Have you ever been to the United States? Are you planning to go any time soon? Our English School in Milan is comprised solely of Native English speaking teachers, and quite a few of them are American. The team got together to discuss some tips on how to enjoy your trip to the USA to the utmost.
Let’s get started:
- Let your English run wild!
Let’s start with the most important part of all: practicing your English. While it could seem like a rather obvious topic, it’s dedicated to all the English language enthusiasts out there who are shy or embarrassed about their English.
The USA is full of languages that are not English (https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-most-spoken-languages-in-america.html), so the Americans are without a doubt used to speaking to foreigners at a slow and comfortable pace. As of the year 2000, New York City alone was expected to be home to over 800 languages (https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/29/nyregion/29lost.html), and that’s in just one of dozens of major cities in the country. If you’re looking to practice your English, there’s no better “teacher” than America itself.
- Try international food, and lots of it!
Do the States have their own cuisine? No. Yes. Maybe?After Japan and France, the USA has the most three-star Michelin restaurants in the world! That’s right, almost double those of Italy (https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/29/nyregion/29lost.html). But if you look closely, you will notice that most of these restaurants are international, of European or Asian variety.
With that being said, America’s cuisine is the world’s cuisine. Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Italian, Thai, Mexican (https://scrambledeggsinglese.it/5-alimenti-americani-di-cui-non-posso-fare-a-meno/). Whatever you want from wherever you want, you will be able to get. And not just in the big cities, but even in the smallest pockets of the country.
Not that we should overlook the regional specialties of every city, which have their own flair and appeal (https://scrambledeggsinglese.it/esl-reading-exercise-the-philadelphia-cheesesteak/), but when you’re in the USA, if you’re not eating a different country’s cuisine every night, you’re doing it wrong!
- Tour a college campus
Whether you’re interested in the real American college life or not, American college campuses offer a rather striking difference when it comes to Italian colleges. Acres upon acres of open land dedicated to student life, glamorous lecture halls and wild dormitories all make for a one-of-a-kind university experience. However, much like any other public property, college campuses are free for you to roam about without any sort of ticket or credentials necessary to enter.
If you’re tired of touring cities in the same way every time you travel, a guided tour could be a perfect way to switch up your daily travel routine and learn some interesting, out-of-the-ordinary things about the land you’re walking on (https://www.kickassfacts.com/interesting-university-facts/).
Wherever you go, there are bound to be plenty of colleges in the area that you can visit. Some are definitely worth checking out, so have a look here for the top picks:
https://www.bestcollegereviews.org/features/most-beautiful-college-campuses/
- Don’t talk politics!
What a time to be in America. The country is divided almost evenly between liberals and conservatives, but each side is as fired up as ever (https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/10/27/16553698/pew-political-typology-polarization)! Unless a near-death experience is what you’re looking for on your vacation to the States, we would suggest not going anywhere near this topic while you’re on American soil.
A politically-charged debate could definitely be a good way to improve your English, but it might not be the best way to make new friends!
- Geography is key
America is by no means a small country. We don’t need to tell you this. With that being said, each geographical section of the USA offers a different type of vacation. Here are our suggestions to plan according to your needs:
- The Northeast (New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington D.C.)
Go here for cities and history, museums and culture. Also head in this direction for more “European-style” cities, as this region was the bridge between European exploration and the new world.
- The Midwest (anywhere west of Chicago to the edge of California):
Go here for big landscapes and natural scenery. The list of some of the world’s national parks (https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/02/10-great-states-parks-in-the-midwest.html) goes on and on. It would be impossible just to choose 1 (or 10, for that matter)!
- The Pacific Coast (California, Oregon, Washington):
Go here to see the heart of innovation and technology, all the while chilling out with a laid-back mentality and sipping on some of the best (American) coffee out there.
- The Southwest (Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma):
This is cowboy country here, but you probably won’t find anyone strolling down Main Street on a horse and saddle. Instead, you’ll find a part of the country that’s vastly desert, hotter than anything you can imagine (https://sciencing.com/climate-texas-4566332.html), and very different from anything you’ll see in Europe. Big pick-up trucks and a culture driven on American football is what this region is all about. Not to mention, line dancing!
Did you take notes?? Planning vacations is never an easy task, but hopefully with some of Scrambled Eggs’ tips, you’ll be able know the ins and outs of American culture!
