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FAO: Lira. A comprehensive guide on foreigners visiting the US (pg. 4)
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| Lira |
:stongue:
Actually, the Big Ben plays a melody, and it's the tune that changes according to the time, not the number of bongs :p |
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| kamil |
| quote: | Originally posted by Vector A
American culture is very work-centric. People mostly seem to define themselves by what they "do," meaning the way in which they make money. Often their social lives are completely centered around whatever people they happen to meet at work, too. If they were unemployed they would have no idea what to do with all the time.
But I've never lived in another country, so I can't say how it compares to other places. |
Completely true.
Nearly everyone I know only hangs out with his/her coworkers, and this is especially sad and depressing for people in larger cities and even more true for the 9-5 workers.
Personally, I'm not big on hanging out with my coworkers cuz everyone in the corporate world is a snake and cant be bothered to make friends with them. The only people i keep in touch with are my friends from college and the part time job i had during college.
Everything in north america revolves around the damn 9-5 schedule and its so god damn routine. Nobody goes out on a weekday, people here pretty much only EVER go out on either friday/saturday nights and then are forced to go home between 1-2am because of the ing drinking laws. Its a really sterile environment.
Whats worse is that north americans are probably the most overworked people on the planet. Its not unusual to hear about someone working 60+ hours a week. Hell, I worked about 75 hours a week at one point at my last job (and im glad as ing hell im not there anymore). I don't think I can ever go back to the corporate world unless its for a large company (like RIM, or HBC) where rules are followed and they make it a priority to tell you to off and go home at 5pm, because the smaller corporate businesses abuse the out of their employees and theres nothing that can be done about it, because if you dont comply or voice your dislike for working overtime without pay (yay, salaries) you get the boot and they can easily bring in the next sucker to screw over.... there are plenty of them that buy into this 'corporate culture' crap thats some sort of benefit to the employer.
To top it off... im seeing a LOT of people dating and eventually marrying those that they work with. Its really weird. |
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| Lilith |
When I was in the US doing sales/training it wasn't so much the hours they put in which are comparable to quite a few countries (60+ is excessive anywhere) its the lack of paid overtime and ridiculously small amount of annual leave. They have a few public holidays but its nowhere near the 'away from work' time elsewhere.
Upside as a visitor is that they are ubiquitously friendly and fairly easy to spot one that isn't, if they appear a bit condescending about where you come from its more than likely just some unintended ignorance or misguided curiosity. |
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| kamil |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lilith
When I was in the US doing sales/training it wasn't so much the hours they put in which are comparable to quite a few countries (60+ is excessive anywhere) its the lack of paid overtime and ridiculously small amount of annual leave. They have a few public holidays but its nowhere near the 'away from work' time elsewhere. |
Thats also true. Standard time off from a normal 9-5 job is two weeks of vacation per year, which is nothing because its only 10 days. I piss longer than 10 days. Dont plan on taking both weeks off one after another cuz employers get pissed off at that. The time off here is ing bull. A friend of mine went to Hawaii for a couple weeks to get married (not a destination wedding, his wife lives there). A week after he came back they fired him.... DESPITE him working 60+ hours on a weekly basis for over a year.
Its ing disgusting here. |
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| Lira |
Wait, do most people in North America work from 9 AM to 5PM? How long is the lunch break?
I'm jealous, Brazilians usually work from 8 AM to 6 PM, with a 2-hour long lunch break. |
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| netroM |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lira
a 2-hour long lunch break. |
wat :wtf: |
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| Lira |
From midday to 2 PM.
How long is yours!? :eek: |
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| ziptnf |
Hahahahahahahahahaha.
12-12:30 is pretty standard. Maybe 12-1 in some more relaxed working areas. |
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| Lira |
How are you even supposed to eat in half an hour!? :wtf:
You still get to wake up later, so my jealousy remains intact. Well fed and nourished thanks to our long lunch breaks. But intact.
Edit: Oh, wait, I almost forgot. Breakfast is supposed to be the most important meal of the day for you guys, right? Here lunch is the master of all meals :p |
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| Halcyon+On+On |
| That's what the Breakfast Industrial Complex would have us believe. Sooooo many people skip breakfast entirely though, myself often included. |
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| netroM |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lira
From midday to 2 PM.
How long is yours!? :eek: |
usually 30 mins. |
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