Haha, this is so true. Though I prefer my drinks without ice, all my friends (I'm from the US) heap ice in their glasses and then pour cold drinks from the fridge into them. Gah!
One of the first words you need to learn in a langauge is "tap water", and even if you learn it 80% of the time they'll assume you don't know what you're talking about and bring out the 5€ bottle anyways.
come to Iceland! They never serve anything BUT tap water and ice is plentiful. They still haven't figured out that glasses come in anything larger than microscopic size. Oh well.
So thrilled to discover your comic. I'm from the States and have been living abroad for almost 8 years (Iceland, Germany, Norway). You've picked up so many of the essential tiny experiences of the life abroad.
It's interesting that multiple Europeans have pointed out that you can get free water, but you have to buy something else. That goes without saying! Nobody in America ever goes to a sit-down restaurant, orders water, and leaves.
In Algeria you get a bottle of water straight away in any restaurant (for free). You can't drink the tap water there, so I suppose they have to do that...!
In the UK you can ask for a pint/glass of water and you'll not even be questioned about bottles unless you're in a very fancy restaurant.
I found this very hard to deal with in germany (i was mainly in tourist places), most places the soft-drinks cost more than the beer, which didn't help. Some places were okay though but Germans don't seem as inclined to tap water as the UK.
Haha, this is so true. Though I prefer my drinks without ice, all my friends (I'm from the US) heap ice in their glasses and then pour cold drinks from the fridge into them. Gah!
ReplyDeleteYup. Yup :(
ReplyDeleteOne of the first words you need to learn in a langauge is "tap water", and even if you learn it 80% of the time they'll assume you don't know what you're talking about and bring out the 5€ bottle anyways.
A constant battle...
Deletethe magic word: "un pichet d'eau"
ReplyDeletethat's how you'll get free water in a restaurant or bar
but you (or soemone with you) better be buying something
"une carafe d'eau" works well too.
Deletecome to Iceland! They never serve anything BUT tap water and ice is plentiful. They still haven't figured out that glasses come in anything larger than microscopic size. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteSo thrilled to discover your comic. I'm from the States and have been living abroad for almost 8 years (Iceland, Germany, Norway). You've picked up so many of the essential tiny experiences of the life abroad.
Tap water from Iceland must simply be runoff from glorious, towering glacial valleys...
DeleteNot in Spain, you can ask for water with ice for free, but you are expected to consume something more.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that multiple Europeans have pointed out that you can get free water, but you have to buy something else. That goes without saying! Nobody in America ever goes to a sit-down restaurant, orders water, and leaves.
DeleteIn Algeria you get a bottle of water straight away in any restaurant (for free). You can't drink the tap water there, so I suppose they have to do that...!
ReplyDeleteOr perhaps in Algeria they are gracious hosts, kings of convenience, unlike the barbarian Europeans...
DeleteIn the UK you can ask for a pint/glass of water and you'll not even be questioned about bottles unless you're in a very fancy restaurant.
ReplyDeleteI found this very hard to deal with in germany (i was mainly in tourist places), most places the soft-drinks cost more than the beer, which didn't help. Some places were okay though but Germans don't seem as inclined to tap water as the UK.
Ameri-tears
ReplyDeleteI LAUGHED SO HARD AT THISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
ReplyDeleteHAHAHAHAHA
You can ask for tap water nearly everywhere in Europe.
ReplyDeleteYes, but it will be warm, iceless and grudgingly given.
Delete