Living In USA

World sympathy for the United States was genuine and heartfelt in the weeks following 9/11. When the U.S. military dismantled the Taliban in Afghanistan and destroyed the camps used to train terrorists, the world largely supported us. But the U.S. decision to launch a pre-emptive, all-out war in Iraq, despite the reservations of much of the world, has inflamed passions against the United States. Even some of our staunchest allies no longer support us.

This is not to say that George W. Bush made the wrong decision when he opted to invade Iraq without the world's support. The point is that regardless of what any of us thinks about the decision to go to war when we did (and the way we did it), we must accept the fact that much of the world disapproves of our action. This shift in the way the rest of the world views us will have a profound effect on our relationships for many years to come. Within eighteen months of the French newspaper Le Monde's headline, "We are all Americans," an overwhelming portion of the world no longer views us with sympathy, but with fear and distrust.

The torture and other abuses of Iraqi prisoners have further eroded the world's opinions of the United States — and, I daresay, our opinions about ourselves. The claim of moral authority, long suspect to much of the world, is at last being widely questioned at home as well.

The United States of the early twenty-first century faces serious issues. The end of the Cold War has left us with the obligation to seek out a new paradigm. If you make this country your home, even for just a few years, they will become your issues are well.

The Effect of September 11, 2001
For many Americans, perhaps for most of us, the tragic events of September 11, 2001, "changed everything." On that day, foreigners attacked and killed thousands of civilians in our country. Certain aspects of that day are likely to continue to influence our political and social outlook for many years to come. We naively believed that such a large-scale attack was not possible here. We also believed that some people hate us solely because we are Americans. The hijackers all legally entered our country and lived among us, some of them for years.

The fact that we in the United States have lost our innocence is resonating throughout our geopolitical world. Fear is driving our politics, and to some degree, the rest of our lives as well. Most Americans have a great deal of difficulty understanding how one person can hate another because of his or her nationality. After all, we see ourselves as individuals first, and only then as Americans. And as Americans, we believe that while not perfect, we are always well-intentioned. Perhaps most of all, many Americans were shocked that the hijackers entered the country perfectly legally. What many of us found the hardest to believe is that anyone could live among us — some of them for years — and still hate us so much. After all, aren't we a friendly people? Isn't this the land of opportunity? We wonder, "Couldn't they see that for all our corporate scandals and foreign policy mistakes, we really mean well?"

Fear and doubt, then, are driving our national agenda. There is a political voice in this country that asks whether 9/11 is at least partly a result of a country that has gone soft, weak, and too willing to let anyone into this country. Attempts to restrict immigration and to punish those who immigrate illegally are underway. There are, sadly, many Americans who feel that our government is justified in considering all Arabs and Muslims a threat. Juxtaposed to this, Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the United States, spurred partly by the tremendous curiosity many Americans feel about the religion, a curiosity that turns into respect and admiration for a faith practiced by a quarter of the world's population.

Threats to our civil liberties are being accepted on a daily basis, despite the warning, often attributed to Benjamin Franklin, "Those who would sacrifice their essential liberties for a little safety will soon have neither." Government officials continue to appear with disturbing regularity to announce some new vague threat to our lives. Our color-coded Terror Alert System blinks from yellow to orange and back again, despite the fact that almost no one knows what it means.

Not all of the effects of 9/11 are based on fear and doubt, however. A significant segment of society has begun a process of self-reflection to a degree not seen before. Many people are asking themselves questions such as, what policies are we, as a nation, engaged in that could breed such hatred? What liberties are we willing to forgo in order to feel safer and more secure, and which ones are we not willing to give up? And our strong sense of individualism means that most of us are willing, even eager, to assess each individual we meet on his or her own characteristics.

There are many people who do not want to become deeply involved in American activities but who are still interested in learning about the country. If you are among this group, you are welcome to take tours of workplaces. It is easy to watch a nation work when you visit people at their jobs.

If you cannot find out about possibilities through your friends, just call the place of business that most interests you (factory, farm, store, etc.) and ask for the public relations department. They will be able to tell you whether they have tours (some factories schedule them regularly) or whether you can visit on your own. Tell them where you are from and why you are interested. In most cases you will find that people are friendly and pleased to have you visit as their guest, although they may first check with your office to make sure you are who you say you are. Your local Chamber of Commerce and city information center are also good sources.

Since 2001, many places that used to be open for public tours — power plants, water treatment facilities, and the like — are very reluctant to permit public access. In addition, we have in general become more cautious about unexpected visits by strangers, so be sure to make arrangements in advance. This way people know you are coming, and you can know that your visit will be convenient for them. Then, be on time. If you must be late, be sure to telephone. You generally do not tip or pay any fee (except for factories that have become tourist attractions), but a thank-you letter afterward will be much appreciated.

You can visit most kinds of factories and watch men and women working at heavy industry, precision manufacturing, or food processing. You can call on various kinds of schools, watch courts in progress, listen to hearings before government committees, and attend town meetings or meetings of school boards. Rarely are any of these private. Usually the public is admitted, although sometimes only by previous arrangement. Often there are tours for the public "behind the scenes" in such places as department stores, post offices, or newspaper plants. Again, contact the local Chamber of Commerce.

In this country you should not be shy or retiring. A little effort on your part will provide you with a great deal of insight into the American way of life. We welcome guests, we are flattered to have people interested in what we are doing, and we are proud to show them what we have.

Newcomers to the United States often find it difficult to participate in the particular sports they enjoy. Actually, it need not be so. Almost all sports are available everywhere, even in a crowded city such as New York. One of the first places to investigate if you are interested in swimming, tennis, badminton, gym classes, modern dance, or any indoor sports is the nearest Jewish Community Center, YMCA, or YWCA. Most of these are well equipped and provide excellent facilities for reasonable fees. There are fancier and more expensive facilities for all such sports as well, often at clubs or hotels. Also, don't forget that any good bookstore has books on virtually every kind of sporting or recreational (including travel) activity by locality. Some colleges and universities also sell memberships to their indoor sports facilities, which are often of excellent quality.

Swimming
Many swimming pools are open to the public. In addition to those run by the YWCA or YMCA, others are operated by the cities or towns themselves or by hotels or swimming schools. When weather permits, there are often public pools and beaches available within a reasonable distance. Usually these can be reached by public transport — either bus or train — as well as by private car. Look in the Yellow Pages under "Swimming" or "Sports."

Other Sports
Read the newspapers or look in the telephone book under the name of whatever sport interests you: ski clubs; walking clubs; fencing, gymnastics, judo, karate, and aerobics classes; ice skating; squash and racquetball clubs; bicycle clubs; bowling clubs; riding groups; and bird-watching clubs. Golf and tennis are very popular. In addition to private clubs, nearly all cities maintain numerous tennis courts and golf courses, which are open to the public for a fee. Soccer (football) has gained popularity in recent years, especially in programs for children. Cricket, however, is still very hard to find, although not impossible. Ask your local Department of Parks and Recreation for booklets describing its sports facilities or visit the Chamber of Commerce or the Visitors Center.

Those who like baseball need only drift around the parks. Many games will be going on. Employees often form softball or baseball teams connected with different departments and have a full schedule of games. Usually they need, and welcome, additional players. Roller-skating, Frisbee throwing, and kite flying are all popular, especially in parks; one can also find paths for biking, jogging, or walking in these areas. However, it is not wise to visit many parks after dark.

Spectator Sports
Many Americans prefer to watch sports rather than to participate in them. American football, basketball, and hockey all have devoted fans, but baseball is considered the national sport. Soccer has also gained a growing audience in this country.

In addition to the endless seasons of professional sporting events, there are often second-tier events such as minor league baseball, where smaller cities pit their teams against one another. College and even high school sports are enormously popular spectator opportunities as well.

Camping and Hiking
In most locations you will find excellent camping facilities in both state and national parks as well as in nearby private campgrounds.

You can get free booklets and maps describing public camping facilities and park areas by writing to both the individual state parks department and the National Park Service in Washington, D.C. When you write, state your specific interests. Information centers along major highways or in towns also offer booklets or maps of both public and private camping and recreational vehicle facilities. Each state also has a Visitors' Bureau, which you can call or write to request information on recreational opportunities there.

All over the United States, there are thousands of miles of walking trails, all kinds of lodges and huts for hikers, and a great many campsites where you can pitch tents and find water, but you need to know where to find them in order to avoid overcrowded highways and too many people. You need to make reservations months ahead in the most popular public parks such as the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone. However, millions of acres of national forest land are available for hiking and camping without prior permission. A parking permit is usually all that is required. Compared with hiking trails in Europe, most of ours remain blissfully uncrowded. For the national parks, check out the highly informational Website at www.nps.gov/, and for the national forests, see www.fs.fed.us/.

