Ask a foreigner

[Teasel]

I don't understand? What is an advanced placement?

 

[OceanSpray]

I don't understand? What is an advanced placement?

Our public schools have mostly 3 types of classes: mainstream- where the majority of students end up; SPED- where students who have needs that are more significant than a mainstream class can allow go; and AP- usually only once in high school and is for the students who excel beyond what the average students do. AP includes more challenging coursework and works (often) as dual credit, which means the students are earning college credit simultaneously as high school credit. I’m not sure how yalls schools work but for high school (our teenagers) you have to earn a certain number of credits in order to graduate. College (and university) is similar that you have to have a certain number of credits in order to earn a degree. So the AP classes mean a student makes really, really good grades and so gets harder work but gets double the rewards.

 

[Teasel]

Thanks gor explaining @OceanSpray appreciate it

 

[RainbowSearchParty]

I’ve recently learned that DIY culture is very American? How is it viewed in your culture?

I was raised to think that it was necessary for everyone to be able to do basic repairs themselves for home and auto. Like hang anything on a wall, paint and repair that wall, build basic stuff from lumber (bookcase, shelves), check fluids and pressure and brake pads on your car. But apparently this isn’t a sign of success in all cultures to do so much labor yourself?

 

[Rose White]

DIY culture is very American

We have an amazing thing in my city called “repair cafe” where anyone can bring any household item (including clothes furniture appliances etc) and volunteers will fix it for free in front of you. It’s at a space called Xerocraft, which is like a huge warehouse space with every kind of tool imaginable where anyone can rent time or space to build stuff. DIY culture is rad, and when you mix it with art? *chef’s kiss*

 

[Lost in the Woods]

Maybe the term DIY is very American but people fixing things themselves has been happening as long as there have been things to fix. In the EU there is the concept of the Right to Repair which we don’t have in the US. I wish we did.

 

[enough]

I am BIG on learning to fix stuff, and all about using design techniques in the stuff i build that makes fixing as easy as possible. My machines are at work in a factory and need to stay working, time is money!
My grandfathers and father repaired everything that broke. Sometimes several times, sometimes long after they should have just learned why the stuff broke and looked for a better replacement item with their newfound expertise.
They taught me that knowing how to do it yourself saved them the equivalent of an extra income in their lifetimes, my grandfather maintained a fleet of his own dump trucks and my father built multiple homes, money money.
I just fix stuff. Sometimes I make it better than new, sometimes i just keep it working, sometimes i just take the loss and learn to buy better stuff in the first place. I did my home remodel start to finish except the stuff that was time sensitive like the roofing and stuff that required a license like the power.
I love the idea of a repair cafe @Rose White! Sounds like a place i could hang. Throw in a welder, an NC milling center and a decent lathe and I might be late for dinner regularly. I gave argued for basic repair classes and “how it works” classes at the high school level for years but it really is probably impossible given budgets and the need for more main lane STEM classes in most schools. Reaching young people motivated to learn by the desire to save money and keep stuff in service is maybe the best angle towards passing these skills on, i can get excited by the idea.

Yes, DIY is a term used a lot in the US. Some of us call it survival, thrift, just another day in the life, wgatever, and we really really wish more of us did.

 

[LuckiLee]

Is pepper spray legal in Europe? If not, what if anything do you carry for protection?

 

[parrotthepolly]

Is pepper spray legal in Europe? If not, what if anything do you carry for protection?

It's been illegal in the UK since 1968. I will never disclose my self protection techniques and not even from the UK.

 

[LuckiLee]

The reason I ask is my bestie is traveling there for 2 weeks so I thought I'd see what is acceptable/legal.

Maybe someone from Europe can answer. I read pepper spray is legal.

 

[Teasel]

The reason I ask is my bestie is traveling there for 2 weeks so I thought I'd see what is acceptable/legal.

Maybe someone from Europe can answer. I read pepper spray is legal.

Where in Europe are they going?

 

[LuckiLee]

Starting in Amsterdam, Belgium, France, London.