People detail things about their country that would surprise tourists

• A Reddit user asked what ‘tourists don’t know about living in your country’
• Hundreds of users representing dozens of nationalities chimed in with answers 
• Social media users in Switzerland, Japan, and New Zealand shared their stories 

Hundreds of people have taken to pondering what would totally surprise tourists visiting their home nations.

A Reddit user prompted the discussion by asking residents what tourists didn’t know about living in their country on the expats subreddit.

They kicked off the conversation as a Swiss resident, outlining major lifestyle factors that only locals would be tapped into.

For instance, Swiss families are legally required to buy health insurance, usually from a private provider. 

And practically ‘everything is closed on Sundays,’ with very few exceptions – apparently, the only options that remain open are at ‘train stations or airports.’ 

Another chimed in to offer insights from Japan. 

For one, people ‘rarely visit each other’ at home, due to small housing size and valuing privacy. 

Japanese natives are sticklers for trash sorting thanks to strict laws, mandating that trash be sorted not only into recyclables, but also into ‘burnables,’ ‘non-burnables,’ food waste, and oversize waste, according to The Smart Local. 

The Reddit user claimed that some Japanese locales have as many as 10 categories of garbage. 

In New Zealand, one Kiwi explained, it’s normal for whole workplaces to collectively pause and spend a few minutes all taking a daily quiz printed in the local newspaper.

Meanwhile, in Spain, companies are required to give workers a mandatory lunch break for one or two hours during the day.

One user explained that the break isn’t for a ‘siesta’ – that is, napping – as commonly thought; rather, it’s mainly workers ‘having lunch and killing time until the afternoon opening hours.’

Meanwhile, someone from the Netherlands opened up about what it’s like dining with them.  

They always eat dinner by 6 p.m. and tend to ‘gently shoo’ out any visitors by suppertime.

‘Dining with a Dutch person is quite rare,’ they added.

A Norwegian person volunteered that the country boasted ‘so many hiking trails and little cottages you can stay in overnight for next to nothing.’

‘If you like hiking, definitely come here,’ they advised. But, they added, don’t start a trail underprepared. 

‘Just know that when the trail info says it takes 4 hours it actually does take 4 hours of active walking. Have met so many people complaining about the length of the hike because they are in normal shape and expected the trail would take less time for them.

‘Also I beg of you please for the love of god, no flip flops in the mountains.’ 

A person from Turkey recommended visitors avoid tourist-trap restaurants as well as taxis.

That being said, given city’s the hilly terrain, ‘be prepared for some cardio.’ 

Beyond that, they warned visitors should ‘avoid talking about politics.’

Over in Taiwan, cash is still king, with many places not even accepting cards, a resident wrote.

In Taiwan, the number four is considered unlucky, and, much like the number 13 elsewhere, doesn’t appear as a floor in buildings.

Also, in Taiwanese apartments, kitchens are ‘seen as unnecessary … because eating out is so cheap and convenient.’

One native of the Philippines admitted that most there ‘love gossip.’ 

Nonetheless, ‘we are very welcoming, generous to the point that even if we don’t have money, we will find ways to give you good food as a welcome,’ they swore.

‘Strangers can also be trusted. The only problem here is the corrupt government, heavy traffic, pollution and so dusty especially in Manila.’