The continuing story of Josh and Megan, now in the land of tea and beer.
Having flown with a group of Britons over the weekend, I heard five separate times how Americans clap when a plane lands. I've flown frequently lately, and I have had this happen twice that I remember. Once in India and once when there was some extreme turbulence or something and then a perfectly smooth landing. I am fairly certain this second time was in the USA.
So. Do we?
(I say no.)
Posted by
megfeen
at
9:00 AM
| : | |
| 25 | Number of cups of tea drank in one day |
| 4 | New foods tried that will not be tried again |
| ?? | Pints drunk |
| 280 | Pints of home brew made |
| 77 | Academic books checked out |
| 48,262 | Academic words written... |
| 36 | Hours in Megan's work week |
| 16 | Number of Atlantic Crossings made | 4 | Number of 'Last train from Newcastle' missed |
| : | |
| 12 | Number of countries* visited** |
| 18 | Number of borders crossed |
| 647 | Total amount in dollars spent on visas |
| . | |
| 90 | Hours spent waiting at airports |
| 88 | Hours spent on airplanes |
| 9.5 | Hours of average train trip |
| 9.5 | Day equivalency spent on buses (228 hours total) |
| 17 | Percentage of our trip time spent on transportation (24.3 days worth) |
| 37 | Percentage of our budget spent on transportation |
| . | |
| 66 | Percentage of guest house rooms with attached bathrooms |
| 1.89 | Cheapest guest house room in dollars |
| . | |
| 12 | Number of shots (vaccines) received before leaving |
| 382 | Prescription pills bought in the USA |
| 69 | Number of times offered drugs in Asia |
| . | |
| .13 | Cheapest glass of beer in dollars |
| 1 | Number of near charging rhinos encountered |
| 2 | Pairs of underwear Josh took along |
| 4 | Number of dead people seen on the trip |
| 47 | Percentage of days ice cream was purchased |
| 3668 | Number of photographs taken |
| : | |
| 9 | Passes crossed (Berthoud, Muddy, Loveland, Rabbit Ears, Gore, Vail, Fremont, Lizard Head, Monarch) |
| 11 | Colorado resorts skiied (Copper, A Basin, Winter Park, Steamboat, Aspen, Aspen Highlands, Snowmass, Telluride, Monarch, Crested Butte, Vail) |
| 24 | Days skiied (not at work) |
| 47 | Number of days Josh worked |
| 48 | Number of days Meg worked |
| 491 | Number of kids taught |
| 1 | Number of busted tailbones (Meg) |
15 comments:
No. I fly a decent amount in the U.S. and I can remember only a handful of times where we clapped. I'd say it's rare and tends to happen only when there has been some kind of event to make it worthwhile.
I've flown quite a bit and never had this happen...I think I would freak out a bit. :)
The only times I have been on a flight where people clapped, they were international flights. But I have only ever flown on international flights to or from the U.S. So my answer is, I don't know. And even if Americans start it, people from other nations probably join in.
I don't think we American's do. I don't fly a ton, but don't remember it ever happening. Then again I am usually sick by the time we land and just want OFF ASAP!!!!!
Well folks, I HAVE been on planes where people clapped as we landed. As I recall it was not recently and it was when an international flight landed back in the USA. I guess we were all just glad to be home and figured the flight crew deserved a round of applause for getting us here. (Dad says the same thing.)
Mom F
Maybe if we take an expansive interpretation of the term "American." Clapping as the plane lands is a classic Latin American thing to do. The only flights I have been on with clapping involved were flights to or from Latin America and I'm quite certain it was not the gringos starting the clapping.
You have no idea how pleased I am that you've all commented- THANK YOU and keep 'em coming! The more the merrier!
Partly I'm pleased because it means I can give polling data that agrees with my hypothesis to the next co-worker who mentions it... or even if they don't mention it, I'll still bring it up. :)
I've only had that happen a few times and it's always been on an international flight that's landing back in the US that has soldiers returning from war. So I never know if we're applauding the landing or the soldiers (or the war??).
Icelanders always clap when they land in Iceland because they love home so much.
How do you know this, Eric? We have a Dubious Fact of the Day at my office, usually proven true or untrue by the faultless Wikipedia. Is this a dubious fact I could share that would not get me laughed at like my one co-worker's story about Sir Loin steak?
I'm pretty sure I've witnessed this, but not recently. When we flew in April I don't remember it happening. Like Beth (Busy mom of 4) said, she's usually a little tense when we land, so I'm concentrating on making sure she doesn't squeeze the life out of my arm.
Can't say I ever remember hearing clapping. I know I haven't done it...breathe deeply perhaps, but not clap. :)
What the heck? 12 posts on the subject, and mine is the one that gets holes poked in it?
p.s. If I were you, I probably would not claim this as a fact to your co-workers, as I'm not entirely sure if it's true.
No, not the only one with holes poked in it... the only one I found worthy of further investigation, so consider it an honor. I'm two down on the dubious facts, so I'm looking. Did you know there are more tigers in the USA than in any other country? I didn't either.
We have clapped when landing- maybe 1/2 the times I've flown, and I think it usually is for an international flight (aka extrememly long) or when there was turbulence/storm to get through etc.
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