MAD MONEY

This article is about comparison of the United States and the Czech Republic, just in away of money.
When I was leaving I was prepared that living in the U.S. is more expensive than in the Czech. Now I have a possibility to discover where the truth is.
Let's start with the most demanding commodity ever, oil. It is sold in gallons. One gallon is approximately 3.8 liters and it costs between $2.5-3.0. So it is about half of the price in Czech, but that's probably the first and also the last thing:-p
We stopped once in the Italian restaurant "Johnny Carino's". It is kind of a normal restaurant which means not a fast food. The meal costs you about $10-$15 [include beverage], but you get for your money, as everywhere here, really big portion. They have also some combos for two or more person which are a lot cheaper. Also food in shops are mostly more expensive. Ham which I like for my lunch sandwiches costs about $9 per package. My lunch at school if I have one in cafeteria cost $1.75 and that's pretty cheap, but I don't have it every day either it is kind of a fast food meal and I don't want to spend $40 on lunches every month too.
Some electronic appliances are cheaper. You can buy a really good laptop for about $1000, iPod [30 GB] costs approximately $250 and plasma TV $1000-$2000, it depends an how big screen do you want to have. CD's cost from $10-$20. But the one for $20 usually include DVD or some other bonuses, so average is about $13. Prices of pre-paid phone cards starts at $5 and you can speak hours on local calls but for calls abroad it's approximately one hour phone call for $10.
Some kind of sport equipment you can buy cheaper. I was looking for tennis racket, but I don't remember the price, sorry. Frisbee I wanted to buy costs $10.
And finally what I got really cheap was the ticket for The Rolling Stones' concert:-) And what cost me a fortune? A haircut. I paid 17 bucks for it.

September

It is almost the end of September and I finally have found time to write some notes about my stay in the U.S.
I came almost four weeks ago and it is long enough to learn something about America and Americans.

1. Everything is huge and when I say everything I mean really everything. It starts with cars. They have lot of similar types as we have in Europe, but even the small Ford Focus seems to be more than big. Carts in stores are approximately twice as big as I was used to. They probably have to be as big, because it is your only possibility how you can fill your fridge. They are not huge, they are so huge. And finally distances, especially here in Montana is everything far away.
2. It wasn't easy to get use to the phrases like "What's up", "How are you", "How are you doing" or "How is it going". Average American use it hundred times a day and you have to learn answer it with the same sentence and answer it quickly, because the person who asked you is probably not waiting for the answer. Never answer it negatively, even if you don't feel good everybody is waiting for "I'm fine" or "Good".
   
3. Be ready to learn how the dryer works.
4. If you'll see a manual clutch, you are a happy man.
5. No problem! Really nothing seems to be a problem here. You start fire using oil. You can transport your house with car or you can let your house unlocked whole day when you are out.
   
6. I've started to have a fear from bears.

My USA

Hi there...
this blog should be about my exchange-study trip to the United States, so we will see...