Comments on: Back from the U.S.: My Observations (II) http://blog.myczechrepublic.com/2007/03/05/back-from-the-us-my-observations-ii/ Blog written by two Prague residents about life in the Czech Republic. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:29:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.10 by: Viktor http://blog.myczechrepublic.com/2007/03/05/back-from-the-us-my-observations-ii/#comment-15287 Sat, 14 Apr 2007 20:40:59 +0000 http://blog.myczechrepublic.com/2007/03/05/back-from-the-us-my-observations-ii/#comment-15287 Needless to say, Margaret has a big share of BP stock. She did not have to worry about transportation costs, since the British public was paying for her commuting needs! Anyway, it is a fact that Americans overuse the car -- to go next door! The irony is that the same characters who drive to the store one block away, also pay a monthly fee ($50 - $100) to a Gym (driving there)to get some excercise and walk nowhere on a thread mill? Go figure, that is marketing at it's best!.. Recent statistics show, that the average American spends close to 1/3 of their disposable income on the auto independance dependency habit. I guess, according to Margaret, I'm a failure, for I've given up the car in 1997 and I'm well over thirty...With the money saved ($5K annualy), I can afford to go dinner 2-3 times per month and hire a limo for the event.. It is all about "priorities"! Needless to say, Margaret has a big share of BP stock. She did not have to worry about transportation costs, since the British public was paying for her commuting needs! Anyway, it is a fact that Americans overuse the car — to go next door! The irony is that the same characters who drive to the store one block away, also pay a monthly fee ($50 - $100) to a Gym (driving there)to get some excercise and walk nowhere on a thread mill? Go figure, that is marketing at it’s best!.. Recent statistics show, that the average American spends close to 1/3 of their disposable income on the auto independance dependency habit. I guess, according to Margaret, I’m a failure, for I’ve given up the car in 1997 and I’m well over thirty…With the money saved ($5K annualy), I can afford to go dinner 2-3 times per month and hire a limo for the event.. It is all about “priorities”!

]]> by: Dana http://blog.myczechrepublic.com/2007/03/05/back-from-the-us-my-observations-ii/#comment-5615 Thu, 08 Mar 2007 13:52:37 +0000 http://blog.myczechrepublic.com/2007/03/05/back-from-the-us-my-observations-ii/#comment-5615 <em>"Yes, Americans like to go everywhere on their own schedule not someone else's." </em>Well, yes, but what about getting stuck in traffic, not being able to find a parking place and when you finally find one, having to run back to feed the parking meter every hour...? <em>"...gas and cars are cheap in the U.S. That is another big reason Americans love using their cars." </em>That's why I'm excited about gas prices going up in the U.S. People are finally starting to think about the types of cars they drive and about carpooling. I got so tired of SUVs clogging up the roads and blocking my view all the time on my daily 40-mile commute a few years ago. At least one third of the cars on the freeways seemed to be SUVs and those macho trucks, and almost all of them just had one person in them - the driver! What's the point? <em>"A man who still takes the bus in this thirties has every reason to consider himself a failure". </em>Yep, I bet Margaret doesn't take the bus! :) <em>"And to travel by overground to anywhere outside of London... forget it! It is cheaper to fly to Prague for a weekend than just take a train to Scotland." </em>That's really too bad. I hope the Czech Republic doesn't follow suit. Public transport prices do keep increasing here. <em>"Even when a place IS walking distance in L.A., you drive." </em>Not only in L.A. I think it's very common in the U.S. in general. I noticed it very quickly after first arriving in Texas in 1997. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw people driving from one store to another within one shopping complex. <em>"Love the observations, Dana. They make me feel normal."</em> But what is normal? (A phrase my husband and I use a lot in the Czech Republic as we often feel like aliens here.) Here's a book that may help you feel even more "normal": <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/076790382X?ie=UTF8&tag=locallingo&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=076790382X" rel="nofollow">Bill Bryson: "I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away"</a><img style="margin: 0px; border: medium none" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=locallingo&l=as2&o=1&a=076790382X" width="1" border="0" /> And since we're on the topic of driving, you may want to start with the chapter "Why No One Walks". Thank you all for the comments! “Yes, Americans like to go everywhere on their own schedule not someone else’s.”
Well, yes, but what about getting stuck in traffic, not being able to find a parking place and when you finally find one, having to run back to feed the parking meter every hour…?

“…gas and cars are cheap in the U.S. That is another big reason Americans love using their cars.”
That’s why I’m excited about gas prices going up in the U.S. People are finally starting to think about the types of cars they drive and about carpooling. I got so tired of SUVs clogging up the roads and blocking my view all the time on my daily 40-mile commute a few years ago. At least one third of the cars on the freeways seemed to be SUVs and those macho trucks, and almost all of them just had one person in them - the driver! What’s the point?

