My OperaFirst take on America
Friday, December 19, 2008 4:26:45 PM
Here are my random thoughts on America at first glance.
Where do I start.
If you ask me, I can start by telling you how annoying it is to have a different keyboard.
Because I keep hitting the wrong keys at the wrong times!
Other than that, my first take on America is this land of the great is really not that great after all,
I am glad I chose to go to Norway and not America.
In all due respect, I mean the place is much nicer and modern then some of the other countries that I have visited before, but it is no where near what I have heard from other people.
Hopefully I can change my views on this after a proper tour in NYC
Could be that I am a bit biased, coming from Norway and all.
(Don't know how this really affects my opinions but anyways, Norway is awesome)
According to some people I have met here, I should not have visited New York City before I visited the other parts of America, saying that New York City is not the typical America that they know. But oh well.
Lets see, from that one night I had in New York City, here are some interesting facts that I learned from talking to some Americans on the way to the Hostel.
1. Everyday is garbage pick up day.
And believe me when I say, Americans do throw loads of garbage. I did not have the opportunity to take any pictures, but I will. Now I know what people mean when they say that we produce a lot of garbage. Because if you have the opportunity to visit New York (not where the tourist attractions are) you will see massive piles of garbage just lying in the streets waiting to be picked up.
And this happens DAILY. Its amazing I tell you.
I suppose they really have got no choice considering there is really no space to put garbage cans considering the amount of people and all that.
2. New York City is expensive.
Well, it is. Or actually that could just be my horrible spending skills. My sister was amazed at how I managed to spend approximately 200 USD in one day. But in my defense, most of it went to the Tax Free Shop in Keflavik International. And if you break down my spending, you would also see that I did not (yet) buy anything unnecessary. We are doing that today
: Tax Free Keflavik : 80 USD
: Soda Airport : 3 USD
: Sandwich on plane : 2 USD
: Starbucks in JFK : 6 USD
: Taxi ride to NYC : 30 USD
: Hostel for the night : 24 USD
: Starbucks in NYC : 6 USD
: Dunkin Donuts : 2 USD
: Mc Donalds for dinner : 12 USD
: Poor men on street : 2 USD
: Soda : 3 USD
: Taxi to Penn Station next day : 15 USD
: Breakfast + Coffee : 14 USD
: Soda on train : 2 USD
: Taxi ride to sister's college : 10 USD
Reason for such accurate numbers : I did not know how to use coins then, so I had to pay everything with notes. Yeah, laugh on.
Right, that are things I can remember of the back of my head. Adding them all up would give me, 221 USD. That is about 1500 NOK. But see, they are all necessary items. But oh well..
Anyways, other than that, America can also be quite cheap. For example we are going to head over to Wal Mart today, and then you can watch me go crazy shopping. Things are cheap, at least by Norwegian standards, you guys are so spoiled. I mean a bottle of shampoo is going to cost me, about 4 USD!
Must get Tigi BedHead, remind me.
Yay!
We are also heading over to some restaurants later, in comparison to what one would pay in Norway is seriously cheap here. We are going to Red Lobster later, and that would probably cost me about 20 USD, that is about 150 NOK, for real seafood!
So yay!
And and, good skin care products like sister's Ole Henriksen is about 30-40 USD and a complete set is hopefully about 100 USD. Thats like 700 NOK for stuff you get in Norway for thousands!
Should I keep on going about this. I have a funny deja vu feeling that I would probably ran out of space in my backpack later. But I have not seen any nice clothing yet.... Hopefully soon!
I shall continue this after I come home from the mall today. I got loads to say still
But now, I got to go exploring the city.
Right, apparently there will be a snow storm today. So, yeah. Exciting!
Where do I start.
If you ask me, I can start by telling you how annoying it is to have a different keyboard.
Because I keep hitting the wrong keys at the wrong times!
Other than that, my first take on America is this land of the great is really not that great after all,
I am glad I chose to go to Norway and not America.
In all due respect, I mean the place is much nicer and modern then some of the other countries that I have visited before, but it is no where near what I have heard from other people.
Hopefully I can change my views on this after a proper tour in NYC
Could be that I am a bit biased, coming from Norway and all.
