How long the adjusting period was?

[StillThePrettiest 3]

thank you

but that's not SENSE, it's an incantation

[bora bora 1]

Thanks everyone.

[Alex+R 0]

One thing which drives me crazy is that I sometimes simply don't know what is "appropriate" and what is "not appropriate" in the US.

I've learned that many things which are totally and completely ok in good ol' Germany are a TOTAL no-go in the US, and what I consider as being absolutely unacceptable is absolutely all-right in America....

ooo, like what?

Well, I'm known as the "girl who comes straight to the point" here in the office.

I simply wasn't used to the polite phrases and questions at the beginning of a conversation. I have to handle a lot of phone calls and from Germany I'm used to coming straight to the point, no "how are you today" or "are you ready for the holidays yet", I'm usually more like "Hi, I'm calling about...."

I really have to force myself to bring these conversation starters in. Customers calling here now tell me I don't waste any time! But I know I sometimes come across as rude, and I feel bad about it afterwards.

I'm also a lot more "honest" and less polite than my American counterparts. I tend to tell people what I think - not good at times. I'm working on that, too, though.

I seem to be doing alright, whenever I come back to Germany people tend to look at me and say "quit beating about the bush, what do you want??"

Aww, that's particularly painful in Minnesota. I'm from there and I know we REALLY expect those kinds of polite phrases and conversation starters or we think you're rude. That was hard for Rey in some ways. When Minnesotans go into the rest of the country, we are often alarmed by how blunt and (seemingly to us) rude the other Americans can be. We don't understand why anyone would "get to the point."

[Ovaltine Jenkins 5]

So would someone clarify to me why getting straight to the point is/would be considered as rude at some parts of USA?

[Caladan 19]

So would someone clarify to me why getting straight to the point is/would be considered as rude at some parts of USA?

Because people expect a preamble, especially from women.

[Mags 112]

I've adjusted pretty well, I reckon. The main thing I have an issue with is the temps. I'm only just getting used to the Fahrenheit temperatures and I'd still rather use the Celsius; it just doesn't seem cold when someone says it is 14f.

Food is my other thing. Too much sweet stuff and I do miss some UK foods too.

People wise I've not many rude people, most are really nice to me and very welcoming. One thing that did take a bit of getting used to is the "uh huh" that people use when you say "thanks". I'm used to people saying "thank you" back to a "thank you". Here they will do the "uh huh" which sounded a little rude to me at first. It isn't rude at all, of course, and I even catch myself saying it now and again.

[StillThePrettiest 3]

it took me at least a year or two to adjust to living here in the UK... in some ways, of course, I still haven't, but I feel much more part of things now than at the beginning

of course, that just makes ANOTHER move that bit harder to contemplate...

no second thoughts, but I know damn well how hard it's going to be

[mnieto 2]

I remember the first time I ever saw a garbage disposal in the sink.....

When Mitch dumped the left-overs of the salad in the sink and flipped on that weird thing I was like, what the heck is

THAT ?????

My fiance just cracked up when he saw this expression on my face.....

[KimandRuss 0]

What a great topic!

Russell and I have yet to file for our K1 and he is back in NZ now ...but we did live together for more than a year and a half both in NZ and Australia and in the U.S.

We had known each other for 8 years before we 'got together' and once we were in each others arms it really did just feel normal and right. Everything else is just a learning experience for us now and usually gives us a giggle.

One thing he needed to acclimate himself to here was tipping. When I was 'down under' I was constantly trying to tip people. I think they thought I was out of my mind. We lived in a small mining community in Australia for a while and I remember having a day at the spa and tipping the girls a good $50. I thought they'd drop! :lol

I also got a giggle each time I was asked..."how ya goin'" by one of the locals in the Australian outback. Took me a bit to figure out.

The people I met in NZ were all VERY nice. Alot like the people here..just with different accents. :lol

Now I consider myself an intelligent person but after having to get used to the time differences and factoring in daylight savings and the differences in words and statements and their meanings for close to a decade of online relations, I just can't be bothered with the Miles vs. KM and Celcius vs. Fahreinheit thing anymore. I just ask him now! He's the one with the masters degree! :lol

[zqt3344 21]

It has been a work in progress to say the least! Things are so different here compared to Eastern Europe, you know what I mean it is like a whole new world all at once.

Hi guys, just wondering. Those of you who already are living together. Did you have major or minor problems adjusting to each others household, way of doing things, habbits or whatever and if so how long did it take for you to get used to all those changes. Same question for moving and living in a new country (for lotsa people so far away from home). Was your adjustment period short or long or did you not even notice? Maybe also depends what country the person comes from I guess?

Take care all of you

[KimandRuss 0]

It has been a work in progress to say the least! Things are so different here compared to Eastern Europe, you know what I mean it is like a whole new world all at once.

I'm sorry it's been hard for you. When there is more of a cultural difference it must be difficult to adjust. I hope you soon feel at home here.

Edited December 8, 2007 by KimandRuss

[bora bora 1]

Oh tips...

My husband loves that Americans tip. He made $50 on one job today - and that's not abnormal.

Brazilians don't tip (which is fine with me when I go there....)

[Alex+R 0]

Oh tips...

My husband loves that Americans tip. He made $50 on one job today - and that's not abnormal.

Brazilians don't tip (which is fine with me when I go there....)

Hehehe when Rey got here, I think it's fair to say he felt a little ripped off with all the tipping... now occasionally he doesn't know when to tip and sometimes tries to tip people who shouldn't be tipped. Once he tried to tip the FedEx guy!

Edited December 9, 2007 by Alex+R

[sereia 0]

Oh Abdou thinks we're all CRAAAAAZY to tip 15-20% on food at restaurants! Wait till I tell him all the other places people are supposed to tip! We've definitely had a bit of a challenge adjusting to each other, and him adjusting to America since his arrival in July. Its definitely a work in progress and gets easier by the day! I asked him a million and one questions before we were ever engaged, then another million before he arrived... but nothing can really prepare you for what its really like until they're here.

I thank VJ a lot for reading about experiences. It helps to know you aren't alone in this situation!

Edited December 9, 2007 by sereia

[melusine 5]

I have some things to say about that one even if i'm not there yet !

First a few things you need to know about me :

i lived in los angeles for a year 10 yrs ago

i'm a french speaker

i come from france (so french culture), and live in french canada for the last 8 yrs (then also canadian culture)

in the first adaption i had to live (france to canada) (and i see everyone going through that) is that the first year and a half you need to compare (and eventually tell about it) everything... (sometime it can go on people nerves a little bit)...it's not really to criticize but i think it helps to integrate all the new things.

since i know already california i can already say....

some expression that makes me go crazy (and not the good way)

the... honey at the cashier or restaurant ... still kinda like someone said earlier

the... i'm gonna let you go ... when actually it's the other person that needs to go... (makes me feel like... hey don't tell me what i'm suppose to do... if you need to go say it ! (cultural difference))

the... good for you (feel like i don't care.. i know sometime it can mean that but not all the time.... i would have expect the other person to ask question about the subject or talk about it... not to aknowledge how good it is...)

the... good girl (for kids or whatever) (feel like you are talking to a dog)

I think thoses are my biggest ones for now

I have the chance to have a future husband very willing to explain how the how and why of things... beeing very patient... it helps !

Anyone else have some to share ?