Real life in America. How ordinary Americans live in America
After I’m in Los Angeles, it’s time to start looking for housing. A quick analysis of the proposals for motels, apartments and rooms showed that the "City of Angels", like the rest of California, is a very expensive place to live. For example, a bed in
Of course, I turned to Airbnb, where of the options for less than $ 40 a day there were only a tent in the backyard or a place in a rotten camper. I am not talking about motels at all - from $ 70 per day.
As a result, the best option turned out to be a student accommodation service at educational institutions- homestay. In my case, such a service was provided by GEOS School, in which I attended a classroom. But one shouldn't think that Americans are all so kind and give lodgings to students just like that. In fact, this is renting a room in the house, but accommodation also includes meals.
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Responsibility for the selection of housing is entrusted to a special unit at the school, and for the client this service costs $ 100. In fact, this is a department with a couple of realtors who do not go anywhere, do not sell anything, but simply send requests to people from their database. As a result of their complex mental activity, an offer for American families where they plan to settle you appears in your mail.
At first, I was offered to share one room with another student, but then they found an option with a room just for me, in the perception of the host side of a young student who practically does not speak English. What a surprise it was for the family when a bearded man in his early thirties showed up to them and tried to speak to them in broken English with a funny Russian accent.
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My house for 3 weeks
Yes, I did not write about the price. Bottom line - $ 285 per week including meals. And this is the most affordable and quality housing option in Los Angeles. Of course, with such a course as it is now, all this is not so cool, but when I lived there, the ruble was noticeably stronger.
I ended up in the city of Carson with a wonderful woman Judy (72 years old). She lives in her one-story house with her grandson Brandon (the guy is quartered in the backyard of the guest house). It turned out that Judy had been working as a graphic editor for an automotive publication for more than 15 years: she made covers, typeset articles, took photographs, so she and I quickly found common themes.
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Judy's house is small but cozy: a spacious living room, kitchen, work room and two bedrooms. Furniture, interior - country style. This is because Judy came from Arizona, where her father had a farm. She said that when she came to Arizona with her friend Denis (Japanese), his father always looked at him very unkindly. Surprisingly, the US still has white states like Arizona. "Tolerance" is not recognized there.
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Judy and Denis
Judy is passionate about drawing, decoration, glass work. Her entire house is hung with her own paintings, and she always decorates gifts for Christmas herself. In this sense, Judy is a rare type of American who cooks well, knows how to do a lot of things with her hands, confidently drives a car, takes care of her grandchildren and her only daughter.
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The youngest granddaughter is McKayla. I've never seen real snow, although the snow heaps in California. Here she is helping to decorate Judy with a spruce branch, generously applying white foam to it. Snow from a spray can.
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By the way, it turned out to be easier to speak English with children: they do not use complex verbal constructions, and, as a rule, do not speak quickly, and generally understand you better than adults.
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McKayla (center) at a school concert
We talked a little more with the eldest grandson Brandon. At 23, he is not involved in PR, photography, design, or growing a beard. Brandon doesn't drink or smoke - he works in the port and goes to church. By the way, he recently proposed to his young girlfriend. However, his mother, as I understand it, is not happy with the daughter-in-law on a national basis.
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Once Brandon invited me to visit the house church - this is, in fact, a room in a private house where fellows from Sunday church gather: they read prayers, talk about the problems and successes of mankind through the prism of the Bible and the teachings of Jesus Christ. All this takes place in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. I was warmly received, for a long time they were surprised that a person from cold Russia had brought them to the light.
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They wrote to me on Instagram under this photo, they say, why don't they drink beer in the bar in the evening, but do something incomprehensible?
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Subjectively, Americans are much more religious than Russians. I'm not talking about the depth of religion, I'm talking about the popularity of the church among the population. It's hard to meet non-believers in California. The number of all kinds of churches in Los Angeles is simply off the charts. Well, to be sure, even in private houses they are organized.
Of course, the churches here are more modest than ours. It can be a small and unsightly building with bare walls, a small stage and school chairs - like an assembly hall in a provincial music school.
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One Sunday afternoon, I visited Freedom Church in Torrance with Judy and McKayla. The whole action is divided, so to speak, into three acts: several musical compositions, when the audience sings along with the VIA (vocal and instrumental ensemble), then it is the turn of the priest's sermon and again the song block. After the musical part, the children are taken to a special room, where animators take care of them.
