Many Russians dream of a fabulous life abroad. Probably the most popular country for overseas dreamers is America. It is no secret that at different periods of time many artists, athletes, musicians and just citizens of the USSR moved to the United States. Currently, Russian people are traveling to the United States with the goal of getting an education, working, and starting a family.
However, finding themselves in a foreign land, immigrants from Russia are faced with many inconveniences and problems that they could not even think about at home. The settled way of life is very different here from the usual Russian way of life. A significant difference in mentality entails the difficulty of Russians perceiving some aspects of the life of ordinary Americans. Some rules and laws seem unreasonable to Russian people, and sometimes even ridiculous. Much is perplexing, and sometimes irritating among the settlers.
1. To buy a house you need to get permission from neighbors
Buying property in America can a citizen of any country. Of course, there is no official law that obliges the acquirer to obtain permission from neighbors. However, some points must be taken into account:
- New neighbors will immediately show a keen interest in the one who settled nearby;
- Will come to visit with pies without an invitation to ask questions regarding your life;
- Any non-standard (in their opinion) manifestations of your life, such as loud music, a party, guests or an improperly parked car, will be immediately reported to the police. Which will certainly entail a fine.
You don’t have to think that Americans are very evil people. They just care about their safety. This is quite normal for them. Locals do not consider it shameful to complain about a neighbor.
2. American food
The food culture, in the usual sense for a Russian person, is alien to America. Here, the industry of fast food and convenience foods is very developed. No one cooks at home the first second and compote.
The average American has breakfast and lunch in a cafe or inexpensive restaurant. The food here is prepared from the same semi-finished products. The main goal of catering is fast, satisfying and inexpensive.
Therefore, the portions are very large, plentifully flavored with ketchup, mayonnaise, butter and anything else. A huge number of amplifiers and taste enhancers literally “add up” the consumer to fast food. Obviously, such food cannot be called healthy. Hence the result - overweight people are found everywhere.
Stores also do not please with an abundance of useful products. Supermarket shelves are littered with frozen hamburgers, pizzas, sandwiches. The variety and range of such products has a truly grandiose scale.
3. American hypocrisy
Many immigrants from Russia are discouraged by the constant desire of Americans to ask a stranger: How are you?
An ordinary passerby can tell you: Cool shirt! In any store or at a gas station, the staff smiles so broadly and joyfully that it seems as if you are incredibly welcome here.
At first, such a manifestation of attention is very surprising and even pleasing. But after living in the USA for some time, it becomes clear that all such manifestations are nothing more than a habit. In fact, the passerby does not care about you, and the saleswoman will not smile after you. It is necessary to turn away and a serious mine will reign on the girl’s joyful face.
4. Lack of public transportation
America is a country of cars. Even high school students have their own car. The habit of driving a car has long and firmly entered the daily life of local residents.
Public transport more or less tolerably functions only in megacities. Smaller cities can safely do without public transport or with a minimal amount of it.
There are practically no regular buses. There are school buses that transport only children to and from school. An adult will not even be allowed into such vehicles.
There are several public routes. However, they walk very rarely, the length of the path is very limited. This means of transportation is used mainly by the poorest segments of the population.
5. Space prices for medicine and housing
Health care in America is tied to insurance. A working citizen pays an impressive amount of his income to provide health insurance. Moreover, even the availability of the necessary policy does not guarantee full coverage of treatment costs.
If there is no insurance, you will have to pay the full cost of all medical services.
- An ordinary specialist appointment will cost at least $ 200.
- Examination, analysis, ultrasound and more - from $ 300 and above.
- Ambulance call (911) - from $ 900.
- Dentist appointment - 350 $.
In fairness, it is worth noting that the quality of medical care in the United States is at a fairly high level.
The situation is similar in the housing market. Any acquisition and hire transaction is not complete without the participation of a realtor. Accordingly, the commission to the intermediary is added to the price of the house. Agent remuneration is at least 20% of the transaction amount. The average rental price of a small apartment varies in the region of $ 200.
6. Crime
America has gained notoriety thanks to criminal areas in which a respectable citizen is not recommended to enter. The free carrying of firearms is legalized by law. On the streets there are homeless people, tramps and other asocial personalities. Their behavior is characterized by arrogance, aggression. In the middle of the day, you can witness a robbery at a store or a chase with a shootout. One gets the impression of a complete lack of control by the authorities.
7. Lack of full maternity leave
To the birth of a child in the United States, you must carefully prepare and plan the upcoming event. The problem is that maternity leave does not exist in America. A woman who decides to become a mother must prepare in advance the material basis for her existence with the baby.
An employer can provide a short (up to two weeks) leave without pay. The subsequent expenses for raising a child are borne by the family exclusively from its own budget.
There are no childcare benefits in America. As soon as the baby was born, mom is forced to return to work. Here, each family decides for itself - to hire a nanny for the child or to leave mom in the role of a housewife.
8. Prices in stores excluding taxes
When shopping in American stores, you need to know the pricing features in this country. Price tags on products indicate only the value of the goods, excluding taxes. Thus, having typed a whole basket of products in a supermarket, and approximately representing the resulting total amount, you will find a surprise at the checkout.
The usual tax for everyone (in Russia it is VAT), is calculated only at the time of payment for the purchase. That is, if you planned to spend about $ 100, the cashier will tell you the price of interest at 10 higher.
This price system is explained by the fact that in America the sales tax goes directly to the state treasury, and not to the selling network. This is not a whim of shops, it is an internal state policy.
9. Ugly girls
Young Americans do not monitor their appearance. Young girls do not know how to paint, do not do hairstyles, do not follow fashion. The American lifestyle is generally indifferent to their own appearance. Therefore, young people look scruffy, even untidy. On the streets you can find a lot of full girls in tight clothes. The main criterion in choosing clothing for youth in America is convenience. That is why girls from Russia compare favorably with local residents.
10. Attitude towards immigrants
Americans relate to people from other countries in different ways. This is not to say that the locals are hostile to visitors. It all depends on the specific situation. In many ways, the immigrants themselves provoke a negative attitude towards themselves. Where people from other countries live, work, comply with the law and local customs, as a rule, there are no problems in relations with the local population.