In this part of the world (Australia/NZ), most companies shut down between the 22nd of December and the 8th of January, if not the 15th! And most accept that the first couple days back will be spent trolling through any unread messages (which would onky be from overseas contacts anyway...).

I have never felt a minimalist before! I travel with:

My parents were abusive alcoholics. In addition, my mother was addicted to demerol and was a pathological liar. My stepfather managed to convince my father to sign off parental rights, then adopted me and my brother, forcing us to take his last name and lie to everyone we met about our true father. He was a Dr and and…

I just went ahead and moved across the world. ;)

I live where all the theatres have assigned seats, but totally with you on #2. I have also actively avoided trailers - esp for all the Star Wars movies. I’m going to see them, so I don’t need my excitement stoked. The only exception? Deadpool. Most of his “trailers” are just Ryan being weird. :)

Nope. Distributors never take 100%. I worked in accounting for a large movie theatre company with screens in three countries. The second poster has the correct split of revenues.

When I moved to New Zealand 11 years ago, I discovered that all of the theatres have reserved seating. It was amazing to me! No more lining up hours before a movie, or dickheads wandering around trying to find a seat at the last minute. No trying to save seats with coats. It was life-changing and I don’t think I could…

I’m in New Zealand, so the culture is a bit different - most offices have showers, so lots of people shower outside of their homes at some point in the day. My husband showers almost every morning at the gym and goes to work. And while we don’t have a lot of black people here, there are many other people of color who…

I could only make it through half of it...

I gave up on Mayim when she said she had never been harassed in Hollywood because she wasn’t pretty enough and/or because she dressed conservatively.

Yes, by dumb-dumbs. Oh, wait...maybe that IS the entirety of the US now...

I remember soon after buying my first home, I was attempting to put together an IKEA chair and chatting with a good friend - keeping him updated on my (pathetic, soul-crushing) progress. :)

*in the US=sure, but only to the ignorant and/or stupid. Sure.

In New Zealand, it is customary to open gifts you are given right away. It really threw me (an American expat) off the first time I gave a gift to someone!

No they don’t - Americans just don’t understand/know that.

I guess I can only say it is quite normal for several countries outside of the US. Tomorrow, my husband and I are leaving for a 5 week vacation. When I asked my boss for the time off earlier this year, he didn’t even blink. Then again, here (in New Zealand), every single person working a full time job (even…

I can’t help but think of the Family Guy cut-away to a family if “wasps” whenever I hear that word. :)

Anything disposable is wasteful - just bring your normal toothbrush.

Also sounds wasteful.

Sounds wasteful.