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General
Information
The following information has been used with permission from
the Friends of India,
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
Select from the following quick links to jump to your topic of interest.
Usually, before anyone comes to the U.S.A for the first time from India he/she will start talking to people who have been here before and get information from them about what to expect, what to do etc. Though this gives some idea it doesn't make one confident or better prepared and moreover how much can one absorb at once. So we felt the need for a small, informal document, which anyone could carry along with or read on the plane before he/she gets to the U.S.A. The objective of this document is to make you aware of things, situations to expect and enlighten you with facts so you can be comfortable once you get there. This friendly document will guide you during your stay in the U.S. You will be better prepared for the trip if you read this document before going or just after reaching. It tries to give information on preparing for the trip, food, travel, stay and culture in the U.S. This is just out of our experience and should be considered as an advice rather than final authoritative statement, which may be arguable. We want you to enjoy your trip to the U.S. as much as possible. All the best!! :-)
There are four time zones in the U.S.:
1. Eastern TZ Example:
Massachusetts, New York, Florida etc.
2. Central TZ (lags Eastern TZ by one hour) Example: Illinois, Arkansas, Texas,
Alabama, Iowa, Kentucky, Indiana etc.
3. Mountain TZ (lags Eastern TZ by two hours) Example: Colorado, Utah, Wyoming
etc.
4. Pacific TZ (lags Eastern TZ by three hours) Example: California, Oregon,
Washington etc.
Day
light saving
As
the name suggests, the time is set in such a way that maximum daylight could
be used. E.g. During summer, the sun rises at around 5 o'clock. So the clock
is set forward by one hour. This forces all activities to start one hour earlier
so that maximum daylight is used till late in the evening.
The Clock is set back
by one hour on the first Sunday of November 1 (Fall Season) at 2:00 am. Clock
is once again set forward by one hour on the first Sunday of April at 2:00
am.(Spring Season). The easiest way to remember this is FALL BACK, SPRING
AHEAD. By the way, Arizona is the only state which is not affected by day-light-saving.
People there do not ever change the time in their clocks.
Back to top
Dollar 100 cents
Quarter 25 cents
Dime 10 cents
Nickel 5 cents
Penny 1 cent
All major cities have
some sort of public transportation not necessarily very good or frequent or
well connected. Therefore most people prefer to travel by their own cars.
It is better that you own a car in the U.S. so that you are independent. But
till you get to buy a car you can use the public transportation system or
depend on your friends/colleagues for a ride.
Trains and Buses
In most cities, you may purchase Daily Tickets from the conductor
or the driver on the train and buses each day. For more information on routes,
schedules and fares, see the publications and maps published by the city's
local authority. You can locate them in your telephone book.
Taxi Companies
In some areas you must telephone for a taxi and make an appointment.
You will not find them waiting in the street corners but you do find them
waiting in a queue at the airport. Taxis are listed in the yellow pages under
the name "Taxi" or "Taxicabs". When you call, tell the
"dispatch" operator where you are and where you want to go. The
dispatch operator will tell you how long it will take for the taxi to arrive
at your starting point. He or she will ask for the telephone number, so they
can call you if the taxi driver cannot locate you. You should ask for the
estimated cost of the ride. When you enter the taxi, the meter will read flat
rate. This is the minimum charge. You will be charged the flat rate for each
mile you travel.
For a successful conversation, in the US, it is advisable that you speak slowly and pronounce properly. Well, the first part you really need to practice otherwise what you will hear from the person opposite is "pardon me", "come again", "I am sorry", "I didn't get you". e.g. The changes in pronunciation are like 'schedule' pronounced as 'skedule', 'route' pronounced 'raut' etc. Also some words are totally substituted like 'petrol' by 'gas'. Here is a table from Gary Nobel of HP San Diego, which he created when he traveled in India. Thanks to him. The dictionary is very remarkable. The following is a simple dictionary for translating between American English and Indian English. This dictionary should be useful for the new-comer to either the U.S. or India. The words are in no particular order.
