The credit card thing is changing post-covid. The last several restaurants I’ve eaten in were now set up the European way and brought a device to the table. I certainly hope that will finally become the norm.

US & Canada (any other country?) have the weird habit of hiding the after-tax amount for products and services... until you are about to pay the final, total sum at the cashier! Very disturbing for a European. Why don't they display before & after tax per item on the label, if they insist so much on displaying the pretax amount? I guess the labels are going to be a bit busy...

The problem isn't that the Americans have different habits, the problem is that (too many) Americans assume that their habits are de facto the norm in all countries.

The Defense of Flags: In the United States, there are over 360 languages spoken where the only official language was Dutch up until the 1930’s. English is the dominant language but it has no official standing. And English is a relatively recent language compared to some instances of indigenous ones spoken for 3,000 years. The laws require that all official communication about voting and taxes be published in each language. Many countries express their nationalist tendencies through language. As much as US Americans would like to do that- all we have are symbols like flags that can be read by everyone no matter what language you speak. And this principle is evident in the history of the early subways of New York where location designations were represented by icons in addition to English words. We are a vast reflection of the world that is not known for our bilingualism. We are not a nation united by an official language, but we do have an official flag. Many American people cling to the flag because it helps reinforce the sense of community when culture does not.

It was not until 1997 that the drug ads were allowed on TV in the US, it is very weird to those of us older than you that never had these ads until we were adults.

As a person who lives in Canada, your list was very interesting. Canada (UK-lite but a USA wannabe) is closer to the French system. Credit card machines come to the table, healthcare is universal, medical/pharmaceutical TV marketing is illegal etc..., but flags and sports are rapidly becoming a thing. Great content, thank you/Merci!

I agree with most of what you say but I’d like to provide the following rebuttals (or additional explanations): 1) There are more places with portable credit card machines now (or at least credit card terminals that are within customers’ reach) because back in 2015, the media massively alerted people with news about dishonest store owners or con artists using electronic pagers to essentially steal customers’ card info. 2) Aside issues such as universal healthcare and paid time off, I don’t think we are that much behind the rest of the world (or should I just say “only Europe” because the United States is ahead of many countries in South America, Asia, and Africa in many aspects). For example, we’ve had same-sex marriage nationwide since 2015 but it was legal as early as 2004 in Massachusetts. Marijuana / cannabis are legalized in 14 US states now (while France still doesn’t). Both the United States and France have similar laws regarding euthanasia (how ever controversial this topic might be). And you either forget or aren’t aware that K-12 schools in the US are, for the most part, free. It is the quality of education that we should address more about because schools in richer areas have more resources to support students whereas schools in poorer areas are seriously underserved. And you want European style leftist parties in America? We already have one that is always in the voting ballot: The Green Party of America whose policies regarding the environment is sound but their other political aspects are just as controversial as European leftists. However, they are minority and not very visible in the media outlet. And P/S: We don’t need another far-leftist party enforcing more radical leftist ideologies against people’s will when the rising Tea Party (its polar opposite) is just as disastrous. We need more centrism which can keep both sides in check. 3) What’s wrong with waving national flags? Have you ever watched the British royal parades with tons of UK flags flying around? Have you ever seen people waving their flags at sport rallies, the Olympics ceremonies, or even international beauty pageants? We may just be displaying our patriotism more outwardly but you also neglect to mention that Americans are so fly other flags that represent their local cities (Los Angeles, Chicago, New York City, etc.), their local US states (California, Texas, etc.), their affiliated organizations (Sons of Norway), their cultural heritage (Irish tricolour flag, Italian flag, Mexican flag, etc.), and even their communities (LGBT), etc. Maybe Europeans are the ones being weird here.

