Last Saturday we were celebrating my girl’s Bday and I realized it’s been a month since I came here. Sticking to Guy Kawasaki’s 10 rule (hope all the business students know who he is – for all others – google him, he’s definetely worth watching), let’s see what are the 10 lessons I’ve learnt over here.
#1 They really never been anywhere
Well that’s the sad truth. Starting with a woman I met in NYC telling me that was her first time to go to Europe (she was around 45) and then all over again. I’d say 1-to-10 ratio holds for my generation. 1 person out of 10 has ever left the country (well probably it works if we exclude Mexico).
If I had 50k debt I would probably also stay in country. And how many of Europeans of my age have been to the US anyway?
#2 Aussies are better off
I believed it is more a stereotype. “Speak British or Australian – all girls would be yours” – that seemed to be an American movie cliche. No, not at all. We have couple of Aussies over here and every time I meet one, his number has increased. Again. And again. You’d think it’s bullshit.. And I’ve seen the way a Starbucks girl’s face expression changed when she heard him speaking.. Not to mention our new favourite “under the bar” story from San Diego. I won’t give you any details, let your imagination go wild.
#3 Don’t believe your English teachers
15 years. I spent 15 years studying English all in all. Primary school, high school, university. They all told us the same thing: “it is can /k?n/ but can’t /k??nt/”. 15 years they make you do this. Judge you for not doing this. And then one day you come to the USA and people laugh at it and try to stop you. Why?
#4 Having in-state legislation is fucked up
You’re living in Colorado. You got your driving license with 15. You’ve driving for a year, then your family decided to move to New Jersey. There one gets a license with 17. Guess what? You have to wait a year to start driving again. Even though you’ve got the license already. And the worst part is – if you stay registered in CO, you could be still driving.
Crazy, isn’t it?
That also works for insurance companies – excuse a business student bringing it up. But that’s crazy. You move from one city to another one – you have to change the company. They all are under state jurisdiction. Some banks are also state. I guess I would never get it.
At least people do not have “Moscow” to blame for everything they don’t like.
#5 Bicycle IS a means of transport
Even after 2 years in Germany, I didn’t really take it for serious. A lot of people ride in Europe, true. But it is an option. Public transportation systems are quite efficient. Plus, when you’re at university you have a so-called semester ticket. So you don’t even have to consider how much it costs and so on.
Here it is different. To get anywhere (!), say campus, supermarket, restaurant – you need to drive. As it is not an option for an exchange student – the only thing you’ve left is a bike. I got mine for $55 and pretty happy with the purchase. That was probably the best 50 bucks I’ve ever spent in my life. 15 minutes and I’m at business school.
#6 Breakfast is the most important meal of the day
It’s not like I’ve never been eating in the mornings. And being quite a health-conscious person, I actually consider it an important part of my day. But here..
Remember in Europe, at a hotel – there are two types of breakfasts:
first – what we call “continental” – I got one of those in a motel close to Paris once. I thought “coffee and croissant” is an exaggeration. Apparently it is not. I literally got a coffe and a croissant. That was quite frustrating, I have to say.
second – what we call “American-style” is a real breakfast. Coming here I’ve realized it is actually the very American breakfast. They even have restaurants specializing in breakfasts (Aka diners) – opened mostly in the morning and having up to 10 pages of breakfast only menus. That is incredible. And not really expensive (depends on the place though).
#7 Home parties are so fucking popular because…
… people start college underaged.
You can’t by alcohol till 21. That would be understandable. But that’s only half of the story. You CANNOT DRINK till 21.
How does it work was my question? Do they test you for having alcohol in your system or what? Seemed to be an absolute absurd. Well.. They do. And if you’re caught drunk, you get an MIC – which stands for Minor in Consumption. People say up to 3 of those you’re alright. And then.. That would stay a mystery for me. But nothing good would happen for sure.
So you get to college, you’re 18-19. And you go from one home party to another and make everybody believe it is such a cool thing to do. Just because you don’t really have any choice.
At this point I remember those already mentioned too many times American movies where people have false IDs. Well, so far I’ve met only one guy who even mentioned (!) such an option.
#8 Your 21st Birthday is the best day of your life
Following up the previous one. I didn’t really believe the first story I’ve heard about the 21 B-day party. And then I’ve heard some more and more. And now I know how it works.
It is really simple:
Drink as much as you can. Pass out. Don’t forget to keep a count of the drinks you got.
Wake up in the morning. Tell everybody how many drinks you’ve had. How many bars you’ve changed and how many drinks you got for free because it is YOUR 21ST!
#9 Americans sing while driving
There’re top 20 country songs on the radio played all over again. Just learn them and sing with people. That is really as much fun on the road trips as we see on TV.
#10 Movies are not really exaggerating
Maybe that is because I am at the MOST partying campus in the entire country.
Maybe it is because it is +37 at the end of September here. But judging by what I’ve seen. Don’t ask me what’s going on around here – just watch an American movie about college.
Good or bad, those are the 10 things I’ve learnt in here. That was a great month and I am happy I got a chance to be here.
Cheers,
Elisabeth