Living in America

[Guaporense]

It has been over a year since I moved to this exotic country. I had some good and bad days but overall it has been a very good experience.

Good things about living in the US:

- Low crime rates (compared to Brazil, of course crime rates in the US are worse than most of Europe and Japan but to Latin American standards the US is super safe).
- Very practical and efficient large scale stores that make daily life so easier.
- Very good road system (compared to Brazil, again, some countries like Germany have better ones)
- Plenty of cool stuff is cheap like gadgets in general. I have assembled an impressive collection of gadgets. Clothing is also relatively cheaper, specially brands that are considered luxury in Brazil here are normal priced.

Bad things:

- Fast internet is expensive at least where I am.
- People here listen to too much rap and too little metal though there is hope (saw a guy with a Blind Guardian T shirt other day) the problem is that metal is too niche here.
- Food is really problematic. It is not really bad but you get easily tired of the food of a certain place. What is lacking is food that is cheap, good and you can eat 365 days a year without worrying about food tasting bad. Though Southern Brazilian food is something that is perhaps better than anywhere else in the world in terms of cost/benefit ratio.
- Road system is good but it means cities are so spread out that they do not feel like real cities, instead they are like suburban areas without any real "urban feel" outside of the city center. As result cities feel like they are dead: nobody is walking on the sidewalks and everything is empty and spread out.
- Living for almost a year here without a car was very hard in many ways.
- People are colder than in Brazil (though I am personally a very cold person).

[The Gunslinger45]

Yeah, unless you live in a place with a large concentrated city with public transportation like New York, getting around without a car, SUCKS! You really need wheels to get around. Especially if you want to stock up on groceries and such.

[Miss Vicky]

Yeah, unless you live in a place with a large concentrated city with public transportation like New York, getting around without a car, SUCKS! You really need wheels to get around. Especially if you want to stock up on groceries and such.

I don't think that's really true. I walk just about everywhere and I don't live in a big city. :shrug:

Having one of these comes in really handy. (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HX3SZOA/ref=twister_B00HX3SZGS)

[The Gunslinger45]

I don't think that's really true. I walk just about everywhere and I don't live in a big city. :shrug:

Having one of these comes in really handy. (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HX3SZOA/ref=twister_B00HX3SZGS)

It does in my town. :p

[Guaporense]

Yeah, unless you live in a place with a large concentrated city with public transportation like New York, getting around without a car, SUCKS! You really need wheels to get around. Especially if you want to stock up on groceries and such.

Indeed. It is hard to live in most of the US without a car (only center of main cities like New York and Chicago are the exception).

[Guaporense]

I don't think that's really true. I walk just about everywhere and I don't live in a big city. :shrug:

Having one of these comes in really handy. (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HX3SZOA/ref=twister_B00HX3SZGS)

I have one of those. :)

[Swan]

AMERICER IS BETTER THAN ALL OTHER COUNTRIES!!!!!!

I'VE NEVER BEEN TO ANY OTHER COUNTRIES THOUGH.

[honeykid]

LOL... The voice of America. :D

[Matteo]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R5A0pg4oN8

[linespalsy]

Yeah, unless you live in a place with a large concentrated city with public transportation like New York, getting around without a car, SUCKS! You really need wheels to get around. Especially if you want to stock up on groceries and such.

And if you live in a densely populated place near a city like New York, getting around with a car sucks too.

[Yoda]

Yeah, the stuff about transportation is very location dependent, though it's certainly true that the U.S. is more spread out than lots of other places.

Where did you move to, Guap?

[cricket]

As I've gotten older, I've gotten less inclined to want to be right in the big city. But when you're young, that's where the excitement is.

[Yoda]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5BL4RNFr58

[The Gunslinger45]

And if you live in a densely populated place near a city like New York, getting around with a car sucks too.

Indeed.

[cricket]

Btw Guap, how do you rate the American women? You getting any?