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Interestingly, the church has a full-time priest (pictured), but priests from other organizations are also invited there quite regularly. When I was at Freedom Church, I got into a guest speaker, and a young man in a blue shirt and three children took the place of an ordinary parishioner, occasionally going out to the microphone.
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On this day, the lead priest was a former firefighter. He told a heartbreaking story about how, together with his colleague, he fell under a blockage in a fire. Both were badly damaged, and his colleague did not survive. The story raised the topic of responsibility for what happened, because it was he who led the subordinate into the burning building. As a result, everyone cried, hugged, and then sang optimistic songs with the band.
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As I understand it, the church is also important for Americans in terms of communication with each other. It is not particularly accepted there to be friends with families, in our understanding of the word - they came to church once a week, talked, cried, hugged and dispersed. Yes, they also visit guests, but less often than we do, and, as a rule, they do not stay late.
After about two hours of service, everyone goes out for lunch, which "comes out" of what everyone brings. Since Americans are an extremely "motley" people by ethnic composition, the table is also replete with variety. True, not everyone cooks themselves, like Judy, and often just buy ready-made.
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But Americans do not go to visit with ready-made meals from the nearest cafe, but with what they themselves have prepared. In Russia, for example, traditionally, the hosts give food, and the guests bring alcohol. It turned out that everything is exactly the opposite.
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Together with Judy, I went to visit her friends, with whom she meets about once every 2-3 months. The contingent is extremely diverse: Mexicans, Japanese, Europeans, Africans, gays, but all, as one, are friendly, cheerful and open to communication.
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The photo shows the owners of the house. A gray-haired man with a large bottle of wine and his Japanese wife, who speaks better Spanish than English. The fact is that many Japanese fled from the war to the countries of South and Latin America, then moving to the United States.
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But what about the attitude of Americans towards Russians? In short - in the bar they are treated to beer and confess their love for Putin. Not all of them, of course, but there are many of them. Obama, they say, is a weakling with us, here Putin is a real man. Of course, they know better from the sunny Pacific coast.
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I met the guys at the bar on the pier. The girl jumped up when she found out that I was from Russia. Everyone was interested in how to take the place of the first lady. I advised to do this through sports or journalism. Although her competition is too strong in the face of it is clear who.
But not everything is so simple. In the United States, like ours, the central television brainwashing system works great, but, unlike our country, they do not make Russia extreme here, but convince citizens that America is doing everything right in foreign policy... Do you feel the difference?
But little is said about this at the everyday level, more about the weather, although in California the weather is stable as nowhere else. During the month of my life in Los Angeles, it rained once and then at night. All other days it was sunny.
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Continuation about life in the USA follows! In the near future I will write about the Mazda6 car, which I was kindly given for a test drive in Los Angeles with the assistance of the Russian office of the Japanese company, about the peculiarities of traffic in the USA, the scenic road along the Pacific Ocean (Pacific Cost Highway); I'll tell you about interesting cars such as Dodge RAM, Dodge Challenger, Chevrolet Camaro, Fiat 500.
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Photo
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America is always heard. She attracts and provokes conflicting feelings, she is discussed and condemned, and of course, she is admired! Tourists usually return home from America under a rather strong impression of the sociability and friendliness of Americans. Of course, you can find exceptions: an ill-mannered taxi driver, a rude waiter, although this, most likely, will not change the overall impression. But the only way to really get to know the American way of life is by living in America for a while.
For those who have not yet been to the "states", it will most likely be interesting to briefly familiarize themselves with what the life of Americans is, what is its image and style. So, the acquaintance begins ...
How do Americans live
Generally speaking, the main American national traits are friendliness towards strangers and ease of communication. These people are accustomed to be polite with guests, and when answering the standard question: "Do you like it here?" ... And therefore, the norms of honesty that other nations profess, Americans interpret in their own way, considering such "honesty" a sign of rudeness.
Typically, in America, people move freely both geographically and socially. They easily make acquaintances and make new friends. True, most American houses are still separated from each other by a fence. And even such invisible barriers as lawns are adequately perceived and respected: you can have friendly relations with a neighbor in your home, and at the same time not show interest in his affairs. And although this dividing line is very thin, it still exists as a border.
Americans believe that religious, political, and income-related topics should not be discussed in casual conversation, and people who insist on mentioning their status in a conversation or those who are too proud are usually considered insincere. It is they who often become the object of ridicule.