“A man who still takes the bus in this thirties has every reason to consider himself a failure”.
Yep, I bet Margaret doesn’t take the bus! :)

“And to travel by overground to anywhere outside of London… forget it! It is cheaper to fly to Prague for a weekend than just take a train to Scotland.”
That’s really too bad. I hope the Czech Republic doesn’t follow suit. Public transport prices do keep increasing here.

“Even when a place IS walking distance in L.A., you drive.”
Not only in L.A. I think it’s very common in the U.S. in general. I noticed it very quickly after first arriving in Texas in 1997. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw people driving from one store to another within one shopping complex.

“Love the observations, Dana. They make me feel normal.”
But what is normal? (A phrase my husband and I use a lot in the Czech Republic as we often feel like aliens here.)
Here’s a book that may help you feel even more “normal”:
Bill Bryson: “I’m a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away”
And since we’re on the topic of driving, you may want to start with the chapter “Why No One Walks”.

Thank you all for the comments!

]]> by: hammondovi http://blog.myczechrepublic.com/2007/03/05/back-from-the-us-my-observations-ii/#comment-5610 Thu, 08 Mar 2007 12:45:50 +0000 http://blog.myczechrepublic.com/2007/03/05/back-from-the-us-my-observations-ii/#comment-5610 After 18 years of driving in California traffic - LA and Orange Co. - the one thing I loved about Czech was the public transport. Not only did it get you where you wanted, but it was very affordable. Now in London, I do love the ability to get around easily by Underground and buses, but the cost is increasingly difficult to take. And to travel by overground to anywhere outside of London... forget it! It is cheaper to fly to Prague for a weekend than just take a train to Scotland. One of my favorite spoof movies is L.A. Story by Steve Martin. He tells his neighbor he is coming over, hops in his car and drives to the next house, only a few feet away. Practically true! Even when a place IS walking distance in L.A., you drive. Love the observations, Dana. They make me feel normal. :D After 18 years of driving in California traffic - LA and Orange Co. - the one thing I loved about Czech was the public transport. Not only did it get you where you wanted, but it was very affordable.
Now in London, I do love the ability to get around easily by Underground and buses, but the cost is increasingly difficult to take. And to travel by overground to anywhere outside of London… forget it! It is cheaper to fly to Prague for a weekend than just take a train to Scotland.

One of my favorite spoof movies is L.A. Story by Steve Martin. He tells his neighbor he is coming over, hops in his car and drives to the next house, only a few feet away. Practically true! Even when a place IS walking distance in L.A., you drive.

Love the observations, Dana. They make me feel normal. :D

]]> by: mbm http://blog.myczechrepublic.com/2007/03/05/back-from-the-us-my-observations-ii/#comment-5268 Mon, 05 Mar 2007 23:51:29 +0000 http://blog.myczechrepublic.com/2007/03/05/back-from-the-us-my-observations-ii/#comment-5268 This reminds me of something Margaret Thatcher once (allegedly) said: "A man who still takes the bus in this thirties has every reason to consider himself a failure". In some countries the idea is that only very poor people use public transport - and curiously enough, most of those countries seem to be English-speaking! It's incredibly short-sighted. The Czech Republic and other countries in Continental Europe have a lot to be proud of for having such well-tuned public transport systems. This reminds me of something Margaret Thatcher once (allegedly) said: “A man who still takes the bus in this thirties has every reason to consider himself a failure”.

In some countries the idea is that only very poor people use public transport - and curiously enough, most of those countries seem to be English-speaking!

It’s incredibly short-sighted. The Czech Republic and other countries in Continental Europe have a lot to be proud of for having such well-tuned public transport systems.

]]> by: Ted http://blog.myczechrepublic.com/2007/03/05/back-from-the-us-my-observations-ii/#comment-5245 Mon, 05 Mar 2007 17:47:24 +0000 http://blog.myczechrepublic.com/2007/03/05/back-from-the-us-my-observations-ii/#comment-5245 What you have observed about public transportation is true in most areas of the U.S. There is no doubt the car is a big part of American culture. Yes, Americans like to go everywhere on their own schedule not someone else's. You are right on when it comes to students going to school in the U.S. too. The one thing I would add to your obsevations, is that gas and cars are cheap in the U.S. That is another big reason Americans love using their cars. Nice job as always Dana. Ted What you have observed about public transportation is true in most areas of the U.S. There is no doubt the car is a big part of American culture. Yes, Americans like to go everywhere on their own schedule not someone else’s. You are right on when it comes to students going to school in the U.S. too. The one thing I would add to your obsevations, is that gas and cars are cheap in the U.S. That is another big reason Americans love using their cars.

Nice job as always Dana.

Ted

]]>