I have lived here for X & I still have trouble with...

This is a good thread!
I have only been here 2 months but lived here before and I still have to say out loud to myself...look right left right crossing the street! People probably think I'm nuts as I live in a little village and I still take several seconds looking back and forth before I step off into the street.
The switch on the electric outlets!!! I can't tell you how many times I have put the kettle on...only to go back a few minutes later to cold water as I have forgotten to turn the outlet on. Did the same thing with the iron the other day  

The switch on the electric outlets!!! I can't tell you how many times I have put the kettle on...only to go back a few minutes later to cold water as I have forgotten to turn the outlet on. Did the same thing with the iron the other day  

My husband has lived here his WHOLE life (except for one year in Germany) and he still does this at least 5 times a week.  Usually I'll wait until he has sat back down to ask if he has really turned it on because I am evil. 

I have lived here 60 days and I still have trouble remembering to turn off that switch thing when I've finished using the plug.

I have lived here for 26 years and I don't switch the socket off at the mains.  I don't see the point.  Electricity is not going to flow from it unless there is something plugged in and switched on, right?  (or am i deluded?)  I never switch off the sockets.

I have lived here for 26 years and I don't switch the socket off at the mains.  I don't see the point.  Electricity is not going to flow from it unless there is something plugged in and switched on, right?  (or am i deluded?)  I never switch off the sockets.

I'm trying to get into the habit of it only due to the fact that a friend of mine in the States had a HORRIBLE fire in his house from an appliance plugged in but NOT turned on. It was his electric can opener believe it or not and he and his family almost didn't make it out as it happened in the middle of the night. I know I can't turn off the mains to some things like the fridge, but I figure the fewer things with electricity flowing to them, the better off we are. Probably a silly precaution but it makes me sleep better at night. Now if I can just remember to turn the silly things back on when I need them, we'll be all set!

I have been here for 4 years now and I still go to the wrong side of the car if I am not thinking properly. The other week we had a man show up to deliver our skip and I had to go out and move the car (we were keeping a space for it out front). There had been a freak snow overnight (of course ), the baby was crying, etc. and I was a bit stressed. I ran out into the street and right around the the wrong side of the car where I exasperatedly said "You're not in America anymore!" And the man across the street who was out clearing his car snorted at me! The nerve!

I still have friend trouble as well. I don't know what it is, I just always feel the odd one out, and oftentimes I feel like the ladies I know are being a bit false. What is up with all the text-kissing? Do they feel that x is not getting enough use in everyday conversation?

Was here for 3 years- moved back- now am back again and still can't pull into a parking bay straight.

I did not realize this was an expat thing! I thought I had somehow just lost my ability to park/the bays were smaller/I have no idea but my husband constantly mocks my parking and I LOVE the mum/baby bays and I will cry when my boy it too big for me to use them.

I have lived here for 26 years and I don't switch the socket off at the mains.  I don't see the point.  Electricity is not going to flow from it unless there is something plugged in and switched on, right?  (or am i deluded?)  I never switch off the sockets.

Yeah, I'm referring to things that are still plugged in, but I also try to switch off the sockets after I unplug whatever it is that I'm using to get into the habit. Unfortunately, it's not a habit yet.

I have lived here 60 days I still have trouble using the money. I'm pretty sure I have twice my body weight in change in my pocketbook because I'm worried about holding up the line inspecting the coins. To be fair, I'm pretty good at picking out the right things pretty quick, but I second guess myself and worry it's wrong and the cashier will think I'm deliberately shortchanging them.

I have lived here for three months and I still have to count change at least three times before I use it just to make sure it's right.  I always go to the self checkouts and just start tossing in coins to get rid of all that extra weight in my wallet.  The worst part is, I just started a job in retail and have to work on the register.  I feel like an idiot because of how long it takes me to give people their change!

It was his electric can opener believe it or not and he and his family almost didn't make it out as it happened in the middle of the night.

Electric can openers are the number one appliance that cause fires (outside of things are supposed to get hot such as stoves). 

As an EMT/Firefighter (not structure, but still) we were always warned off getting them and honestly I don't know why anyone, unless they have a mobility issue, would have one.

Basically, there is a srong that holds the arm in the up position.  They aren't very strong or else you wouldn't be able to close the thing on the lid. The spring eventually gives out, some faster than others.  This causes the arm to fall and the can opener to run continously until the ball bearings burnout and then it continues to run until it overheats and catches on fire. 

They are really dangerous.

 

Was here for 3 years- moved back- now am back again and still can't pull into a parking bay straight.

I'm not sure if its an expat thing or not but DH and I are both the same.  We've also discovered that we are much better at reversing into a spot here and are horrible at it back home- guess it all evens out.  I also feel most comfortable in the mother/baby bays and of course at Costco!!

My husband has lived here his WHOLE life (except for one year in Germany) and he still does this at least 5 times a week.  Usually I'll wait until he has sat back down to ask if he has really turned it on because I am evil. 

Hahahaha. This is hilarious. Also, I do the same thing. My husband travels a lot for work, and I realized this last time that one of the things I miss most are all those little chances to wind him up. Hee.

I STILL start out looking over the wrong shoulder to reverse, three years in. At least I know my neck isn't stiff!

I still have friend trouble as well. I don't know what it is, I just always feel the odd one out, and oftentimes I feel like the ladies I know are being a bit false. What is up with all the text-kissing? Do they feel that x is not getting enough use in everyday conversation?

Ha ha, you had me cracking up at this one!  I usually textkiss back so as not to offend but it does seem a bit silly tbh.

Lived in the UK over 20 years:

1. Nope, gave up on the driving -- too scary

2. Would never get into having tea first thing in the morning -- yuk

3. Often had to stop and think before crossing the road

4. Sizes of paper -- A4 still means nothing to my tiny brain

5. Likewise Celsius

I have lived here for 26 years and I don't switch the socket off at the mains.  I don't see the point.  Electricity is not going to flow from it unless there is something plugged in and switched on, right?  (or am i deluded?)  I never switch off the sockets.

A mobile phone charger, even if not connected to the phone, will consume electricity. I'm always having to switch the socket off when DW has charged her phone!
Other items will use some, for example, we have a toaster with a digital display on it......eh? Why do I need a digital display on the toaster?! But the kettle we don't switch off at the socket

New thread!  New thread!

I have lived here for 8 years, and I still have trouble with - driving!  It's my nemesis.  I have my full UK licence, but I just hate driving here - I can still get so freaked out about it & it doesn't come naturally.  I will be trying to work on it, but it's hard - we don't need to take the car out much and I'm quite happy for DH to drive when we do.  I'm okay with short trips to places that I know how to get to easily though.

DW is exactly like that almost 4 years on. She drove on her own when she could still drive on her US licence, she made a big thing of passing her UK test, took her 3 attempts but she was determined not to be beaten. Yet now she won't get behind the wheel...even when I was away on business and left car at home she took the train to work instead.

I'll be here 7 years next month and like others I still have trouble with....
Musical terms-thank goodness the girls' teacher lived in the States for a few years as I still use quarter note and not crotchet.  At least when I use the USA terminology they don't look at me like I've lost my mind.

Pulling into a carpark space.  I feel like I'm going to hit one of the other cars.

Wrestling with the duvet cover.  I fought a single sized cover this morning.

The metric system.  For example, I know what a kg is compared to lbs but it doesn't mean anything to me. 

Something that I don't have trouble with but cracks me up everytime is the 'way out' signs in carparks. I always mentally add 'dude' to it.