I followed the signs to get onto a freeway. I went along the on ramp, but before I reached the freeway, signs pointed me to an exit. Following the exit led me to another freeway. This was the freeway I wanted to be on.
Such navigation is common in America and I don't know how people got around before GPS devices. In Australia an on ramp is an on ramp and an off ramp is an off ramp. They are well spread out and clearly marked. In America an on ramp can become on off ramp. They can split and merge. And if you are not careful you can end up back on the freeway you just left.
Exits on freeways can be marked by exit number, the road or route number or the destination. Usually two of these appear, but you are never sure which two, so you have to remember all three. Or use a GPS.
Entrances to freeways can be well marked, but often are just a small sign with the route number and arrow right at the on ramp. Use a GPS.
When merging on to the freeway the entrance lane often quickly becomes an exit lane and if you don't get out of it you'll leave the freeway. As you try and merge left, you have to deal with the traffic merging right to leave. Fortunately, the lane is often twice the width of a normal lane, so this merging is somewhat easier. I wouldn't mind these wide lanes in Australia.
When leaving the freeway the exit can turn quickly so you often need to reduce your speed before you enter the off ramp.
Where I am everyone speeds on the freeway by about 5 mph. I've been told the police don't care unless you are going much faster. Quite different from the "Speed Kills" campaigns and cameras and fines I was used to in Australia.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Excuse me, keep to the right.
Americans abroad have a reputation for being loud and obnoxious. But in their native habitat they are incredibly polite. To an unnerving extent for an Australian.
I noticed this when I first went to the supermarket. I had to half squeeze past someone in an aisle and they loudly said "excuse me". Now in Australia someone would only say that to you to tell you off. But in the States they are genuine. It is what is said in that situation and it is said very formally. I'm still not sure what I'm meant to say back. Probably say "excuse me" as well.
When you first arrive this will happen to you a lot, because Americans drive on the right hand side of the road. This means they naturally walk past each other on the right side. Australians naturally pass on the left. I didn't believe that I did that until I came here and kept nearly running into everyone I passed. "Excuse me" they would say politely as we nearly collided.
I noticed this when I first went to the supermarket. I had to half squeeze past someone in an aisle and they loudly said "excuse me". Now in Australia someone would only say that to you to tell you off. But in the States they are genuine. It is what is said in that situation and it is said very formally. I'm still not sure what I'm meant to say back. Probably say "excuse me" as well.
When you first arrive this will happen to you a lot, because Americans drive on the right hand side of the road. This means they naturally walk past each other on the right side. Australians naturally pass on the left. I didn't believe that I did that until I came here and kept nearly running into everyone I passed. "Excuse me" they would say politely as we nearly collided.
Monday, April 30, 2012
You must be married
I rented a car once in the US in my name. I was with my partner and I asked if we both needed to show our licences to drive the car. "Are you married?", I was asked. This sounded a rather personal question to an Australian. However, for married couples, the partner did not need to show their licence!
There are not many situations where de facto relationships are treated differently to marriage in Australia. This is not the case in the US.
In fact the term "de facto" is not used in the States at all. (As I type this, my American spell checker underlines those words in red as misspelled words!)
Insurance forms, car rentals, hotel bookings, etc, all assume that if you are together you will be married. You won't see terms like "partner".
When a couple puts in a joint tax return, they put it in as "Married, filling jointly". Quite different from Australia, where "partner" is used (e.g. on the Family Tax Benefit website) to cover both married and de facto couples. The ATO uses "spouse", but defines it to include de factos.
A bigger effect is getting a Visa. Australians can get an employee sponsored E3 visa to live and work in the States. This is better than the H1B visa given to other foreigners because your husband or wife is allowed get an E3D visa and work in any occupation. But if your are de facto, they can't get an E3D. You have to actually have a marriage certificate.
There are not many situations where de facto relationships are treated differently to marriage in Australia. This is not the case in the US.
In fact the term "de facto" is not used in the States at all. (As I type this, my American spell checker underlines those words in red as misspelled words!)