Also, I realize having universal everything is great - but I think the world doesn’t realize that it is much harder to take care of 332 million people than France’s 67 million, or Canada’s population of only just under 38 million people. Also, France is about 80% of the size of Texas. As you’ve mentioned often, America is HUGE. And the regions are all so different with different needs and priorities. I don’t think the rest of the world has any idea how diverse and huge the US is. Until I went to Thailand I didn’t realize just how isolated the Americas are from the rest of the world. The looks I got from Europeans when I said it took us 21 hours to get from the US Midwest to Thailand. And an Austrian girl told me it took her only 8 hours to fly there! My mind was blown as well! 😂

Spot on about medical TV commercials.

BAHAHA your medical side effects bit was hilarious

OK, so knowing in advance that you'll do a video about weird French things next and that we'll get our comeuppance, I still have to say I totally agree with all of your points. I first went to the US as a high school exchange student, and the ubiquitous flags absolutely weirded me out. It felt like people were at risk of forgetting one second to the next which country they were in and needed constant reminders. And at the start of the school day I would lip-synch the Pledge of Allegiance in order to blend in, but inwardly I wondered what business the school had to demand a statement of political loyalty from its students.

The World Series is named for a newspaper, the New York World. Paper no longer exists but that’s how it got its name. Although confusing, it’s not a world championship.

I can't find the link of the tiktok video you talk about at the end. By the way, very interesting subject :)

I also live in Europe and in my country there are specific days you can have your flag out. It is literally illeagal to have flags out on random days because national flag is considered sacred. The little flag on the car is ok, lots of people have them.

Super vidéo, j'ai beaucoup ri avec la pub sur la santé haha !

In some towns we have little French flags on buses for November 11 for example or July 14 of course. Also during the soccer world cup many people hang flags on their balcony or garden (not necessarily a French flag btw, because France is very diversified). But yes, we only show off flags on special occasions.

Let's hear it for the American Imperial system of measurement!

The Us didn’t used to allow drug ads. I believe they started in 1983. The argument is that people should be able have control over their health care which includes knowing about drugs on the market. A doctor still has to write a prescription for it and the pharmacy has to be willing to fill it. On the credit card usage even before Covid some restaurants were switching over to pay at table. Applebees has had a device for several years pre Covid that sits on the table and you pay using that no server involved.

This must be credit card day on KZfaq. Just got done watching a video on the Passport Two channel where they animated the American restaurant practice of walking off with your credit card. Their main point was more about the awkwardness of German tipping culture compared to the USA, but they definitely picked up on your point about the strangeness of letting your credit card out of sight.

Bonjour Kathy, Certaines incongruités propres aux USA que vous soulevez me font un peu penser aux idées défendues par Bill Maher. J'aime beaucoup ce chroniqueur américain et partage pas mal de ces points de vue. J'ai été assez souvent surpris de découvrir qu'il parlait de sujets spécifiques et pouvait employer les mêmes arguments que moi dans mes discussions avec des amis. Je pense que c'est de ce genre de personne dont l'Amérique a besoin, sensée, pragmatique, humaniste et avec une bonne dose d'humour par dessus. En tous cas bonne journée à toutes et tous en attendant qu'on puisse enfin reprendre une vie un peu plus normale. Cdt,

I forgot your name but I love your content. Hello from Sydney!!!

we were so laughing in America seeing all the signs like "The wolds greatest National park, the world biggest...smth" Literally everywhere, so funny :)

What worries me when I give the server my card is that I will forget to take it back.

lol! the $5 old navy t! paired with their flip flops. :p

I worked with a guy who did exactly what you feared with someone's credit card at a restaurant in the early 2000's. Haven't seen him since he went to prison for fraud.

Shawadawah--cracked me up.

Really enjoying your videos, I lived in Paris for a year as a teenager. Re flags - come to the UK during the Euros or the World Cup and you'll see A LOT of flags bearing the cost of St George but the moment the tournaments are over - they vanish.

Hey Kate!! Excellent video!! I had the same conversation about Democrats and Republicans with my colleagues (I'm an English teacher in a French High School) and I said exactly the same things about the Democrats not being really on the left but more in the center (like Macron actually). I think you could have added the concept of "credit score" in this video (I would love to see a video from you mentioning your point of view on the concept of credit score by the way) because I know that credit score is a thing in many Anglo-Saxon countries now (Canada, the UK etc), this is something that comes from the US and that doesn't exist in most European countries and looking for an exterior perspective, it is a very weird concept!!

Midwestern American here. Recently had surgery in December and during my recovery got to watch daytime tv - which is not my norm. Daytime TV in America is nothing but commercial after commercial of medication ads like you mentioned and OMFG the ATTORNEY ADS ARE INSANE. Especially the workman’s comp attorneys. Do attorneys chase business in France the way they do in America?

I agree with much of what you said, especially the part about the medical advertisements. As regards the credit cards going into the back of a restaurant, having been a frequent business traveler to Europe, I have griped about the credit card leaving for years. I think the departing credit card is beginning to change here. Perhaps it is the result of having to have contactless payment, but I have had several occasions in the past few months in which the reader was brought to my table. As for politics, that is always weird wherever you go.

The portable credit card machines are very common now in California. That said, I dined out countless times with credit cards over the past 30 years and never once got a fraudulent item on my credit card statement. From what I understand, most cc numbers are snatched over the internet anyway. Not to mention that you are never liable for fraudulent charges on your credit card anyway. We simply have a lot less property theft in the US than in Europe. I never worry about pick pockets and money belts while traveling in the US. Now, WHAT IS weird, is that people hand over their car keys with their house keys on them to valets and car wash employees.

Regarding elections, as most people say the US election would be disputed if it was Biden v Sanders. That's where the fault line is lol not between Biden and Trump

Come to the Netherlands where ,as of now, we have 37 political parties ! (Not sure whether that's a good thing but there you go !)

When I lived in Texas, the flag thing is one of the first thing I noticed 😅 I don't know how it is in the rest of the US, but flags in Texas are so huge, like 10mx15m, maybe even bigger. In my high school, I had to pledge allegence to the flag every morning. What an experience for a frenchie in exchange.

Le hasard m'a conduit sur votre chaîne ce soir et j'ai regardé au moins dix de vos vidéos. Bravo pour votre sens de l'analyse, votre objectivité et votre ouverture d'esprit, tout est dans le partage, merci pour ces petits moments ! Un abonné de plus !

Some prediction for the one about French strange things : -The administration and the difficulties when you have to do certain administrative things (even if some are realy easy, and getting easier) -Food (maybe not because it's the coolest obsession possible) -Les grèves (I don't even remember the english word, so I'll just say when people stop working to protest)

There's an exception for flags though : football games ⚽ and sports in general

That Americans have to FIGHT for the right to vote or for healthcare boggles my mind.

Thoughts on the credit card machine after living in Canada where they bring the machine and US where they don't. Both of the places have a tipping culture. It is awkward to have the server standing there while you are putting in tip amounts. Much prefer the system of writing in the tip and leaving table without having to see the server again. In a place where tipping is not the norm I can totally see where bringing the machine is more sensible.

I didnt' t know about this credit card thing,I can't wait for your weird French things video, even as a European there are so many strange things here for example the chequier!!!Oh but maybe you have that in the US too.

I'm American and even I thought all this was weird and I've never been outside the US except to go on a caravan tour of Mexico back in 2005.

Bonjour Vos vidéos sont un vrai régal. Vous avez la finesse de rentrer dans le raisonnement d'autrui, de le comprendre et la grande qualité de l'expliquer de façon limpide. Votre personnalité est extrêmement attachante.

That's why they have the World Baseball Series now that includes all countries around the world.

For credit cards, it used to be the same in France before the usage of chip and pin cards was generalized in the 90s'. You entrusted your card to the waiter. But there were too many situations where prints of the cards were taken.

Although I was born in California, I spent a lot of time visiting family in Western Canada. In addition, my curiosity has always bordered on insatiable. I've been questioning the way things were in America for much of my life. As for France, it fit like a glove.

