What's it like living in the States?

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Hi Statto123. You'd asked about this in the "new members" forum. Ironically, I lived in Las Vegas from 1964 until 1976. Sure, I have no doubt it's changed since I last visited (in the early '90s) but let's put first things first.

What's it like living in the states? Well, the country is huge so it's tough to say what it's like. I imagine living in New York, NY is different than living in Anchorage, AK. There's no one "American" experience that applies to everywhere. Also, I've never lived in the UK so I can't really compare the two.

Las Vegas. The whole place is driven by the gaming industry. Sure, there are "normal" jobs, but the presence of gambling is everywhere. There are slot machines in grocery stores and drug stores. T.V. commericals are laced with ads on the latest shows at the casinos and who has the cheapest breakfast. To be honest, growing up there hasn't made me a big fan of the place.

On the other hand, there is really nice desert area around. The "Valley of Fire" state park is beautiful...all red sandstone formations. Red Rock is great for climbing if you like that. Mt. Charleston has winter skiing and Lake Mead has summer water skiing.

It's hot. Really hot. When I was a kid, there was hardly any humidity but with the population explosion, all the water used for swimming pools and green lawns, it's pretty humid now. Lots of sand. When a big wind storm comes up, you can end up with sand everywhere. Any crack or opening, however slight, will let sand in the house.

Of course it's also the city that never sleeps. If you like the nightlife, it's a good place to be. You can do practically anything you want anytime you want. Pick up some groceries at two a.m., no problem. There is lots of good entertainment and good food and it is a tourist mecca for the whole world.

All the things I did love about it are probably all gone. I know my fav restaurant is gone. So probably is the place I loved buying meatball sandwiches. I think the MGM Grand Hotel is gone. They had a terrific movie theatre that played all of the MGM classics using brand new prints. Instead of movie seats, they had two person sofas with a table in front of you. Push a button, and a cocktail waitress showed up to take your drink order. Movie going with style.

That's the best I can do. America, especially if you tour the country, is a beautiful place with lots to offer. If I had to pick a place to live, Las Vegas wouldn't be it, but I have to be honest, someone who didn't grow up there will probably appreciate it more. Besides, you're not too far from Callifornia and the many sites it has as well as Death Valley and the Grand Canyon.

Enjoy.

 

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When i lived in texas i noticed I had to drive to get anywhere hehe, I was so used to being able to walk across the road the do the grocery shopping and what not, hell my town is 2 mile stretch of road and along it we have a bowling alley, a pool, 2 cinemas, a go kart track, 2 bus garages, 3 train stations, 187 pubs/bars/restaurants and lots of shops scattered in between, at any point in the day I can walk out and count 10 or more buses within eyesight, and not wait more than 20 mins for a train

its alot different in most of the states, very few places have the public transport system that london has
but saying that, very few places in the UK have the public transport that london has, and in places like chippenham where my friends live, you have to drive everywhere

so i guess like trip said, everywheres different really, you have to get a bit more localised to really compare places

 

Thanks you for the comments, it is kind of you to say a few things. The reason i am going to the states is that My fiancee is american and live in Las vegas, while i am stuck in Emgland at the Moment. I am planning to get Married in may 2005 in Las vegas and live there before then. We was going to live together in England but my fiancee came over for a holiday just a few months ago. But we changed our mind as it was cold for her and the anti amercian feeling we recieved from a few people. Specially when she was travelling with virgin airlines, with people going up to her and saying i hate your president
I have been to las vegas before and i was made welcome by many people. Specially when they hear the english accent. I like the American accent and alot of things about the usa and when my fiancee said could we live in america, i jumped at the chance. It,s going to take alot of hard work as i know it is quite hard to get to live in America.
But i will get there and i am going over for a 3 week holiday soon.
Vegas is a great toutist location and i enjoyed it very much... One thing i like to do when i am over there for a holiday is to go to a Baseball game and have a few hotdogs lol, simple i know but i am a simple person

Thanks for listening, sorry for spelling mistakes lol

 

Echo AJ, statto - your GF clearly has had the misfortune to have an encounter with the narrow-minded minority.

