The USA is the top place British teens want to visit on a school trip
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Buzz Feed
an hour ago
- Buzz Feed
25 Things That Shocked Foreign Visitors To America
One of the best things about travel is that it opens your eyes to how people from different parts of the world live. On the flip side, if you have ever wondered about what non-Americans thought of American culture and its unique quirks, it gets covered in r/AskReddit when someone asked, "Non-Americans of Reddit, what's something that absolutely shocked you when you first visited the US?" The reverse culture shock was real. Here's what people had to say: "One British boyfriend of mine was flabbergasted at the size of my parents' bathroom sink." —YourMothersButtox "As someone who grew up in the UK and moved to the US, the distance between places was the biggest thing to get my head around." "The cars, which looked normal on TV, were twice as big as normal cars back home." —bartvanh "The accommodations provided for physically disabled people in public transit and public places. I felt genuinely happy that there is a country that takes its protections seriously. You would not want to catch yourself in a disabled state in my country." "The listed price in stores not being what you pay. So, coupled with my unfamiliarity with US coinage, I bought everything with notes and ended up weighed down with pocketfuls of loose change at the end of each day." —akiralx26 "All the ingredients in medications on TV, and advertising medication on TV." "The gaps around the stall doors in public restrooms took some getting used to!" —BareBonesTek"We hate it, too."—pandorumriver24 "So many cereal options." "Portion size. You get a TON of food at a restaurant." "How straight and white people's teeth were!!!" —Fit_Acanthaceae6191 "I've been living in the US for a year. One thing I am absolutely livid about is that you have to pay to find out how much tax you owe. You can do the calculations yourself, but I wasn't confident enough to do it, so I did what most Americans do and used a proxy to file my taxes, and I had to pay $50. Like, this is insane. How the IRS doesn't just tell you how much you owe is baffling to me. This felt like a scam." "In France, your taxes are already filed automatically because the equivalent of the IRS knows your employment status, along with how much you make, and your family situation. You just have to verify that everything is in order, and you can add deductions if needed. It took me 20 minutes to file taxes in France, while it took me two days to check things ten times and review all the checklists on what I needed to send and to whom."—Matrozi"American here, and we hate it as well. The best part? They know what we owe, and if we do our taxes wrong, we get in trouble, pay penalties, or worse. TELL US THE NUMBER, AND WE WILL TAKE CARE OF IT."—sginsc"It's actually on purpose. H&R Block and Intuit are paying lobbyists to intentionally make it more difficult. Source."—get_off_my_lawn_n0w "How sweet all the food is, particularly food that shouldn't be sweet, like bread." "Advertisement. Shitty advertisements absolutely everywhere." "Personal injury lawyer ads." "Everybody asking how I am doing, straight after the, 'Hi.'' —Important-Sir-3956"Kinda like the British, 'You alright?'"—The_GREAT_Gremlin "The accents. In Canada, there are a few regional accents, but not that many. In the US, there were SO MANY." "Homeless people. I know every city in every developed country has some to some degree, but my god, all the cities I visited in the US had homeless people on every other block. Most of them sadly appeared like they had serious mental health issues. Everyone else was walking by like it was normal." "The contrast between rich neighborhoods and poor neighborhoods — the outright poverty in some areas of the richest country in the world." "That pregnant women work until the end and that there's no postnatal paid leave." "Open carry. I'm accustomed to only seeing law enforcement officers with weapons holstered." "Flags and political signs in people's yards. On bumper stickers, in shops and cafés. This was outside of election season and it felt like everyone needed to let you know if they were a DEMOCRAT or a TRUMP supporter." "In Ireland, you could know someone all your life and never know who they vote for. Only a complete weirdo would put political slogans in their garden. It's considered crass to fly a flag outside of St Patrick's Day or a football match."—Tukki101 "We were driving towards the Grand Canyon in the middle of nowhere with no buildings around, and suddenly, there was a fireworks shop next door to a preschool." "Drive through everything. The funniest one was a burger place we went to. You were supposed to park, order next to the speaker, and then eat in your car. We parked and tried to go inside, and the guy was like, 'Wtf, are you doing?'" "How big and beautiful your country is. Zion, Bryce Canyon, and Yosemite are stunning. I drove to Arizona, Utah, and California, and it was just amazing. New Orleans was out-the-gate exciting. Beverly Hills Cop did not prepare me for your national parks." —MischaJDF"Outside of the cities, how beautiful the countryside is — the diversity of mountains, forests, deserts, and lakes. It is a very beautiful, big, and diverse landscape."—Stevebwrw And finally, "Americans aren't actually as much the assholes as propaganda media constantly portrays." Are these takeaways surprising? Let us know in the comments!