[Derek Vinyard]

Canada FTW :D

[cricket]

Canada FTW :D

I like Canada a lot; I've gone many times to drink your booze and diddle your women. Of course I'm not allowed there anymore.:shrug:

[Theo]

Murica's cool and all but I plan on moving to Switzerland and starting a career as a toxicologist because YOLO.

[bluedeed]

I'm going to be in Singapore for 4 months next year, I'm interested what kind of comparisons I'll have with there

[Gamobs]

Low crime rates (compared to Brazil, of course crime rates in the US are worse than most of Europe and Japan but to Latin American standards the US is super safe) really ?

[Cobpyth]

Btw Guap, how do you rate the American women? You getting any?

I'm also interested to hear Guap's take on women (or guys in case he's gay, but I don't think he is).

[honeykid]

I'm going to be in Singapore for 4 months next year, I'm interested what kind of comparisons I'll have with there
Don't chew gum. Seriously. And don't do anything which ends with you in jail. Good advice anyway, but especially in Singapore.
Murica's cool and all but I plan on moving to Switzerland and starting a career as a toxicologist because YOLO.
I'm not sure that people who use YOLO should be allowed to LO. :p:D
really ?
Which bit are you questioning? :)

[honeykid]

I'm also interested to hear Guap's take on women (or guys in case he's gay, but I don't think he is).
He might be, but I think we'd have noticed in his anime posts if he were. There'd probably be the odd Yaoi here and there.

[Theo]

I'm not sure that people who use YOLO should be allowed to LO. :p:D


I was using it ironically.
http://media3.giphy.com/media/127JeHZl15PRII/giphy.gif

[Daniel M]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R5A0pg4oN8

Damn, beat me to it :p

[honeykid]

I was using it ironically.
http://media3.giphy.com/media/127JeHZl15PRII/giphy.gif

I'm glad to hear it... But even so... ;)

[Theo]

I'm glad to hear it... But even so... ;)

http://blog.palmpartners.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/judging.gif

[Derek Vinyard]

I like Canada a lot; I've gone many times to drink your booze and diddle your women. Of course I'm not allowed there anymore.:shrug:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v68/Icejon64/cm-punk-shock_o_GIFSoupcom.gif

[Miss Vicky]

I'm also interested to hear Guap's take on women (or guys in case he's gay, but I don't think he is).

I seem to recall that his sexual preferences run toward bad nights of sleep, rather than a particular gender....


http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?t=33061

[Camo]

Damn, beat me to it :p

Same here if neg rep was available, he would've felt my wrath :p.

[Mr Minio]

I'm also interested to hear Guap's take on women (or guys in case he's gay, but I don't think he is). He's animesexual. But seriously, Guap, you should've visited Japan instead. Would find yourself a nice Japanese girl who loves anime and would have endless discussions about it. I bet he's fruitlessly looking for a girl looking like Madoka from PMMM. The fact Madoka looks like ten y/o girl makes his search highly questionable.

[BlueLion]

or he could be looking for Kirsten Dunst

http://www.studiodaily.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/525_mural1.jpg


her + anime cosplay = :cage:

[honeykid]

http://blog.palmpartners.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/judging.gif
http://potinsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Kanye-West-I-Am-God.jpg

[Theo]

http://potinsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Kanye-West-I-Am-God.jpg

http://thoughtcatalog.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/tumblr_m3246eoa8j1qkvsb0.gif?w=500&h=282

[The Gunslinger45]

http://potinsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Kanye-West-I-Am-God.jpg

I was going to make a Kanye West joke, but it seems this already was a Kanye West joke.

[Swan]

http://potinsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Kanye-West-I-Am-God.jpg

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lufhi1BUQ61qmbkxl.gif

[Frightened Inmate No. 2]

too many stupid gifs in this thread.

