Personal experience: what I don’t like in the USA at the household level
'24.06.2021'
Source: Yandex.Zen
In every country there are household shortcomings that confuse newcomers very much. What annoys her the most in the United States, the author of the "Expat's Blog" on the portal told Yandex Zen. Next - from the first person.
I have felt warm feelings for America since my first trip to Work Travel in 2011. In general, everything suits me in the USA, and it is completely possible that in the future we will choose this country for permanent residence.
Nevertheless, the United States is not a paradise on earth and, as in any country, there will always be moments that are a little annoying or not like.
Here is my list:
Shower without a hose with a watering can
Many in the shower do not have a hose with a watering can. I always have the feeling that I'm in the municipal pool, and not at home ... And it’s also not very convenient for children to wash without a hose.
On the subject: The holy of holies of the american house: what surprised me the bedrooms in the USA
In fairness, there is a tub with a hose in our grandmother’s bathroom in the house! She made repairs several years ago and ordered a hose specially for us.
But in our house (which we rent) there is no hose!
If the house is made of drywall, then it creaks
In America, many houses are made of plasterboard, with wooden floors. So, if this house is 20-30 years old or more, everything that is possible creaks in it.
Our stairs creak VERY hard. It is impossible to go down to the first floor and not make a lot of noise. It infuriates me ... Especially considering that I go for a run early in the morning and always worry that I will wake up my children and husband with my squeak.
Well, when children rush around the house, it seems to me that the house will fold like a cardboard one.
In winter, the house has very dry air
In many houses, they are heated through an air heater with forced air circulation (forced air heater). That is, heating is supplied not through pipes, but through the air. From this, the air in the house is very dry, and it immediately affects the skin. From the pros: you can adjust the temperature as you want.
Garbage collection on certain days
Garbage is removed on certain days once a week. And a lot of garbage is collected. Plus, at least on the northeast coast of the United States, everyone loves to sort their waste. In general, by the end of the week we have a hundred containers with various junk (jars, bottles, cardboard boxes, bags, cans). It's good that at least there is a backyard where all this can be stored until export ...
A lot of waste paper comes in the mail
To the question of garbage. Every day comes SO many waste paper from various banks, insurance companies, supermarkets and such nonsense that my eyes are poking over my forehead. After our trip to Mexico, we found several kilograms of waste paper in our name. And we were only 3 months away!
Glass front door
Many homes in America have double doors. First wooden, then glass. They annoy me a lot. It is inconvenient to open and close two doors when, for example, you also have purchases in your hands.
In supermarkets, purchases pack in a million bags
In no other country have I seen purchases stuffed into so many small bags. If you walk around without your reusable bags, you can bring 20-30 small bags home each time. This is how much waste !!!
Our family is trying to treat nature with care, so every time I see a million bags from other customers, it deeply upsets me.
On the subject: Empty streets, free water, huge portions: 20 facts that surprised a Russian in the USA
One thing is good: our state has banned the use of plastic bags since 2021. We'll see…
In many houses there is no chandelier on the ceiling - instead of them there are floor lamps in the corners.
Incidentally, I noticed this recently. Before that, I never paid attention, but in many houses there really is no chandelier in separate rooms. Instead, there are floor lamps in the corners. Yes, such light from the side gives a certain comfort, but, to be honest, the light is still not enough.
Overall very expensive internet
In the US, very expensive internet. For a month you can manage to pay $ 50. It also doesn’t catch everywhere ...
This time we tried a new company - Mint mobile, it has a very low tariff by American standards, in general, the connection is good. Now I have 8 GB for every three months for $ 35. Many people complain that in some states they do not pick up the connection, but we were lucky in the northeast, near large cities. We have the right coverage.
To resolve a pressing issue, you need to call
Any question. Whether it is to make an appointment with a doctor, get information from the bank, deal with insurance, and more. In any case, you have to call. All these conversations take a lot of time. On the other hand, in Spain, all issues were resolved only personally.
Original column published in column Expat Blog on Yandex Zen
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