Food Related:
Indian English
American English
Coriander Cilantro
Colddrink Soda pop
Curd Yogurt
Cafe ("kayf") Cafe ("kaf-ay'")
Nes-coffee Instant coffee
Filter coffee Brewed coffee
Milk powder Cream
French beans Snow peas
Hotel Restaurant
Jelly Gelatin
Garam masala Curry powder
Lady fingers Okra
Small pastries Cakes
Toffee Hard candy
Brinjal Eggplant
Biscuit Cookies/Wafers
Bun Biscuit
(Potato) wafers (Potato) chips
Finger chips French fries
Groundnuts Peanuts
Education
Related:
Indian English
American English
Public school Private school (tuition charged)
Private school Public school (free)
School High school
College School
University School
2nd standard 2nd grade
High marks Good grades
Invigilator Proctor
Canteen Cafeteria
Clothes:
Indian English
American English
Windcheater Windbreaker
Half-pant Shorts
Transportation
related:
Indian English
American English
Traffic signal Traffic light
Boot, dikky Trunk of a car
Bonnet Hood of a car
Petrol pump Gas station
Petrol Gas
Footpath Sidewalk
Zebra Crossing Crosswalk
Take a lift Get a ride
Motorcycle Motorbike
Cycle Bike
Other:
Indian English
American English
Football Soccer
American Football (rugby?) Football
Solid Substantial
Ltd. Inc.
Two-in-One Boom box
Goggles Sunglasses
Toilet Restroom
Guest house Motel
Note Bill
Cell Battery
Torch Flashlight
Rubber Eraser
Condom Rubber
Dustbin Trash can
Beggar Panhandler
Mess Dorm cafeteria
Restaurant bill Restaurant check
Lift Elevator
Pram Stroller
Idioms:
Indian English
American English
To post (a letter) To mail (a letter)
To submit To turn in
To be out of station To be out of town
Straight-away Right away
Anticlockwise Counterclockwise
Bunk school Skip class
Passed out Graduated
Fainted Passed out
Ring up (someone) Call up (someone)
The line is engaged It's busy / I got a busy tone
Push the accelerator Step on the gas
Give the car some race Speed up the car
Get down (from a bus) Get off (of a bus)
Let's push off Let's go
Let's make a move Let's go
Convince someone Talk someone into
Black money Tax free, undeclared income
Standing from a constituency Running for an election
Issue a book Checkout a book (from the library)
How are you? How are you doing?
How is everything? How is it going?
Too good Cool
The American system of sizes and measurement is different from that in India. Most of the shops in the U.S. arethe equivalents of super markets in India. You can go around the shop, buy what you want and pay at the counter. The important difference you will notice is, the shops are driven by customer service. So if you don't like anything that you bought or it doesn't fit you properly you may return it within a certain period allowed. You should inquire about the return policy when you buy returnable goods. Of course you need to preserve the receipt of the purchase. Most of the time they won't even ask you why you want to return the goods. When you buy shoes, the size should be 1/2 more than your size in India. For example, if you buy size 9 in India, you should buy size 9 1/2 in the US. (Or approximate it to the nearest round figure). Following measurement chart will help you in converting between American system and metric system.
Metric Conversion Chart
millimeters x 0.04 = inches(in)
centimeters x 0.4 = inches(in)
meters x 3.3 = feet
kilometers x 1.1 = yards
inches x 2.5 = centimeters
feet x 30 = centimeters
yards x 0.9 = meters
miles x 1.6 = kilometers
grams x 0.035 = ounces
kilograms x 2.2 = pounds
ounces x 28 = grams
pounds x 0.45 = kilograms
milliliters x 0.3 = = fluid ounces
liters x 1.06 = quarts
liters x 0.26 = gallons
fluid ounces x 30 = milliliters
quarts x 0.95 = liters
gallons x 3.8 = liters
Of course you must be
hungry, when you arrive. God knows what you ate on the plane. You don't remember
the item's name or its contents. It may be one of the weirdest things you
ever had for dinner or lunch. So you must be apprehensive about what you will
get for lunch or dinner. The best thing you can try is PIZZA, which is pronounced
as "PiTza".You get both Veg. and NonVeg Pizzas. But to be on the
safer side order a Veg. Pizza that way you won't be left hungry at least.
Order a small pizza if you are alone or a medium size is enough for two or
three (well it depends on your appetite actually). You can order pizza by
phone and it will be delivered at your doorstep in a few minutes. Refer to
the yellow pages or consult the motel receptionist you are staying in, for
information.
For breakfast, have 'Continental breakfast' which is cheap and the best. To
be sure about Veg. items, always ask for items with "NO MEAT" rather
than "WITHOUT MEAT". Be sure to say "NO ICE" if you prefer
to have your drink without ice. And remember that a CHEESEBURGER is a misnomer.
