Americano Culture

[Wolhay]

In Sweden the norm is to take off shoes in apartments or houses. No one keeps their shoes on without asking if it's okay. At work and other public places shoes generally stays on. But throughout the daycare center and grades 1-6 I had to take off my shoes.

Caviar in Sweden is probably almost as common to keep as an alternative sandwich addon as cheese. It comes in a tube and isn't very expensive. I don't prefer it on sandwiches but it's quite good along with egg.

By the way, is it true that you don't use cheese cutters but rather buy pre-sliced cheese for sandwiches in the USA?

In sweden "liberal" is used as a "bad word" by the left since it refer to followers of the ideology liberalism that traditionally oppose conservatism and socialism as it promotes personal and economic freedom. Many conservative have become liberal however. The largest political party on the right is both liberal and conservative, they go by the name "Moderaterna" (The Moderate).

There are specific words for maternal and paternal grandparents in Swedish.

Maternal grandfather = morfar
Maternal grandmother = mormor

Paternal grandfather = farfar
Paternal grandmother = farmor

"mor" and "far" are older words that mean "mother" and "father".

 

[novella]

In sweden "liberal" is used as a "bad word" by the left since it refer to followers of the ideology liberalism that traditionally oppose conservatism and socialism as it promotes personal and economic freedom. Many conservative have become liberal however.

Wolhay, in the US the equivalent to this meaning of liberal is "Libertarian."

Cheeses I have in my fridge right now: French Roquefort, Greek feta, Vermont extra sharp cheddar, mozzarella, Montrachet chevre, Coach Farm goat cheese (made in NY State), Parmesano Reggiano, Philadelphia cream cheese. They all require a knife.

Here is my poem about American cheese.


Patriotic Cheese Anthem

My country’s cheese is flat and yellow
Lacking but a hint of smellow
Melt-ability is key
And individually wrapped plasticity
Four even corners has each slice
Formed in squares so precise
A tasteless cheese, smooth and svelte,
For burgers, toast, or tuna melt.

Though I admit, it’s not a cheese,
But processed cheese food, if you please.

 

[Rogue]

Most Austrians don't have a clue that this funny movie even exists!
I don't know why every American has seen it, or at least knows of its existence!?

 

[VTChEwbecca]

American cheese is nasty. Many people do buy their cheese pre-packaged as individual slices. I am not one of these people, but I did use to work in a deli, so I recognize the difference between real cheese and American cheese.

1. 'round here we don't take off our shoes when entering the house.

2. Don't eat caviar

3. Has been answered

4. I did put USA, but I didn't think about others not knowing what VA meant (Virginia)

5. I call my paternal grandparents Nanny & Grandaddy. My maternal grandparents are Grandma Scott & Grandaddy Scott. I'm much closer to my paternal grandparents, thus the less formal names.

 

[Cathy C]

You CAN buy almost any cheese in America sliced. Provolone, American, cheddar, Pepper Jack (blending of Monterey Jack with bits of red and green pepper). I use block cheese mostly, but do prefer American "cheese product" for grilled cheese sandwiches. It melts better and doesn't get grease in your soup!

I don't know why every American has seen it, or at least knows of its existence!?

Probably because Julie Andrews is such a well-known singer. Most of the musicals she starred in were major box office successes. If the parents (or grandparents) watched the movie on the screen, then the kids probably got a dose as "nostalgia".

 

[VTChEwbecca]

Munster makes a mean grilled cheese...and it melts great (no grease from that one, either).

 

[Freya]

I think I've asked before, but someone please explain cheese in a tube to me

One of the things I remember from our trip to Germany was how we had to take our shoes off in everyones house. Also, everyone only seemed to own one pair of shoes. When my friend left a pair of hers at home, the family she was staying with rang the school, very concerned that she'd gone to school in her slippers.

 

[Freya]

Most Austrians don't have a clue that this funny movie even exists!
I don't know why every American has seen it, or at least knows of its existence!?

Speaking for... well, me, it's on every Christmas here. And a few Bank Holidays too. And I think in year 7 we had to sing the 'Doe, a deer a female deer...' song in music. Unescapable really.

 

[novella]

I think I've asked before, but someone please explain cheese in a tube to me

.

Okay. It's great for catching fish. They love the gasoline-type odor, kinda like pondscum, and it's easier to stick on a hook than worms.

