhere and I find out all about what they're going to have for supper, when their family is coming for a visit,etc. That's what one of the attractions of our province is. People are super friendly and everyone wants you to fall in love with their 'home'.
.

Ha ha. Canada? Read your reply a few times and I'm thinking that you think people will leave you in your shell in Canada? Then don't move down to Newfoundland. Half of the time, people want to know where you're from ( no accent, moved from Ontario ), and the other half, when they find out my DH was born here, they try and find out how they're related. And 9 times out of 10, at some point down the line, they are! I have lovely chats when I go shopping anywhere and I find out all about what they're going to have for supper, when their family is coming for a visit,etc. That's what one of the attractions of our province is. People are super friendly and everyone wants you to fall in love with their 'home'.

Funny, we were just talking about going to Fogo Island. And everyone kept saying how friendly it is there. I took that to mean you can't walk down Main St without someone talking to you.
No, I didn't think Canada was going to be standoffish. Also asked DH could he stand to live somewhere (Edmundston area) where everyone knows his family (on both sides) and all of his relatives and stories about his parents that no one has ever told him before? Probably not, so we'd move to NS instead. ;-)
Or stay put. People here are friendly but they really don't care where we're from or where we're going...
.

Or stay put. People here are friendly but they really don't care where we're from or where we're going...

In the state where the locals refer to all others as PFAs?

.

Or stay put. People here are friendly but they really don't care where we're from or where we're going...

In the state where the locals refer to all others as PFAs?

But they don't seem to care that we're PFA. Maybe if I didn't have a business I might be more likely to see what's it's like to 'live' here.
It's kind of like it was in VT. Don't try to turn it into where you just came from or keep it as a museum piece you remember from your childhood. Don't waltz into town and try to take over at town meeting. Some of those arguments go back generations!
A place where we were called flatlanders, BTW.
It's like I haven't been home since NYC. And now I don't fit there, either.

 

[OnTheShore]

Talking to Strangers - People saying good morning to people they don't know is a bit foreign. We only greet those who we know and often in the morning it's more of a nod than anything else. It's like "Do I know you?"
Welcome to America my friend! People NOT saying good morning is poor etiquette here.You know us Yanks with our big bright smiles and warm handshake or hug.
You may not survive a day where I am, really, you would have overload of these items. If these things jump on your radar. For all the things you feel are secure where you live we find insecure. Interesting observations Jon.

You were in a place where the mafia owns the town and every illicit thing is the norm. They have a higher transient population than anywhere else, you were not in a typical place. Don't even consider that or nearby that as being typical. Majority there are not from that area, even remotely, anyway..

You may not survive a day where I am, really, you would have overload of these items. If these things jump on your radar. For all the things you feel are secure where you live we find insecure. Interesting observations Jon.

I can't survive a day where you live. Seriously. I shut down. Leave me alone is all I can think. A quick 'good morning' or a nod is fine, but after that? Back in my shell. I'm moving to Canada.
.

Ha ha. Canada? Read your reply a few times and I'm thinking that you think people will leave you in your shell in Canada? Then don't move down to Newfoundland. Half of the time, people want to know where you're from ( no accent, moved from Ontario ), and the other half, when they find out my DH was born here, they try and find out how they're related. And 9 times out of 10, at some point down the line, they are! I have lovely chats when I go shopping anywhere and I find out all about what they're going to have for supper, when their family is coming for a visit,etc. That's what one of the attractions of our province is. People are super friendly and everyone wants you to fall in love with their 'home'.
.

Ha ha. Canada? Read your reply a few times and I'm thinking that you think people will leave you in your shell in Canada? Then don't move down to Newfoundland. Half of the time, people want to know where you're from ( no accent, moved from Ontario ), and the other half, when they find out my DH was born here, they try and find out how they're related. And 9 times out of 10, at some point down the line, they are! I have lovely chats when I go shopping anywhere and I find out all about what they're going to have for supper, when their family is coming for a visit,etc. That's what one of the attractions of our province is. People are super friendly and everyone wants you to fall in love with their 'home'.

Funny, we were just talking about going to Fogo Island. And everyone kept saying how friendly it is there. I took that to mean you can't walk down Main St without someone talking to you.
No, I didn't think Canada was going to be standoffish. Also asked DH could he stand to live somewhere (Edmundston area) where everyone knows his family (on both sides) and all of his relatives and stories about his parents that no one has ever told him before? Probably not, so we'd move to NS instead. ;-)
Or stay put. People here are friendly but they really don't care where we're from or where we're going...
.

Or stay put. People here are friendly but they really don't care where we're from or where we're going...

In the state where the locals refer to all others as PFAs?

.

Or stay put. People here are friendly but they really don't care where we're from or where we're going...

In the state where the locals refer to all others as PFAs?

