After living in the US for 19 years now there are very few things these days that surprise or annoy me but there are two things I still can’t get used to. If you are from the US please do not take this personally. I think that most likely you can find something in any country that would annoy you. For example I find it annoying in Germany that you can’t turn right when the traffic light is red period (unless there is a green right arrow attached to the corner, what almost never is the case). A prerequisite would be that you know differently. Maybe there even would be something that is different when moving to another state? When we first moved here I came across differences almost every day and I constantly compared. I don’t even remember anymore when I stopped doing this. One difference I recently noticed when being in Germany is that plastic caps now stay attached to the bottle. Of course you can unscrew them but they will stay attached on a little corner. It took me some getting used to but you don’t have lids rolling to the ground. This already brings me to one of my annoyances:
Packaging – this is an ongoing joke in our household. Some packaging is so hard to remove. Especially food packaging seems to be designed in a way to make scissors or a knife necessary or makes such a big mess when you trying to open it. Why? Should it not be possible to design it in a way that it actually works for you instead of against you?
The second one is toilette paper – why in the world is it only 2- layers? I am fully aware that I can fold it up and get more layers but really? If you have ever been to Germany maybe you know what I mean. I am not sure how it is in the rest of Europe but 3- or even 4-layer toilette paper is pretty standard. My husband was very excited the other day because he found one with 3-layers – it ended up being so flimsy that it the 2 versus 3 did not make a difference. Maybe it is time for a bidet?
That’s it for today. Do you have anything like that? Anything weird to you that you noticed while traveling?
Home here and there 
This is funny, as in my family, we had a septic system, so if there is a clog, you have to clean it out yourself, and we always used 1-ply toilet paper! My Dad would also have a word with us if we put tampons in the toilet, as they would puff up and cause backups all the time! So maybe in Germany there are superior pipes!! However, I still do not really like that super thick TP, and usually would buy 2-ply at home. There are definitely thicker 2-ply options, but I prefer the slimmer ones, but you could probably keep trying different brands of 2-ply and find one that is thicker!! However, I had a bidet on my toilet and loved it, and think that is definitely something we should get more on board with in the US.
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I tried so many different brands already. There are some that I like better then others. Maybe it is due to the septic system here. I even did not think about that. My gym has a bidet and I really like it. Maybe it’s time. It sure seems to get more common.
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I’m laughing because my husband gets SO ANNOYED by difficult packaging. He’ll be struggling and swearing and using the scissors, and every single time he says “Do they not WANT you to have it???” We actually quote him on that all the time now.
Toilet paper… some brands are better than others. I have to admit I don’t pay much attention to the ply. I just get annoyed with it’s not very soft. Stiff scratchy toilet paper is the last thing I want.
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My husband and your husband could totally bond over this. I don’t like it either but my husband gets really worked up over it.
Scratchy toilet paper is the worst!
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The packaging problem is REAL. I love Costco but oh my god the way that package their stuff, like they are keeping it safe in Fort Knox. My biggest pet peeve is the bags that rip down the side no matter what you do. The Goldfish bags inside the big box at Costo do this. Even if you do manage to open it without ripping it down the side, later it will rip down the side for no apparent reason. It is the most useless material I’ve ever come across. The toilet paper doesn’t bother me. I actually like lower ply because you’re less likely to use too much of it. We use the Kirkland brand toilet paper which is thin, then I go to my mom’s house and grab way too much because hers is thicker. The worst is trying to start the roll at work. It just rips in half (down the middle) for three spins and then you have to rip the other side and spin it again and you’re left with a handful of useless shredded toilet paper. Or when it won’t turn and you have to coax two or three squares off but they keep ripping before you can get more. NO THANK YOU.
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Toilet paper is definitely one of those bug bears in my household too. We mostly by a superior quality 2-ply, but also keep a stock of 3-ply for obvious reasons. But yep, here too, a lot of the toilet paper is so damn flimsy you have to fold it over so many times it is used up fast.
What I do like is you can buy in bulk fairly cheaply compared to prices back in the UK, where toilet paper always came in 4-roll packs or even 2. Now, of course, they sell more. But I’ve been in Canada 26 years.
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The packaging – YES! I have been wondering if my hands are just getting weaker? I cannot open jars of pasta sauce anymore. What is going on? I agree with you 100%. As for TP, we buy Scott and it is not very thick, but we’ve tried the thicker brands and the kids still use the same amount as if it were Scott and then they’d clog the toilets. I think we are too late to introduce a thicker TP. Plus, I would find that the rolls of thicker TP would be used up in the blink of an eye.
The thing that annoys me at times when traveling is my struggle with how to use a different shower. In the USA, I sometimes cannot figure out how to get the water the right temp in hotels. In Europe, the shower heads are often so short or don’t offer much water pressure and that’s a challenge. I’m tall, but my husband and my kids are REALLY tall. Coach is 6’4″.
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It’s not only you. I got one of those jar openers and it makes it much easier.
Showers, yes. It seems like it’s different in every hotel, too. I wish there was one kind of handle and that’s it. I never noticed the short shower heads in Europe, but I am a) short and b) don’t stay in hotels that often over there.
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Oh wow I did not know about the toilet paper – or I can’t remember. But Who wants that…
We are a 3-layer household but we do buy the fancy one.
Interesting that you say there are rarely street lights with an agree arrow. I feel like every one has that in Berlin. Maybe it is a local thing?!
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Maybe the arrows are used more often now. When I visit my dad and my in-laws I always have to remind myself not to do that turn. You really get used to it.
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I am with you on the 2-ply toilet paper… and why is it so FREAKING EXPENSIVE?!
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Thank you! I know you would understand this. I guess you just need to know the difference to appreciate it.
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I also can’t stand 2-ply TP and packaging in a nightmare (and that usually makes it very hard to recycle as well because it’s hard plastic that needs to be cut open).
I will say, at least where I live in Canada, it’s very easy to get 3-ply which I definitely prefer! But sometimes I just grab whatever is on sale and it’s ALWAYS disappointing if I end up with 2-ply.
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The issue with getting it recycled is real. The worst is the Costco packaging but I also don’t understand when I get shipments that have a box in a box in a box.
I start to wonder if it has something to do with the septic system here that the tp is so flimsy.
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Oh, the packaging is horrible! I agree. We were in France a couple of years ago and I thought the little lid staying on the water bottle was great. Confusing at first, but then great.
Oh, Toilet Paper. Sigh. During the pandemic when it was sometimes difficult to find, my husband started getting mail order toilet paper that is made with bamboo, so much better for the planet. But I don’t love it. My favorite days are the ones where we’ve run out and are awaiting the next order, and we have to use Charmin. He’s offered to cancel the subscription, but I feel guilty. It’s not HORRIBLE, I’ve had worse, but it’s not great either. I had no idea there was such a thing as 4 ply TP.
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Seems like that hit a nerve with the toilet paper. I have not tried bamboo. Sounds interesting.
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I’m so fascinated by the fact that there is 3 and 4 ply toilet paper in Germany. I definitely want 2 ply over 1 but I had no idea it could be better than that.
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1-ply? I would not even consider it.
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