Meanwhile on the western front

[pvaneynd]

So I got send at fairly short notice to follow a training in the states.

The flight here was reasonably uneventful, the car drive however... Some notes:

• being use to a manual gearbox I tend to slam down on the clutch when I need to slow down the car a bit. Of course I got an automatic, so what do I slam? The brakes of course :-(. I was lucky at Logan that there was nobody behind me...
• you do need cash for the tunnels when leaving Logan airport with a rental car, paying with a card is not an option. Guess who didn't have dollars on him...
• the waiters are still as active as before. I'm used to getting ignored by waiters, not being asked if everything if fine every 5 seconds...
• I keep forgetting about 'tipping'
• somehow all the locals are talking about some sports event, but I fail to see the importance. It is strange how people seem willing to discuss sports, but avoid politics as a deadly taboo.
• while searching an ATM I drove round 'known' places in Cambridge.

I should stay up later, it's only 20:00 local time, but my body still thinks it is 02:00 so I'm off to bed.

Comments

[ppaeps.livejournal.com]

I'm in the west too - even further west, actually (Vancouver). And - oh gods - does the tipping drive me nuts! It's a ridiculous system. Why can't they just pay these people? It would also solve the problem of them reminding you of their existence and their desire to earn a tip by asking you if everything is fine.

Luckily in Canada, the tip is fairly easy to calculate: add the taxes on the bill and round up or down depending on the quality of service to a nice number.

Other than the tipping insanity (and the shocking helpfulness and politeness at times) I love North America though.

Have fun in Boston!

[(Anonymous)]

Auto gearbox tip : strap your left leg to the door, bend the knee, that way you wont slam the breaks ;)