[The Gunslinger45]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMydcDllgeM

[Yoda]

Yeah, you guys have got your threads for the random stuff. Let Guap talk about his experiences here, eh? :)

[Derek Vinyard]

too many stupid gifs in this thread.

http://www.teen.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/snape-justin-bieber-baby-funny-lol-crossover.gif

[Frightened Inmate No. 2]

okay

[honeykid]

http://s.myniceprofile.com/myspacepic/142/14228.jpg

[doubledenim]

I came here to make a comment about this being a James Brown thread, beat me to it he did.

[Guaporense]

One problem I have in the US is the lack of variety of beef cuts and also it's relatively high price (compared to Brazilian prices, of course, beef in the US is cheaper than in Europe or Japan still).

Brazilian beef cuts:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/Beef_cuts_Brazil.svg/2000px-Beef_cuts_Brazil.svg.png

US beeft cuts:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/BeefCutBottomSirloin.svg/2000px-BeefCutBottomSirloin.svg.png

My Argentinian friend also agrees with me on this.

[Guaporense]

Btw Guap, how do you rate the American women? You getting any?

I like their elegant facial features and soft pinkish skin but they are less sexy than Brazilian women in terms of the body (too many are out of shape) and also I am finding them more difficult overall, though I am not very good socially in Brazil the job was easier thanks to the highly extroverted culture, in the US at least in the midwest they are more conservative and also the fact that I have still a very heavy foreign accent.

[Mr Minio]

Ladies lech after foreigners, Guap. That's your chance.

[Miss Vicky]

One problem I have in the US is the lack of variety of beef cuts and also it's relatively high price (compared to Brazilian prices, of course, beef in the US is cheaper than in Europe or Japan still).

I've not spent any time in the Midwest, really, but if you can locate a Mexican or Asian market you should be able to get a hold of some different cuts of meat. We have a Mexican meat market and an Asian grocery store in my town and they have a much different selection than the typical American supermarket.

[Guaporense]

Ladies lech after foreigners, Guap. That's your chance.

Too bad I don't look like a hot latino foreigner. :( I have the heavy accent but I look pretty much like an WASP.

[MovieGal]

I like their elegant facial features and soft pinkish skin but they are less sexy than Brazilian women in terms of the body (too many are out of shape) and also I am finding them more difficult overall, though I am not very good socially in Brazil the job was easier thanks to the highly extroverted culture, in the US at least in the midwest they are more conservative and also the fact that I have still a very heavy foreign accent.

You said "Midwest"... where exactly are you? Im here

http://www.liddlekidz.com/kansas-city-mo-map.jpg

Im as "Midwest" as you can get... pretty dang close to the exact center of the US.

Lebanon, Kansas is the exact center, and that is still just a 4 hour drive... so 1/6 of a day away...

[Captain Spaulding]

You said "Midwest"... where exactly are you? Im here

http://www.liddlekidz.com/kansas-city-mo-map.jpg

Im as "Midwest" as you can get... pretty dang close to the exact center of the US.

Lebanon, Kansas is the exact center, and that is still just a 4 hour drive... so 1/6 of a day away...

You're from the Midwest, MovieGal? That shocks me. I didn't even think you were American.

[MovieGal]

You're from the Midwest, MovieGal? That shocks me. I didn't even think you were American.

What the heck?? I got the same response from Cricket!! Is it because I watch many foreign films and dont enjoy American Comedy???

[Mr Minio]

For some reason some people thought I'm from the UK, or USA back in the day. Now that's a real shocker.

[honeykid]

It certainly is. Who the hell would mistake your level of kink for the Brits? Hell, even most yanks seem to have a higher level of kink than you. :p:D

[MovieGal]

For some reason some people thought I'm from the UK, or USA back in the day. Now that's a real shocker.

Thats because you type English intelligently. Seriously Americans are lazy with the language... we use way to much slang and abbreviate....

[90sAce]

- Fast internet is expensive at least where I am.

Brazil has faster internet?