Fishing and Hunting
The state and national booklets mentioned above also include information on fishing and hunting. Both activities are highly regulated with regard to location, season, equipment, species, and the number of catches or kills you can make. Check local regulations to avoid problems. Many fishing areas are "catch and release" only. You can always find fellow enthusiasts in your own locality. Talk to your colleagues, read the sports columns in the newspapers, or chat with salespeople in the sporting goods stores. Through such contacts you can find out what clubs there are in the vicinity and then ask about the possibility of joining one. Public-owned facilities are sometimes crowded; joining a group or club gives you access to more private waters and woods. Most clubs have reasonably open membership rules and would welcome your inquiry. They range in price from moderate to high; the lower the price, the more welcoming they are in general, but also the more crowded. The expensive clubs are, of course, likely to be the most exclusive.

If you are a deep-sea fishing enthusiast, there are boats and captains ready to take you out at almost any marina or port. Prices per day are high, but if you form a group and go together, you can divide the cost among many of you.

Bird Watching
Those interested in birds should look up the nearest Audubon Society in the telephone book and ask about groups, activities, or sanctuaries in the area. The local library is another good source of information.

The United States abounds in theater, music, and dance, both professional and amateur. Most large cities have their own symphony orchestras; there is a wealth of experimental music and drama being produced across the country in college theaters, community centers, and small neighborhood theaters. Traditional theater and music are also plentiful. Even if you do not live in New York City, you can see the Broadway favorites. Touring companies produce excellent, professional-quality performances in most large- and medium-sized cities throughout the country. For the fine arts, try to buy season tickets if you will be in the same town for a while. Not only will you save money, you will be sure to have a seat at even the most popular productions.

Tickets are often sold at the box office but also online and usually through agencies such as Ticketron and Ticketmaster. Beware of "scalpers" who sell tickets to sold-out events at inflated prices. Not only is the practice illegal, it often involves fake tickets. Imagine your disappointment when you come to an event, only to find that your tickets are no good! There are some legitimate ticket brokers, who advertise their services in the arts and leisure section of the newspaper. They get around scalping laws by operating in a state other than the one where the event is held. Prices are still inflated, but at least the tickets are genuine.

Movies, of course, are very popular in the United States, and there are many film festivals in medium and large cities. Many universities show foreign films, and this can be one of the few venues available for seeing them in a smaller town.

If your idea of a museum is a dusty row of glass cases or rooms full of badly lit oil paintings, try going to some of the museums in U.S. cities and towns. The art of display itself has become highly developed in this country, so that museums have come alive to an extraordinary degree in recent years.

In addition to many fine art museums, look also for natural history or science museums. Children's museums are sprouting up all over the country and usually offer a wide range of fascinating, "hands-on" exhibits. Photographic exhibits are often a particularly good way to understand the social concerns of a country. Don't miss the many small museums of contemporary crafts, African American history, Native American history, musical instruments, or coins. While at the museum you can often join a group tour or rent a small tape-recorded guide, which will add much to your understanding (rental fees are generally modest). Sometimes they are available in several languages. Those going to Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, or San Francisco should plan to spend considerable time at the particularly fine museums in these cities.

Places like Williamsburg, Virginia, Dearborn, Michigan, and Sturbridge Village, Massachusetts, are whole villages, reconstructed as living museums to depict the life of our early settlers. At most times of the year there are live demonstrations of many old crafts, such as candle making, quilting, or the shoeing of horses. There are waterfront museums at Mystic, Connecticut, and the seaports of New York and Baltimore, where one may have the opportunity to board old sailing vessels. The old Spanish missions in California trace the history of Spanish settlements in southwestern United States. Smaller cities almost always have some sort of museum depicting the history of the area; Palm Springs, California, and Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona, for example, have desert museums.

Perhaps for a while when you first come to the States, you will want to study English or join an English conversation group in order to gain confidence in speaking. Or perhaps you will have time to acquire some new skills or to take a short course that has always interested you.

Adult education is widespread. Classes are offered in a wide range of subjects: painting, cooking, photography, languages, astronomy, computer programming. One need not necessarily have any particular qualifications to enroll in these classes. Or you may be interested in taking more substantive courses leading to degrees, certificates, or diplomas. Just a few possibilities of subject areas are journalism, interior decorating, fashion design, business administration, accounting, and so on.

Both formal and informal classes are advertised in local newspapers. Look under "Schools" in the Yellow Pages. Jewish Community Centers, YMCAs, YWCAs, and community or neighborhood centers, offer a wide range of classes; the public school systems of most cities sponsor adult evening classes, as do community colleges. Ask for a catalogue of adult courses from the local board of education.

In addition, if you are near any of the nation's 4,000 colleges and universities, you will find they make courses, concerts, and lectures available to the nearby community. Usually these are held in the evening. You can ask to be put on their mailing list for advance notice.

Many Americans attend lectures. If you like to be intellectually stimulated but do not have time for a complete course, you can follow any line of interest on a more casual basis — often free. You may want to explore new fields like oceanography, city planning, or outer space.

In addition to lectures given at colleges and universities, you will find that botanical gardens, civil rights organizations, government and political groups, churches, and museums also offer a great number of lectures, debates, and forums; so do international organizations, business groups, and professional organizations.

Get yourself on mailing lists (usually free for the asking), listen to local radio announcements, or ask your friends'advice. Easiest of all — just read the newspapers.

Perhaps in your home country you already belong to some group such as Rotary International, Lions, an association of university women, or a professional group (of journalists, chemical engineers, doctors, and so on). Perhaps you belong to a sports club — ski, tennis, soccer, or hiking. Many overseas universities have alumni chapters scattered around the United States.

If you are already a member of an organization at home, look for its affiliate here and let them know of your desire to participate. You will get an immediate welcome. If you are interested in (but not yet affiliated with) a group, try to become a member before leaving your own country. You will then automatically be eligible to join activities with your American counterparts on arrival without waiting for membership formalities. Such channels for making new friends will be most useful when you first arrive, so it is good to come with introductions and with memberships already established, if you can.

There are, of course, many sports and activities that anyone can engage in without joining formal organizations. Hunting and fishing enthusiasts can find colleagues here in great numbers, as can climbers, hikers, skiers, bridge players, photographers, chess players, ham radio enthusiasts, birdwatchers, or cellists! Whatever your nationality, you can also find a national group in any large city. Ask at your nearest consulate or look under "Associations" in the Yellow Pages to find the Turkish Society, India House, African Center, or whatever exists locally.

In addition to the time spent on personal pursuits, Americans volunteer a tremendous amount of time for the varied needs of their communities. It has been said that if all the volunteers of the country withdrew, the nation would come to a halt. This would include people working in hospitals, schools, libraries, museums, playgrounds, community centers, welfare projects, clinics, and so on. Why do so many Americans volunteer to work long, hard hours, often at dull and disagreeable work, without pay? What is their motive?

There are several answers. The concept of cooperating for mutual benefit, a sense of interlocking responsibility, and a willingness to work together are all deeply rooted in American history. The original pioneer settlers had to work together to survive. They had crossed dangerous seas and risked all they had in their struggle for political and religious freedom. They helped each other clear land, build homes, and harvest crops. Americans have traditionally valued their freedom and independence, and they still do. Deep-seated distrust of central government still remains in all aspects of American life. People still prefer to do things themselves within their communities rather than give a government agency control or wait for its bureaucratic delays.

Sometimes Americans volunteer because they want to achieve something for which no money is paid. So they come together to contribute their energies — as is also done elsewhere. They may work together to put a new roof on a church, to send parcels to flood victims, to provide summer holidays for underprivileged children, to build a new playground, or to clean up a polluted stream. People will give time after a long, hard day to work on a town zoning commission, school board, or planning committee. They care about their towns.

Hundreds of thousands of so-called leisure hours go into hard, sustained, unpaid work on one or another community need. As you read the local newspapers, you will see that Americans are constantly forming new kinds of citizens' groups for some of the following reasons: to improve the lot of migrant workers, to take action against some form of discrimination, to fight crime, to elect an official, to protect consumers from fraud, to fight against drugs or drunk driving, or to do away with a pesticide that is killing wildlife.

One does not need to be a citizen to join in such activities. Once you settle into a community (even a big city), you will soon be aware of the varieties of volunteer projects going on around you. Anyone who is interested in sharing this side of American life will greatly deepen his or her understanding of the country. You can start by calling a volunteer center or contacting a local church, temple, mosque, synagogue, community center, or other organization. Asking neighbors about what is available often elicits a helpful response. Or if you read about something that interests you in the local paper, contact the organization and offer your time or help. Most people welcome assistance if they do not have to pay for it. This kind of volunteering may open interesting doors to you as well.

Partly because of summer heat but mostly because we began as an agricultural nation, summer holidays are very long. Children and youth get restless if they have nothing to do, especially when they are living in cramped city apartments. As a result, there are thousands of different kinds of summer camps for children. They are run by many organizations such as the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, YMCA, YWCA, or religious institutions. There are also many private camps, which, although expensive, provide horseback riding, skilled instruction in various specialties, wilderness trips, and the like.

