Many people immigrate to the United States, but do you really understand it? Let's explore the "ten oddities" of the United States. Having lived in your home country for so many years, everything will be new to you upon arriving in the U.S. You have surely prepared yourself mentally, but you may need some time to adapt to the culture, customs, and lifestyle. Although you may have heard about the differences between China and the West, the fact that the United States is a nation of immigrants determines its many unique characteristics. It is understood that many students arriving in the U.S. for the first time find these ten things quite strange:
1. English on campus is neither American nor British
The United States is a nation of immigrants, and its relaxed immigration policy has brought many talented individuals to the country. From studies to work, the doors of the U.S. are open to outstanding talent. Therefore, in many high-tech industries, the proportion of foreigners is high, and this is even more true in schools. Do not imagine that you will be surrounded by foreigners speaking pure American or British accents; instead, you will see students from all over the world speaking English with various accents. You might not even know where you are for a moment. So, even if you speak "Chinglish," do not be embarrassed to speak up, and do not fear the English language. As long as you are fluent, having a slight accent is actually quite distinctive. If you are confident enough, you might even find it charming in the eyes of your friends!
2. Do not honk while driving
Americans drive very quietly, and honking while driving is considered very impolite. Upon arriving in the U.S., you will feel that everyone here is a model of traffic rule compliance. Occasionally, if you see someone breaking the rules, they will be heavily fined by the police. In fact, following traffic rules is for safety and smooth traffic flow, not out of fear of fines. When everyone follows the rules, there is no need to honk, which also reduces a lot of noise.
3. News does not broadcast world events
Some of my friends were very concerned about world events when they were in China. Now that they have arrived in the U.S., they turn on the TV every morning only to find that the so-called news programs are broadcasting local weather, traffic, accidents, etc. Even if an 8.0 magnitude earthquake occurs, it is only a five-minute summary with no follow-up reports. This quietness and sense of isolation make many people who have just arrived in the U.S. feel very unaccustomed.
4. Watching the Spring Festival Gala early in the morning
If you want to watch the Spring Festival Gala simultaneously with mainland China, you have to get up very early. 8:00 PM Beijing time is 4:00 AM in the Western United States. If you want to feel the atmosphere of your home country while abroad, you need to set an alarm clock.
5. Very few pedestrians on the street
Except for the downtown areas of some large cities, you generally won't see a single pedestrian on the street. I often hear friends who have just arrived in the U.S. ask: "Why are there no people on the street?" Americans own an average of 1.5 cars per person, so driving has naturally become a habit, even if the destination is very close. While driving everywhere seems convenient, it also makes people less willing to exercise. The serious obesity problem in the U.S. is likely related to this.
6. Building parking lots before houses
When Americans build houses, they build the parking lot before even laying the foundation. The parking lot covers a much larger area than the house itself and is very well-maintained. It makes sense; in a society that cannot function without cars, how could one live without a parking lot?
7. The .99 on price tags
For a product that is clearly worth 100, the price is written as 99.99. This type of consumer psychology warfare has a long history in the United States. American consumers only care about the numbers before the decimal point and are not accustomed to rounding up. Furthermore, 999 looks like it has one fewer digit than 1000, making it more acceptable.
8. No "villages" in the countryside
If you have the chance to take a walk in the American countryside and enjoy the fresh air, it is a great idea. However, if you are looking for a "village," you might be disappointed. American farmers live on their own land and never live together to form a "village." Due to their high level of mechanization, one family can manage a large area of farmland. In terms of quality of life, the difference between urban and rural areas in the U.S. is zero.
9. Cars yield to pedestrians
In China, people are used to yielding to cars, but in the United States, cars must yield to pedestrians. Otherwise, if an accident occurs, it is always the driver's fault.
10. No high-speed rail
The United States not only lacks high-speed rail, but trains are also not used for passenger transport. The functions of trains are primarily for freight and specialized tourist routes. Due to the development of highways, there are fewer freight trains as well. There are very few train lines used for tourism, and the trains are luxury models with very comfortable interiors. Therefore, when ordinary people go out for business, they drive for short distances and fly for longer distances; very few people take trains. Therefore, when choosing a school for studying in the U.S., geographical location is a very important factor. Schools in small towns have inconvenient transportation, making owning a car a necessity. If your family is not particularly wealthy, you should choose carefully.