In general, Americans love pranks, puns and jokes, although their specifics are not always clear to foreigners. You have to live in America for two years to learn how to perceive their humor, which they call "foolishness" - this part of everyday communication of the majority of residents of the "states", which is often the background of ordinary conversation. However, jokes, witticisms, and mutual teasing are not simply used as entertainment. Their goal is often more serious - expressing their own opinion. In view of this, many American citizens believe that any person can be recognized by the perception of a joke addressed to them. They value the ability to joke so as to extricate themselves from a sensitive situation or prevent an argument.
Everyday life of Americans
The lives of most ordinary Americans are concentrated, as a rule, around their home. The necessary homework is always found, and most do it with their own hands. And if the owners do not have enough time to clean the yard or the rooms, then the lawn in front of the house should be in perfect condition, otherwise - a fine!
They don't go to the store every day and usually stock up on food for a week. They almost never pay in cash, because they prefer cards (most often credit cards). Once a week at mandatory the whole family gets together at dinner to discuss and find out what is happening. It is also customary to arrange parties on the lawn for neighbors.
In many families, parents, as a rule, always require all possible help around the house from their children. Americans instruct their children to vacuum rugs and furniture, wash floors and windows, mow the lawn, clear snow, and look after pets. But in some families, this work is done by adults as well. Children are often rewarded for such services with small pocket money.
Teens usually work part-time in a supermarket or car wash, mowing lawns, delivering newspapers, or babysitting. Parents welcome this not at all because they cannot provide their children with everything they need. It's just that such an experience is useful, because children leave home immediately after graduating from school, being already accustomed to physical labor, which often becomes the beginning of progress towards gaining the necessary position in society.
American lifestyle
Morning in an American family begins, perhaps, as in other countries: working parents go to work, and children go to school. Most adults leave in cars, and school buses pick up children. By the way, at the age of 16, many children get their license and have their own cars, despite the fact that insurance for minors and novice drivers (with the exception of excellent students) is many times more expensive than for adults.
Schools are divided by age: elementary school, middle school and high school, each in a separate building. For kids, classes begin at 8:30, and for high school students as early as 7 in the morning (at about 6:30 in the morning, they are picked up from the stop by a yellow school bus). The cost of schooling depends on the area in which you live (the better the area, the higher the status of the educational institution). Tuition fees are paid once a year, it is included in general tax, and then the state itself distributes the money for its intended purpose.
Many Americans work no more than eight hours a day and typically have two days of rest each week. In addition, some employers offer work in different modes, part-time or telecommuting from home, using the phone and the Internet. Online in the States is considered the norm in everything - they pay bills and make purchases online.
Almost every American, in addition to work or study and household chores, attends courses, goes to a bridge, bowling or golf club. Many are members of various public organizations and societies, while showing great activity in the cause of charity. Parishioners of one church often organize charity events: dinners, where everyone treats others with something they brought with them, a dish, selling baked goods or cakes, and even washing cars.
The life of children is also "in full swing": playing a musical instrument, riding lessons and ballroom dancing, ice skating, swimming, tennis and golf - everything that parents consider useful. One child goes to the club for a party or meeting, another goes to the library, and the third goes to the movies. Neighbors constantly come in, the phone rings incessantly, there are notes on the refrigerator, reminding family members (all without exception!) Of what needs to be done, and so on all day long.
Lifestyle in America
There is a lot of work, and people don't have time to just lie on the couch. All week on my feet, and only on weekends can I get out to the park, have a barbecue, invite friends to a party. There are few holidays and vacations in the USA, and they are shorter than, for example, in Russia. The middle class rest once a year, especially if there are children. Family holidays are expensive, most often the vacation is spent in California or Florida. Wealthy people prefer to vacation in Hawaii, the Bahamas and Alaska. All Americans, regardless of income, love discounts and usually do not buy anything without discounts (fortunately, they are almost always there).
Life tends to force American residents to do well in the prestigious university exams, to pursue high-paying jobs, to grow professionally and intellectually, to lose weight, improve health, and learn to relax. In America, you cannot get a job through pull and you cannot pass an exam for beautiful eyes. Only hard work and ability can guarantee a consistently high standard of living.
Any services, be it medicine, education or calling a plumber at home, are expensive, and you can't live on a $ 3,000 salary. The average American must earn $ 7,000-10,000 a month to afford to maintain a home, travel, educate children, receive various services, pay taxes, and go to shops and restaurants. A trip to the doctor (visit only) costs from 40 to 60 dollars for insurance, if there is no insurance or money, then it is easier to immediately prepare for the "meeting with Elvis."