It contains meat besides cheese, so be careful!
Here is a guide for Vegetarian
Dishes:
Mexican
Bean Burrito, Enchiladas, Bean Taco, Cheese Taco, Bean Tostadas, Mexican
Pizza
Italian or Greek
Eggplant (brinjal) sandwich, Spaghetti with tomato sauce, Lasagna
(pronounced Laza-nya), Italian Pizza, Italian Pasta with tomato sauce, Falafel,
Veg. Gyro (pronounced Yero).
Denny's
Vegetable omelet (with eggs), Vegetable lunch/dinner (salad, potato
smash, garlic sauce) Broccoli soup
American Restaurants (Sizzler, Olive Garden)
Best bet is salad bar & French fries
McDonald's
Mac cheese sandwich, Milk shakes, ice-cream sundaes
Pizza Hut
Veggie Lover's delight, Veggie pizza with a choice of toppings such
As Jalapenos (pronounced Hala-pin-yose and are green chilies), pineapple,
tomato, onions etc.
Burger King
Veggie cheese whooper, Garden burger
Before you start your
first day, get a hang of how the work environment is at the work place from
any person who has been working there or read on for some typical environments
you may find. Usually work supervisors are very understanding and friendly.
And do not unduly pressurize you to perform. They will definitely give you
some time to come up to speed in their work environment.
There is a lot of individualistic approach. Every person's inputs are given
a lot of importance. Independent views are respected. Before discarding any
of your ideas, they will give you a good enough reason for doing so. For the
smallest of decisions they will sometimes hold a meeting and get the entire
team's inputs/comments/suggestions before proceeding. One feels important
when this is done. But sometimes it can get boring.
Nobody double checks what you are saying, they take you for your word. There
are no suspicious feelings and managers don't fear subordinates. Managers
will openly discuss about their meetings with "their" bosses, with
the team. There is no hide and seek as far as information/feedback is concerned.
People admit if they don't know or have information about certain things.
They don't pretend to be all knowing. People are dedicated to their area of
work and develop expertise in it. But they do not talk about work related
topics, which are not in their area of expertise; they immediately refer you
to the right person.
People enjoy their work and leisure. They plan their weekends well in advance.
Very few people stay back late in the office or come and work during weekends.
Such things are not related to performance. As long as you perform well in
your work and within time, you are good. Most companies allow you to compensate
by working during the weekend if you take a day off from work on a regular
weekday. The work hours in most companies are flexible. Come anytime and go
anytime but you do need to put in a minimum of 8 hrs/day or 40 hrs/week as
contractors. Regular time sheets "may" have to be filled, in some
companies.
The information in this
section is just a guide and does not reflect the views of the Government of
USA. The rules may have changed since the time this page was created. You
can find more information about Taxes from the International Students Office
in your school. Income Tax return filing is very simple in US as compared
to India. Here Tax forms are very simple and easy to fill up. One need not
know all about Taxation laws, but still can very easily file tax return. Here
in US there are two types of taxes. One is the FEDRAL Tax, which is something
like our Income tax and the other is the STATE Tax. Last day of filing the
income tax return is 15th of April. Accounting year is considered from 1st
of January till 31st of December. USA has a Tax treaty with India. Under this
Tax treaty one can file his tax return either in India or in US as per the
convenience. But you need to show your income earned in either of the country.
Suppose you come to US in the middle of the year. You must be definitely having
some income in India before you came to US in that particular financial year.
Also some part of salary is paid to you even when you are in US. This income
is taxable and hence you pay tax on that income. Generally you pay tax on
this income in India as in most of the cases income tax is deducted at source.
So one pays tax on the income in India. So now you are liable only for the
tax on the income that you earn in US.
Here there are different types of forms for different category of people.
For those who are US residents and who have status of Resident Aliens, they
have to file the what is called 1040EZ form (form 1040 easy). Anyone who is
in the US for more than 183 days continuously gains status of Resident Alien.
Any person who is in US for less than 183 days in that financial year is considered
as Non Resident Alien. Non Resident Alien will not have some Tax benefits
which any US citizen or Resident Alien will have. Here in particular, Non-resident
Alien will not get Standard deduction on their income. Also they have to pay
Tax as per the Flat rate. So basically when you file your Tax return as NR
you land up paying more taxes. But you have to file 1040NR when you are having
status as Non resident Alien.
