Winter temperatures throughout much of the country range from 0°F (or below) to about 65°F (-20°C to 18°C). You should also be prepared for a good deal of wind. For outdoor wear, insulated coats or down parkas with hoods, warm mittens or gloves, and a hat and scarf are essential in many places in the North. Many people do not realize that 75 percent of heat loss is through radiation from the head; a warm hat (one that covers the ears) is one of the best ways to brave the cold. There is often snow, but in most cities it is quickly cleared, especially in the northernmost part of the country where cities are well equipped with sand, salt, and snowplows. In southern areas, the winter climate is much warmer.
Indoors, in winter, buildings are likely to be kept somewhere around 65°–68° (18°–20° Celsius) or higher — much warmer than in Europe. You will need lightweight wool for winter, with additional sweaters, jackets, coats, or ponchos to put on or take off easily as you move from outdoors to indoors. Those who come from hot climates will perhaps feel the cold very much at first and should be prepared with layers, such as extra scarves or sweaters, and warm underwear. You will also need a light jacket during the four in-between months of spring and autumn (April-May and September – October). The combination type with removable zip-out lining is especially useful. A raincoat and umbrella are essential almost everywhere in the U.S., except for the driest areas of the Southwest.
Summer in much of the U.S. is hot. Temperatures in the 90s (low to mid 30s Celsius) are not uncommon even in areas known for their winter cold, such as Minnesota. In the Midwest and the Southeast, summertime humidity makes the warm temperatures even more uncomfortable. In the Southwest, temperatures can soar to 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degrees Celsius). Although people like to say "But it's a dry heat" (meaning that lower humidity makes it less uncomfortable), newcomers usually take some time to adjust to these extremes. Needless to say, central air conditioning is considered a near-necessity in these areas.
Specific research on the areas you will be visiting or living that take into account the time of year of your visit will help assure your comfort. Remember too that the prevalence of discount stores means that outfitting yourself and your family after you arrive need not be an unduly expensive proposition.
Americans in general like bright colors, and dress is informal, even in the cities. Few women wear hats, for example, except during cold, windy weather or for very dressy occasions such as weddings. Dark business suits for men and cocktail dresses for women suffice at most evening functions. People rarely wear formal attire (tuxedos and long evening dresses) for the theater except on opening nights of professional productions.
Children and teenagers dress very casually except for special occasions when they are dressed in party clothes. In many parochial schools and a small number of other private schools, uniforms are required (indeed, a few public schools are experimenting with required uniforms). Some schools still require jackets and ties for boys (or just ties). In general, though, boys and girls wear a variety of sturdy and informal clothes to school, often jeans and T-shirts, sweatshirts, or sweaters. During the summer months children and teenagers often wear shorts and T-shirts. The trend for teenagers is increasingly individualistic — even bizarre. Dress-up occasions can be quite competitive, ranging anywhere from "doing your own thing" to formal dresses and suits, depending on the geography and on personal taste. The cost of outfitting a teenager for a prom (a kind of formal school dance) can be quite a shock for some newcomers.
If you are renting a furnished apartment or house, moving is a relatively simple matter. You move exactly as you would for a stay in a hotel, although you might bring a few extra items.
If you are moving all your household goods to this country, you or your company will probably have arranged the transfer through a specialist. Large national and international movers have experienced packers and good equipment. You should inventory all your belongings carefully, making separate lists of those items that are going into storage, those being shipped to your new home, and those going to be cared for in some other way.
Inventories should be reasonably detailed, but you can group together and record the number of boxes of kitchen items, children's clothing, desk contents, and so forth. You do not have to itemize down to the last spoon.
Before any packers or movers come, you should sort out your belongings into separate categories as much as you can. Mark storage goods and those to be shipped with different-colored tags or stickers to avoid confusion or errors. You must also carefully supervise the movers as they work.
As the boxes are being packed for your new destination, mark each completed carton clearly in large letters on the outside as books, children's toys, kitchen supplies, and so on. This will help both the movers and you when you finally get into your new home.
When you discover how expensive it is to ship household goods, you will probably agree that it often makes better sense to buy basic equipment, such as dishes, sheets, towels, and saucepans, here rather than to ship your own — unless, of course, your company is assuming all shipping costs.
Furthermore, you may want to think carefully about bringing any pieces of furniture or cherished items, such as a delicate clock, an antique desk, your favorite chair. The best rule to follow is this: if the item were lost or broken, how would you feel? Picture the crate being lifted by a ship's crane and then dropped into the ship's hold or sitting on a dock during a heavy rain. Probably neither of these things will happen, because most goods today are packed well, but think about the possibility of such hazards. You may decide to leave your most valued possessions at home.
What will the climate be like in the part of the United States to which you are going? If you will be in sunny California, hot Arizona, or moist Florida, you should consider leaving heavy rugs, big upholstered chairs, velvet draperies, and the like at home. In hot areas it is practical to use rattan, glass, or wicker and to use louvers or shutters rather than draperies at the windows.