Personal experience: that never ceases to amaze our immigrants, even after years of life in the United States

A little more 4 years ago, Karina and her husband moved from Russia to Seattle. Upon arrival, it became clear that the United States is a completely different world, with its pluses and minuses.

Photos: Facebook Karina Kudinova

Especially for AdMe.ru she talked about 12 things that 4 had over the years in life in the United States was not used to.

12. To get to the therapist, you have to wait a couple of weeks

I have never been able to sign up with a therapist earlier than 2 – 3 weeks. I usually ask any therapist to get to faster. And some are waiting for their turn for more than a month. In the US, the entire medical system works a little differently. You yourself need to find a doctor on the clinic website, and then call and sign up for it. It is simply impossible to sit in a queue and on the same day it is impossible to get there, this is possible only if you contact an ambulance.

We should also say that medicine is very expensive here. If there is no insurance, then we are talking about thousands of dollars. But even if there is insurance, it most often covers medical services only partially. To me, taking into account insurance payments, 4 of a wisdom tooth was pulled out for $ 1 300 (this is about a ruble equivalent of approximately 82 000), and the insurance paid thousands more 2 from above.

11. Very expensive cellular and internet

There are quite a few mobile operators in the States, but there are several clear leaders that the vast majority of residents use. A month of cellular service with a modest Internet package costs from $ 50. Imagine for two it is $ 100 (approximately 6 000 rubles) every month. Home Internet on average costs $ 80 to residents of America. Watching a number of TV channels is also a paid pleasure.

Photos: Facebook Karina Kudinova

10. Taxes are not included in the price of goods and services.

One of the most unpleasant news for first-time travelers to the United States is that taxes are not included in the price of goods. This is not so noticeable when you buy something small, but if we are talking about, say, a purchase for $1, then it already becomes noticeable. Each state has its own tax, but ours is about 000%. This immediately adds another $10 to the cost of a $100 purchase. All services are subject to the same tax.

9. Are you planning to have a pet? Must pay extra

In all apartments (i.e., when one company owns the building, and not private individuals), if you want to have a pet, you first need to make a deposit (from $ 300 to $ 600), and then pay an average monthly fee 50. If the apartment is your property, as a rule, there is also a monthly payment for the pet. And this is not very nice.

8. There are no New Year holidays in the States

It is no secret that in the USA Christmas is a more important holiday than the New Year. There is a couple of days off for Christmas, after Christmas people in the US go to work again, and then again get 1 or 2 holidays in honor of the New Year. And that's all. While Russia is walking, everyone in America is already working hard. But in fact, not so much to get used to the number of weekends, but to the fact that there is no such holiday as such in the New Year itself. People are already throwing trees at this point.

7. Sort garbage in 3 container

I’ll say right away that this is not the case in all of America, but in Seattle, environmental protection is very reverent. Waste is divided into 3 type: garbage, compost and recycling. It seems that everything is logical, but sorting is actually not easy.

For example, a plastic bottle is recycling, and a cap is garbage. One plastic bag is also garbage, but if you collect a lot of bags and put everything in one, then this is already recycling. The used cardboard plate can go both to the compost and to the garbage, depending on its composition. Once a week, garbage containers need to be taken out on the road, and if everything is badly sorted, you can make a remark or even be fined.

Photo: Instagram Karina Kudinova

6. America is a country of motorists

You know, there are beautiful roads in the States. No, there are, of course, broken ones, but more often the coating is very even. There are fantastic road junctions in several levels, and by car you can safely drive around the whole country - even in the middle of nowhere the road will be very much nothing. But how can I miss the train! The railway here is very poorly developed. Train tickets are so expensive that it’s cheaper to fly by plane. And very few directions.

Just the other day I looked at the Seattle-Los Angeles train ticket: $ 300 one way and more 30 hours on the road, you can buy a plane for $ 150 there — back and only a few hours in flight. And yes, even by car is much faster - 18 hours. I don’t know who uses trains here. But, it is worth paying tribute, the cars here are much cheaper than in Russia.