Older teenagers are more likely to seek summer jobs or go off with their own age groups on camping or other trips. Many go backpacking in the mountains. Anyone living in a city apartment may want to encourage such summer prospects for their young people.

Many teenagers earn a portion of their college expenses by working during the summer at such jobs as deckhand, waiter, clerk, harvester, construction worker, camp counselor, baby-sitter, gas station attendant, telephone operator, or messenger. American teenagers are not concerned with status. Being unskilled, they try to find jobs at whatever level they can, seeking not only money but also experience. They learn work skills, responsibility, and the ability to take orders and to get along with a boss and new kinds of people. As they grow older and more competent, most teenagers get better jobs, probably still unskilled but more closely tied to their fields of interest — in hospitals, political headquarters, newspapers, schools, or wherever. Students from abroad should check carefully into visa regulations, however, if they want to use the long holidays in this way. The dean or foreign student adviser at any school should be able to offer advice here, but the visa question should be raised in one's home country before leaving.

The American system of higher education can be bewildering in its diversity. There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the United States, about half of which are private rather than public, tax-supported institutions. There are essentially four broad categories of postsecondary educational institutions:

(1) vocational or trade schools,
(2) junior colleges (including most community colleges),
(3) colleges, and
(4) universities.

Trade Schools and Technical Colleges
Trade schools can be public or private and offer courses that are generally not considered to be at the college level. They are similar to the vocational high schools except that they are geared toward adults and may or may not require a high school diploma (or equivalent) for admission.

Junior Colleges and Community Colleges
Junior colleges were once a common element of U.S. higher education, but the rise of community colleges in the last half of the twentieth century has left few of them in place. They were designed to help students bridge the gap between high school and college and to offer coursework that is generally considered to be the equivalent of the first two years at a college or university. Community colleges also offer two years of course work, after which students receive either a two-year (associate) degree or transfer to a four-year college or university. Some junior and community colleges resemble vocational schools, others are very academic in their focus. Careful research is needed to determine the right fit.

Colleges
Colleges are four-year institutions leading to the bachelor of arts (or science) degree and have few if any graduate programs. There are both state and countless private colleges. Some of the most prestigious undergraduate institutions are colleges rather than world-famous universities. For example, Amherst, Williams, Swarthmore, and Wellesley are generally considered to be of the same caliber as Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford. There are a few colleges that still enroll only women (and even fewer — just two — that enroll only men).

Universities
Universities offer a range of graduate, professional, and research programs in addition to undergraduate degrees. Some of them enroll as many as 50,000 students. Tuition at most private institutions is considerably higher than at state-supported schools, but all have tuition charges that will appear high to people from most other countries. Remember that unless you are a permanent resident or U.S. citizen (or one of a few other immigration categories), most public financial aid is unavailable to you. Some states will offer the in-state tuition discount to all of its residents regardless of citizenship; others will not. Keep in mind, though, that there is considerable merit-based financial aid available from the institutions themselves.

In many countries it is very difficult to get into a university because of competitive entrance examinations but easy to graduate once you are admitted. In the United States, it is relatively easy to gain admission to many colleges or universities but often quite difficult to finish all course work successfully in order to graduate. Universities and colleges rated at the top academically are very competitive, but most high school graduates are able to find a college or university that matches their qualifications.

American children are among the most scheduled in the world. In addition to their academic work, children in the United States are offered a wide range of activities sponsored by the school during after-school hours. These activities, usually called extracurricular activities, are designed to help broaden children's skills and abilities and to give them a chance to practice leadership and assume responsibility, to supplement school courses, and to provide additional stimuli. These activities are another way for you to remain involved in your child's school experiences — adult volunteers are usually in short supply.

There is often a range of activities from which to choose, particularly at the junior high and high school levels. Nature clubs, musical organizations, science clubs, art and drama groups, or language clubs are common, as is a wide selection of sports activities. Virtually every high school has a student-run newspaper, often with a photographic darkroom. Some extracurricular activities take place during the school day, but many are held after classes are over. Even though they are optional, they are considered a part of the American educational experience. Parents encourage their children to participate in those programs that best suit their own special talents and interests. Students learn a great deal during these activities, especially in terms of relationships, social and intellectual skills, and a welltrained body.

Both employers and college admissions officers in the United States carefully consider the extracurricular activities in which students have participated, both during their free time after school and also during the long holidays. These are indicators of a young person's leadership potential, enthusiasm, creativity, breadth of interest, vitality, and personality. These qualities are weighed, together with the student's or candidate's academic record, to assess intelligence, perseverance, and ability to use what he or she has learned.

Most schools have organizations made up of both parents and teachers. They meet together regularly to discuss and confer on various matters pertaining to the school — curriculum, budgets, faculty, salaries, library facilities, and so forth.

Parents often volunteer to help with classroom or after-school activities. They sometimes make costumes for plays, play the piano, bring snacks or cookies for a party, or assist a teacher on a class field trip. Some come at regular times to tutor children in the classroom, under the teacher's supervision. Volunteering at your child's school is a good way to meet people in the area and to learn how the school functions.

In good schools a real effort is made to have the home and the school work together for the child's well-being. You will generally find teachers eager to talk with you about any problems you may have concerning your child — although the larger the class, the less time (understandably) the teachers have. Where size permits, there are often parent conferences — scheduled appointments so that parents can meet privately with one or more of their child's teachers to discuss particular problems or progress. You will also be sent notices of meetings or programs. You may be invited to a "parents' day," where you follow your child's schedule through a full day of classes, or a "parents' evening," an abbreviated version, with ten - to fifteen-minute classes. This is enlightening and enjoyable for most parents. Parent-teacher conferences may be scheduled regularly or at the request of either the teacher or the parents. These conferences are an important way to understand what is expected of your child, and to find out whether he or she is experiencing any academic or social difficulties.

Both mothers and fathers are expected to attend such meetings and to show their interest in the school and their children's education. School functions also provide a good way to meet your neighbors and to make friends in the community. Since Americans enjoy meeting people from other countries, you will probably find your national background a help rather than a handicap in getting acquainted. This is true even if you are having trouble with the language.

An extensive network of private schools parallels the public school system. Some of these schools are closely associated with a church or religious denomination and are called parochial schools. Some of these, such as those sponsored by the Society of Friends (Quakers) and many Catholic schools, are popular among people of all faiths. Private schools receive no financial support from tax funds and are, with the exception of some parochial schools, expensive — some more so than others.

Why do people spend so much money, often to the point of major financial sacrifice, to send their children to private schools? The reasons vary.

1. Classes tend to be smaller with greater individual attention than in public schools. Some children need this kind of supportive individual instruction.

2. Most private schools are highly selective; through interviews, references, and examinations (at least for the upper levels), they seek students of quality. This means that they can usually maintain higher academic standards than the public schools, which have to accept students of all abilities.

3. Discipline is likely to be better and academic standards higher than in public schools, which are often overcrowded and understaffed.

4. Some parents living in crowded or academically disadvantaged areas feel they must send their children to private schools to prepare them for admission to a selective college.

5. A few parents prefer to send their children to schools sponsored by their own religious denomination.

6. Some parents seek a more homogeneous student body than is found in the public schools.

Those interested in finding out about private schools can contact the National Association of Independent Schools at www.nais.org/.

Boarding schools exist mostly for children of high school age (15–18), though there are also a few for younger children. If you happen to settle near a boarding school, you may be able to enroll your child as a day student. Otherwise, these children live in school dormitories and attend classes on the school campus.

You may find private schools teaching in German, Spanish or French, or adhering to a specific educational philosophy such as Montessori or Waldorf. Contact the Council for American Private Education (www.capenet.org/) for more information.

Public Schools
The great majority of American children attend public schools, that is, schools that are tax-supported and free. It is often confusing to newcomers to find that there is no national standardized system for all fifty states. Each state has been free to develop its own model. These vary so widely in quality, facilities, disciplines, and academic standards that people often move in to (or out of) a state because of the quality of available schooling.

To make matters even more confusing, local school districts have considerable decision-making authority within each state framework. City, township, and district schools have their own curricula, boards, budgets, and standards, even though these must follow certain broad guidelines outlined by their states.

School support comes primarily from taxes at state and local levels, rather than from national funds. When the federal government does contribute to education, it does so primarily in the poorer states, where local funds are inadequate. National funds tend to be channeled for buildings, transportation, or other projects that do not affect the curriculum. As previously noted, Americans jealously guard their independence from their own national government. If there is a chance that, as a result of accepting national funds, the government may be able to exert some kind of control, such funds are often turned down by community school boards (elected citizens). There have been heated arguments — even riots and demonstrations at the college level — when citizens have felt that the federal government was exerting too strong an influence on curriculum through support of scientific research programs, for example, or military training, or other specific projects. Since many of our ancestors and many of today's new citizens have come to this country for the express purpose of escaping too much government control, this feeling still runs deep.

