I am really stuck on this work project. I put up a note on Facebook, but didn't get any responses. So I thought I'd try here... I know you guys love giving your opinions!
For my job, I have to write material for an online program to teach English. The program teaches English using conversations in real-life situations in order to teach cultural stuff, too.
I want to give useful information. So I'd like people from other countries who have spent any extended time in the US to answer these questions:
1. What were some things that were difficult or surprising for your during your time in the US?
2. What are some things that you didn't think about before you went to stay/live there?
3. What is something you wish you learned before you arrived?
Some examples from my Brazilian students have been washing clothes at the laundromat, buying a calling card, and renting a car.
It can be activities like that, or even social things (making friends with Americans, talking on the phone, etc).
Any stories about your experiences in the US will help. :) It can be big things like "I didn't know how to rent an apartment" or little things, like "I didn't know drinks had free refills."
Thank you for any stories (good or bad!).
American (and Canadian!) readers-- you can tell me any of your travel stories, too, if you think it would be something relevant to people going to the US and wasn't something specific to the countries that you visited.
Thanks for any ideas or feedback!
Also, does anyone know any details about buying calling cards in the US? I've never done it.
One more thing: How do non-US citizens (no social security card) open bank accounts? What documents do they need?
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I can chime in a little, even though I don't meet the criteria... :)
ReplyDeleteI used to buy calling cards at carnicerias. You buy it by country -- since there are so many different companies, they tend to be really flashy about the country whose lowest rate they offer. You kinda just pick the one with the prettiest picture. I think ethnic markets are the go-to for calling cards.
Also, Bank of America is one of the few banks that doesn't ask for a social security number. They also tend to let you deposit checks into your account if the last name matches (I was able to deposit my dad's checks this way). I can't remember what forms of ID they asked for, but I know a few people that have gotten accounts there without being citizens.
Dear Danielle,
ReplyDeleteYou might find this interesting, it's about New England and it is super accurate:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/216512?GT1=43002
Danielle,
ReplyDeleteThere is a small list, good bad, silly and remarkable:
1-We were driving around Florida near Tampa, we drove thru Orange Groves for hours, saw a stand on the side of the road selling ORANGES, when we approached the man selling oranges on the side of the Road, we asked and he confirmed that the oranges were from Sam's Club and not locally grown!!!!
We couldn't believe it and didn't understand the point! We wanted Florida Oranges, we had been driving in Orange country, but all we could get were Sam's Club Oranges from California.
Stopped at a Tourist spot where we hoped to find some local oranges or orange stuff and all they had were Orange Jam's from Denmark and Orange candy imported from Europe, no local Oranges to be found anywhere in Orange country, Florida!!!
2-American Milk tasted funny at first, it had a Kale aftertaste!!! I can't taste that today and we only buy organic milk.
3-Hollow walls, American walls are hollow, if you kick it, your foot might go right thru it, in Brazil most walls are solid and if you kick it, your foot brakes!!!
4-I never experienced HEAT like in Texas anywhere in Brazil, Dallas and Houston in the summer are the hottest places on earth, not survivable without Air Conditioning, never need A/C in Sao Paulo!
5-Absolutely fell in love with American cars, cars in Brazil suck big time, small and too basic, lacking the basic comfort and security items...
6-I couldn't believe when I found out most window shutters in the US are made out of plastic or vynnil and not wood and they don't really close, they are just decorative!!!
7-Love all 4 seasons well defined.
8-Realized Americans are warm and friendly and most are simple down to earth people, very different from the impression sold by hollywood movies, the greatest people ever if you ask me!
9-I completely and absolutely love the US and wonder if I will ever be able to go back home!!
hahaha, that Newsweek article is hilarious!
ReplyDeleteWow, that Newsweek article flared up such an American commentroversy.
ReplyDeleteCustoms is a common experience for anyone traveling to the US.
Calling cards can be purchased at corner convenient stores.
Danielle,
ReplyDeleteThat freaking article is so truth it hurts!
I am getting ready to find myself buried waist deep into thousands of pounds of dead foliage, its no joke.
I will take snow shoveling any day over leaf raking!!!
I'm an American who just moved to Brazil 4 months ago with a Brazilian. Today we were missing the blades that come on boxes of plastic wrap and tin foil in the U.S., and she explained to me that in Brazil there are holders that you put on your wall that have cutters. When she first moved to the U.S. with her mom they looked everywhere for one of these holders but couldn't find one. It took opening the box on a new roll the "wrong" way - along the long side instead of at the end the way Brazilians do - and cutting herself - to discover that there's a cutter with every roll! A small thing to learn about the U.S., but maybe you can save your students a cut finger or two...
ReplyDelete