Fine, thanks.
     The same question and answer 20 times a day.

     I arrived in the US six months ago. Before I came here, I thought everything is different. OK, there is a lot of difference between the US and the Old Continent, but I'm not aware of it anymore. I became used to go everywhere by car, I pay on credit card and sign checks for rent, electrical energy, telephone, credit card bill,..., because there is hardly any alternative to it. Some things are really old-fashioned in this country with the most advanced economy. In the meanwhile I'm able to understand most of the Americans (Better than the British people!). English speaking is still difficult, especially none-technical English. I've learned a lot, e.g. in the restaurant I don't say "I take the steak" anymore, I now know that I have order by "I'll have the steak." - You see the way I speak has changed, but what I eat is still the same;-). And I really like the spell checker of Microsoft Outlook.
I realized that the American Dream of past times is over. Maybe thirty years ago, the US were fascinating, but today my personal impression is, that there is very little that is better than in Austria, or Germany, ... Most of the food is worse than back home. OK, in pricey restaurants you can get great food. Flying is not cheaper than in Europe, but gas is still much cheaper (approx. 0.4 EURO / l). You can get everything, but the quality of goods and work is minor. E.g. in my bathroom cold and hot water is exchanged. If you ask the responsible person to do something for you and she or he answers: "I'll take care of that." In most cases it means "I will forget this, unless you remember me again."
I don't believe that there is more personal freedom here than in Europe. Ok, you can buy a weapon, but on the other hand alcohol is very restricted (no alcohol in public parks, at the beach, or below 21). It's nice that government takes care, that people don't drink, but why is everybody allowed to ride a motorcycle without a helmet? Or why is it forbidden to sleep in my own car in the middle of nowhere on a none-private place? There are a lot of things I don't understand, but it seems that I'm not the only person who is wondering: Why is there a Bush, when everybody dislikes him?
Sometimes I feel like on permanent holidays. I have a lot of freedom at my job, as long as I do my 40 hours a week and I achieve some results from time to time. My tasks are interesting, but nobody forces me to work overtime. Actually I think I work less than back in Austria. 
If I get up in the morning (Not earlier than I used to get up in Vienna!), I can look out of the window and can see a lake, palm trees and green grass, although I live in the middle of the town. On the weekends I have plenty of time to explore the country, yesterday e.g. I did a kayak tour in the Everglades with some colleagues. 
Maybe this summary after six months in the US sounds a little bit frustrated, but I'm not really frustrated. It's maybe, because I lived in Vienna for more than 10 years and now I sometimes tend to "raunzen". 
It's nice to live here for a certain time and make some nice experiences, but in the moment I can not imagine to live here forever.
 

Red Ribbon Ride

Friday, Apr 20, 2001

     Originally Ken and Kuno - both colleagues from Optisphere wanted to do the Red Ribbon Ride. To be allowed to start, each rider had to raise a minimum of $ 1350 for AIDS organizations. I thought that's impossible, but Kuno and Ken did it. Unfortunately Kuno become sick, just two days before the ride. He asked me if I would like to substitute him. I haven't been bicycling since 3 months, but I wanted to try it. Kuno lend me his bike. It was Ok, only the seat was a little bit too low. I wanted to get a longer stamp, but at bike shop they didn't have one, so I bought a new Mountain Bike. With a credit card it's so easy to buy things whenever you want. On Thursday evening Ken and I went to Orlando. There we had to sign some papers and wavers. We had to attend a 25min safety instruction where they told us how to ride a bike. Without these safety instructions you are not allowed to take part in the Red Ribbon Ride. After a good steak and a lot of rain we went to bed. 
The weather forecast for next day promised some thunderstorms with lightning and wind from the front. Because of safety concerns we where not allowed to ride our bikes on Friday morning. We were bused and so 70 miles of the first day were cut away. 
Saturday brought a windy 100-mile trip. In the night thunderstorms sent us out of our tents and most of us moved their tents to higher ground. Sunday was a sunny day with about 80 miles. 
The support crew was immense. I think there were twice the people for support than on the bike. Every 20 miles we got something to eat at the pit stops and a lot of people were cheering. Also on the road there were some messages like: "You're doing great!" and "You are a hero" or in front of the drawbridges (the only short uphills) there was always some messages. You didn't have to think very much. Everything was written on the road: "Don't forget to drink!" or "Take care of the traffic." 
So most of us finally arrived in Hollywood, not in California, but there is also a small Hollywood near Miami. 