For filing Tax return form one can get help from the government body, which
is known as IRS (Internal Revenue Services). This is same as Income Tax department
in India. Also one has to pay tax to the state government. Each state has
a different tax law for the State Tax. Booklet of information on this is available
on request. Tax forms are available freely at the public places like Post
office, Public library where one can get the form that he/she requires. Also,
government gives special services for the people who need the guidance. One
can get this information even on phone by calling them. One can even go in
person to understand the form. Apart from these facilities provided by the
government one can even go to private Tax consultants. They will charge you
depending on the kind of advice you seek. They take care of every detail and
one need not bother about anything.
Along with the Tax you are supposed to send one form called "W2"
form. The employer provides this form to all the employees. The form contains
all the information based on the salary of the person. Also all the taxes
paid by the employer to the State government as well as Federal government.
Details about the social security taxes and the medical taxes paid by the
employer are also included in this form. There are three copies of this form.
One copy is to be sent with the State Tax form; one with the Federal Tax form
and the other for the employee's personal record. Before sending the W2 form
one should check the validity of the information in it. Most important is
the correct social security number. If there is any change in any of the information
one should inform the employer ASAP. Employer is supposed to send the corrected
information to IRS and also a corrected copy to the employee, which is called
W2C form.
God forbid, but if something
happens to you, here is what you should know: First of all the content here
will work a little bit different for students. You will have general idea,
though, about the process. The Medical Benefit Card, which is sent by the
Medical Insurance Company, is an important card and should be acquired at
the earliest. Fill up the Medical forms sent by DCI and return those immediately
to DCI to ensure that you are registered with the Insurance Company after
you land in the U.S. This card entitles you to coverage under certain medical
categories only. There is a deductible. Which means if you land into medical
problems, you have to pay the first 100 dollars from your pocket. Thereafter
the Insurance Company takes over the payment depending on the coverage plan
etc. There are two acceptable ways of payment for the Doctor's services which
depends on the Doctor. The Doctor's receptionist is the best person to ask
payment related questions. Some Doctors ask you to pay them (by cash, check,
credit card etc.) immediately after the service. The receptionist will then
give you a formal bill, which you must send (by postal mail) to the Medical
Insurance Company along with the claim form supplied by DCI (which comes in
with the initial package soon after you land in the U.S.) The Medical Ins.
Co. will then send you a check after verifying your claim. Other Doctors will
note down the details of your Medical Insurance Company from your card. They
will then send the bill to the Insurance Company and receive the payment directly.
You need not pay the Doctor.
But in both the above modes, remember that there are certain charges which
the Insurance Company will not pay and which they don't cover, such as the
first. So find out the details from the Insurance Co. about your respective
coverage/medical problem etc. For certain kinds of medical problems where
you have to visit the Doctor repeatedly, the Insurance Company will pay for
only a fixed number of visits per year. How to decide on the Doctor to visit?
Ask your colleagues or other Indian friends. Otherwise check up the yellow
pages (phone directory). Look under the "Physicians" heading. Telephone
the Doctor and fix up an appointment. Only in cases of emergency, do the Doctors
see you immediately; otherwise it is always by appointment. You can claim
the expenses for any Dr. prescribed medicine that you have to buy from the
Drug (medical) Store.
It's helpful to know
how Americans typically will be. Otherwise you will start feeling "These
people are great dramatists... ". Here are some tips: -
Americans are very friendly and helpful. They don't make you feel like a foreigner.
(Though you feel!!!) It is very easy to adjust with them. But they don't like
people getting very inquisitive or trying to get too personal in the initial
phase of the acquaintance. They dress casually and nobody bothers which dress
you wear etc.
They are fun loving people and enjoy their free time. Most of them like to
keep themselves physically fit by regular outings, hiking, exercise, biking,
jogging etc. They love the outdoors and natural surroundings. They look forward
to weekends and plan their weekend activities in advance. This usually consists
of some outdoor activity.In Minnesota, with so many lakes (more than 10,000)
around, camping is very popular with everyone. It usually starts in late Spring
and goes on till early Fall.
They are frank about their opinions. They respect individual views and allow
everyone to voice their own ideas on a subject.
