My first step to California in one month...?

Question

I want to know about culture diffrence...I am from Albania and this is my first time to USA. What do i have to be prepare of ...

Answer 1

HI
California is full of diversity I lived there for 30 years and then moved to the south, Californians are use to cultural differences and I see no problems I am a former San Fransisco inhabitant.
Lammy

Answer 2

Well, the United States is vastly different from Albania. I don't know what Albania is like, but in the United States, you will find quite a variety of things to watch on television - some of them quite educational, others quite shocking - still others, quite entertaining and pleasant. Since you mentioned California, and I am a Californian living in Southern California, I'll just tell you what you can expect about California in general. It is a beautiful state. Northern California is much greener and has more forests and green valleys. It is a slower pace in Northern California, unless you are in the big cities such as San Francisco or Sacramento. In most of California, the climate is pretty mild, most of the year. We do have a rainy season, which is usually in winter, but our rainy season just means that we have a lot of days of sunshine and cooler temperatures (50's and 60's), mixed with several days, on and off, of pounding rains. So far, this winter has been mild compared to those of the last 2 years. If you go to the mountains of California, you can expect snow at higher elevations in the winter.

The great thing about California is that we have it all. We have mountains, deserts, beaches, and valleys - and they are all within 1-2 hours or less driving time. We have very populous cities and crowded freeways, yet we also have lots of places that are quiet and peaceful where one can get away. If you go to any beaches, be prepared to have trouble finding parking. That's just the way it is. If you are driving through Los Angeles or anywhere near there, be prepared for LOTS of traffic, no matter WHAT time of day you are driving. California is where Hollywood is, and there is fun sight-seeing there. Still, being from San Diego, I have to recommend the world-famous San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park, and Sea World. Southern California, in my opinion, has some of the best Mexican food restaurants around. Go for the places that look like hole-in-the-wall restaurants. The food there is more authentic, it is less expensive and it tastes great. If you see several people inside, it's a safe bet you will enjoy the food.

As for the culture here in California, we are affectionately known as the Grape Nuts state - the "state of nuts and flakes". People are extremely diverse. You have a wide variety of people, from the very rich to the very poor. You have a very big gay population in San Francisco and in Southern California, it is not as acceptable. Still, people here are pretty laid back. We pretty much accept everyone as they are. We can be very rude, however, especially when we are driving. If you can stay alive while driving on California freeways, then you are doing well! We drive assertively and aggressively. We have to. It's a survival thing. We also have some of the best freeways around. Learn how to navigate the freeways and you will do well when you get around. Being so close to Mexico, we have A LOT of Hispanic people living in Southern California. You will notice a lot of signs in businesses, and literature, printed in both English and Spanish. Some cities have a predominantly Hispanic population. Others are predominantly Caucasian.

Above all, when the going gets tough, we Californians pitch in and help each other. We can be rude and pushy, and nutty and shallow. Yet we have strong ideals and one of those, is to pitch in when things are bad. When we've had major earthquakes, devastating fires which destroy thousands of acres of land and hundreds of homes, major flooding during our rainy seasons - communities have rallied together to support others in need. We can be very full of ourselves and consumed with material things and appearance, yet we can be also some of the nicest people you will ever meet. It is extremely expensive to live here, but if you can do it, then more power to you.

Welcome to the United States and to California. Have a wonderful time!

Answer 3

I'm from Los Angeles. My question to you would be what part of California are you talking about? California has the 5th largest economy in the world! The culture is vastly different from one part of the state to another. In Los Angeles everything is fast paced. The traffic is horrible and everyone has their own thing going on. People are not as friendly and are too busy to stop and chat. Also, make sure you touch up on your driving skills, the drivers here drive very fast and aggresive. Besides that its a great place to live.