There was also a report in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. 
Maybe you want to see more photos than I took. 
 

Zweite Woche

Saturday, Jan 20, 2001

     Letztes Wochenende sah ich in den Everglades - aus sicherer Entfernung - den ersten Alligator. Die Everglades sind eine grosse, wunderschöne, unberuhrte Landschaft im Hinterland von Florida. Man kann dort auf mehreren Strassen meilenlang durch Sumpfgbiete fahren. An einigen Stellen lassen die Amis ihre Boote ins Wasser, um dann auf den Kanälen herumzuschippern und zu angeln.
Nachdem ich nun nach einigen Muhen endlich eine Autoversicherung habe, durfte ich am Freitag mein Auto abholen. Da ich voher kein Auto besass und daher keinen "Good Driving Letter" hatte, war alles ein wenig kompliziert. Meinen Autohändler Michael Lahage kann ich guten Gewissens weiterempfehlen. Manchmal redet er ein wenig viel, ist sehr sympatisch und hilfsbereit.
Angeblich haben die Amis meist mehrere Jobs, um ihren Lebensunterhalt zu verdienen. Ich habe jetzt auch schon einen zusätzlichen Teilzeitjob (zumindest einmal) angenommen. - Babysitter von Patrick und Anna, die Kinder von einem österreichischen Arbeitskollegen. Während die Eltern im Konzert waren, durfte ich mit den Kindern Eisenbahn spielen, japanische Comics anschauen,... Ich freute mich schon auf einen ruhigen Fernsehabend mit 200 Programmen, wenn die Kinder schlafen. Leider klappte das mit dem ruhigen Fernsehabend nicht auf Anhieb, weil Patrick nicht ohne seine Mutter einschlafen kann. Irgendwann hat die Mudigkeit dann doch gesiegt, und ich konnte beruhigt herumzappen.

     Am 31. Dezember 2000 haben meine Fusse den amerikanischen Boden beruhrt. Seit 2. Jänner arbeite ich bei Optisphere, Inc. - A Siemens Company im cubical J17-73. Die meisten Arbeitskollegen kommen aus Deutschland, einige habe ich schon vorher persönlich, bzw. vom Telefon gekannt. Irgendwie kommt in der Firma wenig richtige Amerikastimmung auf, weil "Man spricht deutsch." Mit mir haben noch ca. 5 andere Siemensianer aus Deutschland, österreich und Brasilien angefangen, alle ungefähr mein Alter oder ein wenig älter. Da ist man dann nicht so alleine mit seinen Problemen beim Beantragen der Social Security Number, Bankkonto eroeffnen, ... Am ersten Sonntag in Amerika habe ich mich durchringen können - zum ersten Mal in meinem Leben - ein eigenes Auto zu kaufen. Nach 3 Stunden habe ich mich fur einen kleinen gebrauchten SUV (sport utility vehicle) entschieden. SUV sind hier ziemlich in.
Seit dem 11. Jänner fuhle ich mich richtig amerikanisch. Das war der Tag, an dem ich meine Kreditkarte von der Bank of America bekommen habe. Jetzt steht mir die Welt offen.
Mit meiner Unterkunft bin ich noch nicht so glucklich. Annie (Vermieterin), Jing und ich wohnen in einem netten Appartment mit Seeblick, aber leider ist mein Zimmer ziemlich klein geraten (ca. 12-15qm). Ich werde dort nur bis Ende März bleiben, und mir dann eigenes Appartement suchen. Ab dann sind alle potentiellen Floridabesucher herzlich eingeladen. Hier Möbel zu kaufen, ist fur europäischen Geschmack nicht ganz einfach. Von dem was ich mir bisher angeschaut habe, hat mir ausser in einem Geschäft mit europäischen Designermöbeln, nichts wirklich gefallen. Das schaut hier alles so aus, wie damals bei der Fernsehserie Dallas. ICh habe den interessanten Tip bekommen, dass man bei Ikea telefonisch bestellen kann, und einem die Ware dann gegen einen geringen Aufpreis geliefert wird.

USA:

    + Cherry7up
    + Free coffee and tea at Optisphere
    + Drive through mailbox
    + Relaxed driving
    + Right turn on red

    - PSCRIPT Page Separator
    - High humidity


Europe: