Non-Americans who have been to the US.. What is the weirdest thing about America that Americans don't realize is weird?
Non-Americans who have been to the US.. What is the weirdest thing about America that Americans don't realize is weird?
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I only stopped there for transit on a flight to Mexico. Just before boarding my flight I was told that I need a visa for the US, which is extremely weird because normally airports have transit zones where you don't need any visa. But apparently the US is special, so you actually have to enter the country before going right back into the airport. This nonsense made me miss my flight.
Also I remember in the airport there was a security guard doing nothing but shouting nonstop that it's not allowed to carry water. Why not simply put up a sign?
China did that to me too, except I didn't miss my flight. After getting off the plane they made us go through immigration and when they asked how long I was staying I said about 3 hours. Stamped my passport with a 1 day visa haha
Americans don't read.
Am American, don’t know what this says
We read, just not posted signs without a skull on it or something cool like that.
If it is important they would put it on a hat.
I'd also say sign fatigue (plus general fatigue) is a thing. When you go to an airport security line there's like these giant signboards stood up like the 200 Commandments, each with a mix of pictures and walls of text of for things you're not allowed to bring on a plane. Or some things you can check and not carry on or you can carry on and not check. And you're also expected to know all of that while you are in transit, stressed, and maybe also sleep deprived.
Too many signs to properly pay attention to them all.
We weren't elected to read.
W.r.t. water bottles, I think it's because people don't look at or think about the signs that are often posted. A loud person yelling specifically at you is much more likely to make someone stop and ask themselves if they have a water bottle.
I'm definitely not defending it, but that's my take on the matter. The whole water bottle thing is just security theater anyways.
Or you guys like to be shouted at. There is no other country that does this.
You've been here. So you've witnessed first hand our lack of social cohesion. We're not a civilized people. We're barely above feral and deeply ensconced in tribalism. Capitalists did a great job gaslighting this country into this situation where we're aware of their abuse but somehow still manage to blame one another instead of the abuser. The Business Plot didn't fail, it bided its time and rolled out slowly and surreptitiously.
Canadian ex-infantry checking in with an exception to that assertion.
Just before boarding my flight I was told that I need a visa for the US [...] This nonsense made me miss my flight.
I WOULD HAVE FUCKING LEFT IF YOU'D LET ME ASSHOLE
Not like that, they didn't let me board my flight from Europe to Texas. Even though I had a connecting flight to Mexico few hours later. Why can't they have a visa free transit zone like every other country in the world?
I only stopped there for transit on a flight to Mexico. Just before boarding my flight I was told that I need a visa for the US, which is extremely weird because normally airports have transit zones where you don’t need any visa. But apparently the US is special, so you actually have to enter the country before going right back into the airport. This nonsense made me miss my flight.
Not like that, they didn’t let me board my flight from Europe to Texas. Even though I had a connecting flight to Mexico few hours later.
I am no longer on your side. if your journey is :
European country X -> Somewhere in the US -> Texas -> Mexico
Then of course you're going through security controls, etc etc. You're going from the international processing and flights part of the airport to the domestic flights part of the airport, which is the zone where any asshole in that country can travel in, so you're properly entering the US. Of course you need proper clearance and visas and all that.
I initially assumed your journey was
Non US country-> Somewhere in the US -> Mexico
which you'd be completely right
So they can rob noncitizens using asset forfeiture laws. Never travel in or through the US if you need to transport large sums of money or valuables.
Actually, the better advice is never travel in or through the US. I wish that were an option for me.
A couple of times I've travelled Air NZ route that goes London-Auckland via LAX. The plane has to stop to refuel I guess. All the passengers are forced to queue up to be fingerprinted and have their eyeballs scanned, while a security guard walks up and down screaming "STAY IN THE LINE!" Then they're herded into a lounge barely big enough to hold everyone (first class passengers have their own little pen next to the toilets). Apologetic air crew distribute apples, crisps and bottles of water. For hours. Through a glass wall is a view of the rest of the airport: shops, cafes, bars, space to stroll. But hey, at least you get to not miss your flight, and the US is safe from Kiwi tourists.
I don't know if they still do this, I avoid the route.
did london via LAX as well. This was my only experience of the US:
Arrive LAX and do the whole enter the US customs, the agent asks if anyone has had access to my baggage to which I answered "everyone here with security access". The shit head was not impressed and let me know.
Because fuck you, that's why.
Also, freedoms or something, I dunno.
Because fuck you, that's why.
America in a nutshell.