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I know all three systems. Imperial measurements, US measurement and metric, so I would have no issues ordering anything. US gallons vs Imperial vs litres...not an issue.
That's awesome - but you're the exception, not the rule. Most people aren't comfortable with or that familiar with multiple methods of measurement used in various countries. That goes for Americans, Europeans, etc. Of course, there are some who are (myself included to some extent though now that I live in the US, I haven't had to use much metric so I'd have to brush up on it again to use it in every day life - but it's not difficult so no worries).
Anyway, I'll say to you what I said to Ariete - don't be coy. Here's what you said:
Quote:
They may be familiar with a 2 litre bottle of pop, but somehow for most that doesn't translate into other uses, such as buying gasoline and milk.
I've even told some Americans that they buy pop in the US in litres, and they just blink at me.
Stand by a deli counter in Vancouver and wait for the Americans buying things in metric. Very, very few ask for anything in grams. " What's that in ounces " is what you hear.
Sometimes they try, and ask for 800 grams of sandwich meat. The clerks know enough to show them about 250 and ask do they want more...usually they don't
Maybe it's the cruise ship crowd we get, but it is still not unusual to hear Americans when paying a bill
" is that in American dollars ? "
The reality is that ANY tourist in ANY country that uses a different system of measurement, calendar, currency, etc is going to struggle a bit and sometimes may even appear foolish. They may, in fact, just blink at the natives when confronted. They may order ridiculous sizes of items by mistake. They may try to order in their own system of measurement. And if they're visiting the US from Canada, maybe on a cruise around the Great Lakes or an Alaskan cruise, they may even ask "Is that in Canadian dollars?"
But you're right - maybe it's the cruise ship crowd we get.
Well, it's almost always cheaper than here, so no worries!
LOL but it's cheaper for a reason. Not that there aren't some good American beers but dang - there are better beers - LOL. Give me a good Black and Tan or a rich Belgian brew any day! 16 oz, 20 oz - I don't care!
Based on not just this conversation but others as well.
My point stands - take someone who is unfamiliar with the imperial system and let them try their tourist hand in that system - I'm pretty sure you will see the same results. The reason most Americans aren't as proficient in the metric system as Europeans is simple - we're not raised on it. And most Europeans aren't raised on the imperial system. That's it. It's not rocket science, and for that matter, neither is the metric system.
...back up a bit. My response was to Gentoo who stated Americans knew the metric system pretty well.
They don't, hence my stories.
It's not a matter of someone unfamiliar with the US system not knowing it...you've wandered off the topic here.
As for Cruise Ship people, that wasn't a slag, but a description of a type of tourist. I know Canadians who travel that way. They don't get to know the places they go to and may sound well travelled, but they have travelled in a cocoon.
LOL but it's cheaper for a reason. Not that there aren't some good American beers but dang - there are better beers - LOL. Give me a good Black and Tan or a rich Belgian brew any day! 16 oz, 20 oz - I don't care!
Here they typically ask if you want a large or small glass of beer. They may also ask 12 oz or 20 oz? The 12 oz is like a 350 ml bottle, whereas the 20 is like half a litre.
Here they typically ask if you want a large or small glass of beer. They may also ask 12 oz or 20 oz? The 12 oz is like a 350 ml bottle, whereas the 20 is like half a litre.
Ahem, 568.261 ml's if you please. Slightly over a half litre. Trust me, those 68.261 ml's add up over time.
LOL but it's cheaper for a reason. Not that there aren't some good American beers but dang - there are better beers - LOL. Give me a good Black and Tan or a rich Belgian brew any day! 16 oz, 20 oz - I don't care!
There are over 5,000 breweries in America today brewing an estimated 25,000+ beers. I would hope there are at least a half dozen* decent ones.
*dozen - a ridiculous non metric number.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Acajack
Here they typically ask if you want a large or small glass of beer. They may also ask 12 oz or 20 oz? The 12 oz is like a 350 ml bottle, whereas the 20 is like half a litre.
Many bars in the US offer a large glass, sometimes called a schooner, that typically holds 24-32 oz. More rare is the yard glass which is even larger. The yard has its origins in England, I believe.
There are over 5,000 breweries in America today brewing an estimated 25,000+ beers. I would hope there are at least a half dozen* decent ones.
*dozen - a ridiculous non metric number.
Many bars in the US offer a large glass, sometimes called a schooner, that typically holds 24-32 oz. More rare is the yard glass which is even larger. The yard has its origins in England, I believe.
I've seen schooner here as well, and also sleeve, but they have no legal measurement as far as I know, so it's almost meaningless unless you ask how many ml's it is. For some reason they hate that LOL
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I bet though that there must be some Irish Pubs or the like in the US that may serve " a proper pint " .
