Living in the UK reminds me in some ways of a game we used to play as kids ´De omgekeerde wereld´ (The reversed world).
We all know the British drive on the wrong, sorry, left, side of the road. We could imagine that this will lead them to put rising escalators on the left as well. As I noticed is the case when upon arrival I tried getting myself and my 45kg in 4 bags up using the descending escalator.
But not for the following:
- Switching anything on requires putting the switch down, not up. Luckily there are plenty of learning opportunities for this as the Scots switch on not just lights but also showers, cooking plates, ovens, power outlets. Unfortunately the switches to the power outlets are the only ones placed in a somewhat logical relation to their target (in this case, on the outlet itself). Light switches tend to be located outside the room they're intended to light. Which is a minor inconvenience compared to the shower switch being located outside the room you're supposed to shower in.
- Two way windows open in the horizontal plane when the handle is vertical, and in the vertical plane when the handle is horizontal.
- When a bus finally arrives, people do not (as in Holland) compete for who enters first, but for who enters last. You go first! No YOU go first!
- British are Eurosceptic in many ways. Look at this picture:
If you notice nothing, that's exactly the problem. Answers, anyone?? Win a hosted visit to Glasgow!
We all know the British drive on the wrong, sorry, left, side of the road. We could imagine that this will lead them to put rising escalators on the left as well. As I noticed is the case when upon arrival I tried getting myself and my 45kg in 4 bags up using the descending escalator.
But not for the following:
- Switching anything on requires putting the switch down, not up. Luckily there are plenty of learning opportunities for this as the Scots switch on not just lights but also showers, cooking plates, ovens, power outlets. Unfortunately the switches to the power outlets are the only ones placed in a somewhat logical relation to their target (in this case, on the outlet itself). Light switches tend to be located outside the room they're intended to light. Which is a minor inconvenience compared to the shower switch being located outside the room you're supposed to shower in.
- Two way windows open in the horizontal plane when the handle is vertical, and in the vertical plane when the handle is horizontal.
- When a bus finally arrives, people do not (as in Holland) compete for who enters first, but for who enters last. You go first! No YOU go first!
- British are Eurosceptic in many ways. Look at this picture:
Comments
The problem with the picture is this might work in the Netherlands (of Spain, or France), but for drivers in Glascow, they should be on the other lane. I also wonder where pedestrians should cross this road. Image some cars waiting in front of those haaietanden (what's the English word?)
What I THINK these triangles mark is a slightly elevated pedestrian crossing bump, with the top of the triangles marking the top of the bump. How on earth do they expect European drivers to not cause accidents here?
(this slightly worries me as I'll soon be a European driver).
(btw, Crossings where you're supposed to give way are marked with one big triangle).