In line with this emphasis on local control over education, there are no national examinations at either school or college level as there are, for example, in France, England, or Japan. College Board examinations, which are taken across the country for entrance to colleges and universities, are administered by a private organization, not by the federal government, and no college is compelled to use them. This state and local independence results in substantial variation in the quality of public education, even from one town to the next. In our fast-growing cities, elementary and high schools are nearly all badly overcrowded. In recent years many have been troubled with violence, teacher strikes, and other problems. In suburban areas and small towns, public schools tend to be more settled, with adequate facilities, reasonable ratios between teachers and pupils, and good academic standards.

The pendulum (between state and federal control on one side and local control on the other) does swing, however. There is a national law that requires school districts to implement standardized tests and it requires them all to use the same test. Several states have had a standardized testing program for a number of years.

As a newcomer, you may raise questions and talk as freely as you like about schooling with any Americans you meet. Many people here are deeply concerned about education. They constantly discuss the subject among themselves, and they will be delighted to talk with you about it also. Much is good and much is bad in our current educational establishment. We are in the process of reevaluating and restructuring the whole educational system of this country in order to meet our current needs and the urgent needs of the twenty-first century, including many new pressures from our vast and rapidly changing population.

Vocational Schools
Many school districts offer a distinct curriculum for those students who are not preparing to go on to higher education. In the last two years of high school, they may take courses in cosmetology, automobile or computer repair, or other fields. Vocational schools are aimed at moving their graduates quickly into skilled and semiskilled occupations. Because nearly half the eighteen-year-olds do not attend college or university, vocational education is an important part of the educational system.

Magnet Schools
Many school districts offer schools with specialized curricula, such as an emphasis on arts, science, or foreign languages. Students are admitted to the programs competitively, and unlike other public schools, enrollment is not assigned by the student's address. If your city or school district offers magnet schools, it is worth the effort to learn more about them. Magnet Schools of America (www.magnet.edu/) is a good place to start.

Charter Schools
Somewhere between public and private schools are charter schools, so called because they receive a charter from the state in order to operate. These are publicly funded, privately operated schools that receive extremely high levels of autonomy from state or local regulations governing public schools. In the 1990s, there was a dramatic increase in charter schools, especially in large cities. These schools are funded based on the number of students they enroll. Freed from the burdens of teacher unions and the obligation to educate every student, charter schools evoke heated passions from both supporters and detractors. On the one hand, they generally provide a superior education and attract the brightest and most capable students. On the other hand, they drain limited funding from the larger urban schools, as well as leaving behind those who are most difficult to teach. Some of these schools have curricular emphases such as science or foreign languages. Charter schools offer many of the benefits of private schools without charging high tuition. You can find more information at www.uscharterschools.org/.

There is such variation in preschools and nursery schools that it is best to wait until you arrive to see what is available in your neighborhood. Private nursery schools are often expensive, but there are also informal play groups, religious-affiliated nursery schools, YMCAs, YWCAs, or other less expensive possibilities in most communities.

Little children often attend these for only three to four hours, two or three days a week, but they start to learn about sharing, following instructions, and being part of a group. They also enjoy the companionship of other children their age, which is often hard to find in city living.

If you live in an area where there are many small children and an outdoor place to play, you probably will not need such an organized group. However, in impersonal apartment houses, children are sometimes lonely. In addition, you may want to give your children a little extra help in learning American ways and English before they start school, which can be a rough adjustment.

If you do not find a preschool that you like near your home, you may find that there are dance classes, art classes, gymnastics classes, swimming lessons, or other activities for little children, where you can bring your child into contact with playmates once or twice a week.

Large apartment units often provide day care or supervised play groups for little children during certain hours of the week. Mothers sometimes pool their resources and take turns with each other's children, partly to give themselves an occasional free afternoon and partly to give their children needed companionship.

In most areas the school year begins in late August or early September and ends somewhere near the middle or end of June. A few schools, generally at the high school level, also offer summer sessions. These are optional, but they give students a chance to make up work that they have missed or failed, take advance credits or extra courses they have not had time for in the school year, or just become familiar with a school before the new term starts. Summer sessions normally hold classes in the morning and then offer a range of sports, trips, and leisure activities in the afternoon.

If you arrive in the United States in the spring with a teenager who plans to enter a regular school session in September, you might want to consider enrolling him or her in summer courses to improve English language proficiency, make friends, or gain self-confidence. A new and interesting trend is starting among some schools, particularly on the west coast, namely a shift to a year-long pattern rather than having long summer holidays.

Overview
Education is an important part of American life, and the wide variety of educational choices is sometimes difficult for visitors from other countries to understand. One-half of all the people in the country between the ages of 18 and 25 are enrolled in a college, university, or technical training institute. All boys and girls up to age 16 are required to go to school. There are three broad categories of education that serve this population: (1) public schools (including charter, magnet, and vocational schools), (2) private schools (including religious, boarding, day, Montessori, and Waldorf schools), and (3) home schooling.

Education here is intended for everyone. Schools are expected to meet the needs of every child, regardless of ability, and also the needs of society itself. This means that tax-supported public schools offer more than academic subjects. It surprises many people when they come here to find high schools offering such courses as typing, sewing, radio repair, computer programming, or driver training along with traditional academic subjects such as mathematics, history, and languages. Students choose from a large selection of courses, depending on state requirements, their interests, future goals, and level of ability. The underlying goal of American education is to develop every child to the utmost of his or her abilities and to give each one a sense of civic and community consciousness.

Because our population is so diverse, schools have traditionally played an important role in creating national unity and in "Americanizing" the millions of immigrants who have poured into this country. Schools also play an important role in the community, especially in small towns.

The American approach to teaching may seem unfamiliar to many, not only because it is informal, but also because there is less emphasis on learning facts than is true in the systems of many other countries. Instead, Americans try to teach their children to think for themselves, to analyze, to explore, to develop their own intellectual and creative abilities. Students spend much time learning how to use resource materials, libraries, and computers. Americans believe that if children are taught to reason and to research well, they will be able to find whatever facts they need throughout the rest of their lives. Knowing how to solve problems is considered more important than the accumulation of facts, which often grow obsolete.

Computers are used in many classrooms, frequently starting in kindergarten. If your child does not know how to use a computer, you can help him or her a great deal by providing computer lessons in advance, even while you are still in your own country. To find such classes after you arrive in the United States, consult the school or ask a local computer store where classes are given.

Naturally, when any family moves from one country to another, the question of schooling for their children is always an urgent one. Unless you are in a small town, there will be a variety of schools — public, parochial, or private; day or boarding; coeducational or all-boy/all-girl; traditional or experimental — available to you.

Household employees include workers such as cooks, cleaning people, baby-sitters, handymen, drivers, and gardeners. Under certain circumstances you are required to pay Social Security taxes for those employees on a percentage of the total wages paid. This amount may be matched by the employee, or you may pay the whole amount. You, the employer, are responsible for mailing the total amount of tax to your local Internal Revenue Service (IRS) office within thirty days after the end of each calendar quarter. Once you have paid your first tax, the IRS will send you a quarterly reminder. There is a penalty if you do not pay the tax on time. The amounts involved are not great, even when you pay the full tax yourself.

You should consult a tax preparer, such as a certified public accountant (CPA), to find out what your obligation is regarding these taxes. Also, you can telephone the nearest office of the IRS and ask for the proper instructions and forms for filing this tax. If your friends or neighbors employ household workers, you can ask them how they handle this matter.

American adults move around a great deal and often live far away from their parents. Because they have established their own homes and developed their own lifestyles, their children do not grow up surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, as children do in many cultures. Most families have only one, two, or three children close together in age, so there is rarely one child old enough to look after the others. These facts, along with the reality that in modern American families single-parent and dual-career parents are common, have made childcare a vital part of the American scene.

Baby-Sitters
A "sitter" is someone who is hired to care for children for a specific length of time — usually relatively short — while the parents are out for the evening attending a party or taking a class, for example. Sometimes the baby-sitter is also hired for longer periods, perhaps when the parents are away for a weekend. In such cases the sitter is likely to be a mature and motherly woman. For a short period, teenagers, college students, and others (of either sex) are commonly employed on an hourly basis.

From the point of view of convenience, the best sitters are often young people who live in your apartment building or close by in the neighborhood. This gives you a chance to meet the parents and interview the sitter. If an emergency occurs, young sitters can call upon their parents quickly for help. Another advantage is that you do not have to take them far to see them home at night or pay expensive taxi fares. Finally, young people living close by can usually fill in quite readily on short notice or for short periods of time.

In an apartment house you can ask the superintendent for permission to post a notice for a baby-sitter by the mailboxes. This is often the best way to find out if there is anyone in the building who is interested in baby-sitting. Retired people as well as students are often glad to earn a little money in this way.

An excellent source for baby-sitters is a nearby college or university. Students frequently want to earn extra money in their spare time. The best procedure is to go to the school before you need a sitter and ask if you can post an advertisement on bulletin boards or put an ad in the student-run newspaper. With any luck, you might find one or two students who speak your own language.

