1. People = robots
Most Americans are like robots, they live according to the instructions, they have almost no flexibility in business. In the post-Soviet space, people are still much more flexible, it is possible to negotiate with them and resolve almost any issues. In the States, this will definitely not work, and often it comes to the point of absurdity.
In America, they almost never rebuild on the roads and drive along their own lane to the winning lane, even if their lane is stopped 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 negotiate with you will definitely pass, 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 don’t want to hear you and repeat the same phrases as per instructions, this is very infuriating, and you get 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 stores without taxes.
The so-called sales tax (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 is 10 dollars, then at the checkout you will pay 11 dollars, because 1 dollar goes not to the store, but to the state, and so on everywhere. Bought $150 worth of groceries for a week? Pay on top another 15 bucks. An iPhone in the most expensive configuration, costing $969, in fact, will cost you almost $1,100.
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, walking literally in rags. You can often meet young people in sneakers or sneakers with holes from which fingers 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 around in tight clothes to emphasize that they don’t 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 a country or a 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 take care of themselves at all. Many begin to take care of themselves, dress normally and do makeup only after 30 years, since in the modern mind of Americans, the age under 30 is, in fact, the second childhood. Most Americans under 30 do not do serious things, but have fun and get high. And you immediately understand why Hollywood actresses are becoming so popular - they stand out from the crowd with their appearance.
5. American hypocrisy
Surely you have heard more than once that Americans are very responsive, always smiling, asking how you are doing, and trying to help. This is true, but only in part.
In fact, there is nothing behind these smiles and questions. It's just common courtesy. 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 your back and not understand at all what is wrong with it.
Friendship in America is not at all like ours. There are more and more acquaintances from work, from college, from school, and not real friends in our understanding. Of course, there are exceptions everywhere, but I'm talking about my general impressions.
6. Eternal discontent of different segments of the population
I saw how our people live in the Russian regions. And after that, of course, you are amazed when you hear dissatisfaction in America from certain people. Here, constantly in the media or on the street, during numerous rallies, you can hear the 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 comes to the point of absurdity, and often the state really, seriously expresses concern about a particular problem and begins to do something about it.
I have an opinion - zazhralis. If local women, gays and blacks, knew how people live in other countries, they definitely wouldn't whine like that. A person quickly gets used to the good and demands more and more. Therefore, same-sex marriages are 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
In America, there is no any kind of own cuisine. Burgers, fries and steaks - that's all. The rest of the food is the cuisine of the peoples who live here. In addition, the restaurants have huge portions and all the food is somehow too voluminous and tasty. It's like they added a lot of flavor enhancers.
But the main problem in stores. You can't even imagine how popular semi-finished products are in the USA. There are entire departments in stores where you can even find plates with breakfast, lunch or dinner, which you just need to put in the microwave and warm up. This food is very fatty, harmful, it is not clear what it is made of, but it is advertised everywhere here, and there are really 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 all of this there are hundreds of types, much more than in Russia. If you are going to move here and raise a child, be prepared for the fact that the child will need to work out the issue of nutrition, explain that what his peers eat can lead to serious illnesses.
8. Homeless everywhere
This is a real problem, and it is very conspicuous, especially compared to Russia. There are a lot of homeless people here. Moreover, many of them live on the street not from a bad life, but just like that, because they are against the system. They behave very impudently - they come up to you, asking for money. If you answer that you don't have them, they tell you: so take it from your friend and give it to me. If you go with bags from the store, they will come and ask for something from the bag. In Moscow, a homeless person would have been punched in the face for such behavior.
9. Huge tips
The restaurant does not include tips in the bill, but they always tell you three recommended tips: 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 a tip 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 a $100 bill so you don't offend the waiter.
It is a well-known fact that medicine is very expensive in America and it is very difficult to live here without insurance. But even if you have insurance and you are going to have a serious medical intervention, you still have to pay 10% of the bill yourself. And without insurance, get ready for serious expenses ... A typical ambulance call will cost you $ 1,500, an appointment with an ordinary therapist - $ 200-300, ultrasound - $ 500.
The same applies to housing. You can't find anything without an agent and a decent commission. The adequate cost of the most ordinary one-room apartment is $ 2,000.
