Can't comment there (it said something about javascript and cookies, but I know they're both enabled so it's probably something linux-related) so I'll post my comment to your post here instead:
Common as muck? You?? Far from it! Mind you, even I with my shoddy accent experienced the weird shift in attitude from polite to super-polite when buying stuff in shops (we actually couldn't work it out for ages & thought it was the colour of the card we were paying on until we experienced it when paying with cash as well)... I think I got my biggest culture shock though when buying a sandwich (in a sandwich shop, not as in the pre-packaged sort): the guy serving asked if I'd like salad and I replied "Yes, please!" Then there was this weird stand-off where we both looked at each other in a faintly puzzled fashion until my husband realised my mistake and told me to specify which salad items I wanted...
Lovely country, but I couldn't live there myself - I'd be giggling at every mention of "pants" or "suspenders" ;-)
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Common as muck? You?? Far from it! Mind you, even I with my shoddy accent experienced the weird shift in attitude from polite to super-polite when buying stuff in shops (we actually couldn't work it out for ages & thought it was the colour of the card we were paying on until we experienced it when paying with cash as well)... I think I got my biggest culture shock though when buying a sandwich (in a sandwich shop, not as in the pre-packaged sort): the guy serving asked if I'd like salad and I replied "Yes, please!" Then there was this weird stand-off where we both looked at each other in a faintly puzzled fashion until my husband realised my mistake and told me to specify which salad items I wanted...
Lovely country, but I couldn't live there myself - I'd be giggling at every mention of "pants" or "suspenders" ;-)