The disadvantage of using students is that they are often busy in the evenings, they are gone during their holidays, and sometimes they bring along their friends. The advantage is that they are less expensive than anyone from an agency and, being young, are likely to be more fun for your children.

Other sources could be the bulletin board of the local YWCA or the Girl Scouts, who sometimes organize baby-sitting services. Some scout troops train older girls, who earn service credits in this way. They are a particularly good possibility if you want someone to remain indoors and play with the children. Since they are young themselves, you might not want to give them outside responsibility such as taking children through traffic.

As you make friends, don't hesitate to ask if their teenagers would like to baby-sit. Often they are delighted. Baby-sitting is a popular occupation for teenagers, especially girls, so do not be shy about asking them whether or not they are available. Most mothers try to line up three or four sitters whom they (and the children) get to know and like. In this way they have alternate numbers to call when their favorite baby-sitter is not available.

A young couple with children, struggling along on a tight budget — especially students — often work out an exchange agreement with another couple, sitting for each other's children a certain number of hours or evenings a week. The mothers exchange daytime hours as well, giving each other occasional or regular free afternoons for shopping, working parttime, taking classes, going to the hairdresser, or visiting friends.

Rates vary widely by location and age — less money for teenagers than for mature women, for example. You pay more for daytime hours than the period after children are in bed until midnight. After that, rates may go up again. You pay more, of course, if you have several children or if the job includes preparing a meal. Many sitters don't want to cook and you should not expect it, although feeding the children meals that you have prepared is normally acceptable.

If you have a small baby and want someone older and more experienced than a student, look under "Nannies" or "Baby-sitting Services" in the Yellow Pages. If you employ the same person regularly for even a few hours per month, you must pay Social Security taxes (see below) unless you get her through an agency. In that case the agency will do the paperwork for you.

Day-Care Centers
Day-care centers range from a stay-at-home mom (or dad!) who take in a small number of other children during the day to make extra money, to large commercial enterprises. Many states license day-care centers, and it is best to become familiar with the licensing criteria in your state so you know what it entails. Unfortunately, in many cases, licensure is only a bare minimum of declarations by the provider, so do not infer that a licensed center has been inspected or its staff evaluated. There are also private associations that have higher standards, and accredit centers that meet those standards. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (www.naeyc.org/), the Network of Child Care Resource and Referral (www.nccrra.org/), and Child Care Aware (www.childcareware.org/) are all excellent resources. Your employer and coworkers may also have suggestions. In the end, personal referrals of satisfied parents may be the most reliable way to choose. Many religious institutions run day-care centers during the week, as do YMCAs and YWCAs. Parents need not be members to enroll their children. Some list members who like to baby-sit; some have set up group baby-sitting for certain afternoons during the week so that mothers can shop or attend to other necessities. Most religious institutions also have nurseries and baby-sitting services on Sunday (or Saturday) mornings so that parents can attend services. There is usually no charge — or only a nominal one — for this service.

Public or private day-care centers and neighborhood centers are another good resource in your community. They may be advertised in the local newspaper, but there is such a shortage of good day-care centers that frequently one must learn of them by asking neighbors and acquaintances. It may be necessary to put your child on a waiting list, so it is never too early to inquire. A note of warning: never choose a daycare center or nursery school without checking it out carefully and obtaining references or personal recommendations from friends or colleagues.

Live-in, domestic help is prohibitively expensive nowadays for all but the wealthiest Americans. More common forms of domestic help are (1) cleaning women, who come in once or twice a week or even every two weeks, and (2) baby-sitters, who stay with children when the parents go out. Otherwise, precooked and packaged foods, microwave ovens, no-iron fabrics, dishwashers, and washing machines — all time-and labor-saving devices — take the place of household help.

Household Cleaning or Party Help
The best way to find someone to clean your house is by asking people you know for recommendations. Start with your friends or your business acquaintances. This is a common request, and you need not feel embarrassed. Americans are accustomed to helping each other find domestic help, just as they are to recommending a doctor or dentist. People will ask their own domestic help if they have extra time, or if they know a relative or a friend who might be looking for work.

You can also ask the manager or superintendent of your apartment house. Perhaps there is someone already working in the building who wants more work. Sometimes the clerks at local laundries, grocery stores, pharmacies, or the like can give you suggestions. If you are known to be a regular customer, such people are likely to recommend people carefully.

If you cannot find anyone by word of mouth, there are other methods, though these tend to be less satisfactory. You can use a maid service, for example, listed in the Yellow Pages. Such services are more expensive; on the other hand, they assume responsibility for troublesome details like Social Security payments, insurance, and so on. There are also companies that offer housecleaning services. They send a team of well-equipped people in to clean your house on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly schedule, and to wash windows, clean rugs, and do similar heavy work at regular intervals — or once or twice a year, as you request. Housecleaning help is a growing industry in the United States, generally providing excellent services.

Another option is an employment agency, although it is likely to be expensive and is not preferred. There is no guarantee that the person will stay with you beyond the period covered by the usually high agency fee. Furthermore, you may have to interview many people. If you use this method, be sure to ask for references, both for the candidate and for the agency. Not every agency is dependable.

You can also advertise in the newspaper for a housecleaner. The difficulty with this method is that you know nothing about the people who may come to your house to be interviewed. If you do follow this method, check each reference very carefully before hiring, and don't try it unless your English is very good.

Finally, you can answer an advertisement. People who are looking for work frequently advertise their services. This way of finding help is particularly useful in smaller towns and rural areas where it is easier to find out about your potential employee. In larger towns and cities, be sure to interview carefully and check references thoroughly. Some of the best prospects are found in foreign language newspapers.

Many small catering companies specialize in residential parties. They may bring in food that has been prepared elsewhere or use your kitchen to do the preparation. You can ask the caterer to provide all the help your event needs, or you can limit it as you see fit and negotiate. If you go to a party you enjoy, ask the hosts if they hired a caterer or other help and for suggestions for your party. People are usually happy to make recommendations. You can also hire waitresses, cooks, bartenders, or butlers by the hour.

If you live in a town with a college or university, call its employment bureau. Some colleges hold extracurricular training programs in household skills or bartending to help students get jobs.

One of the largest retail operations in the United States is selling by mail through catalogues and through the Internet. Catalogues will arrive in your mail on a regular basis, and you can purchase anything from gourmet food to fur coats by mail, phone, or via the Internet. Growth in this sector has occurred for several reasons. People have less time for shopping — especially in two-career families — and retailers can reach a greater number of people. Most important is that shopping by mail is convenient, especially for the elderly or others who cannot move around easily. The disadvantage, of course, is that you cannot try on clothes or examine the products. Most companies who sell this way are very reputable and readily accept returns if you are not satisfied with the merchandise. Don't be surprised if you receive catalogues from companies you have never purchased from; many catalogue companies make extra money by selling their mailing list to other firms.

Auction sites on the Internet, such as eBay, are a popular form of shopping for both new and used goods. You may be amazed at the variety of goods being sold by auction, and if you take some time to educate yourself about market value, you can get some good deals. You can check to see what items similar to the one you want have recently sold for and check the feedback other buyers have given to various sellers. Amazon.com is an enormous Internet retail site. You can buy books, clothing, toys and games, DVDs, and much more. As always, buyer beware.

In recent years, a number of televisions shows — and even entire 24-hour channels — have sprung up, aimed at the television viewer. These shows feature items at supposedly discounted prices, though you may frequently be able to find comparable prices in local stores. They display a variety of merchandise from clothing, jewelry, clocks, luggage, and toys to small kitchen gadgets, hardware, and exercise equipment.

To order from one of these TV vendors, you select the item you want, phone in your order, paying by either credit card, money order, or check, and wait for your selection to be shipped to you.

A word of caution: many people impulsively order items from these shows that they neither want nor need — and cannot afford. It is all too easy to get carried away by TV salespeople urging you to call in immediately to take advantage of this "limited-time" offer. Take care to avoid this situation. Also, quality varies tremendously among these products.

So many people are constantly on the move in the United States that it is easy to find secondhand household goods for sale. Buying secondhand is quite usual here. Many young couples furnish new homes this way. People who do not want to spend time or a lot of money shopping sometimes buy the entire furnishings of an apartment from someone who is moving to another part of the country.

Many communities have a weekly bulletin that contains nothing but classified advertisements. If you look there or in the local daily and weekly newspapers, you will see advertisements in the classified section that read, for example:

"Moving, entire contents of house for sale."

"Going to California; desk, large clock, child's bicycle for sale."

"Redecorating house, complete maple living room furniture for sale."

"Dining room set for sale."

"Queen sized bed, good condition, with almost-new mattress for sale."