 

[Freya]

Aaah. Thankyou muchly.

 

[direstraits]

I don't know why every American has seen it, or at least knows of its existence!?

Not just Americans... pretty much everyone has seen it here - my mom even saw the picture shortly after it came out. When my mom's age was the same as Leisl's.

Re: shoes - I'm just curious - if you don't take your shoes off at home, who does the cleaning?


ds

 

[dele]

I never buy pre-sliced cheese. That's the epitome of laziness. And more importantly, it tastes funny.

I love The Sound of Music. Those who haven't seen it are really missing out.

 

[Cathy C]

Okay. It's great for catching fish. They love the gasoline-type odor, kinda like pondscum, and it's easier to stick on a hook than worms.

Freya, Novella's being sarcastic. Actually, there are two types of "cheese in a tube" in America. One is a mild cheddar cheese that's in a can. You push the tip sideways and it squirts out onto a cracker or on celery. I actually like it quite a bit and it doesn't smell like gasoline or like pond scum. You can buy it in a variety of flavors, like sharp cheddar, smoky or bacon. The other type is in a plastic tube with a valve on the side and it works about the same way as the can, but it's a little messier to get a precise amount out. There's also a cheese product called Velveeta that is a square block of processed cheese. It melts terrific and is used a lot in macaroni and cheese side dishes. Fish DO like Velveeta!

Re: shoes - I'm just curious - if you don't take your shoes off at home, who does the cleaning?

Whoever makes the mess! Although, admittedly, it's usually the mother. Many Americans clean their carpets with steam cleaners every six months to a year. Sometimes more often, if they have indoor pets.

 

[Freya]

Freya, Novella's being sarcastic.

Sarcastic? Novella? Crikey. Cheers Cathy C. To think, I could have continued for the rest of my existance genuinely believing that cheese in a tube was used as fish bait.

[P.S. Thankyou for the explanation - you haven't made it sound any more appetising than Novella did though ]

 

[Halo]

Well, we have that Primula cheese in a tube, don't we Freya? Cheese spread in plain, ham, chive or prawn variety, packed into a foil toothpaste tube - yummy.

 

[Freya]

We do?? I'm not much a cheese eater to be honest, just munch on whatever happens to be in the fridge. I shall have a proper nosy next time I'm in ASDA. Tell you what would be good - Philly in a tube. Yum Then you could aim it down your stick of celery with precision.

 

[Halo]

Bleurrgghh! That might be OK if you removed the celery bit - I can't stand the smell or taste of the stuff.

 

[Wabbit]

Freya, Novella's being sarcastic. Actually, there are two types of "cheese in a tube" in America. One is a mild cheddar cheese that's in a can. You push the tip sideways and it squirts out onto a cracker or on celery. I actually like it quite a bit and it doesn't smell like gasoline or like pond scum. You can buy it in a variety of flavors, like sharp cheddar, smoky or bacon. The other type is in a plastic tube with a valve on the side and it works about the same way as the can, but it's a little messier to get a precise amount out. There's also a cheese product called Velveeta that is a square block of processed cheese. It melts terrific and is used a lot in macaroni and cheese side dishes. Fish DO like Velveeta!


Whoever makes the mess! Although, admittedly, it's usually the mother. Many Americans clean their carpets with steam cleaners every six months to a year. Sometimes more often, if they have indoor pets.

I quite like those cheese in a tube you get there. Wish you could get them here!

 

[cajunmama]

I wouldn't really call Velveeta or that stuff in a can "cheese". It is more like "a food-like substance that evokes an idea of what overly processed and preservative filled cheese could taste like". My fav of the moment is havarti on wheat bread, grilled. YUM !! Where I live, good 'ol American is king because Swiss cheese is considered exotic fare, even if it comes from Wisconsin. I am surrounded by less-than-adventurous eaters!!

 

[novella]

Sarcastic? Novella? Crikey. Cheers Cathy C. To think, I could have continued for the rest of my existance genuinely believing that cheese in a tube was used as fish bait.

[P.S. Thankyou for the explanation - you haven't made it sound any more appetising than Novella did though ]

haw haw


What most Europeans do not understand is that Americans like "cheese" that is definitely dead and has "meltability." Cheese is a topping in US.

What many Americans do not understand is that Europeans like cheese that is living and breathing, and they rarely melt it onto other food. In Europe, cheese at its best is a profound wonder unto itself.