What do you just HAVE to do in America?

[Ziinia]

So... I just moved to America from the cold and rainy Scotland. It's so hot here! Ayway, since I don't know anyone who's from these parts of the world, except for my stepdad to be, I wanted to ask people what you just have to try to do here when you are still relatively young (20).

So far I went for food, since these are the things you learn from TV and stuff... So I've been to Wendys and Tacobell, I tried Twinkies and Suzy Qs (I'm surprised I'm still alive), tried kool aid.

On the other side I went to see Detroit (which seemed a lot like a ghost city) and I was kinda forced to tag along to a Santana concert as well. Oh and I have been to some shopping centres which names I already forgot... So anyway I haven't seen much, and I was hoping for some real life suggestions The state I'm staying at right now is Michigan, if it does matter.

On a side note, after being able to drink for over 2 years, it's horrible to suddenly not be legal again...

[Munaus]

Get laid.

Break the Wall Street (if its already broke, then skip that)

Buy a car and drive from east coast to west. Then back again. Try Route 66

Try not to cause another forest fire in California.

If the time of the year is right, try to catch a glimpse of any tornadoes. But pretty please, if you're gonna make a film and put it on youtube, stop that screaming!

This is what I would do if i ever visit the U.S.

[BuccaneerRex]

Cities are boring. Go and explore the natural wonders of this vast continent.

I hear it's 8x the surface of the earth. Or maybe I'm thinking of something else.

[Neowulf]

So I've been to Wendys and Tacobell,

I know it's hard moving away from home, but suicide is never the answer!

If travel isn't a problem you could check out a comic/anime/gaming convention. Comicon may be done for the year and PAX is sold out, but it's still the summer con season and even the little ones attract the weirdest people the country has to offer.

[Torezu]

Visit some of the big national parks, like Yellowstone. Go by the Grand Canyon. I realize both are in western states, and you may not be able to take a long road trip, so it's something for the future, maybe.

[Ziinia]

I am pretty jet lagged it took me a while to wake up lol thanks guys for the replies

Get laid.

Break the Wall Street (if its already broke, then skip that)

Buy a car and drive from east coast to west. Then back again. Try Route 66

Try not to cause another forest fire in California.

If the time of the year is right, try to catch a glimpse of any tornadoes. But pretty please, if you're gonna make a film and put it on youtube, stop that screaming!

This is what I would do if i ever visit the U.S.

Don't tell a woman to get laid. Just...just don't lol xD Anyway, that's some major projects here. Thankfully I'm still not settled here and have no job, so there's time... I am getting a car sometime next week. As soon as I get used to driving on the other side of the road and all streets being straight and flat... Thanks, these are very unique

Cities are boring. Go and explore the natural wonders of this vast continent.

I hear it's 8x the surface of the earth. Or maybe I'm thinking of something else.

Oh yes indeed. I do live quite away from the civilisation here. And there are quite a few areas of protected wildlife. Many lakes as well. But yes, the "promenade" in Detroit was simply a joke.If someone had told me I would be walking for x hours on a concrete path with barely any wildlife around I would laugh and rather stay at home and hope for some animal visits at the our feeder. Thanks for the tip (And I am pretty sure you are thinking about Minecraft here xD)

I know it's hard moving away from home, but suicide is never the answer!

Yes. I'm sorry But I tried it, and I will never go back, that's for sure! I could swear that I saw my dead grandfather calling out to me from the other side on the way home...

If travel isn't a problem you could check out a comic/anime/gaming convention. Comicon may be done for the year and PAX is sold out, but it's still the summer con season and even the little ones attract the weirdest people the country has to offer.

These are things I'm really looking forward to. I actually hoped to go to Leakycon next month, but I'll be busy. Mother goes off on a honeymoon and I'll have to watch the dog lol. Buy yeah I will keep an eye out for that. Thanks

Visit some of the big national parks, like Yellowstone. Go by the Grand Canyon. I realize both are in western states, and you may not be able to take a long road trip, so it's something for the future, maybe.

As I said above I am getting a car soon so that will certainly be an option. I am also hoping to go to the Niagara falls (even tho technically it's not even the USA). I am just scared I would fall asleep behind the wheel with all the same looking streets and places. Adding to the list, thank you :)

[Torezu]

As I said above I am getting a car soon so that will certainly be an option. I am also hoping to go to the Niagara falls (even tho technically it's not even the USA). I am just scared I would fall asleep behind the wheel with all the same looking streets and places. Adding to the list, thank you

One thing you will definitely notice, coming from Scotland, is the distance you need to travel to get many places. The drive from Michigan to Niagara, which isn't that far, is still 100+ miles (150+ km) and 2-1/2 to 3 hours. If you want to drive from Michigan to Yellowstone, for example, it's a good, solid 20 hours, and that's not including stops. The North to South length of Scotland is only a little more than your Niagara trip.