- People here listen to too much rap and too little metal though there is hope (saw a guy with a Blind Guardian T shirt other day) the problem is that metal is too niche here.

"Metal" (as in Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Slayer, etc) was always niche - it's not exactly music for casual listening; deals with a lot of darker and more 'niche' subject matter and tracks are often longer than the radio format.

Rock fell out of popularity in the 90s after the grunge era - while we're on it I'd love to see a revival of 70s and 80s hard rock; it became to wussed out following the grunge and 'alt rock' era and beyond.


- Food is really problematic. It is not really bad but you get easily tired of the food of a certain place. What is lacking is food that is cheap, good and you can eat 365 days a year without worrying about food tasting bad.
Not sure what kind of food you're talking about; if you learn to cook (as opposed to buying expensive, crappy American fast food and junk food) you can eat pretty well on a budget - I can eat pretty good for about $70-80 a month; if I was buying fast food or junk food regularily however that bill could easily double or triple.

[Guaporense]

Brazil has faster internet?

Not really. But I was expecting internet in the US to be faster and cheaper but it's nearlly about the same price actually.

"Metal" (as in Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Slayer, etc) was always niche - it's not exactly music for casual listening; deals with a lot of darker and more 'niche' subject matter and tracks are often longer than the radio format.

Rock fell out of popularity in the 90s after the grunge era - while we're on it I'd love to see a revival of 70s and 80s hard rock; it became to wussed out following the grunge and 'alt rock' era and beyond.

Still it's very common to see 80's hard rock playing in the US, I like that.

Metal is niche everywhere except Finland but in Brazil a very large number of people listen to metal (basically, male Brazilian middle class aged 15 to 30, many listen to metal) while here it's not as common. Rap is more popular in the US relatively. While in Brazil metal was never as popular as rap is in the US, it still is more popular than hip hop (including Brazilian subgenres of hip hop).

Not sure what kind of food you're talking about; if you learn to cook (as opposed to buying expensive, crappy American fast food and junk food) you can eat pretty well on a budget - I can eat pretty good for about $70-80 a month; if I was buying fast food or junk food regularily however that bill could easily double or triple.

80 dollars a MONTH? Then you would only eat rice and pasta.

I like eating meat and I even searched the names of the Brazilian meat cuts in English and places that sell the cuts here. So I spend about 100 dollars on meat per month plus 150 dollars a month on other ingredients. I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables.

[NatashaR]

I don't remember fruits and veggies being very expensive in the USA unless you want to buy organic, but I haven't been there in a few years so things might have changed. What I never understood though was Hershey's chocolate... the taste and texture are so weird.

Guap, how did you move to the US? Sorry if you already said this before...
I also want to move there but the process of getting a green card is quite a pain in the ass... I even have family over there but it doesn't really help.

[90sAce]

Not really. But I was expecting internet in the US to be faster and cheaper but it's nearlly about the same price actually.

Still it's very common to see 80's hard rock playing in the US, I like that.

Metal is niche everywhere except Finland but in Brazil a very large number of people listen to metal (basically, male Brazilian middle class aged 15 to 30, many listen to metal) while here it's not as common. Rap is more popular in the US relatively. While in Brazil metal was never as popular as rap is in the US, it still is more popular than hip hop (including Brazilian subgenres of hip hop).

That's interesting to know.



80 dollars a MONTH? Then you would only eat rice and pasta.

I like eating meat and I even searched the names of the Brazilian meat cuts in English and places that sell the cuts here. So I spend about 100 dollars on meat per month plus 150 dollars a month on other ingredients. I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables.
lol sorry bro that was a typo, I meant per week than per month.

Which sill isn't bad considering how much a lot of junk food and snack food really is.

[matt72582]

I don't remember fruits and veggies being very expensive in the USA unless you want to buy organic, but I haven't been there in a few years so things might have changed. What I never understood though was Hershey's chocolate... the taste and texture are so weird.

