How are you?
Surprise:
I didn’t forget about my blog.
How are you? What’s it like? Is [insert
random American stereotype] true?
Well, hold your horses, because I’ll be answering a couple of your questions in the next paragraphs.
Well, hold your horses, because I’ll be answering a couple of your questions in the next paragraphs.
How are you?
I’ve been here for a week and I’ve gotten
this question almost every single day. Not only from my friends and family, but
also from pretty much every stranger that talked to me so far. Though, if a
stranger asks you this, do not answer truthfully, since this is just the
American way of greeting. When someone asks: “How are you?”, you are supposed
to answer: “Good. How are you?”. Even if you just had the worst day ever.
What’s America like?
Another question I get quite a lot. Of
course, I’ve only been here for one week, so I don’t really have an answer,
yet. I can really only judge the people and the country here based on first
impressions and we all know you can’t really judge anyone and anything on first
impressions alone.
But, I know, I know, you’re all very curious and you all really want to know what I think so far, so I’ll go over some of the more prominent differences.
But, I know, I know, you’re all very curious and you all really want to know what I think so far, so I’ll go over some of the more prominent differences.
Big, bigger, biggest.
Everything here is giant and no, I’m not exaggerating.
For example: it takes ten minutes to get from my dorm room to the middle of
campus IF I walk briskly and (for the record) my dorm room is located on
campus, a medium drink in the McDonalds is 21 ounces (=0,62 l) while it is 13.5
ounces in Belgium (=0,4 l)… Every exchange student I’ve met so far has been
amazed by the sizes here. Some are horrified ("I just can't finish my meal!"), others think this is really funny ("Truly American").
Flags everywhere
Patriotism. It is such a strange concept
for us Belgians. Yes, we are happy to live there and yes, we are very proud if
for example our soccer team gets to the semifinals in the world championships,
but we would never put a flagpole with a Belgian flag in our yard out of pure
pride for our country.
Here in the USA there are so many. On campus, at police stations, at some stores, on cars, in gardens… Everyone just wants you to know how much they love their country.
Here in the USA there are so many. On campus, at police stations, at some stores, on cars, in gardens… Everyone just wants you to know how much they love their country.
The hard way
Americans really like making things
difficult.
For instance: when I was on the plane and I had to fill out the customs declaration form, I wasn’t sure about the flight number. I had already talked to the (American) man next to me and I knew he was very friendly (and talkative), so I asked him for help. He immediately started searching for some papers in his bag and then he said: “It is SN0040; write down 0040”. I was just about to write it down while he was putting away his stuff, but then he added: “It’s just 40.”
I did not know what to write anymore, so I asked again and he replied: “Just write down ‘swiss air 40’”
Out of pure exasperation I wrote it down as fast as possible before he could change it again.
And this is only one of the many examples I can give you. I haven’t even talked about applying for classes, trying to give permission to my agent to communicate directly with the university, moving in early… If there is a way to make things complicated, they will find it and use it.
For instance: when I was on the plane and I had to fill out the customs declaration form, I wasn’t sure about the flight number. I had already talked to the (American) man next to me and I knew he was very friendly (and talkative), so I asked him for help. He immediately started searching for some papers in his bag and then he said: “It is SN0040; write down 0040”. I was just about to write it down while he was putting away his stuff, but then he added: “It’s just 40.”
I did not know what to write anymore, so I asked again and he replied: “Just write down ‘swiss air 40’”
Out of pure exasperation I wrote it down as fast as possible before he could change it again.
And this is only one of the many examples I can give you. I haven’t even talked about applying for classes, trying to give permission to my agent to communicate directly with the university, moving in early… If there is a way to make things complicated, they will find it and use it.
Winter inside
As my mom warned me: the hotter it is
outside, the colder it’ll be inside. This might confuse you, so I have a
one-word explanation: air-conditioning.
As a tourist you might not notice this too much (except in certain restaurants), because you can usually program your air conditioner yourself, but (and this is a big one) on campus I cannot control any of the air-conditioning. Everything is “programmed using state guidelines” and with everything, I really mean everything. The dining areas, classrooms, hallways and –sadly- the dorm rooms. This means that if I sit still for too long in my own room, I have to get out a blanket to prevent myself from shivering uncontrollably.
How I will survive classes, I still have to figure out. I’ll keep you guys updated.
As a tourist you might not notice this too much (except in certain restaurants), because you can usually program your air conditioner yourself, but (and this is a big one) on campus I cannot control any of the air-conditioning. Everything is “programmed using state guidelines” and with everything, I really mean everything. The dining areas, classrooms, hallways and –sadly- the dorm rooms. This means that if I sit still for too long in my own room, I have to get out a blanket to prevent myself from shivering uncontrollably.
How I will survive classes, I still have to figure out. I’ll keep you guys updated.
Hopefully this was a satisfying answer so
far. If you still have questions, then please send them and I’ll be happy to respond
to you personally or in a future post.
-N
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