Edit: For the Niagara trip, I should have said Detroit, not Michigan, as coming from other places in Michigan could take quite a bit longer.

[freakachu]

I went to see Detroit

I'm truly sorry. on the plus side, it sounds like you managed to actually survive without being mugged, shot, or otherwise assaulted. I'm pretty sure that's a badge of honor if you pull that off in the D.

[Ziinia]

One thing you will definitely notice, coming from Scotland, is the distance you need to travel to get many places. The drive from Michigan to Niagara, which isn't that far, is still 100+ miles (150+ km) and 2-1/2 to 3 hours. If you want to drive from Michigan to Yellowstone, for example, it's a good, solid 20 hours, and that's not including stops. The North to South length of Scotland is only a little more than your Niagara trip.

Edit: For the Niagara trip, I should have said Detroit, not Michigan, as coming from other places in Michigan could take quite a bit longer.

Yeah, truth is, the first time I left to even do some shopping it was a 4h trip. I was terrified, already had a vision of me, barely able to walk, majorly obese etc, with all that sitting in the car. It does take about 2h for me to get to Detroit, so Niagara would be a bit longer then. The distances are quite overwhelming, yes. I used to take trips to Edinburgh and Glasgow for shopping, and to see friends who went to university there. Now the same time I'm spending on grocery shopping. (okay, I may exaggerate a bit here)

I'm truly sorry. on the plus side, it sounds like you managed to actually survive without being mugged, shot, or otherwise assaulted. I'm pretty sure that's a badge of honor if you pull that off in the D.

Yeah... I'll be honest... I was terrified and kept on asking to go to the car. I am not racist in any way, but I have to say that on that day, I was geniuely scared seeing a group of black men approaching lol They even said Hi. That left me baffled xD Oh and then my stepdad decided to drive us through the black areas of the city... yay

[FFGF]

I wish I could be able to give tips, but I prefer being inside on my computer all day.

[freakachu]

Yeah... I'll be honest... I was terrified and kept on asking to go to the car. I am not racist in any way, but I have to say that on that day, I was geniuely scared seeing a group of black men approaching lol They even said Hi. That left me baffled xD Oh and then my stepdad decided to drive us through the black areas of the city... yay

as someone who has lived near and worked in detroit, I cannot blame you. the place is practically in ruins. on the plus side, all the drama involving the city council, who are a bunch of sassy corrupt wannabe politicians is always funny and never ending.

[Ziinia]

I wish I could be able to give tips, but I prefer being inside on my computer all day.

You must be tiny then!

as someone who has lived near and worked in detroit, I cannot blame you. the place is practically in ruins. on the plus side, all the drama involving the city council, who are a bunch of sassy corrupt wannabe politicians is always funny and never ending.

I don't know if I want to be involved, I still have to listen to a whole lot of drama from previous countries of residence. Especially Poland :/ I did hear some things tho, like for example that some guy on the top (do you guys have mayors here?) said something along the lines "We don't need any whities here". I'm hoping I won't have to go back there anytime soon. It's just sad to see cities fall like that because of bad management and weird ideals.

[freakachu]

I can't say I have heard of the mayor making any claims like that, at least not the current one. the previous mayor though, it wouldn't surprise me. detroit's most recent ex-mayor was involved in all kinds of underhanded dealings. there was an incident involving a party that no one could get anyone to admit to remembering at the mayor's mansion where a stripper was called to come work, then killed by what were allegedly thugs under orders form the mayor on her way home because she knew too much. that one never actually got proven in court, but the stripped was definitely dead.

later he got thrown out of office because he had been using his official, paid for with tax money phone to coordinate hooking up with his secretary, as well as some other fraud and corrupt politician stuff like fixing contracts and all that. turns out, if the tax payers foot the bill it's public property and the text message logs can be acquired by the press. oops. he currently lives in texas and owes the city a few million dollars.

of course there's also the handful of city council members under federal investigation for fraud involving some city contracts as well. stand up guys, all of them.

[Ziinia]

Woah, I'll have to do some digging around these topics, seems interesting, however... Are you sure the forums won't be shut down by the government or something? Or won't you be killed in your bed by some organisation? I'm starting to realise not everything about this country is as perfect as they picture it back in Europe.

(And going back to the topic, I forgot about ***drumroll*** Walmart. So I'm going there tomorrow )

Edit: I don't mean perfect as in perfect... We do mock the "American Nation" as well...

[Xylord]

Woah, I'll have to do some digging around these topics, seems interesting, however... Are you sure the forums won't be shut down by the government or something? Or won't you be killed in your bed by some organisation? I'm starting to realise not everything about this country is as perfect as they picture it back in Europe.

