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george's picks
Every country has its system of beliefs, values, and even favorite pastimes.
Because of this, it can be really jarring for a person to move from one country to another, missing their favorite things from their previous country and adapting to the favorites of their new home.
As much as they might enjoy the experiences of their new home, there likely are always going to be foods and products they'll miss from their previous home.
Curious about what others were missing, Redditor VividThinking asked:
"What's one product from your home country that you're surprised hasn't become more popular worldwide?"
Dish Drying Cabinets
"In Finland, a dish drying cabinet!"
- noetkoett
"I’m a Finn living in the UK and yes, while it’s lovely to look into my garden while doing the dishes, it’s annoying to only be able to do a small amount at a time and then leave them to dry on the narrow counter where my cat can knock over the whole dinner set."
"In the cabinet, they would dry safely! Cause who has time to hand dry dishes in this economy."
- sea-sharp
Less Germ Spread
"Toilets with pedals instead of levers so you don’t have to touch anything with your hands."
- youburyitidigitup
Accident Compensation Corporation
"In New Zealand, we have a thing called ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation), which is a public body that pays for hospital care, physiotherapy, etc., if you get injured. It is also written into our law that you can't sue someone if you get injured."
"The effect of this is that: people get quicker and better quality care, and the focus is on recovery; you don't have to sue someone for minor accidents that lead to disproportionate injuries (eg tripping on a public footpath and breaking your leg); people don't get injured then try to profit from it by suing for stupid amounts of money; we don't have predatory lawyers trying to make money out of injuries, and none of those 'were you injured and it wasn't your fault' adverts everywhere etc."
"I don't know all of the figures but my gut feeling is that this is a more efficient and better quality system than what many other countries have."
- Guppy1985
Handy Dandy Tapparelle
" Italy. Tapparelle."
"They're essentially roll-up plastic blinds for the windows, but instead of simply being curtains they're actually inserted in a crease in the wall so that no light can pass through when they're down. You can actually easily recognize an Italian home interior if you see a window with a flat vertical rope on one side and a big boxy thing at the top."
"How well do they work? When all tapparelle are down, the house is dark. Complete, utter darkness. The sun could be shining right against the window, and you wouldn't know. When you wake up, it's like waking up in a void of nothingness. No sign of life, nothing outside your walls. It makes for quality sleeping, that's for sure."
"Other perks include: privacy for when you undress and safety against strong winds."
- TinTamarro
Cargo Bikes
"Bakfietsen (bikes with a kind of wheelbarrow front for carrying kids or groceries). I’ve seen a few bakfietsen in the states lately which is cool. But without dedicated bike lanes I would guess carrying kids in them would be a terrible idea."
- plumpynutbar
Late-Night Kebobs Hit Different
"As an American who lived in France for a year in college, I am really surprised that late night European style kebab joints aren't really a thing that has taken off yet here."
- ceejay955
Refreshing and Relaxing
"Lemon lime and bitters. Tall glass, add ice, drizzle Angostura bitters around the inside of the glass, add a shot of lime cordial then fill with Sprite/7UP. Fantastic non-alcoholic drink (okay, there’s a tiny bit of alcohol there)."
- Crumblebeast
An Incredible Kind of Fudge
"Tablet from Scotland. It's like fudge but more. So much more."
- major_grooves
"My mother used to make "fudge" often throughout my life. When she died her recipe died with her as it was nothing like fudge I've had anywhere else."
"I saw a cooking show a few months ago featuring Scotland and they showed tablet. That's what my mum used to make! I didn't get a chance to make it yet though."
- Wooba99
There's No Going Back
"Bidet. I cannot believe they are not more popular in the US! They can be very inexpensive, and it was a quality of life type change."
- wrighterjw10
"I got a bidet during the pandemic, I was incapacitated from some surgeries and the doctor suggested I get one to help better clean myself. I am NEVER turning back."
"Not only do I have the cleanest b-hole on the entire block, but I can't remember the last time I bought toilet paper. I just use a few squares to dry off and a roll lasts forever."
"It did not substantially impact my city water bill either. If I have to make a poopie somewhere else I feel grossed out now and will rinse out when I get home. Love me a bidet."
- ThisistheHoneyBadger
Irreplaceable Biscuits and Gravy
"For the US, biscuits and gravy. Every single person I have introduced to it, fell in love. For whatever reason, I found British people go absolutely bonkers for it. One co-worker in London Skyped with my wife so she could walk him through the gravy."
"And for anyone reading this, yes, Americans mean something very different by 'biscuits' and 'gravy.' Also, no they are not scones. Buttermilk biscuits are much softer and richer. I’ve found no exact counterpart in Europe. Sort of between a scone and a croissant."
- My_browsing
Decadence in the Morning
"Pålægschokolade (Denmark): thin sheets of dark or milk chocolate to eat on your breakfast bun over a thick layer of butter."
- Turbulent-Bar-6103
Warmth and Cleanliness
"I wish towel radiators and bidets would catch on more in America."
- Middle_Height
Relaxing Raclette or Fondue Nights
"Tartiflette, and Raclette nights."
- No_Finish_2144
"I’m American and was gifted a raclette grill at my wedding. So we do raclette nights! They’re awesome!"
- Reyalla508
"As a Swiss, I'm of course well used to raclette and fondue, but it's really a great meal if you like cheese anyway. Hope you have the "table grill" there, where you have a hot plate on top where you can put on meat and bacon next to other stuff, while the bottom contains the raclette-rechaud."
"Fondue is also great, when you have the right cheese, with a little bit of white wine in the cheese, but for drinking a red wine fits better."
"It's great with these nights when you get your friends or family together and you eat and talk for many hours. I like such events, just like a good BBQ in summer when the weather is great outside and you put the meat on the grill."
- Diacetyl-Morphin
Nothing Like It
"Cream Cheese. I visited a very nice newer all-inclusive hotel in Central America. They had bagels but no cream cheese. I inquired if they had some and everyone in the kitchen had never heard of it."
"As I ate breakfast, a manager found me at my table and started asking questions about it. I told him it wasn’t a big deal, but he had to know so that they could have it for future guests. I wish I was there to see them taste it."
- GodToldMeToPostThis
Specialty Fries
"Old Bay and malt vinegar on French fries, seafood, almost anything. Why only Maryland and Virginia? It’s freaking delicious."
- Loveontherocskwithno
There are so many great items on this list, of both products and foods, that can be totally game-changing for people once they experience them for the first time. But once they have them, they'll wish that every country had them!