Gear is cheap!
In DC – the metro (the ticketing system, the fact there are staff everywhere, the flashing lights on the platform before a train cames, the fact trains come so often)
Squirrels, chipmunks and deers (and all these other novelty animals)
Snow making things pretty
The countdown number on the pedestrian crossing, so you know how long you have to cross
Drive-through ATMs
Those huge choc chip cookies in Pentagon City Mall
Self-checkout at some supermarkets
Things in the supermarket having prices/pound for everything, so you don’t have to work out yourself whether the big or little things are better value
You can get cheaper flights to lots of places, and you’re closer to a lot of the world than you are in Australia
Lots of yummy Mexican food (and pseudo Mexican, with Chipotle)
Saigon Cafe in Harrisonburg, WV VA
Cycling with traffic on the right side of the road = I can put my foot on the kerb at traffic lights
The Bolthouse Farms range of drink, especially the Chai Protein drink
A&J’s Chinese restaurant in Rockville
Huge range of yummy icecreams
Petrol is cheap
They have high mountains
You can always turn right on a red light (would be left in Australia – thanks to Mimi for the reminder about this one)
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9 replies on “things that are cool about the usa (part 3 in a 3 part series)”
Is it just me, or is the list of things you liked much shorter then the list of things you didn’t. At least icecream made the list.
Yeah, well I was trying to think of more things. But the good parts mainly involved food.
Did you happen to get any photos of the DC metro?
*waits expectantly like a puppy at the door*
Oh, and now I had to look through all my photos and realise, no, I didn’t (except for one substandard interior shot). Which got me googling, and I think this guy has the best set of photos: rion … plus one of my trusty above ground stations. I miss those trains.
I seem to remember an escalator at one of the DC train stations being very steep and very long – to the point where you’de get dizzy riding it, somewhere around dupont circle. Or am I making this up?
Just returned to Oz after 3 years in Dc/Virginia area so all these things you loved were really EVERYDAY for me! Thanks for reminding me how great they are…DC Metro and Pentagon City Shopping are home to me. It is a fabulous place and it’s a pity the war issues have made so many Aussies anti American.Glad you could overlook that and marvel at the little things….like self check out at the grocery store and drive-thru ATMs. And I miss the cheap clothes. Our country really is a rip off when it comes to brand name stuff. I have another one to add to your list. TURN RIGHT ON A RED LIGHT.(would be LEFT IN AUSTRALIA)I know we have started to sign a few intersections with this option. But in USA and Canada it’s EVERY traffic light….so if you are turning, you just treat a red light like a stop sign. No unnecessary traffic hold ups. It’s great. And lets not forget how well they celebrate the HOLIDAYS…From Halloween, the houses are decorated till January with spooky stuff and pumpkins, then Scarecrows and everything harvest/Thanksgiving related… and then finally Christmas/Hannuka.AAH. You’ve made me HOMESICK for a place that isn’t really HOME!!
Heh, thanks for the reminder! The right turn thing is definitely something I meant to add to the list – I get so fidgety at Australian traffic lights now “Why am I waiting here?! I could just go!”
As a native of Harrisonburg VA (note, it’s not in WV but 20 min east of the state line), Siagon Cafe rocks!!! If you are ever back in Harrisonburg, though, you should check out Taste of Thai – arguably even tastier.
Oops, I should have remembered that – I only ever visited on my way through into WV though, probably why I had VA on the mind. But Taste of Thai you say? I’ll have to recommend it to my friends in the area :)