Well... I can ask an American a question even though I'm American, right?

Someone told me that in Oregon, it's illegal to pump your own gas... True?

I don't live in Oregon, but I Googled the question and found this:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index ... 513AArIFlt

I don't like pumping my own gas (especially in this cold weather), if I had it my way there'd be full service gas stations as in the olden days where they cleaned your windshield and pumped your gas while you waiting warm inside your car not breathing in the fumes. Full-service at a station is a luxury. I was completely thrilled to find a service station here in California that did this as a special for women on Wednesdays (don't ask why they didn't do it for guys). On the other hand, I visited Thailand a few years ago and they did full-service at one of the stations there which gave me a small nostalgic feeling about customer service.

In Australia, most petrol-stations are self-service. It's been that way for quite a few years.

As it is though, we don't get nearly as hyped up about our Thanksgiving as the Americans. I've heard that they usually spend more for Thanksgiving than Christmas! Not so for us. Nope, we just prepare a larger meal than normal, most of the time a classic Turkey, and invite friends over to eat it up. That's it!

No, we're not that hyped up. No one I know is at least. We do it the same way you do, it sounds like. We make a larger than normal dinner and a turkey and friends over and that's it. I honestly can't see how someone could spend more for Thanksgiving than Christmas! Oh, and we don't have TV so we don't watch football. Plus, we don't like football. Hockey all the way!!!

I thought Americans liked cherry pie.

Hm, as far as I know it's not a big thing. *shrugs* As for the other foods I have no clue for many of them , and they were already explained, but there was one point left out on...

I hate pie of all kinds!

Thanks narnian_at_heart.
A few more questions about Alaska. This one's kinda hard, but I was wondering are there a lot of new people who come to live there from the lower 48 states? Or is it more the case that people have lived there for generations? (I know that's probably the case for the native people).

Also, is it only above the arctic circle that experiences total darkness for a few days in winter? (I have many locations on my ipod weather app and for Anchorage it it keeps telling me it's dark..wondering if it's accurate)

For the first question, I know that lots of people from down south move to my town. My town is very small but is also the number one fishing port in the nation in poundage and is very remote so in order to get workers, we have fairly high pay and very good benefits. So people come here for a few years to work and then leave pretty much. Most people don't like it here. I don't know about the rest of Alaska though. I'd say it's somewhat the same although not as high of a turnover rate as here.

Someone answered the second question a few pages back and then again on the page before this, I think.

To those in Alaska, is the accent there leaning towards General Standard American, or is it more Canadian, or something quite different?

I'm not sure. I would say Canadian. I have met nine or ten Canadians only one of whom said "eh" and the rest of them spoke just like I did. And most of the American's from down south (Alaskans call the entire rest of the US "down south" or "outside")that I've met have crazy accents. The people from down south say "yall" and the pronounce 8 (ate) like "ayte" and then people from Washington say "Warshington" and stuff. So I would say definetly more Canadian considering the Candians that I've met talk just like me and the people from down south that I've met, while some of them do talk like me, most of them have accents.

(Just as a side not: I have never met an Alaskan who said "eh".)

In Australia, most petrol-stations are self-service. It's been that way for quite a few years.

I can't remember anyone ever serving mum at a petrol station execpt this one in the town i live in now.

True mate, but I believe it was before you would've been old enough to remember such things (might have been 15 or so years ago).

Well... I can ask an American a question even though I'm American, right?

Someone told me that in Oregon, it's illegal to pump your own gas... True?

Yes, it is illegal here to pump your own gas, it's another of the government's ways to create jobs for people. Lots of people are upset about it (Which is really silly).

That's strange but it smart way to make jobs for people who really need them. Plus you don't have to do it yourself! Why would people get mad. They don't have to get dirty pumping gas any more. Where I live they don't have very nice pumps and it drives my mom crazy!

How strange, we always pump our own petrol here. I've never heard of anyone getting dirty while doing so either...

Well the gas pumps in my area are kinda broken. So.... when you squeeze the pump lever thingy it gets gas on your hands. Or on your shoes witch ever one you prefer!

Here in Ontario, we have gas stations that are self-serve, and gas stations that are full service. My mom usually likes to go to the full service ones, although I think they may be getting rarer. I've never actually pumped gas myself because I either go somewhere where I know I won't have to, or I drive with someone else and they do it for me

Where I live it has always been self-serve, far as I remember. And I think hands get slightly dirty, and I never wanted to do it and get stinky gas all over my hands.

Lu

I hate the strong smell of petrol at petrol-stations but I've never got my hands dirty pumping it into the car. You guys have to be a bit more careful (or go somewhere where the pumps are better).

Here in Ohio there is really only one gas-station chain remaining that offers full-service. It's called "Swifty." I usually get my gas from Swifty, because they offer five cents off per gallon if you pay with cash and pump it yourself. If you pay with a credit or debit card, then you pay regular price, and if you have full service (having the gas pumped for you and getting your windows cleaned) then you pay ten cents more than the regular price. So it's like this

Price Per Gallon:
Pump it yourself and pay with cash: $3.00
Pump it yourself and pay with credit or debit card (Advertised price): $3.05
Full Service: $3.15

The "Pump it yourself and pay with credit/debit card" is the price that is advertised on the gas station's "price board/display sign" at the front of the station, and yes. . . that is roughly what my area is paying for one gallon of gasoline right now.

For those of you overseas. . .

1 gallon = 3.8 litres

Wow, this is interesting!

Ok, I have a question for you northerners:

Do you say your 'o's with an accent (like in "oh no" it sounds like- oh, this is hard- kinda like "o-oh, n-oh")? And does "sorry" sound like "soo-ery"?

I hope I'm making sense...

Lu

Most gas stations here have been self-serve for longer than I've been driving (which is...well, over 35 years ), though there is the occasional full service station around. At one time a few stations offered a lower price for cash vs credit, but I've not seen any of those for years. As a rule I have no trouble with dirty pump handles or spilling fuel.

Petrol prices have recently jumped here, Digs, and now range from $2.99 to $3.07 per gallon US.

Lucy of Narnia, I'm not sure quite what you mean. I'm sure I have a northern accent (since everyone has an accent/dialect ) but 'oh no' is just 2 short syllables. And I don't pronounce 'sorry' in the way you've spelled it out...though I know that's one of the words our Canadian friends pronounce a little differently.

(edited)