(Don't know how this really affects my opinions but anyways, Norway is awesome)
According to some people I have met here, I should not have visited New York City before I visited the other parts of America, saying that New York City is not the typical America that they know. But oh well.
Lets see, from that one night I had in New York City, here are some interesting facts that I learned from talking to some Americans on the way to the Hostel.
1. Everyday is garbage pick up day.
And believe me when I say, Americans do throw loads of garbage. I did not have the opportunity to take any pictures, but I will. Now I know what people mean when they say that we produce a lot of garbage. Because if you have the opportunity to visit New York (not where the tourist attractions are) you will see massive piles of garbage just lying in the streets waiting to be picked up.
And this happens DAILY. Its amazing I tell you.
I suppose they really have got no choice considering there is really no space to put garbage cans considering the amount of people and all that.
2. New York City is expensive.
Well, it is. Or actually that could just be my horrible spending skills. My sister was amazed at how I managed to spend approximately 200 USD in one day. But in my defense, most of it went to the Tax Free Shop in Keflavik International. And if you break down my spending, you would also see that I did not (yet) buy anything unnecessary. We are doing that today
: Tax Free Keflavik : 80 USD
: Soda Airport : 3 USD
: Sandwich on plane : 2 USD
: Starbucks in JFK : 6 USD
: Taxi ride to NYC : 30 USD
: Hostel for the night : 24 USD
: Starbucks in NYC : 6 USD
: Dunkin Donuts : 2 USD
: Mc Donalds for dinner : 12 USD
: Poor men on street : 2 USD
: Soda : 3 USD
: Taxi to Penn Station next day : 15 USD
: Breakfast + Coffee : 14 USD
: Soda on train : 2 USD
: Taxi ride to sister's college : 10 USD
Reason for such accurate numbers : I did not know how to use coins then, so I had to pay everything with notes. Yeah, laugh on.
Right, that are things I can remember of the back of my head. Adding them all up would give me, 221 USD. That is about 1500 NOK. But see, they are all necessary items. But oh well..
Anyways, other than that, America can also be quite cheap. For example we are going to head over to Wal Mart today, and then you can watch me go crazy shopping. Things are cheap, at least by Norwegian standards, you guys are so spoiled. I mean a bottle of shampoo is going to cost me, about 4 USD!
Must get Tigi BedHead, remind me.
Yay!
We are also heading over to some restaurants later, in comparison to what one would pay in Norway is seriously cheap here. We are going to Red Lobster later, and that would probably cost me about 20 USD, that is about 150 NOK, for real seafood!
So yay!
And and, good skin care products like sister's Ole Henriksen is about 30-40 USD and a complete set is hopefully about 100 USD. Thats like 700 NOK for stuff you get in Norway for thousands!
Should I keep on going about this. I have a funny deja vu feeling that I would probably ran out of space in my backpack later. But I have not seen any nice clothing yet.... Hopefully soon!
I shall continue this after I come home from the mall today. I got loads to say still
But now, I got to go exploring the city.
Right, apparently there will be a snow storm today. So, yeah. Exciting!
Queen Messyennahoja # Friday, December 19, 2008 6:16:29 PM
Maybe when you go back to NYC, don't take a taxi everywhere. I think that would save you a little bit of money maybe? And, even though they are round numbers, you should get change for them? So you didn't really spend ALL of that, cause you must have got something back I hope.
I don't remember any garbage. But ok. Good thing that they DO pick it up every day. Creates a lot of jobs. Makes it nice and clean and not a junkyard.
Yes, things are cheap. Love the cheap shampoos
Got yourself an american phone yet?
Snowstorm! How fun!
Lisa CheahOrlyandsa # Friday, December 19, 2008 6:21:38 PM
Also in my defense the only reason I took that much cab is because my backpack was unbearably heavy. But will not spend that much next time I am in NYC
No American phone just yet.
OleMusSuperOle # Saturday, December 20, 2008 12:30:15 AM
I want to travel to the US too. But I think I am going to save that money and travle to Australia instead as MY sister is going to study there next years semester
Well, continue spending and have fun
Bye bye...