I mean, what’s something you can do that people are like, “really? You know how to do that?”

  • AeronMelon@lemmy.worldEnglish
    77·
    11 months ago

    I’m a father living in Japan, so any competent display of childcare is still met with shock and confusion.

  • Snot FlickermanEnglish
    66·
    11 months ago

    I’m a tall burly cisman so people are always surprised that I know how to sew. I mostly hand-mend my clothes but I made my own pants in high school when I had access to a sewing machine.

    • Agent641@lemmy.world
      27·
      11 months ago

      Sewing fellas unite!

      I usually make hats and tool wraps, but I mend dresses or alter clothes for friends too.

    • Varyk@sh.itjust.works
      13·
      11 months ago

      sewing is mine also. I don’t think I’ve talked to a single person in the 15 years I’ve been sewing that hasn’t reacted with shock to some degree or another upon finding out.

      i like repairing clothes and making backpacks.

    • Rossi199@lemmy.world
      10·
      11 months ago

      Hand-sewing is my “something to occupy my hands while watching tv” hobby. I usually take shirts that I buy at a thrift store and customize them (side panels to make them fit better, add lacy pieces, etc.).

    • Demonmariner@lemmy.world
      4·
      11 months ago

      I can sew, although I kind of hate it. Sewing is an essential skill if you own a sailboat and have no money.

  • davidgro@lemmy.world
    25·
    11 months ago

    Roller skating. I’m super unathletic, but skating (including teaching to others) was listed in the profile of a girl who contacted me on a dating site, so after chatting for a bit I suggested that as our first date. She was super patient with me, I had never put on skates before that day, and was in my 30s.

    We’re married now, and I now also teach skating where she does on weekends, sometimes to people who have never tried it before.

  • jubilationtcornpone@sh.itjust.works
    22·
    11 months ago

    Pretty much anything DIY. Plumbing, electrical, carpentry, etc. I’m not an expert at any of those things but I can actually do a pretty decent job. I’m not afraid to research a project and take a crack at it myself. I’ve completed some really nasty projects that turned out well.

  • Mothra@mander.xyz
    15·
    11 months ago

    Depends on unexpected for who. Most native english speakers seem surprised when they realise I understand “big words” (read: any word with a Latin root) without needing to look up a definition. To me it’s pretty obvious. My native tongue is Spanish. Having an accent doesn’t mean I don’t know anything.

      • Mothra@mander.xyz
        8·
        11 months ago

        I remember this teacher in particular who was explaining something and said “dissipate”. He paused and picked me out of the group, for no apparent reason, and asked if I knew what dissipate meant. I said yes. So he asked me to explain, which I did, and he looked surprised and said something like “you’re on fire” or similar and carried on.

        That particular example stuck with me because of his condescending tone and for pointing the spotlight to me gratuitously, but I’ve had many, less memorable ones. It’s not the words that I remember after a while, but that they presume I don’t understand the meaning of a word apparently unusual for them. “Melancholy” and “quotidian” come to mind too.

        On the same vein, I also surprise English speakers when reading, writing and understanding scientific names. Not all of course, but many are descriptive of the creature they refer to if you know a latin language. What’s often a mouthful of nonsense for native English speakers can sometimes be meaningful to me.

  • Sasha [They/Them]
    15·
    11 months ago

    Patch making, and I’ve no idea why people are surprised about it tbh. It’s really easy if you’ve got access to a printer (or you can trace from a screen) and a pair of scissors.

    That said I have a slightly unusual process where I design stencils in fusion 360 and then print them on my 3D printer, they’re durable and reusable that way. I’m still working on improving the final print quality, but I’ve had some really good results like this gigantic Ash Bricky back patch that took me ~20 hours over three days.

    Disclaimer

    I bought the actual shirt I swear, it just wasn’t the right shape or size for a back patch. Also I never sell other people’s designs like this.

    • RBWells@lemmy.world
      6·
      11 months ago

      This is funny, I drive manual in the US where even most pickup trucks now have automatic transmission, and the two groups who have been impressed (I am a middle aged lady) are valets and mechanic shops.

      I do think that for my 21 year old daughter it’s an unusual skill and one she values. None of my other kids can drive my car, I had to teach that one because I let her use the car to go to college, I bike to work now since it’s much closer than the school.

      My ex can drive the big trucks with like 16 gears. And both he & my husband can shift motorcycles with ease, I struggle. I guess it would get easier with practice.

      • Geodad@lemmy.world
        1·
        11 months ago

        Yeah, I learned from my dad - who is a professional driver.

        It came in handy in the Army.

    • ZorsithEnglish
      3·
      11 months ago

      Oh yeah, i always forget most people (at least in the US) can’t. I learned to drive on a stick shift pickup and took my drivers license test in it 😁

  • essell@lemmy.world
    12·
    11 months ago

    I’m a massive nerd, no one is surprised by my ability to debug a printer or install an operating system.

    They’re generally surprised by my people skills and carpentry skills though!

  • RBWells@lemmy.world
    12·
    11 months ago

    I’m pretty old & geeky so people are often surprised I can do a great cartwheel. One trick pony when it comes to acrobatics, it’s just the cartwheel.

  • Broadfern@lemmy.worldEnglish
    12·
    11 months ago

    As I found out recently, drawing.

    I took some classes in high school and only recently got back into it, and I’d consider myself…averageish? I know where I need improvements and I see the quirks and wonks, so to speak.

    The people in my adult life who have seen my sketchbook make (positive) comments, which surprised me. Still, it’s nice.

    • toomanypancakes@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      4·
      11 months ago

      Drawing has always been super impressive to me. I pretty much gave it up in high school, but my husband is an incredible artist and I just always appreciate seeing what other people do. It seems like it’s hella zen when you get into it. Awesome skill :)