Drive-Thru Culture in the USA

Did you know that in the United States, you can do almost everything without leaving your car? This is called drive-thru culture, and it is very popular in America.

Most people know about drive-thru fast food, but did you know there are many other kinds of drive-thru places? For example:

• Drive-thru coffee shops: You can pick up a hot coffee on your way to work.
• Drive-thru pharmacies: Get your medicine without going inside.
• Drive-thru liquor stores: Buy beer, wine, or other drinks.
• Drive-thru libraries: Pick up or return books at some libraries.
• Drive-thru wedding chapels: In Las Vegas, you can even get married in your car!
• Drive-thru medical testing: Remember the Covid days?
• Drive-thru banking

Drive-thrus are popular because many Americans depend on cars for daily life. These services are fast, easy, and convenient. Also, for formal writing, you might still see the spelling "drive-through," but in informal or conversational contexts (like this blog post), "drive-thru" is more natural and authentic.

What do you think about drive-thru culture? Would you use a drive-thru library or wedding chapel? Does your country have anything similar? I prefer to not use my car so much and would rather see more pedestrian-friendly cities. 

American Culture: Native American Glass Gem Corn

 

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I first saw an image of glass gem corn. It’s a rainbow-colored heirloom corn with a jewel appearance, and it’s stunning!

This ancestral variety of corn was rediscovered in 2012 by an Oklahoma farmer named Carl “White Eagle” Barnes, who was half Cherokee. In a quest to connect with his Cherokee roots, he found seeds that matched up with traditional corns that had been lost to various Native tribes, and he began growing the older, traditional varieties. (The Native American culture places great importance on seeds, planting ceremonies, harvesting, and honoring seeds.)

Barnes isolated different types of corn and replanted those from particularly colorful cobs. A mix of Cherokee, Osage, and Pawnee varieties produced the first multicolored rainbow cobs. 

Carl Barnes, who died in 2016, made it possible for many Native tribes to recover and reunite with their sacred seeds, which helped in the reclaiming of their cultural and spiritual identities. 

Fill it Up

I know several people who drink soda every day, with lunch, dinner, or any time. I have a colleague who can’t begin the day without her Coca-Cola for breakfast.

A widespread American notion of perceived value is the free re-fill: restaurants charge you for your first glass of soda and your second, third, fourth, etc. is no charge---free! It’s great! Because restaurants make a lot of money selling beverages, everyone is happy. Through the English conversations I have, I understand this isn’t very typical in Italy.

I rarely drink soda pop so free re-fills don’t interest me. Actually I feel like I’m paying too much if I only drink one glass, but we all pay too much, even if we have four re-fills. How much do you want and how much can you drink? This guy will tell you, but I don’t recommend following his example.

ps: He is a fictional character ;)