If you see something that interests you, call at once on the telephone; some things are often sold very quickly. If the item is still available, go immediately to examine it. If you like it, you can try bargaining. Then you must work out a means of getting your purchase (or purchases) to your house. This can be a major problem, but the easiest solution (if you have no friend with a pickup truck or van) is to look at ads in the local paper or in the Yellow Pages under "Trucking" or "Hauling" to find someone with a truck. Otherwise, rent a van, truck, or trailer (to attach to your car) from Ryder, U-Haul, or another rental company. Give a deposit to hold the goods and get a receipt. Don't pay the full price until you come back to pick up the item(s). Most people are honest, but some are not — so you need to be careful.

Auctions, Garage Sales, and Yard Sales
Garage or yard sales are very popular. People collect all the items they no longer need or want, such as furniture, glassware, china, clothing, books, toys, and so forth, and hold a one-or two-day sale in their garage or yard. Sometimes several families or even an entire neighborhood will hold a co-operative sale. Although many yard or garage sales are advertised in local newspapers, smaller sales may just be announced by signs on the streets near the sale site. Many people drive around on Saturday mornings hunting for these sales. Good bargains can often be found, and talking with the owners and other customers is fun.

Buying in this way is a good deal more trouble than buying new equipment from a store and having it delivered, but it can also be much cheaper. Many times you get real bargains and high quality, especially if the owners must move and are in a hurry to dispose of their goods, or if, as is often the case with an auction, someone has died and an estate is being settled.

Thrift Shops
Thrift shops are run by charities (such as Goodwill or the Salvation Army) that first collect and then sell used clothes, sports equipment, books, china, glassware, furniture, and so on. The charities then donate the money they collect to some particular school, hospital, nursing home, or other institution.

There is no loss of face in buying at thrift shops. Many middle-or upper-class people donate to them, help run them, and also buy from them. They are particularly good for such items as children's clothes (often outgrown before they were much used) or evening dresses, which the well-to-do donate after a few wearings, and which most of us wear so seldom that we want to buy at minimum cost. Many people go to thrift shops for ice skates, tennis rackets, books, pictures, lamps, or extra items for their new homes. By law, all clothing given to reputable shops has been washed or dry-cleaned and inspected.

A relatively new type of thrift store is the secondhand consignment store, usually specializing in women's (and sometimes children's) clothing, shoes, and accessories. The seller receives a percentage of the sale of her items — if they sell, that is.

Americans do not usually bargain over prices, as people do in much of the world. What they do instead is shop around to find the store that offers the item and quality they want at the lowest price. Almost everything sold in the United States varies in price according to the store and often the time of year (just before Christmas is often highest; lowest is just after Christmas or during August, when many stores have sales). Sales accompany most national holidays, such as President's Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day. The day after Thanksgiving and the day after Christmas are also significant sales days. Sale prices are often indicated by a sign over the merchandise rather than a change on the price tag of each item. Make sure that you are actually charged the sale price; inaccurate computers are not uncommon. The sale price may be a percentage off the regular price or listed as a dollar amount.

Sometimes the price varies according to state or local taxes. Many people cross state lines to buy liquor, cigarettes, or electronics, for example, because there are wide fluctuations in taxes on such items from state to state.

If it is important to you to save money, look for the discount stores in your city. They exist all across the country and are growing in popularity. Much of what they sell is comparable to goods sold elsewhere, but they can offer lower prices for any one or all of these reasons: there may be fewer salespeople (less service); often there is no delivery service except for heavy items like refrigerators; floor space is often so fully used that the store is congested; the decor is simple to save the cost of fancy carpeting or expensive interiors; or goods may be sold only in bulk, that is, in large containers or large quantities and stacked to the ceiling as in a warehouse. These discount stores may be electronics stores (e.g., Circuit City); clothing stores (e.g., Marshall's and Ross Dress for Less); huge hardware and home decorating and repair stores (e.g., Home Depot, Home Base, Lowes,); office supply stores (e.g., Office Max, Staples, Office Depot); and department stores that sell almost everything (e.g., Wal-Mart, Kmart, Target).

In some of these stores you pay a membership fee (e.g., Price Club, Costco, and Sam's Club). Because they are so colorful and have such a variety of goods, these discount stores are often of interest to newcomers who find that wandering through them helps in learning American names for unfamiliar items. There are also liquidation stores such as Building 19, Big Lots, Odd Lots, and Dollar Stores that sell high quality but discontinued household items for extremely low prices.

In most discount houses you will find clothing hanging on long racks. Shoes, socks, or underwear may be piled up in bins. It is advisable to look for those items that carry familiar brand names as much as possible, or ask a neighbor or friend to go with you. Although some of these goods are the very same that you would buy in other stores at higher prices, often they are made with inferior materials and poorly assembled.

If you do not have a warranty and have problems with vacuum cleaners, toasters, radios, and so on, look under "Electric Appliances — Repairs" or "Radio (Vacuum Cleaner, etc.) Repair" in the Yellow Pages of the telephone book. Try to find a repair shop specializing in your particular brand name, if possible. Other kinds of repairs — china, glass, zippers, etc. — are also listed by item in most phone books. Repairs are very expensive, however, and you may be charged a minimum fee just to have the item examined, particularly if you ask someone to come to your home to repair a large piece of equipment or an appliance. Sadly, in most cases involving small appliances, it is cheaper to replace an item than to repair it.

When you buy new electrical appliances, radios, TVs, or other major items such as stoves, you will probably be given some papers with them. One of these is likely to be a written warranty. This means that if anything goes wrong, you can have the item repaired free of charge for a certain length of time — for some items as long as three to five years. You should read the warranty carefully. It probably asks you to send in a postcard to establish the date of purchase. If so, be sure to do it as soon as possible. In addition, write the date of purchase on the warranty itself, along with the serial number on the appliance. Keep it somewhere safe so you can find it if you need it. The warranty will be of help only if you have saved the papers and complied with the instructions. You may be able to buy an extended (longer) service warranty for larger appliances for an additional fee, often up to 25 percent of the purchase price. With the drop in prices of many consumer electronics, you must weigh carefully the cost of such a warranty. With computers, digital cameras, video recorders, and so on, you can be virtually assured that in six months time, you will be able to buy a better model for less money.

If you have bought something and want to return it, you can do so with most items from nearly all department stores and often, but not always, from smaller shops. However, you must have the sales slip. Some stores will take returns without the receipt, but they will only refund the lowest amount the item has sold for. Thus, if it has gone on sale since you bought it, you may get back only a fraction of what you paid. So do not throw away any receipts until you are sure you are satisfied with the item.

Sometimes during a sale, the store will post a notice warning customers "All sales are final," which means that you may not return the item for exchange or for your money back.

If you are returning a gift that has been mailed to you from the store and therefore you have no sales receipt, save the gift slip that accompanies the item and/or take off the delivery label from the front of the package. It has various markings on it that have meaning for the clerk. If you have no label, then ask to exchange for some item of equal worth. It is often easier to do this than to get a cash refund.

Supermarkets in the United States keep getting bigger, and they are always confusing. How can you decide what to buy amid an amazing choice of items? Understanding some general patterns of packaging and pricing can help you evaluate the options available to you.

Price
You can save a good deal of money if you watch for sales instead of buying the same "brand-name" (a well-known company name) items at regular prices. Many supermarkets have their own label, and these items are almost always less expensive than brand-name items. You'll have to experiment, because some brand-name items are indeed tastier or better quality than less well-known brands.

Look to see if both brands contain the same number of ounces, and look at the list of ingredients to see what percentage is water. By law, actual ingredients must always be listed in order of the amount contained. Using "unit pricing" can also help. If, for example, you are shopping for laundry powder, the unit price will reflect how much you pay per pound. The "per pound" or "per fluid ounce" or the "per quart" prices are more important than the actual cost of an item. Large is not always less expensive.

Food Labels
The U.S. grading system for meat has nothing to do with nutrition, only with federal standards of quality for tenderness, juiciness, and flavor. The most common grades of meat are prime and choice.

Foods are marked using three categories: nutrition information per serving — calories, protein, carbohydrates, cholesterol, fat, and sodium; percentage of U.S. recommended daily allowances of these items plus vitamins and minerals; and the ingredients. It is important to know the size of a serving if you are interested in watching your weight or must eat carefully because of medical conditions such as diabetes or heart problems. Many products also have directions for preparation and suggestions for use.

Warnings
Although an increasing effort is being made to protect the buyer, there are still, unfortunately, a number of "shortcuts" or hidden factors that one needs to watch out for — sizes and weights, for example. A bottle that looks like a quart (or liter) does not necessarily contain that amount. In small print on the label, it may say "contains 24 fluid ounces" (a quart is 32 ounces). Packages meant to look like one pound may actually contain only 14 or 11 or 9 ounces worth of food. By law, weight must be printed on all food packages, under "net contents," so one can always check this, but too many of us do not take the time and trouble. Often the print is very small — on purpose!

Don't be overly concerned about these matters. You will gradually learn by experience and by trial and error, but you can shorten your learning time if you read labels and compare as you shop. You will soon find the foods your family likes and which brands are best for you. Such care and study can save you a considerable amount of money on your food bills. The U.S. Department of Agriculture claims that those who watch carefully and who follow the weekly specials offered in all supermarkets can save about 6 percent per week.

