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Ask HN: Moving to US from Argentina for college. Any advice for a newcomer?

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Re: Ask HN: Moving to US from Argentina for college. Any advice for a newcomer?

#11

Post by jnwatson »

elmalto wrote: post #8

A few items: - The US system of credit cards is really weird. If you do not happen to have an American Express (which does cross-border), you should try to open up a credit card as soon as possible. Most likely with the bank that you use for checking accounts. Do not pay off the balance before it is due. Wait until the bill is finalized, then pay it within a day or two. Look up “credit score” and “how to build credit…

Regarding health insurance, there's usually a university student plan he can sign up for.

Re: Ask HN: Moving to US from Argentina for college. Any advice for a newcomer?

#12

Post by riversflow »

alamortsubite wrote: post #7

You can sometimes find yerba in Hispanic supermarkets, but the best place to get it is usually on Amazon. It costs about $10 (US) per kilo here. Relatively speaking, wine is very expensive, too. People's notion of promptness as it pertains to social functions may be different than what you're used to. If you're going to a party, show up an hour or so after the indicated starting time, but if you're meeting with a few…

PDAs are frowned upon in the US? huh. This is news to me and I’m almost 30.

Re: Ask HN: Moving to US from Argentina for college. Any advice for a newcomer?

#13

Post by giantg2 »

jnwatson wrote: post #11
elmalto wrote: post #8

A few items: - The US system of credit cards is really weird. If you do not happen to have an American Express (which does cross-border), you should try to open up a credit card as soon as possible. Most likely with the bank that you use for checking accounts. Do not pay off the balance before it is due. Wait until the bill is finalized, then pay it within a day or two. Look up “credit score” and “how to build credit…

Regarding health insurance, there's usually a university student plan he can sign up for.

If it's an exchange program, they usually include it by default.

Re: Ask HN: Moving to US from Argentina for college. Any advice for a newcomer?

#14

Post by dyingkneepad »

People who know Mexican Spanish may not be able to understand your Spanish, especially the ones who didn't learn Spanish as a first language.

Grocery stores often have international sections, you may be able to find some stuff you're familiar with in the Hispanic Foods section. There is dulce de leche, but it's not the same thing. You can find canned yerba mate tea from the Guaiaki brand. Again, it's not the one you drink, but it's at least something.

Re: Ask HN: Moving to US from Argentina for college. Any advice for a newcomer?

#15

Post by zeroego »

elmalto wrote: post #8

A few items: - The US system of credit cards is really weird. If you do not happen to have an American Express (which does cross-border), you should try to open up a credit card as soon as possible. Most likely with the bank that you use for checking accounts. Do not pay off the balance before it is due. Wait until the bill is finalized, then pay it within a day or two. Look up “credit score” and “how to build credit…

> as you said tipping is mandatory. 18% is the lower limit.

Just out of curiosity, where do you live? I've worked front of house at many different restaurants in an expensive city on the west coast, though this was 6 or 7 years ago. I was under the impression 10% was bare minimum, 15% was the next step up, and 20% was generous.

Re: Ask HN: Moving to US from Argentina for college. Any advice for a newcomer?

#16

Post by elmalto »

zeroego wrote: post #15
elmalto wrote: post #8

A few items: - The US system of credit cards is really weird. If you do not happen to have an American Express (which does cross-border), you should try to open up a credit card as soon as possible. Most likely with the bank that you use for checking accounts. Do not pay off the balance before it is due. Wait until the bill is finalized, then pay it within a day or two. Look up “credit score” and “how to build credit…

> as you said tipping is mandatory. 18% is the lower limit. Just out of curiosity, where do you live? I've worked front of house at many different restaurants in an expensive city on the west coast, though this was 6 or 7 years ago. I was under the impression 10% was bare minimum, 15% was the next step up, and 20% was generous.

NYC - could very well be a New York thing. Lived in Vancouver before where it was 15% so I assumed it was roughly the same everywhere

Re: Ask HN: Moving to US from Argentina for college. Any advice for a newcomer?

#17

Post by Grazester »

dyingkneepad wrote: post #14

People who know Mexican Spanish may not be able to understand your Spanish, especially the ones who didn't learn Spanish as a first language. Grocery stores often have international sections, you may be able to find some stuff you're familiar with in the Hispanic Foods section. There is dulce de leche, but it's not the same thing. You can find canned yerba mate tea from the Guaiaki brand. Again, it's not the one you…

>People who know Mexican Spanish may not be able to understand your Spanish, especially the ones who didn't learn Spanish as a first language.

I think this is an exaggeration(Like saying a Brit can't understand an American or something). The meaning of some words may be different but to say they can't understand each other is a far stretch. Some countries still use the vosotros conjugation but I don't think that is going to be an issue.

Re: Ask HN: Moving to US from Argentina for college. Any advice for a newcomer?

#18

Post by P_I_Staker »

zeroego wrote: post #15
elmalto wrote: post #8

A few items: - The US system of credit cards is really weird. If you do not happen to have an American Express (which does cross-border), you should try to open up a credit card as soon as possible. Most likely with the bank that you use for checking accounts. Do not pay off the balance before it is due. Wait until the bill is finalized, then pay it within a day or two. Look up “credit score” and “how to build credit…

> as you said tipping is mandatory. 18% is the lower limit. Just out of curiosity, where do you live? I've worked front of house at many different restaurants in an expensive city on the west coast, though this was 6 or 7 years ago. I was under the impression 10% was bare minimum, 15% was the next step up, and 20% was generous.

Less than 20% is a soft slap in the face in many places. More so, if it's less than 15%. Some people use other "systems" though, so they might not even be paying based on the number on the check. If the bill is overpriced that's often a reason people use to skimp on the "percentage".

Re: Ask HN: Moving to US from Argentina for college. Any advice for a newcomer?

#19

Post by zeroego »

elmalto wrote: post #16
zeroego wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> as you said tipping is mandatory. 18% is the lower limit. Just out of curiosity, where do you live? I've worked front of house at many different restaurants in an expensive city on the west coast, though this was 6 or 7 years ago. I was under the impression 10% was bare minimum, 15% was the next step up, and 20% was generous.

NYC - could very well be a New York thing. Lived in Vancouver before where it was 15% so I assumed it was roughly the same everywhere

Thanks for the response! It is interesting how it differs in different parts of the country. Personally when I'm at a sit down restaurant I usually do 20% as the math is easier.

Re: Ask HN: Moving to US from Argentina for college. Any advice for a newcomer?

#20

Post by lhorie »

riversflow wrote: post #12
alamortsubite wrote: post #7

You can sometimes find yerba in Hispanic supermarkets, but the best place to get it is usually on Amazon. It costs about $10 (US) per kilo here. Relatively speaking, wine is very expensive, too. People's notion of promptness as it pertains to social functions may be different than what you're used to. If you're going to a party, show up an hour or so after the indicated starting time, but if you're meeting with a few…

PDAs are frowned upon in the US? huh. This is news to me and I’m almost 30.

I don't recall about the specifics in Argentina, but in Brazil, it's customary to greet females by touching cheeks with them and making a kiss sound. It would most definitely be very awkward if you (as a male) attempted to do it to a female american friend.

Generally speaking, americans tend to be less touchy-feely. For example, it's common for close asian male friends to wrap arms around each other while standing side by side, whereas in US this act has a homosexual connotation.

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