10 points which the United States is worse than in Russia

Alexey Solomatin, head of project service for independent travel Letim. me, decided to tell what, in his opinion, in the United States is worse than in Russia. Of course, raising such a subject, he risks the wrath of dissenters, but of course everyone is entitled to their point of view. (Hereinafter — the author's words!)

All of these 10 points I have made after a week — two week trips to the States. Perhaps for the people living there, some points to the contrary seem more affordable. Who knows. Do not insist.

I would also like to note that this is not a negative article. I only highlighted what is obvious for me personally. If you compare the overall set of items, the States with a vengeance will overtake Russia in many respects from the point of view of the common man, but that's a topic for another post.

In the US, I was 5 times at different times. Most of the time was in California (Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco), Nevada, Utah, Arizona. Once specially flew to Chicago for a week. A few days spent in new York. Of these trips have drawn its own conclusions about the American life of the device and noted a few interesting things and want to share with you.

Of course, to compare Russia and the USA in General is meaningless. It's so different country, even to lose at this time do not want to. In this post I would like to point out 10 quite noticeable things to me, which for some reasons seem to me more convenient and if you want better.

In Russia, understandable prices. If you came into the shop, already at the stage of selection of products, you will always know exactly how much you will pay. If you have the money of course.

The United States is very unusual pricing. If you used to pay for a product/service as much as indicated on the price list, the first time you will experience a slight shock. All prices are without taxes. At the checkout to the price of the goods you will add another 4% to 12% depending on the state.

In every state, your sales tax and it can differ almost twice. But that's not all. If you came to the cafe where there is service, there will still have to pay a tip. Tipping can be 10-15% and 25%, but this is at your discretion.

The choice of the size of the tip when paying by credit card.

If you refuse to pay a tip, you'll ask a question that you don't like and why such a decision. If you pay by card, in the software already exists on the choice of the size of the tip.

We have become accustomed in Russia, mobile communications and the Internet is virtually anywhere, wherever we came. Some popular destinations, for example, the route Moscow-Petersburg, and is covered with high speed mobile Internet almost all mobile operators.

I'm not talking about the city where mobile communication is everywhere. Even the metro is a mobile Internet and communications. Even the province have succeeded. For example, in the Udmurt Republic, all the major towns already covered by 4G network. About cellular voice communication, even can not speak. She is practically everywhere, even in the deep woods far from settlements finishes off any cell tower.

Perhaps there is a "dead" zone, but I have not seen such. It's, again I speak from my experience. Don't rule out that there are mesta where people suffer without a connection, but the overall picture is a satisfactory coating.

In the US, things are different. We are very much riding on national parks of the Western United States. Mobile Internet is not everywhere and even if it where-that is, its speed leaves much to be desired.

Was generally an interesting case right at the entrance to Las Vegas. There was neither cellular nor Internet of course as long as not appeared on the city's skyline. And a lot of these cases. Even in the suburbs of Los Angeles mobile good Internet is not everywhere. Your phone displays the notorious letter E. to sum up, the mobile coverage in Russia, I think is better.

Another problem is buying a local SIM card. There you can't just go to the store and buy a cheap SIM card not a few days. You will be offered tariffs in which you will have to pay a tangible amount.

I love coffee. In Russia high quality coffee is much easier to find than in the US. Even gas stations on the network Gazpromneft and LUKOIL coffee orders for vending machines in bulk from abroad. The quality is excellent. I personally love coffee at LUKOIL. First thing when I arrive from the US and going to the car, I stop at the gas station LUKOIL, to drink coffee.

Coffee at the gas station in the United States

In America, coffee is brewed through a filter and sell it almost everywhere. At gas stations huge selection and it is not expensive, but it is impossible to drink. But it is in my taste, of course. The Americans, by the way, I like it.

In Russia, a more balanced approach to pedestrian infrastructure. It's probably not even the merit of Russia, and the natural process of urban development. Before there were automobiles and not think about them building the city.

Now, not having a vehicle can safely move, to walk around the city on foot sidewalks. Do not think that in America there are no sidewalks and pedestrian zones, and of course there is sufficient. Just the city is so organized that the superiority is still on the side of the car. In the same Los Angeles, for example, without a car would be extremely difficult to move.

New York. Brighton Beach. Well, you understand

With the exception (where I was), you can highlight new York's Manhattan, because of its limited space and dense development, but once you move to Brooklyn you get into a car to America.

