[jg18]

NYC is a ****ty place to visit but a pretty great place to live (if you can afford it.)

That was the impression I came away with, but a lot of other people I've spoken to who've vistited absolutely froth over the place, so YMMV.

I actually feel nearly the opposite way, and that's after living in Manhattan for a summer. I think it was too much "city" for this country bumpkin so I'd rather visit than live there again but as BW said, YMMV.

[Dilmah G]

*long and helpful post*

Man, thanks so much for typing that out! I'll sort out my travel itinerary closer to the date, but a fake ID (I'm 19 ATM) and budgeting about $12-$15k for the year is what I'm planning on at the moment. Buying cheap winter clothes over there is pretty sweet too, I just spent SEVENTY DOLLARS this morning on a jacket. 

But I mean, cheap booze, AFL, plenty of **** to see, and yanks to regale with stories of wrestling drop bears off my back during hikes through the Australian outback? I'm keeeeen.

NYC is a ****ty place to visit but a pretty great place to live (if you can afford it.) Drop by

T'is on the to do list man. Will keep the gangster shenanigans to a minimum.

If you ever end up in Orange County, California, I'd love to hang out and grab a beer or two.  Yes, I have to specify state here because there's an Orange County in Florida as well.  Apparently people like to name their counties after their fruit farming industries.

Mate, if I end up making it to Cali I'd love to. Just going to hope that I don't encounter a navigation fail and end up in Florida...

Heh, it's always fun reading an outside perspective like that.  I didn't realize our clothing was that much cheaper for one, though I guess when you have the behemoth that's Wal-Mart throwing its bloat around, that's to be expected.

But yeah Dilmah, if you do want more info on some of the more mundane everyday stuff that BW touched on, ask away.  I'll agree that depending on which school of those you wind up at, it can get pretty freaking cold in the winter (especially in Michigan), so be prepared for that sort of thing if you're not used to it.  And it probably goes without saying, but don't forget about the seasonal flip-flop.

Thanks man. Will definitely ask away if I need to. I'll try and fill out the bulk of my exchange app this weekend, which is when I'll be momentarily free of assignments. It may result in more questions, so stay tuned!

oh, and one more bit of cultural advice, "thongs" are NOT shoes over here.  keep that in mind when asking for help at the store. 

Man, I'm gonna be offending a lot of people if/when I get over there.

But Perihelion, Jesus...that sounds pretty bad. I'm Arts/Commerce but I'll be sure to tread lightly if I get accepted to Illinois.

[LHN91]

Now see, if you were to swing up to Canada you wouldn't need the fake ID! Now unfortunately I'm about 2-4 hours from the Michigan border up in Guelph (Or alternatively near Niagara Falls if I'm down at my parents) which might be a tad bit too far to bother with.

[Dilmah G]

I dunno about that man, I'd like to maximise the exposure I get of Northern America in my year of being there (hopefully), I'll see if I can give you a visit! Plus I've always really wanted to go to Canada, and you guys have plenty of people of Sri Lankan descent near Toronto don't you? I'm also of Sri Lankan descent, if that wasn't glaringly apparent.

[Dilmah G]

Fellas!

I just got my letter of offer for Willamette, for all of next year.

[AtomicClucker]

Grats.

[Black Wolf]

Good luck! Do WA proud! And show the yanks how to drink.

[swashmebuckle]

Hey, I almost went to Willamette. Good job Dilmah, have fun!

[Dilmah G]

I shall! A quick google made Willamette seem like a dryi-ish campus though, can anyone confirm/deny? I'll definitely save up for a HLP US road-trip during the Spring break though.

[Hobbie]

Son, with us Australians around there is no such thing as a dry campus.

[MP-Ryan]

I shall! A quick google made Willamette seem like a dryi-ish campus though, can anyone confirm/deny? I'll definitely save up for a HLP US road-trip during the Spring break though.

Not that it's usually that much of a problem, but a reminder that the drinking age in the US is 21 =)

[Dilmah G]

I know, and that's the problem! I was thinking a fake ID might be a good investment, especially as I doubt anyone around knows what a real Western Australian driver's license looks like anyway. Not sure if it's worth it though, what are people's opinions?

Son, with us Australians around there is no such thing as a dry campus.

Indeed. 

[MP-Ryan]

I know, and that's the problem! I was thinking a fake ID might be a good investment, especially as I doubt anyone around knows what a real Western Australian driver's license looks like anyway. Not sure if it's worth it though, what are people's opinions?

False identification in the possession of a non-resident alien on a visa in the United States is a SPECTACULARLY bad idea.  Unless you like the sound of the words "deportation hearing."  In my not-inconsiderable experience, the American Immigration authorities do not **** around.

[The E]

Yeah, I don't think you should get into blatantly illegal stuff like that, not with the US in full-on imperial paranoia mode right now.

[Scotty]

If you have to drink, don't do it in public.  Seriously.  It's a bad idea.

[Dilmah G]

Hmm, this is fair enough. Cheers for the heads up, I probably won't do that in that case. What do you guys do for fun in college if you can't legally drink?

[The E]

Probably get someone who can get the stuff to, errr, get the stuff?

(Seriously though, I dunno, I don't do alcohol)

[Polpolion]

What do you guys do for fun in college if you can't legally drink?

I'm sorry but this sounds really sad.

[Dilmah G]

I'm Australian - alcohol is not a beverage, it's a vocation.

But seriously. It sounded a bit worse than I meant it to, I'm keen to get into some sport and get my social activist on at Willamette, but bars/pubs/clubs are a big part of my life here (and of everyone else's my age) in Aus and you guys not being into that isn't something that I expected. Should I assume that college social life consists of a lot of house parties, gatherings, and sporting events in its absence? I'm also geared up to compete in a novice Powerlifting competition this November in Aus before I go. It'd be cool to compete in the US too if I could, but I don't know how many of us around 'ere parts lift heavy things regularly.

Probably get someone who can get the stuff to, errr, get the stuff?

(Seriously though, I dunno, I don't do alcohol)

Jesus, this sounds like high school! And I didn't do alcohol in high school either!

[TwentyPercentCooler]

For the most part, at least in my experience, everyone drinks. Even high schoolers party pretty hard, at least where I live. Basically, just don't HOST parties. When/if the cops come to break them up, they usually just send everyone home and ticket the host(s), as long as the party didn't get completely out of hand and start a riot/burn down a house/etc.

Oh yeah, and what Nuke said. Don't drink cheap American beer, it's piss water. There IS quite a lot of good craft beer around, though.