The U.S. practice with credit cards is different, but does that really matter? A U.S. cardholder won't be responsible for fraudulent purchases once they contest them--the bank will absorb the loss. In practice, there is zero liability for the cardholder. Your mother didn't have to pay for the fraudulent purchases once she disputed them, did she? Would that be the same in France or other European countries? As for waving the flag, sure it gets used a lot here (probably overused), but there are consequences to limiting display of national flags elsewhere. A relative of mine in Great Britain wishes the Union Flag was displayed more often there because otherwise it becomes the emblem of extremist groups instead of a national symbol.

In Australia the bill thing used to happen but now mobile eftpos machines mean you pay at the table. I wonder whether it’s more indicative of the year and tech advances you had in the US vs in France?

Excellent video! Loved what you said about healthcare and education on OECD countries... Socialism!! Wasn't expecting that comment at all, and of course totally agree, as would most Europeans with common sense. The flag obsession in the US is bizarre and insane. When I was studying English in HS, one teacher said to us that every American movie shows the American flag at least once, and usually much more than that. I've noticed that this is true!! And truly bizarre. Completely unthinkable for a French movie, for sure. Unless "France" were the topic of the movie. Perhaps "America' is the topic of every American movie? That's what our teacher seemed to say.

Now that you've mentioned about the credit cards being taken away... that is strange. I guess before, the machines weren't portable so it made sense. Not really applicable nowadays... you got me thinking 🤔

1:38 ils faisaient ça dans certaines stations services en Italie en 1993, mon père à été facturé deux fois pour la même somme ils ont lue deux fois la piste magnétique et lui on demander de signer, pire il me semble qu'à un moment ils ont carrément copié la piste magnétique pour créer des copie de carte de paiement pour les péages et les distributeurs automatiques. bilan ne jamais laisser votre carte de paiement en dehors de votre vu quelqu'un de mal intentionné peut copié la piste magnétique de la carte ou vous facturé deux fois la même somme!!!!

It's not that way in Canada. You pay with your credit card with the machine that the server brings out to your table. Very safe.

Hope you love your country of origin! The midwest is awesome - never feel ashamed.

Nailed it!

Interesting. I have travelled a lot outside Australia and I have American friends and was once told told that Australia was like the US was 20 or 30 years ago. Now, listening to Kate I think we're more like Europeans than our American cousins. Taking the first item, handing over your credit card. Like Europe (and the UK too) in Australia the transaction is always done in front of you and the machine is portable as well. Other than politics here becoming more conservative overall since the mid-1990's one could replace Europe or France with Australia. Don't misunderstand: we're not European, but very multicultural, and no doubt some Europeans would find our habits strange. And a PS, now I know why the World Series is called the World Series. Was always confused by that.

Keeping shoes when lying on the sofa or on the bed : this is weird for me :)

After years here in France, I back every one of your points on weirdness! Spot on. Made me laugh so hard 🤣

That's how we do it in Canada! The servers bring the machines to the table... I can't imagine giving my credit/debit card to a stranger and them going off with it lol

Flag one is so true 🤣yesterday I saw a couple carrying a French flag on the train station and becoming the centre of attention for everyone

From Australia - Medical advertising & politics story here is pretty much like Europe.

Yes Nfl(American football) is my thing! But in Europe it's about Soccer or Football as it's called everywhere else!

Hi, I don't let my credit card out of my sight with one exception. If I can't wait for the bill and need to use the restroom, I'll let my best friend pay in the "no contact" mode, which allows for a maximum of 50 Euros without a PIN code. Does it exist in the USA?

On some kittens channel, I've seen a flag on a cat house :-)

Not seeing the TikTok link you mentioned including....

As for travel most Americans only have 2 weeks vacation. That and the cost affect travel.

Where's that link to that German girl comparing politics?

