Come on in, there is something for everyone!

We have such an international group here, I thought it would be interesting to create a topic where we can discuss various aspects of foreign culture and have an open forum for legitimate questions. Feel free to ask for translations as well.

A couple of guidelines:

-Respect each other *and* your cultural differences.
-Be careful with religion and politics
-Keep it classy

http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1342261-international-inquiries/
http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1342755-the-travelers-tavern-international-inquiries-ii/
http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1343569-the-travelers-tavern-iii/
http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1346072-the-travelers-tavern-iv/
http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1351628-the-travelers-tavern-v/

So what do people from Asia think of putting milk in tea ?

Its really common here (UK), but I dont hear about that happening, in other countries that drink lots of tea.

I have heard of that concept, but I can hardly imagine any nastier.

I'm not from Asia but it's uncommon in Norway aswell I think (haven't come across anyone ever doing it). I haven't tried it so I have no idea how it tastes, but it does sound rather strange to be honest.
Is it good?

Whats nasty about it ?
We dont use herbal tea or anything, I imagine that if I put milk in them it would taste weird as hell.

Yes its good, dont see how its odd. You have milk in coffee right ?

I can't stand milk, so I don't want it with anything. And it just doesn't sound right with tea. Why cloudy it?

When we're on a cafe we usually put cream in our coffee, I suppose some of us use milk aswell. I always drink my coffee black though.

I can't stand milk, unless I make chocolate milk. I will probably try putting milk in tea eventually though, I just can't imagine how the 2 different flavours will clash well together.

Milk in tea tends to be something amongst the young. My grandparents don't have milk in their tea, they seem to prefer it stronger.

I don't even have sugar or milk in mine, I reckon if you're gonna drink tea you should drink tea, not warm sugary baby milk.

My Grandfather from Stafford and my Grandma from Wales both have milk in their tea, but never seem to have sugar. I always have milk in mine, but whether or not I have sugar in it depends on what kind of tea it is. If I'm having some generic Tetley's then I'll have milk and sugar, but if I brake out my Stash brand of Double Bergamot Earl Grey then little to no sugar needed. I actually find it slightly strange that people don't have milk in their tea, not including green tea.

I can drink few kinds of tea without milk and sugar, but I prefer it with, unless it's green tea in which case I put nothing in it. I don't understand why people who prefer tea with nothing in it often act as though those who don't are below them in their tastes (not a stab at anybody in this thread, just an observation of similar discussion in many other places), it seems to happen a lot whenever the topic of tea comes up anywhere, it's about as good an argument as feeling superior for having chips without ketchup really.

I've noticed this aswell. I often tend to put a little sugar in my tea to make it a little bit sweeter, but it depends on my mood.

Really? Is it that common? I swear if it wasn't for other countries I would never even considering adding milk to my tea, it's not that common here so it just seems plain weird to me atleast.

How exactly does it taste? I just imagine it as milk with a strange honey/spice-like taste to it or something, I've got no clue. Does it taste more like tea with milk, or milk with tea?

I haven't tasted it much without milk so I can't be 100% sure, but it seems to make it less acidic so you can taste the flavour easier. The milk itself doesn't actually add any taste, I think it just enhances the taste of the tea.

Milk enhances various flavours, I guess perhaps the ones that are fat soluble or something. I prefer skimmed milk in my tea anyway, anything more than that tastes a bit odd, but I guess it's a matter of personal preference. I can't drink tea or coffee unsweetened though.

Just to be clear, I'm talking of black tea: milk and sugar in green tea would be a bit strange to my tastes.

Doesn't seem that common here in the US, to have milk in your tea. However, I grew up that way. Old British heritage perhaps. It's only good with Black tea though. Not green tea, or these fruity teas that are out there. Cammamile, Chai, or just plain old black tea... If anyone really wants to know how it tastes, just try it sometime. It won't hurt you. (unless your lactose intolerant)

That would be very strange and I agree that it definitely is a matter of taste. My personal favourite tea is Earl Grey and I rarely put sugar in it.

Yeah, it's common in the UK, and by extension other commonwealth countries, to put milk in the more bitter teas. The Francophilie -- that is, France and its former colonies -- also do this. Other places, not so much, but it still happens in some regions or circumstances. Indian chai is usually served with milk. Northern Germany has this habit, too.

To: everyone: how old do you have to be to be able to drive? How many tests do you have to pass before you're considered a fully legal, capable driver? What's the process? e.g. how many tests, what kind of tests, does it cost you anything...

Oh, also: how old do you have to be to drink, vote and work?

Oh, and for voting: what kind of process, if any, do you have to go through to be able to vote?

How old do you have to be to join the military?

I went a bit overboard.

USA: Legally Drive at 16, but without passengers until your 18 (my state anyhow)
in the "good 'ol days" some kids who grew up on farms were able to get licenses earlier

Legally Drink at 21. Used to be 18, then 19.. but 21 by the late 80's (being from NH, we'd go to Canada for our 18th Birthdays, because it was legal to drink there at 18, and just a few hours away)

Voting: 18 years old.

Die for your country in a horrific war: 18 years old. (17 with a note from your mom)

what about the UK's stats for these privileges?

P.S. We drive on the right

Working varies. Some jobs can be found at 14-16yrs old, but most require an "advlt" of 18 or older.
Voting simply requires registry (fill out a form) usually at the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles).

I'm interested to read here about other countries, and their processes.

My grandparents drank tea with milk. Without milk black tea is pretty vile, too bitter.

I don't drink tea but my dad does, he takes milk with his. We are not Asian

17 years old to drive, though I've no idea what the test involves these days: back when I took it, it was a few minutes in the car where you'd be assessed by an examiner of random evilness, and the theory part was just asking a couple of questions from the Highway Code.

You need to be 18 years old to buy alcohol, but I don't think there's a lower limit on consuming it. IIRC, in a pub, 14-year-olds and above may have one alcoholic drink with a meal, but I'm not certain about that.

People are eligible to vote at 18. As far as the process goes, they need to be registered to vote and fulfil whatever citizenship rules apply.

Part-time jobs may be held by 13-year-olds and above, but full-time work can't be undertaken until 15 or 16 years old, and even then as long as it doesn't interfere with a person's basic education (i.e. up until ~16 years old.)

A person can join the military at 15 years 3 months (or at least could, it may have changed over the years) but IIRC has to be 18 to be involved in combat.

Phew. Was about to say... Child armies FTW!

Wow... I couldn't imagine joining the military at 15 years old. Fortunately no combat until 18... so what are they doing? Cleaning latrines?

Our driving tests do involve a car-ride with an examiner... but a written exam as well. Many kids partake in a "driving school" to learn all the rules of the road, as well as get some time behind the wheel. You're supposed to have a certain amount of hours driving with an advlt before you can take the test. If you are already an advlt, but have not gotten a license yet, I believe you can just take the written test.

I joined up at 16 (well, technically, I was actually 15 when I signed the papers): the idea was to learn a trade, in my case involving computing and such. Didn't work out for me though so I left and went back into education.

Training and earning their ranks.
My friends in the RAF flight cadets, has been since he was about 13-15, but I couldn't because I was too oldwhen I thought about joining. So he has been there 4-6years and flown countless planes over the UK and some European countries and earned himself the rank of Flight sergeant