American lifestyle
Americans believe that everyday life should be not exhausting, and everything that industry produces should serve a person and make his life as comfortable as possible. Everything from mail order trading to banking services right in the client's car, from computer services to supplies of materials for clothing and ready-made pastry or takeaway dishes, is done in this country for the people! Why carry cash with you in your wallet when you have a plastic card?
In clothes, Americans also prefer comfort, and only at work or at a party they observe the dress code. They do not iron their clothes, do not dry them like we do on a string, they have machines: one washes, the other dries. Office clothes are usually cleaned ($ 2.50 per shirt), from where they are returned ready-to-use. Not a single American will lie under the hood of a car - he will invite a specialist, and nine out of ten will buy coffee in a cafe in the morning or drink it on the go on the way to work, although almost every home has an excellent coffee machine.
Any American is smiling, especially at work. It is not customary to be morose at work. After all, the boss must show his subordinates, and his subordinates - to customers or customers, that "everything is okay with me!" The American businessman is not pedantic and not petty, but at the same time he understands that there are no trifles when organizing any business. Therefore, he prepares carefully for the upcoming negotiations, taking into account absolutely all the elements that can in any way affect the success of the case. Also, citizens of the United States value punctuality and save time - they use notebooks on their laptops and live on a schedule, arriving right in time for an appointment.
American lifestyle
Smoking in public places is prohibited, and Americans drink alcohol in the form of cocktails, where there is more ice than liquid. Most of the population suffers from obesity - there are a lot of cheap fast foods and it is difficult to refuse them.
To fight overweight, which is becoming a national problem, sports are promoted - even the president participates in races and various sports events.
There are many lonely old people in the country, and you will more often meet an elderly person taking a walk with a dog than with grandchildren, since children and parents in the United States exist far away and independently from each other. Americans are very independent, because the main idea of the American way of life is that everyone is the creator of his own destiny.
Americans are sociable, but visiting their home is not at all easy. It is more likely to receive an invitation from them to a restaurant than to your own home. Taking a lunch break with a person during the working day means maintaining a business relationship with him. But inviting a married couple to your house in the evening is already a personal relationship. In general, they rarely eat and cook at home, preferring to go to restaurants, by the way, almost all restaurants are adapted so that you can sit here even with small children.
Since American citizens are great patriots of their homeland, they do not approve of any criticism that foreigners make about anything related to their country, for example, about an article published in a newspaper or magazine. They may not at all approve of the policies pursued by their president, but they will not allow any criticism of foreigners in his direction.
These people sincerely believe that their American way of life is the highest achievement of humanity, and that the United States of America itself is the most important country in the world. And they sincerely respect all existing American laws and their authority.
So your acquaintance with how Americans live in their United States has come true.
1. People = robots
Most Americans are like robots, they live by instructions, they lack almost any flexibility in business. In the post-Soviet space, people are still much more flexible, you can negotiate with them and solve almost any issues. This will definitely not work in the States, and often it reaches the point of absurdity.
In America, roads are almost never rebuilt and drive along their own lane to the victorious, even if their lane is standing, and the neighboring ones are driving. Yes, for the prosperity of the state and the observance of the law, such behavior is simply ideal. No attempts to come to an agreement will definitely work for you, and you can be sure of your own safety if you do everything according to the law. But at the everyday, human level, when they do not want to hear you and repeat the same phrases as instructed, this is very infuriating, and it creates the feeling that there are some kind of robots around you. Because of this, our people feel the soul, but the Americans, at first glance, do not.
2. Prices in shops without taxes.
The so-called sales tax varies from state to state and even from city to city. For example, in Los Angeles, California, and New York, New York, this tax reaches almost 10 percent. But in the capital of America - Washington - it is slightly more than 5 percent.
What does this mean? In shops, cafes, restaurants and even car dealerships, all prices are indicated without this tax. If the price tag has a price of $ 10, then at the checkout you will pay 11, because $ 1 goes not to the store, but to the state, and so on everywhere. Got yourself $ 150 worth of groceries for a week? Pay 15 more bucks on top. An iPhone in the most expensive configuration, costing $ 969, in fact, will come out to you at almost 1100.
