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Adapting to America: small things, huge differences
Anyone travelling through the United States for the first time soon discovers that it is not only the landscapes that are different.
Even the smallest everyday things turn out to work just a little differently. Often not difficult, but always surprising.
1. Every faucet comes with its own set of instructions.
One turns left, another turns right. Some have to be lifted, others pulled out. Some require a quarter turn, while others need a full twist.
And the shower faucet? It sometimes looks as if it were designed like a slot machine lever. One wrong move and you’re rewarded with a blast of freezing cold or scalding hot water.”
2. A world of coffee machines.
No two devices seem to work the same way.
One uses pods, another capsules, and a third one has a completely different system altogether. Making a simple cup of coffee can sometimes feel like a challenge.
3. A myriad of flavoured creamers
You think you’re adding milk to your coffee, and suddenly your coffee tastes like vanilla, caramel, or even doughnuts.
Regular milk in America seems to constantly need improving. Half-and-half is the safest choice.
Even coffee comes with all kinds of added flavours. Without noticing, I had bought mint-flavoured coffee at the supermarket. Gross!
4. A kitchen is not always just a kitchen
The booking site may say ‘kitchen’, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be able to prepare a meal there.
You’ll most likely find a microwave, fridge, and coffee machine, but no cooking stove.
You may want to check this if you’re planning to cook.
5. The trafficlights are posted behind the crossroads
For Europeans, this feels very unusual at first. As you approach an intersection, you may think you have already gone past the traffic light, only to realize that it is hanging on the far side of the road.
6. Turning right at a red light
In many states, you can turn right on red, provided you stop first and make sure you are not obstructing or endangering other traffic.
At first, it feels almost as if you are driving through a red light.
7. School buses have absolute priority
A stopped school bus with flashing lights is treated as sacred.
Even when you are approaching from the opposite direction, you are still required to stop.
The fines are steep.
8. Airconditioning at freezing temperatures
Outside, it is 38°C. The moment you step inside, it feels as if you have entered a freezer.
Taking a sweater with you to a restaurant or supermarket is definitely not an unnecessary precaution.
9. Everything comes in large portions
A salad can easily be a meal on its own. A pizza for two can sometimes feed a family of four. And a medium soft drink is often bigger than what we would consider a large back home.
Whatever you cannot finish is simply packed up for you to take home. It is something all Americans do.
Sometimes it feels as if the portions are deliberately designed so that you can take half of your meal home.
10. Distances are relative
‘Nearby’ has a very different meaning in America than it does in Europe. A twenty- or thirty-minute drive is often considered to be just around the corner.
Some people in Austin even drive 180 km to reach the nearest supermarket.
11.The price you see on the shelves is not the price you pay
Sales tax is usually added only at the checkout.
Something priced at $9.99 often turns out to cost more once you reach the checkout.
12.Tipping is part of the culture
In restaurants, a tip of 18 to 25 percent is often expected nowadays.
Payment terminals now often display several tip percentages for you to “choose” from. Read more.
13. Free refills
Your glass of soda, iced tea, or coffee is often refilled for free in many restaurants.
A habit you quickly come to appreciate.
14. Privacy in public restrooms? Just don’t think about it too much
The doors often do not fit tightly, leaving a gap underneath that a cat could easily slip through. You can also hear almost everything your neighbours are doing.
It takes some time getting used to, but the restrooms are often surprisingly clean.
15. Water is served automatically
Before you have even placed your order, a large glass of ice water is often already waiting on the table – and it is topped up again and again without you having to ask.
16. Fuel is measured in gallons (3.8 litres)
16. Fuel is measured in gallons (3.8 litres)
And in most places, you have to pay first before you can start filling up your tank.
The prices may look cheap at first, until you do the maths and convert gallons into litres. Even so, gas still costs only about half of what we pay in Belgium.
17. Hotel breakfasts: always a surprise
Belgian waffles, sausages, scrambled eggs, yoghurt, toast and coffee… and sometimes the “breakfast” is nothing more than a cookie wrapped in plastic.
18. The mystery of four-way stops
At a four-way stop, the rule is simple: the first car to stop is the first one allowed to go.
If two cars arrive at the same time, the driver on the right goes first. Surprisingly, the system works remarkably well.
19. Laundromats are still alive
Where laundromats have almost vanished in Belgium, they are still a common sight in America.
They are often social hubs where people chat and catch up while their clothes are washing.
I actually found the laundromat in Ely quite cosy. A load of laundry (40 minutes) costs just €3, while the dryer costs $1 for 20 minutes. Read more.
20. The American flag is everywhere
From private homes and farms to garages, campgrounds and public buildings – even on roadside crosses – the Stars and Stripes are a constant presence.
To Europeans, it can sometimes feel surprisingly patriotic. Personally, I liked it. After all, when our Belgian football team wins, don’t we also proudly fly the Belgian flag?
21. Ice, ice and more ice
Order a soft drink and half the glass is usually filled with ice cubes.
Americans seem to believe that a drink is only properly cold when the glass contains more ice than the actual drink. Of course, you can always ask for no ice.
22. Everything is bigger in America
It’s not just the cars and the roads. Parking spaces, refrigerators, washing machines, shopping carts, soft drink cups, hotel rooms and even packaging are all bigger than what we are used to.
In the US, one serving is considered to be 240 ml, while in Belgium it is only 100 ml.
America seems to be built on a scale just a little bigger than ours. That is part of its charm, but it can also be surprising. Especially when you order a small drink and get a cup that would easily be enough for an entire Belgian family.
23. Every TV in motels and hotels seems to have a different interface that is almost impossible to figure out.
24. The “first floor” is the ground floor, not the first floor as Europeans would expect.
25. A Styrofoam cooler is a real pain. Buy a large plastic cooler straight away. You can already find them from around $20.
26. If there are pickup trucks parked outside in front of the restaurant, you know you’ve come to the right place.
27. Breakfast belongs in a café, while alcohol is something you’ll find in a bar. In many diners in Utah and Arizona, alcohol is simply not served.
28. Don’t leave your ESTA application until the last minute
29. Bring more than one payment card and some cash when travelling to America. Sometimes a card simply won’t work, or a place only accepts cash. There is always something that catches you by surprise. Believe me!
When we went shopping at WinCo, cash was the only payment method accepted.
29. And the most important tip of all: get an America the Beautiful Pass. It costs $250 for non-US residents and covers one vehicle and everyone travelling in it.
If you visit several national parks during a road trip, you’ll quickly get your money’s worth from the America the Beautiful Pass. And let’s be honest: for so much natural beauty and unforgettable experiences, it still is a bargain.
30. And for those connecting to a US flight at Schiphol in the Netherlands: allow at least two hours for your transfer.
Not only because of the long queues and delays at passport control, but also because the arrival and departure halls are quite far apart. Be prepared for a long walk – and maybe even a sprint if you are short on time.
All jokes aside, we very nearly missed our connection because our first flight was delayed. We also saw quite a few other travellers miss their flights.
Knowing these things in advance can save you from quite a few surprises!
I already briefly touched on this in point 12: tipping is an established part of the bill in the United States, but the way tips are requested and expected continues to generate a lot of debate. Read more about this in our next story.
Emma