Guap, how did you move to the US? Sorry if you already said this before...
I also want to move there but the process of getting a green card is quite a pain in the ass... I even have family over there but it doesn't really help.

Marry someone :) - I wanted to stay in Australia, and this Aussie guy said so easily, "Marry an Aussie chick" and his friend nodded like, "It's so easy"

[NatashaR]

Marry someone :) - I wanted to stay in Australia, and this Aussie guy said so easily, "Marry an Aussie chick" and his friend nodded like, "It's so easy"

Hmm good idea, maybe I should check some mailorder brides websites and post some ads :D

[Rahbani]

I know a Palestinian guy who married an American to stay there and have heard of a lot of people doing the same thing.

[matt72582]

This Italian girl really wants to be a citizen. I told her $5,000, and I'll marry ya.. Half-serious too was she and I.

[NatashaR]

This Italian girl really wants to be a citizen. I told her $5,000, and I'll marry ya.. Half-serious too was she and I.
Haha, who knew you're so cheap.

[matt72582]

Haha, who knew you're so cheap.

I know it was cheap. I wanted an affirmative "YES" - after all, we were in Hawaii... Even on the customs you have to fill out, they wanna know why you're going there. Besides the "Honeymoon" there's a selection "Looking to possibly get married" in their vernacular.

[The Gunslinger45]

One problem I have in the US is the lack of variety of beef cuts and also it's relatively high price (compared to Brazilian prices, of course, beef in the US is cheaper than in Europe or Japan still).

Brazilian beef cuts:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/Beef_cuts_Brazil.svg/2000px-Beef_cuts_Brazil.svg.png

US beeft cuts:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/BeefCutBottomSirloin.svg/2000px-BeefCutBottomSirloin.svg.png

My Argentinian friend also agrees with me on this.

As a lover of steak (my favorite dish) I am very curious about these Brazilian beef cuts. Is there a big difference in taste?

Also for the record, I like my steaks (sirloin cut) medium rare. No steak sauce, mushrooms, on anything on it. Just a cut of beef with a little salt, some steak fries (or a baked potato) and a Caesar salad. And if I see ANYONE put ketchup on steak I will ****ing kill you!

[Camo]

You take your steak exactly the same as me Gunslinger . The correct way ;)

[NatashaR]

And if I see ANYONE put ketchup on steak I will ****ing kill you!
Eww who puts ketchup on steak?:eek:

[foster]

those beef cut images are total BS.

You're trying to tell me that america doesn't have filet mignon?
uhhh yeah. yeah we do.

[Swan]

You take your steak exactly the same as me Gunslinger . The correct way ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amKyA2PrSu4

[matt72582]

I wanna see a chart showing where the [percentages of hormones, steroids, antibiotics, etc.

[Camo]

The filet mignon is just a cut from the Tenderloin so it is actually included there. It's just that the Brazilian one counts the whole Tenderloin as the Filet Mignon for some reason.

[Guaporense]

I don't remember fruits and veggies being very expensive in the USA unless you want to buy organic

But I don't consider spending 250 dollars a month on food to be that much money. It's cheaper in Brazil (I spent about 180 dollars on food per month in Brazil during my PHD).

but I haven't been there in a few years so things might have changed. What I never understood though was Hershey's chocolate... the taste and texture are so weird.

That's also sold in Brazil. I like it.

Guap, how did you move to the US? Sorry if you already said this before...
I also want to move there but the process of getting a green card is quite a pain in the ass... I even have family over there but it doesn't really help.

Special work related circumstances. I don't think I will be staying in the US for very long, about 5-6 years tops. You don't need a green card, just a work visa is good enough.

[MovieGal]

Ok Im confused.. Guap do you live in the United States now? or are you back in Brazil? and if so, when did you live in the United States?

Because to me.. it sounds like you currently live here..