They have a lot of patience. Especially when standing in queues or while driving,
nobody will try to jump before you in the queue. Most of them are very disciplined
drivers. However this differs from State to State. If they happen to come
in your way or you happen to come in their way, you will promptly hear an
"Excuse me" or "Excuse us".
They need a lot of feedback while talking. You have to acknowledge/nod continuously.
Otherwise they feel you are not interested in listening or are confused.
They gesture a lot and shoot some funny (at least so it seems initially) phrases
at you. It is a matter of "getting used to it".
They are "very" proud of their country. To them, the Universe is
the United States. So never ever make fun of or speak lightly about them or
tell them that they do not have any social/cultural background. You will make
more American friends that way.
Most Americans think of India as a poor country of beggars, snake charmers
and swamis etc. This is due to the insufficient and improper media coverage
given to India. Their T.V. only shows the poor Indian villages and cows on
the streets. Hope you will be able to prove that India is a country of INTELLIGENT
people like you and not just ELEPHANTS and SNAKE CHARMERS.
Now that you have started your work you would like to move into your own apartment rather than stay in the motel. Here is what you should know about renting an apartment. You can get information on how to rent an apartment from the 'Apartments' section of the Yellow Pages, newspaper or 'Rental Guides' which are available at the stores. To lease (rent) an apartment you should consider following points:
Lease
period and deposits
Usually there are
two types of lease depending on the period of lease: 6 months lease &
12 months lease. (In some places they allow 3 month lease too, but the rent
increases in that case). In most of the cases you get 1 month's rent free
if you chose 12 months lease and you get a discount of half month's rent if
you chose 6 months lease. You have to pay 1 month's rent as security deposit
and some amount around 10$ to 15$ as key deposit. Rent for the apartment in
basements is less than other apartments. Very few people prefer to stay in
basements because of security reasons. So when you ask about availability
of apartments it is possible that the Manager will say only basement apartment
is available. Hence insist for apartment on first or second floor if you don't
want a basement apartment. Otherwise after renting a basement apartment you
will realize that apartments other than in basements were also available.
Utilities
Check whether your rent includes utilities such as hot water, Cable
etc. Otherwise you end up spending around 100$ to 150$ for electricity bill
if you have to pay for hot water.
Lease Terms
Understand the lease terms properly because most of the times you
need to break the lease in case your project terminates suddenly.If you want
to break the lease
You have to give 30 days notice.
You lose your security deposit
In some cases they (the apartment management) try to find someone who wants
to rent your apartment. If they don't get anyone within 30 days period,You
have to pay one month's rent extra. In this situation you lose your security
deposit plus one month's rent. Get these terms clarified before signing the
lease papers.
Lease Breaking
If you are sharing an apartment with somebody, suppose 3 people, and
all three have their names on lease papers. In case one of the three wants
to leave before the lease period is over, you need to take a letter from him/her
saying that all further paper work can be done by the other two people. This
letter is required when your lease period is over or even if you want to break
the lease before that period is over. If you don't have such a letter you
won't be able to break the lease unless all three have signed the lease break
paper. In such cases you also end up losing your deposit. This is true even
for normal termination of lease period. Be careful and understand these terms
and conditions fully.
Damages
After renting an apartment carefully observe if there are any types
of damages in the apartment. If you see any, ask your Property Manager to
make a note of it. Otherwise they will deduct some amount from your security
deposit when your lease period is over.
Downgrading and Upgrading
If you want to move to 2 bedroom apartment from 1 bedroom apartment
you have to pay some 100$ to 200$. In many cases downgrading i.e. moving to
1 bedroom apartment from 2 bedroom apartment is not allowed. Get clarification
on all such points while signing lease papers.
Electricity and Telephone connection
After you rent the apartment you need to inform your local Electric
Supply company that you will be staying in that apartment from so and so date
and that they may bill you from that date. Ask your local telephone company
for a telephone connection by calling them up. Most of the business takes
place on the phone. Surprisingly all work gets done and promptly too!
Maintaining an apartment
In most of the apartments you have cooking range, oven, dish washer,
refrigerator etc. Use aluminum foil to cover part of the cooking range (other
than coils) so that it remains clean and in the end you don't need to spend
time in cleaning it. Dish washer soap is available in liquid or in powder
form. Dish washer inner surface starts becoming blackish after some days.
The cleaning liquid can be used to clean it. This can be done once in a month.