If you have clipped a discount coupon from the newspaper and you find the same item on sale in the store, you save even more. And some supermarkets offer "double coupon" savings, meaning you save twice the amount noted on the coupon.

Any large bookstore will have a selection of books that are helpful as guides to shopping.

Overview
It might be said that shopping, rather than baseball, is the real national sport of the United States. As Paco Underhill observed, "We use shopping as therapy, reward, bribery, pastime, an excuse to get out of the house, as a way to troll for potential loved ones, as entertainment, as a form of education or even worship, as a way to kill time." [1] In the small town of Freeport, Maine, just up the road from our publisher, there are 158 stores. One of them, the flagship store of the venerable catalogue company L.L. Bean, is open 365 days a year — 24 hours a day! Should you find yourself in need of a fishing pole and complete line of tackle at 3:00 a.m. on Christmas morning, the people at L.L. Bean can help. In another small town, Bloomington, Minnesota, there is a shopping mall so large that it boasts 525 stores and claims 42 million visitors a year. Apparently that's more than the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, or the Washington Monument, because the Mall of America, as it is called, asserts that it is the most visited attraction in the United States. More than 1,500 couples have been married in the Mall of America since it opened in 1992.

One newcomer to the United States, when asked his first impression, replied, "So many things to buy." And there are! You will find yourself being urged from every page of every newspaper and magazine, on the Internet, and on every TV and radio station to buy all manner of goods, which, in fact, you will be quite happy without. This constant barrage of advertising, with its emphasis on owning this or that in order to be happy, healthy, or more attractive, has given the United States the reputation of being very materialistic. It is true; this is an affluent and, therefore, materialistic nation. It is interesting to note, however, that as soon as any country grows more affluent, it tends to grow increasingly materialistic. Traffic jams develop in country after country as more people are able to buy cars; sales-people work hard in most of the world to sell televisions, watches, furniture, food, clothes, computers, or washing machines.

People everywhere seem to be alike in this respect. As soon as there is any extra money, we seek to raise and keep on raising our standard of living. You may not be surprised by this, but look at the bigger picture: What do people do with their new prosperity? Does it enrich their relationships with other people? How creative are they? How hard do they work? How do they spend their money?

Because so much in the United States is mass-produced, and much of it imported from countries with cheap labor, there is a large quantity of relatively inexpensive goods available to everyone. You will find a tremendous range in price, based on quality, style, area of the country, and other factors. Comparative shopping is a good idea before you buy any major item. From all of the choices available, how are you, the new arrival, going to know what to buy and how to get your money's worth? In the first place, don't hurry. Take time to look over the various kinds of stores and examine the quality of their merchandise; read the ads carefully so that you can compare prices; touch, explore, and examine before you buy, and talk to your new colleagues at work or school and ask them for recommendations. In addition, some helpful guidelines are provided below

If you've shipped your belongings from home, you must be present to receive them. As the movers unpack, check to see that each item has arrived in good condition. The person in charge of the moving crew should make a written note of any damage before you sign the bill. Once you sign it, he or she will make no further changes. If some goods are damaged, immediately obtain a claim form from the moving company (or its insurance agent). Fill out the form, make a photocopy for yourself, and then return the original promptly. Time is important. Don't delay. Also inform your employer so that their transportation specialist can advise you. If you are not reimbursed within two or three weeks, let the transportation officer of your company follow up on your claim, or do it yourself. Don't let too much time go by.

Photocopies should always be made of whatever papers, letters, claims, or counterclaims pass between you and the movers and/or the insurance company. This is very important. If your company does not make the copies for you, take the papers to a public copying machine. You will find them in post offices, banks, stationery shops, libraries, and even some stores. Having everything in detail and in the proper sequence in your files makes following up on any claim far easier and quicker.

Consult with your company some days before the movers are to arrive so that you know exactly what you can expect. Services vary widely according to the contract. Some will place your furniture, set up beds, and unpack china, silver, glassware, linens, and books. They are required to remove all packing debris. Some movers will connect your electrical appliances for you; most will not. Some will set up only large items and will not unpack small ones. Be sure to ask in advance.

Most people tip the moving crew in relation to the size and length of the job. Tips range from $5 per person for a small job up to about $20 per person for a full day's job. It is also a good idea to have cold soft drinks and coffee available if possible. This is a tiring job, so be kind to the movers and try to stay out of their way. Remember that time is money for them.

Be sure to keep track of what they are delivering in case something is missing. It can be difficult to file a claim after you have signed the paper-work saying that everything has been delivered.

Nothing symbolizes the American Dream more than owning your own house. Record low mortgage interest rates and a strong housing market at this writing have combined to make buying a home worth considering, especially if you will be in the same place for more than a couple of years. Although interest rates may climb again, buying a home will still likely be a sound investment for the foreseeable future. In recent years, the values for homes have continued to appreciate, which, combined with the mortgage interest tax deduction and the money saved in rent, makes buying a home a sound investment. You can often arrange a mortgage payment that is nearly the same as a monthly rent payment would be. The downside, of course, is that you will not have the benefit of a landlord to call when something in the house breaks, as it almost certainly will. Remember, too, that a home you buy can be a house, an apartment, a condominium, a townhouse, or a co-op. In other words, just about any type of housing can be purchased rather than rented.

Real Estate Agents and Brokers
You will almost certainly want a qualified real estate agent to help you. The seller's agent will usually split his or her fee with your agent. This means that you do not pay directly for your agent's services. Nevertheless, the agent is working for you, and a good agent is more than worth the fee. The seller's agent fees (paid by the seller) average around five or six percent of the home's selling price. Your agent is paid by the other agent for bringing a qualified buyer. There is really no advantage for you to try to go through this process without an agent, unless you manage to find a home that is for sale by owner (FSBO), meaning that the seller does not have a real estate agent. FSBOs are relatively rare, and in that case you would have to forgo an agent, pay your agent's fee yourself, or negotiate the fee with the seller. As long as the seller has listed the home with an agency, she or he will be paying the full fee, regardless of whether you have an agent or not.

A real estate broker closes the deal and handles the paperwork. In some states, this is handled by lawyers, but in many, a broker will close the deal. Unless you are very familiar with real estate law, it is probably foolish to try to close a real estate transaction on your own. Real estate agents usually work exclusively with (often they work for) a particular broker, so it is a team you are selecting. The best source for your real estate team, including your mortgage broker (see below) is an enthusiastic recommendation from a friend or colleague.

Mortgages
Setting up the mortgage can also be made much simpler with the help of a professional. Mortgage brokers do not represent a particular lender but can offer a number of competing rates and plans to choose from. Some things to consider include points, adjustable or fixed rates, and the length of the loan.

Some mortgages appear lower but require "points," which are additional percentage points that are paid up front, although they can usually be included in the loan amount. Basically, points should be avoided unless they come with a significantly lower annual percentage rate. Some mortgages are fixed rate, meaning they will not vary for the entire fifteen-or thirty-year period of the mortgage. Others are adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs), which start at a much lower rate but can go up over time, to a maximum that is usually much higher than a fixed rate mortgage. ARMs make good sense if you are confident that you will be staying in the house for just a few years and then selling. They may make good sense anyway, as you can almost always refinance your house if national interest rates are low. Finally, loans are typically offered in either fifteen-or thirty-year durations, although others are possible. Remember that if you can make one extra mortgage payment per year, your loan time can usually be cut about in half.

If you rent a house, in addition to the rent, you will generally be expected to pay for gas, electricity, heat, and sometimes water and sewage. You also provide (or pay for) normal maintenance, such as grass cutting, window washing, leaf raking, and snow removal. If the house has a sidewalk, you may be responsible for having it cleared of snow within a few hours after each snowfall (usually within four daylight hours).

Furnished Apartments or Houses
The word furnished means different things to different people. You will normally be supplied with the essentials: stove, refrigerator, beds, chairs, sofa, tables, lamps. Minimal china and glass, flatware (often rather poor), basic kitchen supplies, curtains, and some pictures may be supplied. Sometimes, but very rarely, there is a small supply of bed, bath, and table linens and blankets.

You will need to supply your favorite kitchen utensils, some table linens or place mats, extra lamps, coat hangers, whatever electrical appliances you want — such as toasters and irons — and generally, bath and bed linens and blankets. You will certainly want to bring enough of your own things to make you feel comfortable and at home. Your own pictures, books, decorations, and the like will make it seem more like home to you.

The word unfurnished means different things also, but generally a stove and refrigerator are included — also towel racks, light fixtures, and other such built-in items often not included in other countries. Partly furnished often means only that there are some large furniture items that the previous tenant didn't bother to take.

Housing Agreements and Leases
Don't sign any agreement, normally called a "lease," until you have consulted a member of your company's personnel department, a lawyer, a real estate specialist at your bank, a well-recommended real estate agent, or an official at your university.

