Eskimo

Where do you live ? not LA ! - our house doubled in value from 2000 to 2004 and has risen by 80k in the last 8 months. Its totally out of control - we are really lucky as we have a subsidised relocation mortage at 0% from my company but I have no idea how people afford to buy here. We have made 3 job offers to people from the midwest this year with salaries all above 120k and not one of them said they could move here due to house prices.

Bob

****...i'll move out there and live out the boot of our car for a salary like that *lol*

Lesley1020

Couldn't agree more on that one... down to my own experiences, trying to have a discussion with anyone about politics, or any serious matter where you have your own opinion, I've been shot down in flames more time than I care to remember, with the attitude of "it's my (our) way or the highway".

Narrowmindedness of people still shocks me every day - as does the general ignorance to anything that goes on outside the USA (although I was greatly surprised today at the huge interest of everyone in my office about Prince Charles' upcoming nuptials!)

The emphasis on religion, I was totally unprepared for - even knowing I was coming to the bible belt - nothing could have prepared me for that.. In fact a friend of mine who has 2 kids under 10 and I had a little "incident" last week when I was babysitting her kids and her 6 year old son asked me what "gay" meant. I told him that was something he needed to ask his mum about - which he promptly did the second she walked through the door. She sat him down and went into great detail about Jesus and the bible and how he had to understand that gay people were pure evil and would burn in hell. :scared: Of course, against better judgement, I couldn't keep my mouth shut and a war of words ensued!

Next one - racial issues. OK, I know this is the South, but the intolerance and use of derogatory words to describe black people is a bone of contention for me with many of my collegues and some friends. They tell me I just don't understand, and they are right, I never will.

Food. Sucks. Blech. (Bread being top of the list) Call a bloody biscuit a biscuit will you people!

On a positive note - I think the "dream" exists to a certain level. Just depends what your dream was. I definitely enjoy a better lifestyle here, as in weather, the location of where I live and the facilities on my doorstep, but I work a hell of a lot harder, and many more hours in exchange, all in all - I feel (most days) the trade off is worth it.

NC Penguin

[QUOTE=DebraJulia] Please give examples about the cheese on everything.

For me, I wasn't prepared about the number of sodas/fizzy drinks that Americans consume. Correction, I think Southerners consume far more sodas than Northerners, possibly because of the "free" refills offered everywhere.

I'm one of very few in my office who hardly drinks sodas at work. Never drank them regularly and have no interest in drinking more. I certainly don't like drinking soda with meals but I usually have to when I go out to eat (unless it's an ethnic restaurant where I have additional choices of beverage).




NC Penguin

Lesley1020

Almost forgot... the men, they were the biggest disappointment of all. Hee hee.

Jabba1

Yep, we aim to please