One thing about living in another country for graduate school that has been interesting is the differing expectations for infrastructure.
For example, where I'm living in Mexico water is not sent through the water mains constantly. We get water sent to our house through the mains a few times a week. That water is stored in a cistern for our house, and a pump sends water from the cistern to a tank on the roof. Our water pressure in the house comes from gravity. Additionally, the water that is delivered is not safe for drinking. Everyone uses the large water jugs like you would see in an office water cooler.
This is actually something that my language exchange partner from Mexico pointed out to me years ago during my undergrad, but I'd forgotten about it until living here. She was in her 40s and had a background in chemical engineering. When I asked her one day what things she found odd or were weird to adjust to in moving to the US to study, she brought up the water. She said something along the lines of, "I don't understand why you need all your water to be drinkable. You only drink a small percent of it. Do you really need drinkable water in your toilet?" She wasn't being rude about it; she was genuinely curious. That was something I'd never thought about until she mentioned it.
Have you had any experience with regional or national expectations for infrastructure differing from what you're used to seeing?------------------------------
Heidi C. Wallace, P.E., M.ASCE
Tulsa, OK
------------------------------