New York Post
7 hours ago
- New York Post
Man, 20, builds country with just 400 citizens — and says it all began as ‘an experiment'
A man has declared himself president of a self-proclaimed country nestled in a disputed patch of land between Croatia and Serbia — and it comes complete with a flag, cabinet, currency and nearly 400 citizens. Daniel Jackson founded the Free Republic of Verdis, a less than 125-acre sliver of forest along the Danube River. Advertisement He did so after discovering the area was unclaimed by either neighboring country due to an ongoing border dispute. 'Verdis was an idea I had when I was 14,' said Jackson, who is 20 years old. 'It was just a bit of an experiment at first with a few mates. We have all dreamed of creating something crazy.' Jackson officially declared the republic's independence on May 30, 2019, news agency SWNS reported. The area the British man claimed, known on maps as 'pocket three,' has since been named the world's second-smallest country, right behind Vatican City. Advertisement The digital designer, who earns a living by creating virtual worlds on Roblox, began shaping Verdis into a functioning government when he was just 18. 'We started making Verdis a reality when I was 18 by forming some laws and a flag,' he said. 'We have now built up a government and have a great cabinet,' he said. 5 Daniel Jackson, the president of the Free Republic of Verdis, holds the country's flag. Daniel Jackson / SWNS 5 The passports of Verdis decorated with the shield of the small republic. Daniel Jackson / SWNS Advertisement The official languages of Verdis are English, Croatian and Serbian — and the nation uses the Euro as its currency. Verdis is accessible only by boat from the Croatian city of Osijek, though attempts to settle there have gotten some significant resistance. In October 2023, Croatian police detained several settlers, along with Jackson himself, before deporting them and issuing him a lifetime ban from entering the country. 'They deported us but couldn't give a reason why,' Jackson said. 'They said we were a threat to homeland security.' Advertisement 5 'Verdis' sits on a small piece of disputed land on the Danube River between Croatia and Serbia. Google / SWNS Now operating what he calls a 'government in exile,' Jackson has accused Croatian authorities of installing surveillance along his country's shoreline to block access from Serbia, SWNS reported. We have had a lot of problems with Croatian authorities, but we do want a good relationship with them in the future,' he added. 'They haven't taken to us kindly and have been aggressive,' he claimed. Per SWNS, Jackson now travels frequently to Belgrade, Serbia, where he says officials have been more receptive. 5 People park a boat on the shores of the Danube River where the Free Republic of Verdis claims land. Daniel Jackson / SWNS Despite his ban from Croatia, he continues to advocate for the right to access Verdis and hopes to return to live there one day. 'If successful, I would step down from my position and call an election,' he said. Advertisement 'I am not interested in power at all … I just want to be a normal citizen. It has been eye-opening, and I am quite proud of what I have achieved,' he added. Verdis began with just four people but now claims over 400 official citizens from a pool of more than 15,000 applicants. 5 Now operating what he calls a 'government in exile,' Jackson has accused Croatian authorities of installing surveillance along his country's shoreline to block access from Serbia. Daniel Jackson / SWNS Each person receives a passport — though Jackson has warned people against trying to use it for actual international travel. Advertisement That said, some citizens have reportedly used their Verdisian passport to enter other countries. 'It is a very small country so we have to be careful who we let in,' Jackson told SWNS. 'When it comes to approving people, we look for in-demand skill sets such as experience in medicine or policing.' Advertisement Despite mounting setbacks, Jackson said he remains optimistic. 'It is a matter of when, not if, we get back on the land,' he said. 'Croatia doesn't claim the land, so we have the right to it, and we believe that we have a good chance.' Jackson, who is originally from Australia, is determined to make Verdis more than just a thought experiment, SWNS reported. 'To the naked eye it is just a lot of forest, but when you realize that you are in a country you have created, it is magical,' he said.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
London is booming with Canadian travellers — here's why it's the place to be in August