Clean your oven once in a month using oven cleaning liquid. Use plastic garbage
bags in trash cans so that you can just take the bag and dispose it in the
central trash, usually provided in the apartment complex.
Laundry
If the apartment itself does not have a washer/dryer, there will usually
be a common laundry room in the complex where you can do your weekly washing/drying.
Such common machines usually are coin operated machines so you'll need a few
quarters and also your own favorite detergent powder.
When you come to the U.S. you will notice the opposite everywhere. You will get the feeling "This is so weird!". Almost everything you try to do will fail even if it is a small thing like turning ON the lamp !!!!" This is just to make you get a hang of it. The cars are driven on the right hand side instead of left hand side of the road. So you should look left first while crossing roads :-). You may have to insert the key upside down and rotate it in the opposite direction to unlock. You will also notice that switches work in opposite direction i.e. UP is ON and DOWN is OFF :-). The date is written with the month first, then day, followed by the year. As one of our American colleague pointed out jokingly, "its logical, if you see that India is exactly opposite in location on the globe, to U.S.!!!"
If you are going to stay
at a particular place for quite some time say more than three months, then
you may need to buy a car rather than rent one. Buying a car involves some
effort. It's better to be cautious while buying a car, because owning a car
brings you freedom and you own a vehicle but you need to maintain the car
and take care of any problems. The main concern while buying a car is that
its maintenance cost should not be high, otherwise you will lose a lot. So
here is what experience tells us:
Buying a car in America is very easy, there are lots of used cars for sale
and there is never a shortage. It is just the question of deciding the budget
and type of car to be bought. Most people prefer Japanese cars over American
makes simply because of the easy resaleability. The most popular Japanese
car makes are Honda and Toyota. Types of models ? There are two categories
of cars, 2-door, 4-door. The 2-d are cheaper.
Then comes the type of transmission (gear)- automatic or stick-shift. Most
people buy automatic transmission. Such cars are very easy to drive. (Almost
all Indian cars are of the stick-shift variety). Where to look ? The local
newspapers carry a lot of car sale advertisements everyday. You should see
the paper and decide on the ones you are interested in. Next call up the owner
at the tel. no. given, as early in the day as possible and fix up an appointment
to visit and see the car. Test drive it, if you like it and the price is ok,
tell the owner that you'd like to get it checked up by a mechanic. This is
the normal practice. There is nothing to feel shy about asking the car to
be checked up. This will save you a lot of money later after purchasing the
car from unforeseen problems that some used cars have.
Look up the yellow pages in the local tel. directory to get the list of car
mechanics or just ask colleagues to recommend one. If that doesn't work out,
ask the local AAA (American Automobile Association) office to recommend someone
to you. For a fee of about $30 the mechanic will check up the car and tell
you the problems or possible problems if any. Some people do it for free.
It is good to tell the auto mechanic to check up the following things with
additional care in addition to their regular :-
1. brake cylinder, drum
and worn out pads
2. transmission. ( this is the costliest part in an automatic car )
3. if it is a 4 speed never buy it. 5 speed is ok.
4. check for rust in bottom, radiators, muffler and tailpipe.
5. check for vibrations when you brake from 40mph, without down-shifting.
If there are vibrations, either break pads or steering pinion is in bad shape.Get
4 people to sit in the car and you can make out if the suspensions are ok,
when you make a sharp turn.
6. Most important, check for oil leaks, and whether the car gives you power
speed/pick-up when you try to accelerate. You can feel if it's OK.
7. lastly, check for emission whether the smoke is black(thick), which means
oil is also burned with fuel, the car is beyond its life. The piston rings
might be leaving a gap in the cylinders because of wear. In that case, don't
buy the car, because you will have to change the cylinder, piston and rings
which will come to double the cost.
8. ask the owner to give the records of the maintenance he has done, like
new tires etc. Also, make sure you don't go beyond 3rd hand purchase. There
must be something seriously wrong with the car if people have changed owners
drastically.
9. Air filter, valve etc. OK ?
Ask the owner to give a discount on the price of the car by the amount required for the repairs suggested by the mechanic. Or else ask him to get it repaired for you.The rates of the used cars have some standard values which are generally not exceeded. These values can be checked up in something called "Blue Book" which is a text available in the public library or with car dealers. So, car models classified as per 'Year of make' have their value listed in the Blue Book. There is a cost deduction to be applied for the mileage that the car has been driven for, which is mentioned in most Blue Books. That gives a fair idea about the standard cost of any used car. Moreover there is ample scope for price negotiation. Generally private owners who sell through ads can give better discounts than used car dealers. The car dealers stick to the Blue Book Price but usually ask more.