3. Excessive independence from the opinions of others
Here it comes to the point of absurdity, like many other things. Most of the people on the streets are very unkempt; they literally walk in rags. You can often find young people in sneakers or sneakers with holes from which toes will stick out. This also includes the abundance of people who are very overweight. Due to the fact that this is not condemned by society here, they calmly walk in tight clothes to emphasize that they do not care so much about their appearance and that they are not going to do anything with it. Excess weight is, of course, a personal matter for everyone, but this can greatly spoil the impressions of the country or the city.
4. Girls
When you live in America, you understand why Russian girls are so popular here. In the States, our girls immediately stand out, because most American women do not look after themselves at all. Many begin to take care of themselves, dress normally and do make-up only after 30 years, since in the modern consciousness of Americans, the age of up to 30 is, in fact, a second childhood. Most Americans under 30 do not do serious things, but have fun and highs. And you immediately understand why Hollywood actresses are becoming so popular - they stand out from the crowd with their appearance.
5. American hypocrisy
You've probably heard more than once that Americans are very responsive, they always smile, ask how you are doing, and try to help. This is true, but only in part.
In fact, there is nothing behind these smiles and questions. This is just common politeness. In my experience, the person who says that you are his brother, that he will always be in touch, forgets about you the very next day, may say bad things about you behind his back and generally not understand what is wrong with that.
Friendship in America is not at all the same as ours. Here more and more acquaintances from work, college, school, and not real friends in our understanding. Of course, there are exceptions everywhere, but I'm talking about my general impressions.
6. The eternal discontent of different segments of the population
I saw how our people live in Russian regions... And after that, of course, you are amazed when you hear discontent from certain people in America. Here, constantly in the media or on the street, during numerous rallies, one can hear protests of women, gays, blacks, scientists and, in general, any representative of the population about how they are oppressed, how they are not allowed to develop, how they are not heard, and so on. Sometimes it reaches the point of absurdity, and often the state is real, seriously expresses concern about this or that problem and begins to do something about it.
I have an opinion - zazhralis. If local women, gays and blacks knew how people in other countries live, they would not be whining like that. A person quickly gets used to good things and demands more and more. Therefore, same-sex marriage is legalized here, white people are forbidden to speak badly about blacks (but not vice versa!) And every fire brigade must have at least one woman.
7. American food
There is no kitchen of its own in America. Burgers, French fries and steaks - that's all. All other food is the cuisine of the peoples who live here. In addition, in restaurants there are huge portions and all the food is somehow too voluminous and tasty. As if a lot of flavor enhancers were added there.
But the most the main problem in the shops. You can't even imagine how popular semi-finished products are in the United States. There are entire sections in stores where you can even find plates of breakfast, lunch or dinner that you just need to shove in the microwave and reheat. This food is very fatty, harmful, it is not clear what it is made of, but it is advertised everywhere here, and there are actually hundreds of types of it.
Also in America there is an incredible amount of food and drinks with an incredible amount of salt and sugar: chips, chocolate bars, soda, and there are hundreds of all this, much more than in Russia. If you are going to move here and raise a child, be prepared for the fact that with the child you will need to work out the issue of nutrition, explain that what his peers eat can lead to serious illnesses.
8. Homeless people everywhere
This is a real problem, and it is very striking, especially in comparison with Russia. There are a lot of homeless people here. Moreover, many of them do not live on the street because of a bad life, but just like that, because they are against the system. They behave very arrogantly - they come up to you, ask for money. If you answer that you do not have them, they tell you: take it from your friend and give it to me. If you come with bags from the store, they will come up and ask for something from the bag. In Moscow, for such behavior, a homeless person would have already received a blow in the face.
9. Huge tip
The restaurant does not include tips on the bill, but they will tell you three recommended tip sizes: 15, 20 and 25 percent. If you leave less, no one will tell you anything, but the waiter will definitely not like it. But if you don’t leave for tea at all, then the waiter can catch up with you and try to find out what exactly you didn’t like. So be prepared to add $ 25 to your $ 100 bill so you don't offend the waiter.
It is a well-known fact that medicine in America is very expensive and it is very difficult to live here without insurance. But even if you have insurance and you have serious medical intervention, then 10% of the bill you still have to pay yourself. And without insurance, get ready for serious expenses ... An ordinary ambulance call will cost you $ 1,500, an appointment with an ordinary therapist - $ 200-300, an ultrasound scan - $ 500.
The same goes for housing. You can't find anything without an agent and a decent commission. Adequate cost for the most common studio apartment- $ 2,000.