As a nurse I abhor the drug ads. It’s increasing every day

I think that in many countries we would feel like seing a group of people waving flags around (outside of sports) feels like, I would imagine, many from the U.S. would feel to see a group of people waving the confederate flag around. But, ofc it would be a context thing too like.. Is there a football championship going on, is it the national day or other celebatory day and so on. But still. I know it would stress me out. Come to think of it, any sorts of uniform flag (like football fans/borderline hooligans would wave) or uniform clothing (like bikers) is creepy. I used to work in a bar in scandinavia where we did not allow any uniforms, be it students, footballsfans or bikers and we did not allow any uniform chanting. Due to not wanting a certain mentality (where excitement can turn violent or simply a feeling of "too much" for comfort) to appear in this bar.

I'm in complete agreement!

Great video, but you forgot to put the TikTok link to the description.

Its not weird to entrust your credit card to waiters/waitresses at a restaurant because at the end of the day if they use the card to make charges? You're not responsible for them. Its annoying, you have to call and cancel the card, but its not something you're going to be on the hook for.

For the credit card they used to do that in France a long time ago

So agree with the prescription drug commercials such a big business thank goodness we can fast forward these days really dislike those commercials, how are commercials in Europe or France specifically?

I’m Canadian and we always say that are Conservative party is more aligned with your Democrats! As you said, no party would dare challenge our universal health care! And the flag thing is super weird! 😊

I'm in total agreement about all your points! I've thought for a long time they're all weird, but then again, I do travel abroad often. The flags in particular are weird, because I've had people question my love for my country because I wouldn't fly one on the 4th of July. WHAT? Ditto about the left-vs-right debate. I had a man call me a "radical lefty" because I was going to be claiming my Social Security benefits, which by the way I have paid into since I was 16 years old! He told me I was a parasite and a drain on society. And there are millions of people here now who think like that. It's scary, and has made me consider relocating abroad.

The credit card thing is weird. In the Philippines, the little machine is brought to us and we insert the card ourselves to the machine.

I am a KZfaqr who runs a traditional Korean health food farm. Always be healthy and happy. I hope to see you often on KZfaq. I'm rooting for my friend. 감사드립니다. 늘 행복하시고 즐거운 일들만 가득하십시요.

I’ve only had cc problems in Mexican restaurants. I only pay cash in Mexican restaurants now.

What happens if you refuse to pledge allegiance at school?

i thought the credit card thing was strange when i stared eating out

Flags - i have some American friends who have recently become citizens of my country - they proudly went out and bought a flagpole to fly our flag on. It is very sweet but it is just not done here... so it does seem a bit weird... And yes it is linked to nationalism rather than patriotism here too so it could even be seen as offensive by some people....

hahahaha... I agree about the drug ads. I hate those!! I wonder how many I can recite from memory. LOL

Remontada de la France: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iNSDfsZ6u6rdpGg.html

nobody is perfect; next video will be about weird french things

The little credit card machines are around more in the US post Covid.

I remember doing that thing with the credit/debit card some years ago here in Spain, until PIN codes kicked in. You can call it nanny state if you want to, but even a broken clock signals the right time twice a day; sometimes, regulations come to help you before you notice a problem: safe e-commerce protections, or drug ads on tv are regulated. And about the flag thing, that's because american flag is a symbol of unity among americans. You'll see a lot of flags in Sweden or other scandinavian countries, also in eastern Europe. You rarely will see one in Spain, but that's because after 40 years of fascist dictatorship the spanish flag has become something like a right wing symbol, and as such left wing people seldom feels like carrying or showing one - except maybe at some sports celebration.

en France et très certainement en Europe, hors distributeurs automatiques et hors péages, c'est la puce qui est lu rarement la piste magnétique, en France payer par la puce c'est le plus courant et dans la norme, hors la puce exige le code pour validé le paiement de plus sauf en mode Forçage le lecteur de carte va communiquer en temps réel avec le serveurs informatique de la banque pour savoir si y a le bon montant sur le compte bancaire et quel est la limite de paiement en intra journalier c'est souvent maximum 1000 à 2000€. en France car c'est la France qui à inventé la carte à puce !!!!