Mileage is also a consideration while purchasing a used car. Lesser the better. The ideal average is 10000 miles per year. So a car manufactured in 1987 may have a driven mileage of about 70000 miles in 1994 and not more than 80000. These are approximate figures. After buying a car, you need to get it insured. You cannot drive a car in the U.S. without proper Insurance. The car has to be insured against collisions etc. There are various vehicle Insurance companies having various deals. Look up the yellow pages and call up some of them and ask for their rates. Then decide on one. The Insurance coverage period, the type of Insurance chosen and your age ( it is more for ages less than 25 yrs.) decide the amount to be paid. The "comprehensive", "collision" are terms used by the Insurance companies to describe the type of insurance coverage. Get everything explained properly. There is sometimes a windscreen coverage too, for a nominal additional amount per month, this insures your windshield against damage (a windscreen replacement may cost about $200 approx. otherwise).
You have to get the emission testing done on your car before it can be registered. In case the previous owner has got it done and the test is valid still, then there is no need to do it again for the specified period. The valid test papers are required for Registration. The local vehicle registration office will issue a temporary registration for 45 days and meanwhile, process and prepare the proper number plates. The documents required to get a registration are Car ownership (title) papers; Emission Test papers; Car Insurance papers; After proper registration is done you can drive your car. However you should have a Driver's License. Actually each state in the U.S. has different laws. Most states allow you to drive with an I.D.P. (International Driving Permit) for a year or so. But others require that you get a local Driver's License. The driver's license can be obtained from the local DMV office after a written and driving test. Refer to the section on obtaining a driver's license for details.
Car is a necessity in most of the places here in U.S. Either you buy a car or you can rent a car. You can pay either a monthly rate or daily rent. Though its expensive to rent a car for a month or so, it might be required if you are going to stay at that place for a small period of time. Here is some information you will need OR should know when you want to rent a car.
1. The driver/co-drivers
need to be at least 25 years old.
2. Credit Card is required to rent a car, else a deposit of some amount may
be needed. Most companies do not allow you to rent a car if you do not have
a credit card.
3. You need a valid driver's license to drive a rental car.
4. Well-known car renting companies are Hertz, Avis, Alamo, Budget, Dollar,
and Enterprise etc.
4. Car Insurance has to be bought for the Rental car. It is a separate charge
or is included in the total per day renting cost. Some credit card companies
pay for the insurance if you use their card to book a car e.g. American Express
Credit Card, in such a case you need not buy insurance from the car rental
company.
5. You have to register the other drivers too as co-drivers of the rental
car while booking the car. They should have valid driver's licenses too. Nobody
else should be allowed to drive the car other than those registered!
6. Unlimited mileage or fixed mileage is also a criterion, which decides the
hiring charges of a rental car.
7. You can make the booking over the phone. But you have to go personally
to pick-up the car from the renting agency.
8. Generally the gas (fuel) tank is full and you are supposed to return it
with a full tank.
9. Some rental agencies do not allow you to rent their car for travel outside
the state.
10. There are various types of cars that can be booked. Generally depending
on the seating capacity, such as small, medium, compact, large, full-size,
premium, mini-van, van etc. One may even choose the make of the car if available.
The rental agencies maintain the cars in good shape and generally have new
cars.
11. The renting charges vary depending on the season, weekend/weekday, for
how many days you want the car, how much in advance you are booking, availability,
type of car etc.
We wanted to mention this specially 'cause its very helpful for a person who is new to U.S. AAA read as 'triple A' stands for "American Automobile Association" is an auto club which provides you with all kinds of tour and travel information. It provides you with all the maps and travel guides, which you will need. It also has services like towing, opening your car door lock in case you get locked out, emergency help and so on. Being a member of this club also gets you concession for motel booking and rental cars. There is a yearly fee for all these services, which they provide, and if you believe us, "It's more than worth it". So we think its a good idea to be a member of this club. It will help you in traveling, which of course you will do once you get here.