(And going back to the topic, I forgot about ***drumroll*** Walmart. So I'm going there tomorrow )

Edit: I don't mean perfect as in perfect... We do mock the "American Nation" as well...

U.S.A. ... Perfect...

I don't know how it is in the US, but back in french-canada, it's the north europe that is widely considered as "perfect".

[KakerMix]

America is huge, and you are just in time for our Presidential Election! You will see America at her ugliest.

I'm originally from Michigan, but from the western side of the state from a city called Muskegon. If you can make it out there, the beaches and dunes are wonderful, if the water is a bit cold.

I'd see about seeing if you can get into a Detroit Lions american-football game in the winter as that's uniquely American. Heck if you can get to a NASCAR race I'd check that out too. The 'sport' is questionable at best but to actually be at the events is pretty awesome.

[Neowulf]

Oh I just LOVE Nascar! My favorite part is when they turn left.

[Xylord]

Oh I just LOVE Nascar! My favorite part is when they turn left.

Wow, you're such an amateur. Straight lines are obviously far more intense.

[Neowulf]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVdFJIEk5wY

[Ziinia]

U.S.A. ... Perfect...

I don't know how it is in the US, but back in french-canada, it's the north europe that is widely considered as "perfect".

Yeah I realised how wrong it sounds, thats why the tiny edit. Obviously didn't save the situation for me here. I deserve to be known as an idiot.

America is huge, and you are just in time for our Presidential Election! You will see America at her ugliest.

I'm originally from Michigan, but from the western side of the state from a city called Muskegon. If you can make it out there, the beaches and dunes are wonderful, if the water is a bit cold.

I'd see about seeing if you can get into a Detroit Lions american-football game in the winter as that's uniquely American. Heck if you can get to a NASCAR race I'd check that out too. The 'sport' is questionable at best but to actually be at the events is pretty awesome.

Oh joy, I stay in a state a God originated from!? I'm gonna be blessed for life. I do see quite a lot of banners for Sheriff and some kind of other positions, so I guessed something is happening. (First reaction: "OMG you have actual sheriffs!? These still exist?!") I still have no TV, my stepdad doesn't care for these, so I'm gonna miss the best of it probably.

I went to a beach last Tuesday. All I know, it was a lakeside, and that there was a town, then a forest, then a campside, and then the beach access. I better get the name from my stepdad... Anyway, the beach was nice, very clean, and I saw some real life walruses having BBQ and drinking beer in the water. Once in a lifetime opportunity.

As for sports, I do know that it's a real big phenomenon over here. Especially with baseball and stuff. I meant to ask what Nascar is, but I prefered to google it, I'm not ready to change the colour of my username yet. I heard however that sport events can get pretty rough. I went to a football(soccer as you say it...) match when I was 15 back in Poland. I'm surprised I'm still alive to tell the tale.

When they turn left? Don't they always turn left? Don't kill me, but I think I prefer F1.

[Xylord]

Yeah I realised how wrong it sounds, thats why the tiny edit. Obviously didn't save the situation for me here. I deserve to be known as an idiot.

Oh joy, I stay in a state a God originated from!? I'm gonna be blessed for life. I do see quite a lot of banners for Sheriff and some kind of other positions, so I guessed something is happening. (First reaction: "OMG you have actual sheriffs!? These still exist?!") I still have no TV, my stepdad doesn't care for these, so I'm gonna miss the best of it probably.

I went to a beach last Tuesday. All I know, it was a lakeside, and that there was a town, then a forest, then a campside, and then the beach access. I better get the name from my stepdad... Anyway, the beach was nice, very clean, and I saw some real life walruses having BBQ and drinking beer in the water. Once in a lifetime opportunity.

As for sports, I do know that it's a real big phenomenon over here. Especially with baseball and stuff. I meant to ask what Nascar is, but I prefered to google it, I'm not ready to change the colour of my username yet. I heard however that sport events can get pretty rough. I went to a football(soccer as you say it...) match when I was 15 back in Poland. I'm surprised I'm still alive to tell the tale.

When they turn left? Don't they always turn left? Don't kill me, but I think I prefer F1.

Oh, nobody will. F1 atleast has the merit of actually featuring some of the fastest cars existing on the planet, whereas nascar are,in my opinion, very pumped toyota's (Not a good thing for a racing car). I'm just waiting until there are races with Lamborghini's to get interested. Anyway, if you eventually get access to a television, there is one place you must avoid like plague, like radioactive trash, like Actual Cannibal Shia Laboeuf : Never go on Fox News. Watching this literally destroys your brain cells. Yup they're the guys from "Tide goes up, tide goes down, you can't explain that". It's also common knowledge that they're the most biased news source in the continent. They are about 95% biased, whereas the average is 70%.

