For the convenience of our customers, we left this minibar empty

 

I have travelled to the USA quite often.

For work, to study and for pleasure.

Whilst I am distant from been able to offer a full sociological analysis of contemporary American society, there are things that continue to bewilder me, both in the positive and in the negative.

I am tempted to dwell on several serious aspects about the implications for the world of the evolving American culture, but I will do that another time.

The main point of this post is to ask my many American friends: why?  Why do you do or like that?  Why do you accept it?!

Firstly though, a few notes of acknowledgement.

The USA is a beautiful country, with such varied landscape, whether natural or architectural.  It is still a basin of great ideas and great innovation.  It is a cultural powerhouse, both at the level of top universities and entertainment.  And most Americans are friendly, curious and good humoured.  A visit to the States can be rewarding and fulfilling.

But, why?  Can you please explain the following:

1. Toilet stalls do not go down all the way to the floor

I know, Seinfeld famously mentioned it.  But over a decade after the end of the series, toilets in public places are still built the same ice.

2. Would you like some drink with your ice?

I really cannot comprehend this obsession with ice in drinks.  A bit maybe ok, but the entire glass?  It does not make a drink taste better, it is just too much.

3. Funny wooden or plastic sticks to stir the sugar in a coffee

What is wrong with the accepted shape and functionality of a tea spoon

4. Coffee is not yet comprehended

Australia has arguably the best coffee making culture in the world (and yes I did grow up in Italy and I still believe this to be true) so my benchmark might be too high.  However, there is nothing worse than the average American cappuccino.  Even the Japanese do it better.  There is an entire world of taste left open for Americans to discover

5. Body girt is an effect of eating too much

There is something strangely odd in the average American body shape.  And I know I will be accused of some sort of persecution and lack of tolerance.  That I adhere to impossible models of beauty and body shape because I have been brainwashed by the media.  However the shock at the average body shape in the US, especially in the Midwest and the South, I still justified.  It is not about the type of diet or lack of exercise, it is fundamentally about portion control. I recommend eating less amount of food.

6. Price on labels is not price charged at the counter

Many countries have some from of Value Add Tax.  It is not complicated to calculate and insert on the label of a product.  I simply cannot understand why that calculation has to occur at the counter so I never know what is the actual cash price for an item until I am paying for it

7. Tips as bribes

I really do not understand the ever present and escalating cost of tips.  It makes the entire service experience fake, because good service is always clouded by lack of sincerity, it is too mercenary.  I think a better system is to pay workers better and include it in the price.

8. Airlines and domestic travel

From check in to inflight service, the average level is so low.  Delta is trying to do better but by and large I think American customers should rebel for the worst service in the developed world.

9. Security checks

I am very well aware of why they exist.  But I still wonder why shoes have to come off and liquids are forbidden, when for example in Australian domestic travel (which I consider extremely safe) that are allowed.

10. Minibars in hotels

Simply put, they are empty.  I am not a big minibar user, but why most hotels do not put any items in the minibar?  I think experience anywhere else in the world demonstrated that it is convenient for customers and remunerative for business.

So these were my pet peeves about the USA, a country I still visit eagerly and home of some of my best friends.  Maybe some of you can add or delete from the list, and of course the internal American opinion is highly regarded.  I look forward to a rebuttal with all that is wrong about Australia and Italy.