But they don't seem to care that we're PFA. Maybe if I didn't have a business I might be more likely to see what's it's like to 'live' here.
It's kind of like it was in VT. Don't try to turn it into where you just came from or keep it as a museum piece you remember from your childhood. Don't waltz into town and try to take over at town meeting. Some of those arguments go back generations!
A place where we were called flatlanders, BTW.
It's like I haven't been home since NYC. And now I don't fit there, either.
.

Ayuh.
Of course, I am a PFA myself, but then I do come from a state (not VT) where we also refer to many others as flatlanders.
Have you heard the story about the guy who thought he lived on the Maine side of the NH-ME state line? His property was re-surveyed and it was discovered that his house was actually just across the line in NH rather than in ME. Asked what he thought about the situation, he replied, "Thank goodness, I don't think I could have taken another one of those Maine winters!"

 

[Arks]

Here we say, "they're from off." One man I knew moved here from up north in 1945, at age 20, lived here 65 years, and when he died everybody here still thought of him as being from off. Never a local. Always an outsider.

 

[Madeleine]

Talking to Strangers - People saying good morning to people they don't know is a bit foreign. We only greet those who we know and often in the morning it's more of a nod than anything else. It's like "Do I know you?"
Welcome to America my friend! People NOT saying good morning is poor etiquette here.You know us Yanks with our big bright smiles and warm handshake or hug.
You may not survive a day where I am, really, you would have overload of these items. If these things jump on your radar. For all the things you feel are secure where you live we find insecure. Interesting observations Jon.

You were in a place where the mafia owns the town and every illicit thing is the norm. They have a higher transient population than anywhere else, you were not in a typical place. Don't even consider that or nearby that as being typical. Majority there are not from that area, even remotely, anyway..

You may not survive a day where I am, really, you would have overload of these items. If these things jump on your radar. For all the things you feel are secure where you live we find insecure. Interesting observations Jon.

I can't survive a day where you live. Seriously. I shut down. Leave me alone is all I can think. A quick 'good morning' or a nod is fine, but after that? Back in my shell. I'm moving to Canada.
.

Ha ha. Canada? Read your reply a few times and I'm thinking that you think people will leave you in your shell in Canada? Then don't move down to Newfoundland. Half of the time, people want to know where you're from ( no accent, moved from Ontario ), and the other half, when they find out my DH was born here, they try and find out how they're related. And 9 times out of 10, at some point down the line, they are! I have lovely chats when I go shopping anywhere and I find out all about what they're going to have for supper, when their family is coming for a visit,etc. That's what one of the attractions of our province is. People are super friendly and everyone wants you to fall in love with their 'home'.
.

Ha ha. Canada? Read your reply a few times and I'm thinking that you think people will leave you in your shell in Canada? Then don't move down to Newfoundland. Half of the time, people want to know where you're from ( no accent, moved from Ontario ), and the other half, when they find out my DH was born here, they try and find out how they're related. And 9 times out of 10, at some point down the line, they are! I have lovely chats when I go shopping anywhere and I find out all about what they're going to have for supper, when their family is coming for a visit,etc. That's what one of the attractions of our province is. People are super friendly and everyone wants you to fall in love with their 'home'.

Funny, we were just talking about going to Fogo Island. And everyone kept saying how friendly it is there. I took that to mean you can't walk down Main St without someone talking to you.
No, I didn't think Canada was going to be standoffish. Also asked DH could he stand to live somewhere (Edmundston area) where everyone knows his family (on both sides) and all of his relatives and stories about his parents that no one has ever told him before? Probably not, so we'd move to NS instead. ;-)
Or stay put. People here are friendly but they really don't care where we're from or where we're going...
.

Or stay put. People here are friendly but they really don't care where we're from or where we're going...

In the state where the locals refer to all others as PFAs?

.

Or stay put. People here are friendly but they really don't care where we're from or where we're going...

In the state where the locals refer to all others as PFAs?

But they don't seem to care that we're PFA. Maybe if I didn't have a business I might be more likely to see what's it's like to 'live' here.
It's kind of like it was in VT. Don't try to turn it into where you just came from or keep it as a museum piece you remember from your childhood. Don't waltz into town and try to take over at town meeting. Some of those arguments go back generations!
A place where we were called flatlanders, BTW.
It's like I haven't been home since NYC. And now I don't fit there, either.
.

Ayuh.
Of course, I am a PFA myself, but then I do come from a state (not VT) where we also refer to many others as flatlanders.
Have you heard the story about the guy who thought he lived on the Maine side of the NH-ME state line? His property was re-surveyed and it was discovered that his house was actually just across the line in NH rather than in ME. Asked what he thought about the situation, he replied, "Thank goodness, I don't think I could have taken another one of those Maine winters!"
.

: chuckle:

 

[Madeleine]

Here we say, "they're from off." One man I knew moved here from up north in 1945, at age 20, lived here 65 years, and when he died everybody here still thought of him as being from off. Never a local. Always an outsider..