For example, I doubt if our good ol' Tripwire would still around here if that was the prevalent attitude

 

Im in the same boat mate, my fiance is also american, and lives somewhere alot smaller than vegas lol (no offense trip) :P

AJ, i think people going upto americans and saying they hate thier preseident is a bad attitude
i dont think hating thier president is a bad attitude, but for god sakes people should keep thier opinions to themselves eh?

as for baseball, did that in canada at the skydome, great place
i prefur Ice Hockey though

 

None taken.

Actually, I'm surprised more Americans don't get messages like "I hate your President" when travelling abroad. Americans tend to be ungracious tourists. Most of us want to travel and see the world but we still expect to buy a Big Mac where ever we go and we get ticked off when we can't.

Actually, in the U.S., it's not uncommon for people to not like the President. It's called "freedom of speech". What's unfortunate about the "virgin airlines" incident is that an individual American was more or less being blamed for the President's policies, actions or whatever miffed the person making the rude comment. I hope she weathered it ok.

About the British accent...it's always been very popular here. I remember seeing a comedy skit on the Carol Burnett show many years ago. Dudley Moore did a bit as an Englishman visiting the U.S. People in the skit would act unfriendly to him until he began to speak. Then, after hearing his accent, they'd be quite impressed. Women would swoon.

While that's a bit of an exaggeration, British accents are popular here and at least most of the people I know they to make folks from other lands feel at home here.

As an aside, many of you know my 15 year old daughter is an AFS student who will be living in Japan for almost a year (she leaves next Monday <gulp>). We went to an AFS gathering last night and met students from many different countries. Both the Americans and the exchange students acted as sort of unofficial representatives of their nations. I'm sure my daughter will be called upon to perform a similar function while she's abroad. It would be great if we could all treat each other with friendliness and respect when we visit each other's lands. JMHO.

 

Thanks for the nice coments,

It,s just a shame that some people have to say unfair things about other people countries or cultures. The virgin airline incident was not good for my fiancee, She did get over it but it had put doults into her mind about living in England. Specially when she visited my doctor because she fell ill within 2 days of arriving in England, The doctor hardley had time for because she was a tempory resident.
I not going to let people,s comments made to her upset us, we are strong and will rise above all that.
Tripwire i hope your daughter has a great time abroad.
AJ thank u as well, not everyone treated her badly, all my family and friends totally loved her because she was a beautiful warm and lovely person. She put her bad experiences behind her and enjoy our time together.

Thanks

John

 

How did you meet statto123 if you dont mind me asking, was it over the net or on your hols?

 

Grrrrrr No such thing, I'm afraid Trip Actually, didn't you once nail me for assuming that all Americans had a Southern Texan draawl ?

I must agree with Phoenix, in that having feelings against a President, or a State, whatever, is not unhealthy (our democratic right, thank goodness). It's the act of taking it out on a random, innocent passer-by just because they have that particular accent.

Different if that person was being politically vociferous at that time, but as I imagine your GF was not actually on a pro-US soap-box rant, Statto, then I think that is unacceptable behaviour.

IMHO :roll:

 

Hi SimonV.

I don,t mind you asking. We met on the internet to start with and then i went over for a holiday and we took off from there. We still have the phone and constantly on the phone for 3 hours on sunday,s. I am due to back across to vegas at the end of april and looking to move to the states for good towards the end of this Year
My future is in America with my fiancee and we are looking to get married in May 2005.
Jakamoko, My fiancee was just sitting on the plane minding her own business when someone came up to her and said that bad coment about I hate your president it makes me mad , The person who said that was an older type of generation and should of known better. We have alot to thank the americans for. Me i am truely grateful for all the help. But it is a shame that there are still some narrow minded morons out there. but as they say Everyone is in-titled to their own view

Take care

 

More to be pitied than scorned then, mate.

 

I'm not saying anything about the UK and accents as such...just American perceptions of same. Folks that I've known have a particular perception about accents of people from the UK and how they should respond to them. Not actually trying to make an assumption here, Gav. Sorry if I was off base.

 

Just joshing with you Trip - my bad

 

I figured you'd caught me dead to rights, "Tex".