Despite the fact that contactless payment to mobile phones, Apple Pay and Google Pay was developed in the United States, in America it is not popular. Anyway, with payment cards in the US, much worse than in Russia.

Not that there would be no cash payment — is. Just the Americans often use a cache (cash). For this reason, in many retail outlets there are no terminal card payment or simply are signs CASH ONLY. Perhaps it is not profitable to work with the banks on the cards, I have not delved into the details, but for the consumer it is not very convenient.

If we talk about ATMs with contactless authorization, as in many Russian banks, in the US I have not seen such. There is generally with ATMs special story and requires a separate post.

In Russia for a few months don't carry either cash or credit cards. Just the phone. All purchases take place via Apple Pay the iPhone. Even I do not remember that somewhere I refused citing the lack of a terminal. In the States I always bring pockets full of change and cache, otherwise you can stay without buying or hungry... the food in the following paragraph.

A this item refers to the benefit of America, but I don't. For me to find something to eat is a problem. The fact that I don't recommended fried and fatty foods. These two words are there almost any dish.

If you are not fried and not greasy, that is exactly sharp. In a recent trip I ate mostly salads from Walmart. It's the only thing my stomach has been perceived adequately. For people omnivores in America expanse. The portions are huge and are inexpensive. All this is elegantly washed down with Coca-Cola or other American liquid.

Hungry it is difficult to stay if you have no stomach problems. Everyone else, note this item. In Russia I have with food is not a problem. My stomach is normally perceives homemade dumplings and soups. So this point again in favor of Russia.

From childhood we used to travel on trains. The sound of the wheels, chicken with potatoes, talkative neighbors and the vast expanses of Russia. The trip on the train was an integral part of leisure and adventure.

In my childhood, the train itself was much more interesting beach holiday. The train I loved before, and now love to ride. In America the railway, the message is not popular. In a nutshell — cheap aircraft and good roads destroyed train carriage.

This is the most difficult, what you need to get used to coming to America. I would not say that American is a minus, but this is a very unusual and difficult for an untrained person. In the United States Imperial system of measurement.

You need to constantly have something to calculate and translate. Measure gasoline in gallons (3.79 liters), distance in miles (1,61 km), the temperature in farenheith instead of the usual degree Celsius, weight in pounds (454 grams) and so on.

A small excursion into history. As you know, the States at the time was mostly a British colony and, accordingly, the United States has adopted the same system as in the UK — Imperial. The units were formed simply, for example, a foot is the length of the feet of the king, gallon — size standard jug wine at the time, etc. In this form the system and migrated to the United States.

Interestingly, officially the Imperial system of measurement currently exists in only three countries — the US, Liberia and Myanmar. In the UK, where the Imperial measurement system, formally, has long adopted the metric system. Summing up I would say that in Russia and other countries have no problems with the units.

In Russia are not striking for the homeless. They certainly are, but they are not as obvious as in the US. If homeless people come across on your way, you experience some discomfort. Of course, it's a minus. But there is a caveat.

In the US the homeless not to be homeless in Russia. Where they are sufficiently self-sufficient, so to speak, and didn't cause you much hassle. They know their rights and are the same as U.S. citizens, like other people. With them are considered. However, to look at them not very nice.

In Moscow and Saint-Petersburg I really like metro. It is quite clean and fast, but noisy. Anywhere in the city you can easily be reached quickly by metro and then a few stops on the bus or the bus and you're there.

In Chicago, Los Angeles, new York so fast you can't get to the right place. The city is a huge area and extend for tens of kilometers. A I would argue and say that this is not the city and the adjacent localities. Possible.

Take for example Los Angeles. We traveled by metabase from Hollywood to Santa Monica almost a half hour. A lot of stops, traffic lights and the distance is very decent. But it is almost the neighboring areas. Yes, Santa Monica is not Los Angeles, but they all perceived this beach area as part of the city.

To get from Hollywood to LAX airport is just do a separate story with some changes. If you have a suitcase, it is better to order an Uber. Incidentally, he is not very expensive. About $ 50 will cost the trip to the airport, and the distance is very decent.

In new York everything is blamed metro. It is dirty and not well maintained. Say that it was full of rats, and repairs in the metro can't do due to kruglosutochno work. It is simply impossible to stop such an extensive mechanism of the city.

Personally, I the new York subway did not seem terrible, it is tolerable, though, and is certainly worse than Moscow.

Here are 10 items to which I drew attention at various times being in America.