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i am european and moved 2008 to california
my advices for the beginning :
1.be very careful with doctors in usa...i made very bad experiences...i have the feeling you are a bussiness hier more then a pacient...the bills are exagerated,they tend to do more then necesarry ( x ray,scans..and so on),they tend to give you more medicines,then you really need...bills are unbelievable,shocking,compared to europe..an emergency 2 weeks ago (was not even an emergency!!a simple problem dehydration)...for 2,5 hours over 5000dollar cost...a simple 3 minute ambulance drive from urgent care to the hospital emergency opposite the street over 1000 dollar..nothing special,only some oxygen..like i said exagerated,astronomical bills....be very careful with medical insurance...you have to have a good one...usa is not europe,doctor,hospital bills are shocking (for us europeans)high...if you are not rigth insured,you can end fast in debts till your neck...even in six digits and debts follow you to europe thorugh the embassy...
2.bring emergency money with you or have acces to an european account...do not come to usa withouht emergency fonds..everything can happen...i do not know,if you married or come as a student or work...in any case,bring money with you...you have many cost for the beginning:car,medical insurance,living and so on...i would not come to usa withouht a solide finacial background in this time...usa makes very hard times through right now...job loss..houses loss..many,many problems:school system,health system...many states are broken,california for example is broken,you feel it in the daily life (like for example in schools,in the healthsystem and so on)...people are struggling very hard,not all,but i have the feeling,the big majority..they have a lot of debts,they are losing their jobs daily,houses,cars...their existence,it is not an easy time right now and this is the truth..hier in usa you are on your own,not like germany and maybe sweden too...no support form state,the way germany or sweden offers...
3.be very careful about the area you live in...choose a good neighborhood...there are huge differencies between neighborhoods...be safe is very importante..
if you have questions,you can write me anytime...europeans or americans european origins are great hier ,they stick unbelievable together..they were for me such a great support in napa valley
Last edited by Buburuza13; 06-24-2010 at 11:09 PM..
I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised last time I visited Idaho Falls. There are sidewalks on most of the roads in town and people actually use them! The rental place I have chosen is located within a 10-15 minutes walk to the closest grocery store. Being able to walk to the grocery store was actually one of my main requirements. I know from experience that it is hard not to be car dependent when living in the US, therefore I treasure small things such as walking to the grocery store.
Of course, I will have to have a car in the US, but my commute to work will actually be only 15 minutes compared to the 60+ minutes I had here in Sweden. The main difference being that in Sweden I can take the tram if I want to go downtown which I will not longer be able to do. I'm not too concerned about it though. I'm moving to a small town where most things are just a 10-15 minutes drive away. I would think more of it if I was to live somewhere where I had to sit in traffic for hours each day.
Regarding cars is my main concern right now that I have to sell my new small and fun sport car before I move and I know that I will not be able to find a similar car in the US - at least not one that I can afford. I would have brought my car with me, but it happens to be a brand that is not carried in the US. I decided that it is not worth the trouble (or money) to try to register my car in the US.
As strange as it might sound is the American work ethic one of the reasons I decided to accept the job offer. In Sweden we have an unwritten code of conduct stating that you should never think that you are better than anyone nor should you think that you have achieved something worth being proud of. When working in Albuquerque last fall I actually felt that I'm really good at what I do and not only am I allowed to think so without feeling bad about it, my fellow coworker and customers actually sometimes express the same thing. I'm not saying that all Swedes feel worthless all the time, but I happen to work in a Swedish organization that is quite old fashion and with a lot of older men that didn't appreciate a young woman telling them that they were conducting their work tasks in an unsafe manner.
I will miss the long vacations and potential I will miss the maternity (and paternity) benefits we have in Sweden. But, I can always move back if I decide that I can't take the US system anymore.
The diversity of culture (arts, music, movies, etc) I'm sure I'll miss. I do live in the second largest city in Sweden and is quite used to having a broad selection just around the corner. But I don't know if moving to a small town in the US differs much from moving to a small town anywhere else. I'm trying to prepare myself for having to get used to not having as broad of selection. With some planning I can actually drive to Salt Lake City to attend a concert of I really want to, or I can visit my relatives in New York for a extended weekend if I want a new dose of arts or musicals. Or concerts for that matter.
Regarding the global view - Why should I expect anyone in the states to know the name of the prime minister in Sweden when I don't know any of the governors in the US. I'm not too surprised if people don't know where in Europe Sweden is located - I can't keep track of all the states in the US. I guess I had my share of the chock some Europeans get when they talk to Americans when I went to high school in Virgina. I got to hear all kind of strange things. My favorites where " is Sweden where everyone have Swiss bank accounts" and "Do you hide in your igloo if the ice bears comes too close?". Then I realized that my own knowledge about the US was about as poor as my fellow students knowledge about Europe.
Buburuza13: Thanks for the heads up. One can never be enough prepared for such a move. I do think however, that I have most things sort of under control. I have a insurance plan through my company which is not even close to what I have in Sweden, but I know it's not too bad in American standards. I have money to buy a car. Not a very expensive one of course, but one that is good enough. I have been in contact with a used rental car dealer that I have been recommended. Since I have decided to take the first year as a trial period, I have no real interest in spending too much money up front.
I would never make a decision to move if I had not have "emergency money". Actually, I would feel rather uncomfortable regardless of my location of I didn't have emergency money on my savings account.
It does sound like you are going to have a great experience. I imagine you ski and you will be able to enjoy that out west. Hiking, fabulous scenery and be sure to take time to visit the national parks--Glacier, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon and as many others as you can. If you can get to the Canadian Rockies--Banff-Lake Louise--do it.(Watch those bears!) You will never forget it!!
