New Zealander reveals the major ‘culture shock’ she faced after moving to America: ‘Nothing is the normal price’ - Yahoo Singapore News

A TikToker from New Zealand is raising eyebrows after sharing the big “culture shock” she faced after relocating to America.

The video comes from popular user Jazz Thornton, who posts videos as both @jazzthornton_ and @notjazzthornton. On the latter account, the New Zealander revealed something strange she noticed when she temporarily moved to the U.S. 

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Her clip, which has drawn nearly 4 million views, is part of a longstanding TikTok trend in which users share their biggest international culture shocks. In the past, TikTokers have discussed why some fruits have different names in Australia, why Swedish people “only” eat candy on Saturday and what happens if you order “chips and salsa” in Italy. 

In Thornton’s video, which is part of a series, she pointed out one specifically “weird” fact about shopping in America: the way that price tags don’t really show how much something costs.  

Thornton begins by explaining that she recently tried to buy a dress in America and was shocked to discover that the listed price was way different than what she ultimately paid. 

“It was like $10 more,” she says. 

The issue? Sales tax. In New Zealand, the sales tax is typically included in the listed price — meaning what you see is what you pay. Of course, it’s a lot more complex in the U.S. 

“And then, when you’re in restaurants and stuff, the tax is added, and the tipping is added,” Thornton says of the U.S. “It’s like, nothing is the normal price.”

It’s a common confusion. Many countries treat sales tax similarly to New Zealand, where it’s included in the price. In the U.S., that’s not possible because sales tax differs by state or even by county. 

However, many Americans were shocked to learn that some countries do things differently.

“Wait, what? This isn’t normal?” one TikToker commented. 

“Can I please just come back to New Zealand with you?” another joked. 

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2021-11-12 17:08:42Z
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48 hours in Hong Kong: Actress-host Grace Chan's insider tips on what to see and do - CNA

“I found out about Ming Tak basketball court because of some hashtags I was looking at on Instagram. I’m always on the lookout for the next Instagrammable place and this popped out. The super-cool part about this place is how secluded it is. It’s all the way out in Tseung Kwan O and far away from the city,” she said.

Let’s not forget that it’s first and foremost built for sports, too. “The court itself is connected to a local mall where most of the residents out and about in the day seemed to be elderly. Safe to say, the court isn’t going to be teeming with people and is a great place to play basketball, hang out with friends – there’s even a place to roller-skate too. Other than that, I love how the court was designed with the intention of encouraging females to push boundaries in male-dominated sports,” added Chan.

5pm: After exploring the suburbs, one might miss the hustle and bustle of the city’s vibrant energy. Head over to Causeway Bay and spend the evening getting some retail therapy at shopping centres including Times Square, Sogo and Fashion Walk.

8pm: For dinner, Chan recommends a relatively unknown Italian restaurant in the nearby area of Tin Hau (a short walk from Causeway Bay). Corner 18, located within Nina Hotel, is where she frequents with actor husband Cheng.

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2021-11-09 23:17:00Z
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Why Hong Kong is building apartments the size of parking spaces - CNA

China’s mainland leaders, who have increasingly tightened their control over the city, have blamed unaffordable housing for massive social unrest that erupted in 2019 and called for policy solutions.

The completion of these units would be years away, while supply has continued to constrict. The number of private homes that can be produced from available land plots plunged from a peak of 25,500 in 2018 to 13,020 in 2021, according to think-tank Our Hong Kong Foundation.

Home values have risen a further 5 per cent so far in 2021. City officials have also expressed a desire to stop developers from building the tiniest of homes, of less than 200 sq ft. 

Markets can sometimes offer their own corrections, however, and there have been indications of home buyers being less than satisfied with the microflat trend. According to data provided by Liber Research, prices for flats under 260 sq ft rose only 78 per cent between 2010 and 2019, less than half of the overall market increase.

“The popularity of nanoflats has dropped in the past year,” says Joseph Tsang, chairman of Jones Lang LaSalle in Hong Kong.

Some new projects have had difficulty selling nanoflats while larger apartments continued to find high demand, he says. Some buyers have even sold at a loss from what they paid to buy into new construction.

"People realise that, if they could afford such a high unit cost, they might as well buy a bigger one, or buy in a more remote location with more space,” he says.

Nonetheless, the average cost of a nanoflat with less than 200 sq ft rose to US$3,276 per sq ft in the first nine months of 2021, according to Midland Realty; that makes the smallest homes more expensive than a typical-sized flat - almost US$500 more expensive per sq ft.

Some civic groups have petitioned to prohibit developers from building tinier and tinier homes: The same square footage divided into two apartments reaps higher profits for the developers, while taking a toll on society as a whole.

