As I just collected everyone last night safely from the airport, I thought I'd post some observations of what the Calenas' initial impression will be of the US. Maybe helpful to those waiting for the visas.
For these 2 calenas, this is their 1st time in the states, limited/no english. Their comments have been very similar to what I've seen before, and in this order from the airport to the house:
(1) Not a comment, but suggestion - if you will not be greeting them at the airport of US entry, make sure you indicate that they will need to find the appropriate baggage claim to exit the terminal so you can greet them, give them a good description of how to do this. My wife dropped the ball here - no big deal just 30 minutes of them wandering the terminal, but a bit dazzed and confused to say the least. You're not in Cali anymore gals!
(2) It's HOT!!! - and they don't believe me when I tell them that for Dallas, today's 95 (35) is a bit cool. I get to chuckle at their response when I warn them we'll likely see 40 celsius this month (learn your conversions, Fahrenheit means nothing too them and never will).
(3) It's BIG - again I chuckle when I inform them we haven't left the airport perimeter yet.
(4) Look at the cars, they're all NEW and BIG. (well not mine, I can move mountains in my subcompact and yakima racks - as witnessed by my current cargo)
(5) Where are the mountains! Sorry, y'all are SOL for that in Big D - get used to it.
(5) Wait a minute, we're in heavy traffic but there's no "motos" or buses? We don't like 'em.
(6) There's no potholes! Well, we're on a new toll road - I'll show you some later so you can feel at home.
(7) You skipped the toll plaza! I try to explain how the tolltag works. But what about the receipt? (you know, in Cali you've got to keep it). I give up.
(
Everything looks the same, there's nothing distinct! Well, we're cruising through relatively new suburbs - yeah, y'all have a point, it is kind of ugly.
(9) Look how nice those apartments are! Yup, and the ones we build here can even catch on fire, and often do (make 'em proud of their native construction techniques - it is better BTW).
(10) And those house over there, wow! Oh sh%t, they're pointing to some sub-average duplexes, are they going to be in for a shock momentarily.
(11) After settling in and the initial shock and awe wears, we need need a couple of grocery items - you can't just walk to the corner?
Now's your chance to lay down the ground rules - guys you have to do this quick, think of everything that you have in your home that is likely different from theirs - and how they can fu%k it up, like:
(a) The door. that's right, your door - see here in Big D we use it for many things, one of which is to keep air in the house at a certain temp.
(b) See this pull out strip here in the Dryer, you MUST remove the lint each time you use it!
(c) The thermostat - AW women can't fathom that by dropping it way low won't make it cool any quicker - what would you expect a latina to think. And plus gals - this 85 F mark means 29 C, and I don't hear y'all complaining in Cali at that temp.
- And that's just the beginning, good luck.