Insurance forms, car rentals, hotel bookings, etc, all assume that if you are together you will be married. You won't see terms like "partner".
When a couple puts in a joint tax return, they put it in as "Married, filling jointly". Quite different from Australia, where "partner" is used (e.g. on the Family Tax Benefit website) to cover both married and de facto couples. The ATO uses "spouse", but defines it to include de factos.
A bigger effect is getting a Visa. Australians can get an employee sponsored E3 visa to live and work in the States. This is better than the H1B visa given to other foreigners because your husband or wife is allowed get an E3D visa and work in any occupation. But if your are de facto, they can't get an E3D. You have to actually have a marriage certificate.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Currency
For a capitalist nation American has a strange relationship with its currency. They have notes and coins that are rarely used. And if you give them anything over a twenty, they'll treat you like a criminal.
I know the 50 cent coin and the $2 note exist, but I've never seen one. What sort of strange conspiracy makes that work? Shop keepers don't get them from the bank, so never give them out as change, so no one ever has one. The same goes for the $1 coin, although I have got some from vending machines occasionally. Meanwhile, my wallet fills with $1 notes.
Schools teach children how to add and give change using pictures of quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies - but half dollars, not so much.
And it's not just the small denominations. I once tried to pay a $10 admission fee with a $50 note. The attendant was most put out. She looked at it and huffed and puffed. I think I was meant to react somehow, but I was just surprised by her antics. I mean, her till was full of $10 and $20 notes. It's not like she didn't have any change. She scratched it and held it up to the light before begrudgingly giving me four $10 notes as change.
This is not a once off. Whenever you try and pay with a fifty it will get scratched, because we all know that counterfeiters use ink that just rubs off.
So don't be surprised if you withdraw $500 from an ATM and get a handful of $20 notes. Anything bigger and you'd only have to go inside the bank to change it for notes you could spend.
I know the 50 cent coin and the $2 note exist, but I've never seen one. What sort of strange conspiracy makes that work? Shop keepers don't get them from the bank, so never give them out as change, so no one ever has one. The same goes for the $1 coin, although I have got some from vending machines occasionally. Meanwhile, my wallet fills with $1 notes.
Schools teach children how to add and give change using pictures of quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies - but half dollars, not so much.
And it's not just the small denominations. I once tried to pay a $10 admission fee with a $50 note. The attendant was most put out. She looked at it and huffed and puffed. I think I was meant to react somehow, but I was just surprised by her antics. I mean, her till was full of $10 and $20 notes. It's not like she didn't have any change. She scratched it and held it up to the light before begrudgingly giving me four $10 notes as change.
This is not a once off. Whenever you try and pay with a fifty it will get scratched, because we all know that counterfeiters use ink that just rubs off.
So don't be surprised if you withdraw $500 from an ATM and get a handful of $20 notes. Anything bigger and you'd only have to go inside the bank to change it for notes you could spend.
Traffic Lights
The US has far fewer traffic lights than we have in Australia. OK, not fewer overall, but fewer at each intersection.
In Australia there are always traffic lights facing you on both sides of the intersection. When they are red, you stop the car pretty much level with the lights. This is not the case in the US, and can be quite dangerous for newcomers.
In the US often the only traffic lights are on the far side of the intersection. This can take some getting used to, particularly at night. If you stop level with these lights you end up going through the middle of the intersection and stopping just before you leave it. This is incredibly dangerous and not recommended.
So what should you look for? There are usually pedestrian crossing lines on the road before you enter the intersection. Keep a look out for those and you'll be right.
In Australia there are always traffic lights facing you on both sides of the intersection. When they are red, you stop the car pretty much level with the lights. This is not the case in the US, and can be quite dangerous for newcomers.
In the US often the only traffic lights are on the far side of the intersection. This can take some getting used to, particularly at night. If you stop level with these lights you end up going through the middle of the intersection and stopping just before you leave it. This is incredibly dangerous and not recommended.
So what should you look for? There are usually pedestrian crossing lines on the road before you enter the intersection. Keep a look out for those and you'll be right.
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