Decorating/Furnishing Your House
Of course this is not an advice for interior designing but to make your APARTMENT look like a HOME. Home is not a place with four walls, but where you have furniture also :-). The greatest place to get the things you need for your house is Garage Sales. You can get things like Sofa sets to Wall paintings very cheep from this source. Everyone will be amazed if you have a full-furnished house in a few months. Garage sale is a second-hand, used things sale which includes household items such as furniture like couch etc, appliances such as T.V., stereo, clothes/jackets, other used items. This is held in garages or backyards of the people here, generally on weekends. You can furniture, which is usually in good shape from these places. Anybody who wants to sell old used things can hold a garage sale and put up a sign near the house announcing such a sale. The prices are negotiable. Generally people advertise through local newspaper ad columns. The early morning time on Sat. and Sun. between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. is the best to hunt around for used things in garage sales.
You must get your social
security number and driving license as soon as you arrive. Each individual
in United States is required to register with US government by law. The way
we have registration in India through Ration Card it is Social Security here.
This number is very useful for the government as well as for the individual.
Government can keep track of the individual from this particular number. You
will need the SS number for any official paper work or dealings e.g. while
filling Tax forms or while opening a bank account or while getting a membership
in the public library. A person's entire credit history can be traced from
this number. As soon as one arrives in US he/she is required to get Social
Security number immediately. It is a very simple procedure.
Every town or a city has a Social Security office. You have to go there with
your Passport. First thing you need to do is collect the application form
for new social security number. These forms are available in various languages.
Find one in English and fill it completely. It will ask you for your local
postal address details besides other information. The officer will check your
application form and passport. After checking everything you will be informed
when you will be receiving your Social Security number, which will be by postal
mail. Generally within three to four weeks time you will receive your social
security number which appears printed on a small card, which you should carry/preserve
safely.
Getting
Driver's License
Driver's license
is one of the most important document required in United States. Apart from
driving needs it is required at almost all the places where you need to show
your ID. Mainly because this is the only valid Identity card which is required
and approved at all the places.
In US most of the money transactions are done via checks or Credit-cards. Initially when you don't have credit card, check is the only practical and recommended way of payment. Nobody keeps cash. People generally issue checks even for a small amount of less than $1.00. Checks are as good as Cash and can be deposited at any ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) center. These checks are accepted only with a valid PHOTO-ID at most stores and shops.
Actually a Photo-id could also be a simple identity card issued by the DMV (Dept. of motor vehicles), which is not a driver's license. At most places Driver's license is the only valid PHOTO-ID. So after getting Social Security number, Driver's license is another very important thing one should acquire as soon as possible. There is another form of ID called the State Non-Drivers License which serves the purpose of a state ID with your photo and your fingerprints (optional) on it.
Getting driver's license is not very difficult here. Before appearing for a driving test behind the wheels one has to clear a written test conducted by DMV Department of Motor Vehicles - similar to RTO in India). Each state has their own laws for driving a vehicle. DMV issues a book on the rules which are required to be followed very strictly. This book gives detailed information about all the laws and is written in a very nice manner. It is very easy to follow all the rules as they are nicely explained and if necessary, supported by good photographs. After understanding the contents of this book you can appear for the written exam. You can appear for the test on any working day. You can call up DMV and take an appointment with them or you can even go directly. They will check your Passport and will give you a question paper. Questions are objective type and you have to choose the best answer for each question. Time is no limit for the exam.
After you are done with it, the person on the counter will immediately check your paper and will tell you your score. Upon passing this test you will get temporary driving license which is valid for two months. DMV also issues an ID card. This is issued by the state government. You can use this Id card as a Photo-Id till you get your driver's license. At some places you are required to produce two Photo-Ids, that time it is very useful to have this photo-id. During the period of temporary license one can appear for the driving test.
You can practice on a rented car or if you are not very confident then you can even go for some driving lessons. For driving lessons you can go to driving school or to a private teacher. Private teachers are little cheaper as compared to driving school. Once you are ready for the test, again you will have to take an appointment with DMV for the driving test. On the day of appointment you have to go there with your learning license. The car in which you will give your driving test should have proper Insurance papers. Also check all the controls, including signal lights and brake lights. If any of these is not in shape, you will not be allowed to appear for the test. This test will be of 100 marks. After your test, driving inspector will immediately tell you your result. Generally they explain to you your mistakes so that you can work on them and rectify. If you have passed you will get your license immediately in most places. If you fail there is no minimum period required between the time you appear again. So you can practice again and appear as soon as you can.
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