I like to call a spade a spade and tell it how it really is. Before I came to California I had my own pre-conceptions about what US life was all about - 2 ½ years later and its time to squash those urban myths.
Myth No 1 Food is Cheap
Yes people definitely do eat out more than back in the UK but whilst the menu might start off looking reasonable enough but by the time you’ve added on sales tax and your 18% tip the bill quickly adds up.
However, a lot of fast food chains do promote their products solely on price. So if you aren’t too fussy about taste or quality, yes you can buy a burger for less than a dollar. Yay I’ll have two!
Myth No 2 Americans like to talk
Do not confuse like to talk with sociable – there’s a subtle difference. Americans do like to talk - you’ll hear someone’s whole life story, warts and all, whilst you wait in line for your take-away. However, don’t expect them to be that interested in hearing yours. Likewise, although your co-workers will be happy enough to chat at the water-cooler don’t expect them to invite you over for dinner. Americans like to protect their privacy.
Myth No 3 Gas Prices are cheap
True - petrol is currently about half what you pay in the UK but there again you’ll use twice as much. A US gallon is smaller and so is your petrol tank; your great big SUV doesn’t do many MPG and you’ll spend an awful lot of time stopping and starting at traffic lights. Penny for penny over the course of your car’s lifetime you’ll probably end up paying the same.
Myth No 4 America is the Land of the Free
Free to practice whatever religion you like? True - America is a very religious country, it is also extremely conservative and amazingly intolerant. Anything goes here in Southern California but there will be plenty of other states where you wouldn’t want to go around advertising the fact that you’re a gay heathen democrat who needs an abortion. On the other hand, Catholicism, Judaism, Lutheranism, Evangelism, Presbyterian, Mormonism, Buddhism – you name it and they’ll be someone preaching it. If you can’t find something that suits, just start your own cult.
Free to shoot your neighbour if he steps onto your property? Absolutely - go for it!
Free to take a bottle of wine on your picnic? Not here! The consumption of alcohol is not permitted in public places so that bottle of bubbly is banned from the beach. Incidentally, so are you, after 10.00 pm.
Also not allowed after 10.00 pm – under 18’s. Yes most towns will have a teenage curfew, so whilst your teenager is free to get a licence to drive a car at 16, if she is sat in it necking with her boyfriend after 10.00 pm she will be escorted home by the police.
America has tied itself up in knots with a multitude of petty rules and regulations. Always remember what state you are in - just because you are free to do something in one, it doesn't automatically mean you are free to do it in another.
America has tied itself up in knots with a multitude of petty rules and regulations. Always remember what state you are in - just because you are free to do something in one, it doesn't automatically mean you are free to do it in another.
Myth No 5 The Super Bowl is a Major Sporting Event
Complete fallacy! The Super Bowl is a major media driven circus. Three million dollars bought 30 seconds of TV advertising. I can’t tell you who won the football but I can tell you which advert has been voted best in show – Dorito’s. American Football isn’t a game of four quarters, it’s a game of 50 commercial breaks. I wouldn't be surprised if next year they decide to cut out the match altogether.
Thank you for a very interesting and insightful post. I have moved to the US from Europe one year ago and dismantling the myths that I brought with me took the better part of that year. I can particularly relate to myth Nr. 4. I often feel that there are too many rules in place here. I was in particular struck by the extensive credit and background checks that many employers run on you here even in case of simplest jobs, like a clerical assistant. I know someone who works in IT and they had to sign a statement authorizing their employer to do medical tests on them if the employer believes that they are under drug influence. What else can one add to that... Supposedly somebody said that "America is never a country you think it should be". I wish there was a way to find out about it when before coming here.
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