“It’s not that people really want to live in small apartments, it’s just very unfortunate that we don't have a strong enough societal consensus that decent housing is a right,” says Ng, the Chinese University professor.

“People have, year after year, really switched into a mindset that only relates to property for its exchange value, rather than what we call use value. Housing is for people to use, to raise a family, to develop social network, to build communities and to flourish as a result of that.”

Most microflat dwellers hope their situation is temporary, that by the time they are ready to couple up or have a family, they will be able to upgrade. Dr. Lee, who is currently renting his place in Kowloon, is saving for a down payment on a two-bedroom unit someday. "I live in such a small unit to save money," he says. "I want to move out as soon as possible."

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2021-11-10 07:31:57Z
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Ho Bee Land names new CEO, redesignates Chua Thian Poh as executive chairman - The Business Times

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1. Ho Bee Land names new CEO, redesignates Chua Thian Poh as executive chairman  The Business Times
2. Ho Bee Land's Chua Thian Poh turns executive chairman as son Nicholas named new CEO  The Straits Times

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2021-11-09 06:22:36Z
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Rappers Travis Scott, Drake sued over deadly Texas concert crush - CNA

WASHINGTON: Rappers Travis Scott and Drake have been sued for having "incited mayhem" after eight people were killed and dozens injured in a crush during a Texas concert, the law firm confirmed on Sunday (Nov 7).

Texas firm Thomas J Henry Law on Sunday tweeted a story published by the Daily Mail on the suit, confirming it had filed "one of the first lawsuits in Travis Scott Astroworld Festival tragedy".

The plaintiff is 23-year-old concertgoer Kristian Paredes, who was one of those "severely injured" at the concert on the night of Nov 5.

Around 50,000 people were in the audience at Houston's NRG Park when the crowd started pushing towards the stage as Scott was performing, triggering chaotic scenes.

Texas-resident Paredes, who is also suing concert organisers Live Nation and the venue, "felt an immediate push" at the front of the general admission section as Travis Scott got on stage, the complaint said.

"The crowd became chaotic and a stampede began," it went on.

"Many begged security guards hired by Live Nation Entertainment for help, but were ignored."

The suit, filed in Houston's Harris County court, claims Scott "had incited mayhem and chaos at prior events" and that "defendants knew or should have known of (Scott's) prior conduct".

The suit accuses Canadian rap superstar Drake, who joined Scott's headline set, of contributing to causing the surge towards the stage.

"As Drake came onstage alongside of Travis Scott he helped incite the crowd even though he knew of Travis Scott's prior conduct," the complaint charges.

He continued to perform even as the "crowd became out of control" and the "crowd mayhem continued", it added.

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2021-11-08 03:16:05Z
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Man in Brazil dies after jumping into piranha-infested lake to escape swarm of bees - AsiaOne

A man in Brazil reportedly died after jumping into a lake to escape a swarm of bees, only to be partially devoured by flesh-eating piranhas.

His mangled body was found last Sunday (Oct 31), although it was initially unclear if he had died by drowning before being ravaged by the carnivorous fish.

According to 9 News, the 30-year-old had been out fishing with two other friends in the municipality of Brasilandia de Minas when the incident happened.

Citing SBT News, Tech Unwrapped reported that the boat they were in had hit a log which upset the bees.

While his buddies managed to swim to safety after jumping into the lake, the victim did not surface. His body was later found about four metres from the edge of the lake.

One firefighter involved in the rescue mission revealed that the man had his face and other parts of his body torn apart, reported local media Estado De Minas.

Lieutenant Toletino, commander of the Third Platoon of the Military Fire Department, subsequently indicated that the body of the fisherman was found in a posture consistent with that of drowning victims. No foul play was suspected and the body was later released to family members for the funeral preparations.

According to the BBC, piranha attacks on humans while deadly, are "extremely rare". In 2015, a six-year-old Brazilian girl was found dead with her body half-eaten by piranhas.

The girl had been in a canoe with her grandmother and four other family members when it capsized.

However, family members had told local media then that they believed the girl could have drowned before her body was set upon by the shoal of fish.

candicecai@asiaone.com

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2021-11-07 05:27:00Z
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Retiring in mainland China looks good for Hongkongers, except for health care - South China Morning Post

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1. Retiring in mainland China looks good for Hongkongers, except for health care  South China Morning Post
2. HK expects to see 'large-scale' reopening with mainland in February  The Star Online
3. Better elderly health care if Hong Kong services ‘break down silos’  South China Morning Post

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2021-11-06 00:00:23Z
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