There has been a 54 per cent increase in August flight bookings from Canada to the British city over the last month, according to Skyscanner London is calling Canadians this summer, with travel to the U.K. being an incredibly popular choice for travellers. Information provided to Yahoo Canada from Skyscanner revealed that there has been a 54 per cent month-over-month increase in flight bookings from Canadian cities to London. From sites like Big Ben and Buckingham Palace, lovely walks through cobblestone streets, interesting museums and great shopping, London's appeal is timeless. So it's no surprise that the city is frequently a popular destination for Canadians. Search for your next vacation on Skyscanner Why is London a trending destination for Canadian travellers? As Laura Lindsay, Skyscanner's travel trends and destinations expert highlighted, every neighbourhood in London "tells its own story." "London is also a city made for exploring. Wander through the bohemian streets of Camden, soak up the creative energy in Shoreditch, or take in the pastel charm of Notting Hill," Lindsay stated. "With award-winning restaurants, weekend pop-ups, live music, and theatre on every corner, there's always something new to discover, whether it's your first visit or your fifth." According to Skyscanner's 2025 Travel Trends Report, 35 per cent of Canadians aged 25 to 34 plan to travel to see a sporting event in 2025, and London is a great location for those travellers. "Whether it's the roar of a Premier League crowd, a day at one of its historic cricket grounds, or the magic of Wimbledon, the energy is unbeatable," Lindsay shared. "London, with its world-class stadiums and electric fan culture, is high on the list." How much does it cost to go to London in August from Canadian cities? Using Skyscanner search data, roundtrip flights from Toronto to London in August can currently be found for as low as $743. Flights from Vancouver to London currently start at $868, or $968 from Montreal. Check Skyscanner for up-to-date, live pricing for all flights. 3 expert tips on what to do in London While you still get to experience the summer weather, spend an afternoon at Kew Gardens. "As more people look for meaningful downtime during their trips, green spaces like Kew are becoming an essential part of the itinerary," Lindsay advised. "It's a quiet escape that still feels very much a part of London." Markets are spectacular in London, including Borough Market for the foodies, which has been particularly popular on TikTok recently. Portobello Road Market, Brick Lane Market, Old Spitalfields Market and Broadway Market are great for vintage and antique lovers. If you can get your hands on some tickets, going to a Premier League soccer (football) match is an amazing experience. "Football is more than just a game here. It's part of the rhythm of the city," Lindsay stressed. "The atmosphere in the stadium [is] electric. Even if you're not a hardcore fan, you can't help but feel part of it." Where to stay in London The Exhibitionist Hotel in Kensington is a 37-bedroom boutique hotel, located near the Natural History Museum, Royal Albert Hall and the famous Harrods department store. Unique art is a particularly interesting feature of the hotel, lining the walls of the lobby and guest rooms. Tribe London Canary Wharf is located in London's business district. The hotel has a 24-hour "social hub" with spaces for guests to work, chat or eat, and there's also a 24-hour grab and go counter with coffee and ready-to-eat meals and snacks. Tribe hotels are meant to suit "modern travellers" with "affordable luxury." The Hoxton, Holborn is located near Covent Garden, Oxford Street and the British Museum. Surrounded by charming city streets, the hotel's restaurant Rondo serves seasonal British dishes, and kids get a free main with each dining adult on Saturdays from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The 220-room property has industrial inspired finishes, with particularly luxurious bathrooms. Skyscanner's Saved Feature: Save those deals to look at later Skyscanner has a number of features to make sure you save as much as possible on your vacation. Take advantage of the "Saved" feature. Start by browsing all the travel deals and when you see something you like, you can save it for later. Step 1: Find your flights and hotel. Step 2: Select the heart icon next to your top picks to save them for later. Make sure you're logged into your Skyscanner account. Pro tip: Download the Skyscanner app to create separate Saved lists for all the different trips you're planning. Tips for finding the cheapest flights If flight costs are getting you down, there are a few things Canadian travellers can do to ensure they're getting the best deal possible for their next vacation, both on the Skyscanner platform specifically and when looking for flights more generally. Beat the crowds: For flights that are filling up fast, you'll want to make sure you're looking at the monthly view on travel search sites like Skyscanner to see the best possible option available for flight dates. Set up alerts: Prices are always changing, so if you're hoping to travel to a specific destination, or on specific dates, set up a price alert so you can be quick if a deal comes up. Skyscanner specifically has a price alerts system for any cost changes. Consider "Everywhere": If you're hoping for a new adventure, or a little rest and relaxation, but you don't have a specific destination in mind, the "Everywhere" search on Skyscanner may be your new best friend to discover the most affordable vacation destination possible. Flexible dates: There may be certain times where you need to travel for specific dates, but the best deals are really revealed when you open yourself up to some flexibility. Even changing your travel dates by a day, or a week, can result in significant savings.
