12 features of life in the US, because of which tourists and immigrants are constantly in an awkward position

Another country is always unusual traditions, difficulties in communication and situations that can be stumped. The USA is no exception. However, it is easy to find blogs on the Internet whose authors are ready to share their experience and tell you how to behave in a new environment. Now you will know exactly why you cannot take out oysters from a restaurant and why buy a ticket for a walk in the woods.

Фото: Depositphotos

With blogger Alena America AdMe.ru managed to collect 12 facts about life in the United States, which may surprise even those who have lived in this country for years.

1. Cemetery - a place for walking and filming

Lafayette Cemetery in New Orleans has existed since 1852. Nowadays, many tourists come here every day who every minute click the shutters of their cameras and look at the dates on old tombstones. ⠀

This cemetery is not terrible to walk, it does not cause any sad thoughts. On the contrary, there are shooting of famous movies and you can meet celebrities. What is not prom?

2. Date without flowers and bouquets with an even number of roses

The tradition to go on a date with a bouquet in America is a thing of the past. Her echoes can be seen only at school graduation: here the guy gives the girl flowers to match her dress.

Men here if they give roses, then an even amount. Yes, yes, if given, then 12 roses. So think better: give 12 roses to you or donate anything at all.

Фото: Depositphotos

3. Studying at the university - from a couple of years to infinity

In American universities, students independently form their own schedule, picking up a certain number of subjects per semester. To get a bachelor's degree you need to pass exams in 40 subjects, and if you take a large study load, you can easily cope with 2 – 3 of the year. But there are other cases.

Consider the option when a young mother of two kids gets a higher education. She decided to take the 2 subject per semester, or 4 per year. Summer school is not considered. In just the 10 years, it will go through all the 40 items.

4. Polite guests and cold tea

The restaurants adopted a special form of communication. Instead of saying, “Bring me a salad,” you should politely ask the waiter: “Can I have a salad?”. And one more nuance: you need to ask for hot tea to be brought.

Pasta House is a famous chain of Italian restaurants in America. My son and I went there for lunch. First of all, the waitress asked what we would drink. I ordered Hot tea, Igor - water. This is important when ordering tea, say Hot tea. If you miss the word hot, you will get iced tea.

5. Complicated relationships with insurance companies and space sums for treatment

In the USA, it is customary to call an ambulance only in the most severe cases, because the insurance company may consider this appeal unjustified and refuse to pay it. As a result, the call may cost $ 500 - 3 000 (the price will include sterile gloves, bandages, needles and oxygen spent on you).

A separate story - a visit to the dentist.

In general, I have the impression that American dentists are not doing anything else, they only put crowns. Resigned to fate, asked to do it as quickly as possible. “Not so fast,” the dentist stops me. - First, we will write a letter to your insurance, so that they give the green light. It will take two weeks. Then I will go on vacation. In general, we will begin the process at the end of July. ”

6. Alumni meeting tickets ...

The alumni meeting in America is called Class Reunion and takes place every 5 years. Letters with the date of the event and the cost of the entrance ticket are sent to all participants. The banquet takes place somewhere in a restaurant or conference room, and by the way, teachers are not invited there.

For some reason, many films like to show the meeting of American graduates as a wild event, where booze and murder occur. I have not seen this. Rather, I would describe the Class Reunion as a boring evening. After all, the class here is not the 30 people who have been with you for 10 – 11 years. The class in America is everyone who graduated in the same year as you. In a large school there may be a thousand people, not all even know each other.

7. ... and tickets for a walk in the woods

In California, before you go for a walk in the woods, you need to buy the appropriate tickets. As a rule, they are sold in nearby stores or gas stations. And the route for the walk can be chosen on the Internet: all the main paths are mapped.

Honestly, the tickets could not buy at all, no one checks them. But Americans are law-abiding people. In general, on our $ 5 we walked through the forest 5 hours. I was barely walking back: the cars did not drive along the paths. Want to survive - you will go. ⠀

Фото: Depositphotos

8. House cleaning: automatic mops and chemistry car

The work of housewives is almost completely automated here. Even a mop such that it is not necessary to bend: it is enough to press the button, and she will wet a rag (more truly, a disposable napkin for a floor). Cleaning the house can be entrusted to special cleaning agencies. Provided that you agree with their methods.

Here they use so much chemistry when cleaning that my body does not stand up to this. They come to clean your house, armed to the teeth with all sorts of chemicals. In gloves, sometimes in a mask. ⠀

9. Remains of dinner in a restaurant - in a box and with you (except oysters)

In the American catering serves huge portions, which in one sitting can not overpower everyone. Anything that does not enter the stomach can be taken away with you; you just need to ask the waiter to pack the remains in a special box (go box). Here are just one exception to this rule.

It is not possible to take away the uneaten oysters. And even though I was not going to take them, it was interesting for me to find out the reason. It turns out that they quickly deteriorate, and restaurants do not want you to subsequently poison oysters and sue them.

10. Socks and kitchen towels in national flag color

4 July, when the Independence Day of America is celebrated, just flashes in the eyes of stripes and stars: everyone is trying to choose clothes that are exactly in the colors of the flag. ⠀

Shops crammed with things with the symbols of the American flag. T-shirts, shorts, swimsuits, kitchen towels - all in the form of a flag is sold with a bang. How do you like this idea - to sell socks with portraits of various presidents? ⠀

11. $ 200 for lost tutorial

At the end of each semester, many colleges count the losses inflicted by students and “delight” parents with very sensitive amounts of bills. ⠀

It turns out that my son failed to pass the physics textbook in time. Nobody said anything to him, but yesterday they billed him - $ 200 for the textbook. He was also billed for holes in the wall in their wing of the hostel. They did not find the guilty, and therefore they divided the expenses for repairs on all the boys. It turned out for $ 17 from the nose. The question was raised in the form of an ultimatum: if you want to get a diploma - pay for the holes in the wall and the lost textbook. ⠀

12. The first day of spring - March 21

Americans consider the beginning of spring not 1, and March 21 - the day of the spring equinox. It is the same with the fall - here it officially starts at the end of September.

After March 21st, you won't be snowed in anymore (at this point, New Jersey residents are laughing because they often have "impossible" snowfalls). There will be no more frosts (Florida residents are laughing at this place, they have never had frosts in their lives). ⠀

Bonus: secrets of visiting Disneyland

According to the rules of the park, children under three years old are free. But in fact, without a ticket, children under four are freely admitted. First, these children rarely ride the rides. Secondly, their parents always buy all sorts of toys and sweets for an amount almost equal to the cost of the ticket.

But adult visitors may well have some difficulty in passing control.

Everyone who is going to Disney World, be careful. Since I bought a ticket online, I was asked to show a credit card with which it was purchased. And one more tip: go to the park to watch 16. At this time it is already easier with parking and it is easier to wait for the show with fireworks that start in 21: 00.

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