5. Huge tips

In the US, you can leave the usual 10% tip, only if the service did not like. Tips are usually 18 – 20%. Now imagine - on top of the cost indicated in the menu, you pay about 10% tax, then another 20% tip, alcohol tax, and sometimes there is also a fee for kitchen work.

The same thing happens in the entire service sector - tips should be left for the services of a hairdresser, manicure, car washing. All the same 20%.

4. Want to get a job - forget about shyness

America loves the young, daring and desperate. It is advisable to have all these qualities at once. “When I got my first job, I went to the office without an invitation a couple of days after the interview and just asked when to go to work?” My American friend told me when I first moved. “There is nothing of the kind,” he assured, noticing my surprise.

Later, I realized how right he was. I sent resumes to dozens of companies - there was no response at all. No refusal, no invitations. I will not hide, I was worried that with all my experience they don’t even want to take me for free. And I would have sent letters if it were not for one company where I really wanted to go. I wrote them a cover letter that it was impossible not to answer. Of course, they did not answer. Then I decided to call. As it turned out, no one ever saw my letter. But after the call, I got direct contact from their senior recruiter and even arranged a personal meeting.

By the way, I used the trick with “when to go to work” at Seattle Fashion Week, and it worked. I was immediately taken to get acquainted with the team. Immediately! At first, I could not get used to this for a long time, but in order to get what you want in the USA, you need not to be afraid and leave the comfort zone. This not only concerns the work, but also the general attitude towards life. No one here will stand on ceremony with you. But it will only harden you and make you better.

Photo: Instagram Karina Kudinova

3. America walks all night until morning

The words of the famous Tsoi song "walked all night until the morning" is definitely not about the USA. In each state, the sale of alcohol is regulated slightly differently, but most often at 2 at one o'clock in the morning, the sale in bars and restaurants stops. Together with the sale of alcohol, all these institutions close the doors for visitors. So, somewhere to 2: 30, everything is already safely at home. In Seattle, there are a couple of institutions that work until the morning, but with the nightlife of St. Petersburg and Moscow, of course, can not be compared. They say that in New York everything is different, but I have not checked it yet.

However, in Seattle, many places close early. Shopping centers usually stop working at 9 in the evening, coffee shops in general at 6 (some in 3!), Small cafes and snack bars at 8 in the evening.

2. The art of "little talk"

Americans love to chat. In a taxi, on the bus, at the bus stop, in the elevator, at the ticket office, in the store, at the post office, and even if you just met looks. Here it is called “small talk”, and supporting such a conversation is a whole art. I still have 2 topics - the weather and traffic jams, while Americans cleverly discuss all sorts of surface issues without a word.

But such communication, though not always comfortable, taught me to easily meet people. When I come home, out of habit, I wish you all a good morning in the elevator and try to ask “how are you” at the ticket office.

1. Coffee instead of tea

After only a few months of my life in the USA, I felt this trick - almost in every establishment they pour you coffee, but tea is a rarity. Most likely, there is a bag, but you can forget about the sheet. And if in Russia cafes and restaurants compete on who has the cooler tea card, then there is no great love for this drink.

There are special tea houses where you can order a tea ceremony for $ 60. Here you can indulge in interesting tea, and then it will be just leaf tea - no ginger additives for you, mint leaves or fresh sea buckthorn. Yes, and these houses in Seattle, it seems, just 2. In Russia, I adored with my friends to go out for tea and dessert to various interesting places in the evening, and here people mostly go for a glass or two of wine in the evenings. They just did not try our tea.

Some things can be misunderstood, difficult to get used to others, but the main thing is to simply accept them. After all, coming to live in another country, it is important to understand that this is a different story, other people and a completely different mentality. Perhaps something for me will always remain a little alien, but here is my second home, and he found a place in my heart.

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