I wouldn't worry about healthcare joox. If you are with a good company you will have excellent benefits and contrary to many opinions on the subject, the world's best medical care.
I wouldn't worry about healthcare joox. If you are with a good company you will have excellent benefits and contrary to many opinions on the subject, the world's best medical care.
I don't agree with you from European perspective. Even if you have good health insurance (which you probably won't unless you work in government, military or very rich company).
We never paid anything out of pocket in our lives. And suddenly you need to go through thousand dollar bills with different subjects and dispute them in many cases. Then you have co-payments and deductibles. Then you have obscure list of not covered things. Then you have even more obscure list of things that are covered under certain condition known to your insurance company only. It's maybe okay and great for you, but for persons used to free health-care it's confusing and not expected.
You need to have at least 5k put aside for emergencies. Happened to many of my colleagues. You might get charged wrongly and then you have to argue with X-ray technician, X-ray machine operator, x-ray nurse and hospital that happened to be from different companies. And that's just simpler case.
You might hear plenty of stories about "it's good with good insurance", well, good for them. But after few disputes or 10k bills you will consider if you really need that preventive check next time (that you need ask for) or just keep saving.
This is one of the major reasons I'd like to get out of here as soon as my employer allows me. I can't imagine going through this crap when I will have wife or children with pre-existing condition.
Regarding best health care I wouldn't be so sure. There could be some best facilities and research institutes, but it doesn't mean you will have access to them when you need them. Actually life expectancy, infant mortality rate and similar indicators puts US into second tier world and I can clearly see why first hand.
I don't agree with you from European perspective. Even if you have good health insurance (which you probably won't unless you work in government, military or very rich company).
We never paid anything out of pocket in our lives. And suddenly you need to go through thousand dollar bills with different subjects and dispute them in many cases. Then you have co-payments and deductibles. Then you have obscure list of not covered things. Then you have even more obscure list of things that are covered under certain condition known to your insurance company only. It's maybe okay and great for you, but for persons used to free health-care it's confusing and not expected.
You need to have at least 5k put aside for emergencies. Happened to many of my colleagues. You might get charged wrongly and then you have to argue with X-ray technician, X-ray machine operator, x-ray nurse and hospital that happened to be from different companies. And that's just simpler case.
You might hear plenty of stories about "it's good with good insurance", well, good for them. But after few disputes or 10k bills you will consider if you really need that preventive check next time (that you need ask for) or just keep saving.
This is one of the major reasons I'd like to get out of here as soon as my employer allows me. I can't imagine going through this crap when I will have wife or children with pre-existing condition.
Regarding best health care I wouldn't be so sure. There could be some best facilities and research institutes, but it doesn't mean you will have access to them when you need them. Actually life expectancy, infant mortality rate and similar indicators puts US into second tier world and I can clearly see why first hand.
True. In America everything boils down to how much money you have. Medical insurance here is not a guarantee that your health needs will be covered. You have to read the fine print on your insurance policy. Unless you work for a VERY presitigious corporation or firm with excellent benefits you may not get the treatment you need even with health insurance.
A medical board actually decides your treatment and whether you are worth said treatment. For example if you need an organ transplant and your insurer feels that it is much too expensive then they will not give you the necessary procedure and will let you die but tell your family otherwise. Again you have to read the fine print. Not all organ transplantations are covered because some of the plans have not been updated in 25 years so if you need a liver transplant (still considered experimental) then you are up the creek because your insurer is not going to cover it and if you want the surgery you must have the means to pay the million dollar plus price tag.
And some other posters have mentioned the cost of medicine is exorbitant. I had surgery a few years back and the cost was $50,000 (paid for by my insurance only because it's routine surgery) but I was shocked at the costs of treatment when I looked at the itemized medical bill (which the insurer sends you a few weeks after surgery so you can feel bad about how much they had to spend on you). The cost of anethesia alone was nearly $10,000 which is insane. Even the paper cap they put on your head to wear during surgery was around $100.
Remember America is basically a VERY inhumane country although it is filthy rich. If you don't have the money here you may as well be living in the undeveloped part of the world because there is no socialism here. If you can't afford it then you will defintely do without.
In July I'm going to switch Sweden to Idaho in the US. I'm trying to figure out what "must haves" I should bring along with me. Anyone here at city-data that have any clever thoughts of what things a Scandinavian will be happy she brought with her to the US?
I have lived in the US twice before for shorter periods so I have already put salty licorice and measuring cups (metric system) on my list.
Thanks,
joox
Lol! I DEFINITELY miss the salty licorice!!!! So good foresight in planning that on your list!
Remember America is basically a VERY inhumane country although it is filthy rich. If you don't have the money here you may as well be living in the undeveloped part of the world because there is no socialism here. If you can't afford it then you will defintely do without.
Now that just isn't true. The reason the paper hat costs $100 is so the next time an uninsured person comes in, they get treated. Medicaid, Chip--all are for the poor. The poor get treated. It is the unfortunate middle-class who have to pay not only for themselves but others who are not able to pay. I don't know the answer. Too few paying for too many. Then the other day I am in the store behind two young people with fancy smart phones yakking away. Then she pays with food stamps. The budgets of most states are in bankrupt mode due mainly to entitlements like medical care for the poor. Filthy rich?? I think not. Anyway--this is offtopic.
Lol! I DEFINITELY miss the salty licorice!!!! So good foresight in planning that on your list!
I know from experience that it won't take long before the salty craving kicks in. One should always have some emergency salty licorice close by!
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