My Poly Sci prof's family was generations deep in VT. 6-7 generations. When he was born, his mother went to the hospital in NH. Poor guy. He was never quite a local because of that.
We're 4 generations into being in this country now that my parents have great grandchildren, but no one lives where they were born. Having family roots that go back hundreds of years is an amazing thing.

 

[gillumhouse]

Here we say, "they're from off." One man I knew moved here from up north in 1945, at age 20, lived here 65 years, and when he died everybody here still thought of him as being from off. Never a local. Always an outsider..

I am an alien here - my family has not been here 3 or 4 generations. I have always been an alien because my Grandparents crossed the Ohio River in 1922. Since they were aliens and Daddy married someone from Chicago, we were still aliens. We have been accepted here because I grew up in WV (but still alien) and was invited to get into all the stuff I am involved in. But I know if push comes to shove - I am shove. DH is accepted - sort of - because he comes with me. He is not a mixer unless it involves his interests so he will be here the rest of his life and will always be "you ain't from here, are ya".

 

[Breakfast Diva]

Your trip to here? Or overseas? I know Europe is a lot different about ID. Here I've not been asked to prove who I am at a hotel except out west. Which includes NV, CA, OR & WA. All of them demanded proof of ID before allowing me to use my cc. They said it was to protect me from having my card used illegally. Ha.
I've never had my ID copied. I don't hand it over. I show it, in my wallet.
Phone, email, etc for making a purchase? I decline. 'No thanks.' And they either enter a fake number or move on. If they insist on a phone number, email, zip I give them a fake one. If you are using a cc and you provide your zip code or phone number you have just given them permission to market to you directly.
Yes, all the restaurants here, except probably some high end ones, the server is leaving with your cc. We had a server here in town with a skimmer in his pocket.
I thought Wally World asked to see your receipt but they don't. All the price clubs do, tho.
I've been adding a link to my newsletter emails asking Canadians to please verify they still want to receive the newsletter. I'm not sure how to tell who is Canadian, tho, just by looking at the email addy so I'll be breaking the law soon unless I delete every CA person from the newsletter..

I just checked into a big hotel today in Denver. After my name, they asked for ID and credit card. Except for a b&b, I can't remember a time that I wasn't asked for it.

 

[2cat_lady]

Here we say, "they're from off." One man I knew moved here from up north in 1945, at age 20, lived here 65 years, and when he died everybody here still thought of him as being from off. Never a local. Always an outsider..

My Poly Sci prof's family was generations deep in VT. 6-7 generations. When he was born, his mother went to the hospital in NH. Poor guy. He was never quite a local because of that.
We're 4 generations into being in this country now that my parents have great grandchildren, but no one lives where they were born. Having family roots that go back hundreds of years is an amazing thing.
.

Here, I'm a CFA (come from away), but everyone respects me because I chose to move here. My DH is fifth generation Newfie. Moved away when he was four, but now they refer to him as 'coming back home'. I only feel like an outsider when everyone starts talking waaay too fast and the accent comes on thick and strong. I feel such a sense of accomplishment when I can understand something, haha. My parents were from Croatia and I was born in Ontario so my roots don't run very deep.

 

[user 26]

where i lived for a time you were a native or a washashore -
and where i ran the b&b i was from away

 

[Madeleine]

Here we say, "they're from off." One man I knew moved here from up north in 1945, at age 20, lived here 65 years, and when he died everybody here still thought of him as being from off. Never a local. Always an outsider..

My Poly Sci prof's family was generations deep in VT. 6-7 generations. When he was born, his mother went to the hospital in NH. Poor guy. He was never quite a local because of that.
We're 4 generations into being in this country now that my parents have great grandchildren, but no one lives where they were born. Having family roots that go back hundreds of years is an amazing thing.
.

Here, I'm a CFA (come from away), but everyone respects me because I chose to move here. My DH is fifth generation Newfie. Moved away when he was four, but now they refer to him as 'coming back home'. I only feel like an outsider when everyone starts talking waaay too fast and the accent comes on thick and strong. I feel such a sense of accomplishment when I can understand something, haha. My parents were from Croatia and I was born in Ontario so my roots don't run very deep.
.

Oh, and that accent is thick!
Dh's family asks when he's coming home. He's going to have to relearn French, tho. He's forgotten what he knew.

 

[Copperhead]

I have pondered my response to this thread over and over. What it boils down to is that we all do things differently. Some things are done with perfection, others could stand improvement.

In my travels outside of my boarders I have experienced things I consider strange or otherwise not best practices but it is how it is. I am in their country, not mine. I chose to go there. I choose to roll with the flow and enjoy myself, not dwelling on how things are done better at home.

The thing is - I can also choose whether or not I would go back.
Jon, despite the differences of the country you visited you do seem to like it enough as you do make regular visits. Stop spoiling the memories with the minor interferences you faced and keep the ones that made you smile. After all that is what we all want from our visitors... lasting memories of smiles!