Cykuta

"Masculine" is being aggressive and yelling at your mother? This sounds absolutely sick to me...

Yeah, and then we wonder, "how come guys are aggressive, uncommunicative and can't deal with feelings?" Gee, I dunno, maybe because we friggin' teach them to be?

I'm glad OP wasn't traumatized, I have nothing against physical activities or martial arts, and gods know sometimes even Mums need to be yelled at, but calling these things "dealing with problems the masculine way" is extremely psychologically abrasive.

1. Is it true that one should avoid certain sports after having LASIK done? I've heard conflicting answers to that.

2. How cool is the equipment?

Well, Americans often mess up by thinking that Europe is all one homogeneous country. (Choice quotes: "France - Belgium, same thing" ; "Aren't Russia and Poland buddies?") So start by knowing where you actually are, whether it's Euro or local currency etc. I know this sounds condescendingly simplistic, but I've really seen this stuff happen.

Don't act like you're visiting some savage wastelands. Not even in Eastern or Southeastern Europe. Yes they still have ATMs and wifi and smartphones and all that stuff. A lot of Americans visiting here act like they're Smith visiting Pocahontas for the first time, for some reason.

On a similar note, you definitely don't have to pretend you're Canadian, but if you're prone to 'MURICA behaviours you may try to reel them in a bit. I knew a guy who was the star of the party with his "we invented freedom" line, and then it turned out he was not joking.

Speaking of stars of the party, don't expect women to fall onto your dick just because it's there and it's American. "Ever seen dollars before" is not an effective pickup line (also, insulting), and not all friendly girls are after your pants. Related - social and sexual mores differ a lot between countries.

Specifically on the subject of transportation, systems vary widely. In some countries, you're supposed to board, pass the driver and pay them. In others, you buy tickets first and punch them by the door, when boarding. Or in machines placed around the vehicle. Ask or read up what's it like where you're going.

Generally, if I were to come up with some general rule, it would be "Things differ locally a lot. Ask around."

Wait, really?

I have no idea about any of this stuff, so I may now be saying something incredibly stupid, but I thought magnetic field came with mass, like gravity? Is it possible for a planet not to have a magnetic field?

Edit: Thank you so much, everyone who replied, for reducing my ignorance that little bit. I learned things today!