You should understand clearly in advance what the lease states about ending it or renewing it if you want to stay longer, provisions for damages, number of allowed occupants, rules about children or pets, rules that apply to subletting (i.e., renting to other parties while your own lease is in effect), painting or redecorating regulations, and hidden charges — sometimes extra ones suddenly appear for such items as a TV antenna or garbage removal. Also ask when the next rent increase will occur and what it is likely to be.

When you rent an apartment, you are normally asked for one month's "security deposit" in addition to the first and sometimes the last month's rent. The security deposit will be returned to you when you leave if there has been no major damage to the premises during your occupancy. The landlord or the landlord's agent will do the inspecting. The security deposit is an assurance to the landlord that any damage to the premises will be covered. For your own protection, you should examine the apartment carefully before you sign a lease, and get the landlord's or agent's signed (written) acknowledgment of any cracks, stains, holes, scratches, or other damages that existed before you became the tenant. Otherwise, you may be charged for preexisting damages two or three years later when you leave.

If you should move before your lease runs out, you will have to negotiate with the landlord to terminate your lease unless this provision is already written into your original lease. You may have to pay the rent until another tenant can be found, but sometimes you merely forfeit your deposits. It is best to clarify this in writing if the lease does not specify. Often, you can arrange an "early out" option in exchange for a slightly higher monthly rent.

All such matters should be discussed in advance, as mentioned above, and be sure to get professional advice before signing your name to anything. Once a contract is signed, it becomes binding. It cannot be canceled, and the terms cannot be changed without great legal difficulty. Furthermore, you will then have no opportunity for any further negotiations.

To summarize, find out the following before you sign:

1. Which services and utilities are or are not included in the rent — heat, electricity, gas, air conditioning, washing machine, clothes dryer, etc.?

2. Do you have to pay a brokerage fee (if you found the apartment through an agent)? If so, how much will it be?

3. How often will the landlord repaint the apartment, and who will pay for it?

4. Exactly how long does the lease run (they vary)?

5. What are the conditions under which you can end the lease if you leave early?

6. If you should want to sublet to someone else, can you? Under what conditions?

7. Does the landlord know the size of your family? Not all apartment houses allow children.

8. Does the landlord allow pets? Have written permission if you are going to keep a pet.

9. If you rent a house, who pays for lawn mowing, snow removal, etc.?

Utilities
Utilities refers to gas, electricity, heat, air conditioning, and water. Stoves (sometimes called ranges) are either gas or electric. Your heating costs may or may not be included in the rent — ask! If you have to pay, ask for the average monthly cost. Central heating systems generally burn oil or gas; in some cases, apartments or even houses may have electric heating. Be particularly careful about electric heating in climates with cold winters — you may find yourself paying six or seven hundred dollars a month, just for heat.

Modern apartment buildings are nearly always equipped with centrally operated air conditioning, which can be adjusted by the occupants of each apartment. If you live in an older house, it is likely to have window air conditioners. If there are no window units and the need is great, you can rent air conditioners on a monthly basis for the few hot months.

Most of the country operates on 110–120 volt current, 60 cycles, AC. Unless your own small appliances can be converted for U.S. current, you are well advised to leave them at home. For small items, transformers can be a nuisance. However, you can buy all kinds of appliances here at reasonable prices.

In most rented apartments and some rental houses, you will not have to pay for water or sewage. Houses are metered for water, and if you have to pay for it, the bill will arrive either monthly or quarterly. Water rates are low. In most communities, the charges for water consumption and sewage are combined. Sewage is generally a flat fee per month.

You can safely drink water from taps anywhere in the United States. Do not drink from brooks, streams, or rivers, however. Pollution is widespread. Tap water may taste unpleasant because it contains a high percentage of minerals or purifying chemicals. If you find this distasteful, you can buy bottled water in the supermarket, have filters installed, or buy an inexpensive, hand-held filtering system.

Finding a place to live can be one of the most challenging and stressful parts of many people's experience, especially in a new country. There are a seemingly endless number of housing options available to you, and in many parts of the country none of them are inexpensive. With careful planning and adequate information, however, you will be able to find a place to live and soon be calling it "home."

How to Begin Looking
As is generally true throughout the world, the farther you are from any urban center, the lower the rent will be. However, transportation may be so overcrowded and expensive that you will have to balance these two factors in deciding where to seek housing. Naturally, it is easier to take part in the life of a city if you live within its boundaries. For this reason single people and couples without children often prefer to live as close to the city as possible. However, families with children are generally attracted to the suburbs, where they can find larger houses at lower rents, better schools, and a slower pace — not to mention grass and trees!

If your children are of school age, the quality of local schools should be of primary concern before you decide where to rent. Many families have found that in the end it was less costly to move to a fairly expensive suburb with good public schools rather than to a less expensive neighborhood where inadequate or crowded public schools lead them to send their children to costly private schools. If there are several children in your family, this is a particularly important consideration. See Chapter 19 for a discussion of schools.

Once the school question has been explored, commuting conditions should be investigated — train or bus schedules, highways, available types of transportation, commuting time.

Your employer or foreign-student adviser should be able to give you helpful advice about schools and commuter schedules in suburban areas. You will be able to judge a good deal for yourself by driving through a number of neighborhoods. Talk to the local librarian, a salesperson, or a gas station attendant; investigate neighborhoods or suburbs as thoroughly as possible before you actually select one.

If you are moving to a medium-sized (about 500,000 population) or small city (about 100,000 population) or to a small town, the housing situation will be quite different from that in large metropolitan areas. Neighborhoods within these cities may be as spacious as those in the suburbs, although houses will sometimes be older. Public transportation, however, is frequently limited in smaller cities.

Sources of Information
Your best source of information about either houses or apartments is likely to be the local newspaper. As a rule the week's most complete real estate section appears in the Sunday edition of city newspapers. Try to get a copy on Saturday! Usually the real estate section is printed early. Timing is important, as there is often tremendous competition for housing. You need to read the columns carefully the night before so that on Sunday morning you can telephone early (even at 8 a.m.) about rentals that seem interesting to you.

There are real estate agents in all localities, and many of them handle rentals. These can be helpful, but if you can find a house yourself through friends, the newspaper, or by seeing a "For Rent" sign, it will be cheaper. Agents charge steep fees — a month's rent is common, but so is one-half month's rent. Depending on the rental market, the landlord may pay this fee or split it with you. Some companies pay such fees for their employees; others do not. Be certain you understand your company's policy regarding this matter, and inquire about fees before you sign with any real estate agency.

Even Americans are confused by the terms used in real estate advertisements. A tiny hallway, an alcove off the kitchen, or an "L" in the living room may be called a room. Sometimes kitchens and bathrooms are counted as rooms, and sometimes they are not. When you see "2-1/2 rooms" listed, you cannot be certain what this means. Neither can Americans! The only safe thing to do is to ask when you telephone: how many rooms are included in the apartment, and what size are they? Apartments are more expensive as you go higher in a building, unless there is no elevator. You are paying for more light and less dirt and noise from the street and sometimes for a better view. Listings are often described in terms of square feet. Simply divide by three to get a rough estimate of the size in square meters.

By Taxi
Because at first they feel uncertain, most people are likely to travel by taxi (also called cabs) when they arrive in any new place. Here, taxis definitely come under the heading of luxury travel. Furthermore, taxis have an aggravating way of being hard to find, not only at the busy hours of a day but also if the weather turns bad. In most cities you can telephone to get one (see the local phone book for numbers); but in others, including New York, you usually hail them on the street or find them at a "hack stand" (special parking areas reserved for taxis).

Generally speaking, taxis are metered throughout the country, but there are some cities (e.g., Washington, D.C.) where they operate on a distance zone system. Nothing is uniform in the United States. You will need to ask a friend, a colleague, or hotel personnel about the rules; they vary from city to city. Also be sure to use a well-known taxi company to avoid being overcharged.

Although drivers do not always comply, the regulations are as follows: they must stop if the taxi is empty and not showing an off-duty sign; they must drive anywhere within the city limits; they may not ask your destination before you get in and then refuse to take you; and they may not charge more than is registered on the meter except for trunks, for bridge, tunnel, or ferry tolls, or for late-night special fees. Off-duty signs are often indicated by lights on the taxi roof, but it is wise to ask someone how to tell when a taxi is off duty and can therefore be expected to pass you by. It varies from city to city.

There are various sizes of cabs. Often they are not permitted to carry more than four people — sometimes as few as three — but some can carry five or six passengers. If you find yourself sharing a cab with several strangers (legal in some cities but not in others), you will often be expected to pay full price, unfair though that may seem.

In heavily congested areas the driver may not be allowed by law to get out of the cab to open doors or help with luggage. Do not assume the driver is being discourteous — it may be a safety measure.

If you want to make a complaint about taxi service, note the driver's number and name (posted somewhere inside the cab). Be sure to get the name of the taxi company also — there are many companies in all cities. When you write to the company, be sure to keep a copy of your letter.