The credit card thing is kinda weird. And I'm in the USA. I guess we're luckier than we should be. I hate TV ads. I refuse to own a TV. I'm an American anomaly.

I agree with you on several points here. But I do think the America-is-so-right-wing notion is a Euro-centric notion, not Asian, not African at all. And who has taken gender and racial politics as far left as we have? Maybe the British, imitating us. But not the French. And the flag thing. Yeah.. we like us some flags. And even the rainbow flag is quite the same. But you know I live in Georgia (not the US state) and guess what? They like their flags more than Americans, because they remember Communism. Likewise Poland, flags. Lots of them. And both of these countries are European. I don't mind flags. I don't worship them either. And that is how many folks and countries demonstrate their patriotism. Unsophisticated? Maybe. But certainly not a sign of latent fascism. I never thought about the credit card thing before. It's an excellent point. But you know I never heard of credit card hanky-panky in restaurants until I got to Europe. So now we await your weird French things video. Bon chance! Thanks Kate. Always interesting observations even when I might think differently.

10:40 it is a sign of government support, so people will not fly it just because they dont like the current gov

LA semaine prochaine...juist saying. You seem a very nice and interesting person, and I'll be back! Thank you.

Restaurantes also cook your food in a part of the restaurant where you can't see either. Are you going to next say that folks that eat out are wierd to trust that the staff aren't spitting in your food? Will you demand that everyone start eating at hibachi grills and those that don't are wierd?!

pour voir un drapeau flotté partout en France, il faut aller en Bretagne, le drapeau breton flotte le long des routes, des fois a des fenetres, collé sur les voitures , velo ou planche de surf, il y a toujours un pendant une manif. ca vient peut etre parceque les usa et la Bretagne sont liés aussi ?

As a US Midwesterner, I completely agree with all 5 points. Not normal!!!

I’m from Canada and I’m old enough to remember a time where the waiter would take my parents credit card to whatever place to pay and bring it back to the table. These days, waiters bring the machine to the table or you go with them to the counter to pay. On your point about politics, on many points, Biden would be considered a bit more conservative than politicians like Trudeau. And Sanders or AOC could run as party leader of the NPD, a left wing party but far from being considered extremist (they won about 30% of the votes in 2019).

American here who gave up television three years ago. Ad blocking keeps me free of most ads on the Internet. However, some Americans I know think I'm "weird" because I don't watch TV, as though subjecting myself to its crass commercialism and (mostly) trash content, and actually paying good money for the transmission, should be expected. I'm never going back.

Baseball is really only super popular in America and Japan. As far as I know, the rest of the world doesn't really care about baseball. Soccer is popular in most of the world, but baseball isn't. The US has played against Japan in baseball before. If baseball was more popular in the rest of the world, then we might have international tournaments. Unfortunately, that's not the case.

Size isn't everything. This is a cop out that is continually trotted out whenever we Americans don't won't to admit we have trash policies and traditions. Canada is a huge country. What does that have to do with universal healthcare, doesn't appear to affect that with the exception of accèss in remote or rural areas. The access in the US in same or similar areas is comparable. And yes the US has way more people than Canada. We also have way more money. California and Texas on their own have économies that could compete with other countries in the world. The entire population of New York City is the economic engine of New York State for better or worse. And lower population states in the US typically receive more money federally than they give. The US can indeed afford universal Healthcare, but we choose not to do so.

I went to a baseball game, as part of the "american experience" you know. Obviously it NEEDS side entertainment and music and tributes to the military or the local firefighters or whatever, and cheerleaders or what equivalent baseball has... because the game alone would be BORING af. I know I'm not a sport person and not likely to take a spontaneous interest, but objectively, baseball as an entertainment? Seriously?

This is absolutely brilliant!! I’d love this video to be a public service announcement aired everywhere in the U.S.! Very level-headed! Thank you!

France and European have flag on coach or houses for supporting the soccer world cup.