Yes, it is really 100 days since we officially entered the United States with our visa.
Enough time to share some of our experiences.
Traffic
Speed limits:
Drive at least 5 - 10 mph faster than stated on the signs or head to your garage immediately to have your speedometer checked.
Traffic lights:
Green - go
Yellow - go, accelerate when possible
Red - go, ACCELERATE!
Stop lines:
Try to get as much of your car as possible in front of the stop line (i.e. closer to the crossing traffic).
If you want to become "Driver of the Year" be sure to be first in a row of cars stopped in front of the stop line.
Parking:
Park your car as close as poosible to the shop entrance. ignore markings, size of parking spot or size of your car.
Engine:
Make sure the engine of your car can be started by remote control.
Choice of car:
Stay away from micro cars like Smart, Fiat' 500 - you're sure to get lost in potholes.
Administration
DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles):
Getting a driver's licence is the hardest part of your immigration process. Make sure to bring lots of patience, time, documents (in case you don't have enough, mail some to yourself) and willingness to explain your lack of documents. Be prepared to come to the office at least 3 times.
Personnel:
DMV personnel is selected for rudeness, longest fingernails or being most uninterested.
Tidiness:
Ever been sitting in an office cubicle looking at the assistants Uggs (wearing flipflops in the office), uneaten food, piles of paper etc. while waiting for your request to be dealt with?
Registration:
Show your car registration to enroll your daughter at school.
Work
The USA is a very diverse country. But did you know that most of the akward jobs are done mostly by Onlies and Noblies. Thomas knows who I am talking about. Everyone else take an educated guess.
Restaurants
Almost 50% of all diners in Connecticut have Greek names, Greek innkeepers and offer Greek food.
Big chain restaurants (e.g. TGI Fridays, Outback, Chili's) are currently underpricing each other aggressively.
Language
When speaking German we usually are addressed by passers-by. Not so now and here. A sign of the proximity of the melting pot New York City?
More to come (including German translation).
