6. Personal safety

The crime rate may be quite different in different towns and cities and in different areas of one and the same city. In small towns there is often practically no crime. In big cities some areas may be very safe, some may be relatively safe while some others may be dangerous and even very dangerous. That is why when you come to a new city, one of your first concerns should be to ask your friends, colleagues, people of your acquaintance, or just a hotel receptionist what areas and at what time of the day can be safely visited. Americans never show reluctance in answering such questions since personal safety is highly valued. You will usually be informed in great detail what areas can be safely visited day and night, where you had better go only in the daytime, and where it is better not to go at all. It should be remembered that in many cities the downtown area is mainly occupied by businesses and few people actually live there. So, if it is safe during business hours, it becomes quite dangerous after closing time when all the people who work in the area leave it to go home. Then the downtown becomes quite deserted and sinister (зловіщий) with not a few suspect and frightening figures roaming around. So, it is better to keep out of it after 6 PM.

In general, residing in a big city, several safety rules should be observed at all times:

1. Never leave your room, apartment, house, or car with doors and windows locked;

2. Never go for a walk in deserted public places (like parks) after dark;

3. Never carry large sums of money or valuables with you;

4. Do not resist robbers or muggers;

5. If you are driving a car, never pick hitchhikers;

6. Do not leave keys in the ignition in your car or packages visible there;

7. Keep your money and valuables in the bank and if you are on a trip, in a safe deposit box at your hotel.

These simple rules will help you to be safe and enjoy America as it deserves.

7. Some useful information: facts

Time in the Eastern part of the United States is five hours earlier than Greenwich Mean Time and seven hours earlier than in Ukraine. Moving further West the country is divided into four time zones (Eastern Time, Central Time, Mountain Time, Pacific Time) - so that time in California is four hours earlier than in the states of New York or Massachusetts. Just as in this country, in April clocks are advanced one hour (Daylight Saving Time during summer months). In October they are moved back to standard time. It is said that clocks “spring forward” in the spring and “fall back” in the fall³⁶.

Electricity and TV systems in the United States are quite different from the European systems. Electricity is produced only at 110 Volts so that there is no other way to ensure functioning of European appliances designed for 220 Volts but using a special transformer. The TV color system is neither PAL nor SECAM as in Europe but a specific American system called N.T.S.C. It means that if you buy a standard American videocassette designed to be watched over an American TV-set, it will not show anything in Europe. You should ask for PAL videocassettes made for European visitors.

Weights and measures in the United States are not metric, and you will never hear people speaking of kilograms, kilometers, or liters but only pounds, miles, and pints. The temperature is measured in Fahrenheit and not in Centigrade though nowadays you can frequently hear it quoted over the XV or radio both in Fahrenheit and in Centigrade (F=9/5C + 32).