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The Driving Test Mystery

Everybody knows, no matter where you come from, that driving is not an issue here in the States. All it takes is a driver's license :)  

   Getting a driver's license is relatively easy (with minor exceptions, as you are about to learn).

   So, to start things off, you download the Driver's Manual from the web-site of your local DMV (that's Department of Motor Vehicles). It's free, explicitly detailed and comprehensible. To learn or not to learn is totally up to you. The bottom line is that you have to pass a written test on driving rules and regulations. In Nevada the test consists of 50 multiple choice questions. There is no time limit for the test. A waiting line to pass the written test was a surprise, though :) 

   If you are lucky (or smart ;) ) to pass the writing test, you will be issued an Instruction's Permit, which allows you to drive a car in the presence of an experienced driver with a valid license. The Permit is valid for 1 year during which you better pass your driving test and get the real driving license. 

   Oh, you'll love scheduling your driving! The DMV is open 8am to 5pm, which makes it fairly difficult to avoid being late for work on the day of the test. "Why not taking the test on Saturday?" - might occur to a logically-minded person. Unfortunately, you are not the only smart one around and Saturdays are all booked a month or more ahead... 

   Anyway, here is where the Bermuda Triangle mystery steps up. 

You have your driving test scheduled. But you have to show up with your car. It does not matter if the car belongs to you, your friend or your boss - you have to have a car for the test. 

   Now, look carefully: 

   1) I am a newcomer; I do not have close friends who would agree to give me their car.

   2) I am a newcomer, I do not have a valid driver's license yet and even if I buy a car - how in the world am I supposed to drive it to the DMV for the test without the license??? 

   Fun, huh?  That's exactly what I said. In a far less pleasing manner, though ;) 

Update: I came across a beautifully written post comparing DMVs in Ukraine and the US in real-life detail. I hope you will find it as amusing and INFORMATIVE as I myself did! 
http://lanos.com.ua/forum/index.php?/topic/35327-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0-%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B5/
   

Telephone Numbers Maze

   What is it about the telephone numbers here?

I mean how come I sign a contract with a mobile connection provider, buy a new number and very soon it turns out that my new number used to belong to someone else before me?!

   Why do I think it had belonged to someone else, you may ask? Well, because I keep receiving phone calls from various and numerous persons and entities at least once a day, asking for that other person. The worst thing is that all the callers require explanation, keep asking "Why?" and "How come?" and invariably require a new number to reach that other person. How should I know?! Don't get me wrong - I don't mind communication or helping people out when I get the chance. But 3 times a day? When I am at work? Having to repeat the same message word-by-word over and over? No, thank you.  

   So, what is this? Does it work the same way Fashion does? Is there a barrel at the end of the World where all the abandoned phone numbers pile up? And when the barrel is full, it is turned upside down, cracked open again and the old numbers are distributed among the craving ones? 

   For the suspicious ones, trust me - I am not the only victim of this system. My friends, members of my family - we all suffered from the same inconvenience... Very inconvenient :) 

   Back in Ukraine, the worst that could happen to your phone number was that someone dialed a wrong one and got through to you instead. Which is OK, right? We have all been there - no big deal.     

     Meanwhile, feels like I am being taught another lesson of patience :) 

Birth control in the US

One of the first (and luckily one of the very few) issues I have encountered here in the States is the unavailability of birth control. I do not mean condoms - those are as available as anywhere. Well, still not as much as back in Ukraine. There you can get them in ANY store, literally. 

I am talking about the pill. Though there is great variety of pills (just as back home), depending on the required hormones, preferred type, or whatever else, you need a prescription to get it. Now, hear me clear - a prescription from your gynecologist. Yes, to get your birth control pills. 

Look, I know my irritation may come as a surprise for the natives here. No offence. But this rule came as a surprise (NOT the most pleasant, you can trust me on this) for me, only 3 months after I had arrived to Las Vegas.  And let me explain why.   

In Ukraine, you do not need a prescription to get your birth control. Seriously. Walk in any drug-store and choose from behind the counter assortment. Your personal choice may depend on the price ($10 to $50 per 1 month supply), on the brand name, on the producer, on the hormones it contains, on the type of pills you prefer or on the color of the box. Totally up to you. And there is no limit per person per purchase, either. Nobody cares what you are buying! (concerning birth-control, do not generalize, please) 

Of course, any normal-minded and reasonable girl (such as myself) in need of birth control would first go and consult her OB/gyn on the matter and follow the doc's recommendations as to which pill to take. 

While here in the US buying the pill is a pain... First, you should find yourself an OB/gyn which is whole other story in itself, as you all know. Then you have to make an appointment and wait or it (for up to 2 weeks, if you unlucky). Then you get to meet the doc, take the prescription and pay for the visit. The bottom is that you have to pay for the prescription. Pay for a piece of paper! Not even for any service, really. This is insane...   

Oh yeah, almost forgot, there is always the matter of insurance, too. But that novel demands time and persistence to put to paper :) 

So, now do you see how much easier this matter in Ukraine is?  

All I want to say now is that after going through this process once, I got a prescription for the whole year! Now I am protected, supplied and not looking forward to the next ob/gyn visit. 

      

1 year in America

Hello everyone, 

It's been 1 year since I have moved to America from Ukraine. 

It has been a very exciting year, full of events and new experiences. Oh, all the experiences! 

And though my English has hardly improved, I feel it is time to switch to writing in English. 

Just to give the Americans (and anybody who would stumble over this blog) an idea of HOW much DIFFERENT it is living here :) 

Thank you for stopping by!
Enjoy your stay and I hope to see you back sometime ;)  

Озеро Las Vegas

Невада - это пустыня. Не как Сахара, а без песка. Каменистая пустыня. А вместо песчаных дюн (ну, как в фильмах "Star Wars", "Жемчужина Нила" или "Клеопатра") у нас горы. Ну, или хотя бы холмы.

Так вот представьте, среди этих холмов, в пустыне, далеко от центра Лас Вегаса, есть оазис, созданный руками человека. Точнее, руками множества подрядчиков :) 

Величественные сочно-зеленые  пальмы вдоль зеркального полотна дорорги без единой выбоины, четкие указатели с умом расположены на правильном расстоянии от поворотов, практически полное отсутствие встречных машин.

И эта, так сказать,  "дорога из желтого кирпича" ведет в сказочный среди-земноморский городок на берегу озера.

Ага, вот именно - ОЗЕРА! 

Озеро Las Vegas - это еще одно чудо техники и продукт наличия денег. Оно искусственное. Не в смысле пластиковой воды, а в смысле, что его на этом месте и в помине не было, пока кому-то не пришла светлая мысль его здесь создать.

И вырос оазис. С фешенебельным отелем,  казино, небольшими водопадами, кафе-шками, сувенирными магазинами и даже полянкой для пикников (!!). Это сказочное место называется деревней  Montelago.   

Однако, при всей очаровательности этого местечка и моей личной признательности создателям, есть кое-что, что не оставляет меня равнодушной на подъезде к Montelago Village. 

Понимаете, вся территория вокруг Lake Las Vegas  - абсолютно "другой мир". Во-первых, потому что все постройки и необычная для Невады зелёность кардинально диссонируют с окружающей пустыней. Ну, как океанский лайнер или пиратская каравелла посреди Сахары или джунглей Индии. А во-вторых, возникает чувство, что это мир для очень состоятельных людей, и это заставляет неловко ежиться :)  

Но все эти глупости сразу вылетают из головы, когда сидишь на траве на берегу озера!