[christine]

I like ribeye steaks cos they have that great fat marbling. We always get a proper big 5 bone rib beef joint at Christmas , bloody lovely in both senses of the word (sorry vegetarians!)

[The Gunslinger45]

Eww who puts ketchup on steak?:eek:

It happens...

[MovieGal]

I like ribeye steaks cos they have that great fat marbling. We always get A proper big 5 bone rib beef joint at Christmas , bloody lovely in both senses of the word (sorry vegetarians!)

I love ribeye steaks... just had one for a late lunch/early dinner... I think it was a 12oz. Yum!

[Guaporense]

As a lover of steak (my favorite dish) I am very curious about these Brazilian beef cuts. Is there a big difference in taste?

Picanha, fraldinha, alcatra, entrecot and maminha are very characteristic Brazilian cuts, just speaking their names my mouth is full of water. Some of them have equivalent names in English, some groceries sell those.

This is the picanha:
http://reidacapoeira.pt/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/picanha.jpg

Maminha:
http://www.amordebrazil.us/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/8551.jpg

Fraldinha:
http://emporiosanmartin.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/IMG_7347a2.jpeg

The T-bone is an American style of cut. It's really nice too.

Also for the record, I like my steaks (sirloin cut) medium rare. No steak sauce, mushrooms, on anything on it. Just a cut of beef with a little salt, some steak fries (or a baked potato) and a Caesar salad. And if I see ANYONE put ketchup on steak I will ****ing kill you!

That's right. A typical Brazilian barbecue looks like this, we cook the meat in iron sticks, like the maminha above:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5c/Churrasco_carioca.jpg

http://www.jornalagora.com.br/uploads/galeria_fotos/17948_zoom.jpg

Only thing we put on the meat is salt. A little pepper when I cook it on the pan though.

http://www.buffetassis.com.br/images/slide/7.jpg

A Brazilian or Argentinian barbecue is the best food in the world. It's basically meat and some bread and salad.

Some Brazilian style barbecue, with only salt as condiment:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2IH1SO_Nm28/ToEwNSPPHqI/AAAAAAAAAE4/toYJpqZ3728/s1600/carne.jpg

[MovieGal]

A Brazilian or Argentinian barbecue is the best food in the world. It's basically meat and some bread and salad.



I know an Argentine who will disagree with you!

[Camo]

I've read before that Argentinian and Brazilian steaks are usually rated as the best in the world. Also this pics are bordering on porn Guap :p

[Guaporense]

@ MovieGal, taste is subjective. My favorite dish is a Brazilian/Argentinian barbecue. Argentinian barbecue is cooked slightly differently than Brazilian but the final taste is essentially the same. I have cooked with some friends a couple of south American style barbecues here in the US, the meat cuts are available (just more expensive than in Brazil).

@Camo, yep, meat porn. Brazilian meat is actually harder to chew than American meat because Brazilian cattle is raised naturally so they exercise more and their meat has less fat, however, it apparently has a stronger taste. But one can cook a Brazilian style barbecue in the US easily as well (as long you are willing to spend over 10-15 bucks a person).

[Guaporense]

Well, for well over 2 years here I am getting used to it and then when I go back to Brazil that country becomes strange for some reason. :D

For me the best thing in the US is the relatively high level of safety compared to Brazil (disconsidering the dangerous cities like Detroit and Baltimore) and the fact that people here actually arrive on time at stuff: even my students in the university arrive on time in class. In Brazilian universities half of the class doesn't arrive on time and I meet people there who said it was stupid to arrive on time for things since you always waste time awaiting for it to begin. :rolleyes: Well, like other developed countries, the contrast with Brazil is always striking as Brazil is basically a disorganized mess. Still, Brazilian food is superior :p (if you have the money to pay for it since many Brazilians cannot eat out because they are too poor). Although my European friends always complain about American food so apparently Brazilian food might not be above world average. I wouldn't know since I know nothing about Europe, since I hate traveling I have only been to about 5 countries.