Also, one of the difference between sports in Europe and America (Including Canada) is that in the Old Continent, the violence is in the bleachers, while in here, it's in the field. American Football is very rough, and Hockey too is pretty intense.

Oh, and before you mention it, yes, I know that Rugby is very intense :D

[freakachu]

the general presidential election is in just a few months, the beginning of november. lots of various positions are lumped into one big election so all kinds of people are running for all kinds of federal, state, and local government offices about now. that's what up with the campaign signs.

sporting events here are not as crazy as football matches across the pond. at best you'll see fat, drunken men with a lot of body paint and not a lot of clothes yelling from their seats at an american football game. as for TV, don't feel bad, there's nothing worth watching over here either.

there is a lot of really nice nature type scenery around michigan though. also, be prepared for the most ridiculous weather patterns you have ever experienced. 90 and 500% humidity one day followed by 25 and snowy the next with chance of tornadoes the following day and a high of 70. pure michigan

When they turn left? Don't they always turn left?

that's the joke.

[Ziinia]

Anyway, if you eventually get access to a television, there is one place you must avoid like plague, like radioactive trash, like Actual Cannibal Shia Laboeuf : Never go on Fox News. Watching this literally destroys your brain cells. Yup they're the guys from "Tide goes up, tide goes down, you can't explain that". It's also common knowledge that they're the most biased news source in the continent. They are about 95% biased, whereas the average is 70%.

Also, one of the difference between sports in Europe and America (Including Canada) is that in the Old Continent, the violence is in the bleachers, while in here, it's in the field. American Football is very rough, and Hockey too is pretty intense.

Oh, and before you mention it, yes, I know that Rugby is very intense

Oh, I heard that there was a study that says that watching Fox News actually decreases intelligence. So thanks for the fair warning, but you can say that I was catious about it already. And yes, rugby is intense. back in my school days my school team won some kind of big shot competition in the country I believe. I just can't get obsessed about sports, other the ones I play myself anyway.

the general presidential election is in just a few months, the beginning of november. lots of various positions are lumped into one big election so all kinds of people are running for all kinds of federal, state, and local government offices about now. that's what up with the campaign signs.

sporting events here are not as crazy as football matches across the pond. at best you'll see fat, drunken men with a lot of body paint and not a lot of clothes yelling from their seats at an american football game. as for TV, don't feel bad, there's nothing worth watching over here either.

there is a lot of really nice nature type scenery around michigan though. also, be prepared for the most ridiculous weather patterns you have ever experienced. 90 and 500% humidity one day followed by 25 and snowy the next with chance of tornadoes the following day and a high of 70. pure michigan

Funny you mention the weather. It's tundering right now, and it's so hot it's impossible to sleep with windows closed = unable to sleep because it's damn loud. I am used to rain though. I lived at the sea, and since end of march we had barely any nice weather, mostly rain. And England wasn't better off with floods again.

Well, I'm waiting to get residence right now, I don't even have a SSN, really hoping to start looking for a job soon. They managed to mess up so much with paperwork it's crazy. Tsk Tsk Tsk

(why do I feel like I shouldn't talk so much...)

[Xylord]

Oh, I heard that there was a study that says that watching Fox News actually decreases intelligence. So thanks for the fair warning, but you can say that I was catious about it already. And yes, rugby is intense. back in my school days my school team won some kind of big shot competition in the country I believe. I just can't get obsessed about sports, other the ones I play myself anyway.

Funny you mention the weather. It's tundering right now, and it's so hot it's impossible to sleep with windows closed = unable to sleep because it's damn loud. I am used to rain though. I lived at the sea, and since end of march we had barely any nice weather, mostly rain. And England wasn't better off with floods again.

Well, I'm waiting to get residence right now, I don't even have a SSN, really hoping to start looking for a job soon. They managed to mess up so much with paperwork it's crazy. Tsk Tsk Tsk

(why do I feel like I shouldn't talk so much...)

Probably because you're on the internet, and anyone smart enough to use all this personal information in conjunction with your IP address may be able to trace your identity. However, I'm hopeful that Minecraft players using complicated modpacks aren't this kind of people.

Btw, about your papers.

“The only thing that saves us from the bureaucracy is its inefficiency.”

Eugene J. McCarthy

[Ziinia]

That really cheered me up now ahaha. I am sure the lovely members here wouldn't do anything bad... On a side note someone told me: "Technically no one knows you're here. If I kill you and dump your body in the swamp no one will know. And if they ask for you I'll just tell them you went to Detroit and never came back". But seriously, they made 3 spelling errors in my surname, which is 4 letters long. And to fix that it's going to take 3 weeks. Gee thanks, apoligies accepted... wait, YOU DIDN'T APOLOGISE!>rant over<

I actually like it quite a bit. The people are nicer than in Scotland, they smile more. One thing I don't get is why my neighbour practices shooting at 2am every saturday night...