Settling in feels great, doesn’t it? There’s a comfortable feeling of being at home, and a big part of the fun is just to scope out the neighborhood. There are plenty of fun places to discover, but it’s great to know that there are lots of places nearby that can help you with just about anything you may need. Maybe you’re thinking, “The first thing I need to do is write home.” We agree! You miss family and friends, and they miss you. (Well, we hope they do.) It’s time for a long letter with the latest scoop and all the gossip about your new life in the United States. Hmm. But how does the letter get from your table to the table far away in your home country?
The U.S. Post Office can get the job done! Mail is reliable in the United States, and it’s inexpensive and convenient. There’s a central location in most apartment complexes for individual mailboxes. The postal worker will put the letters in your box and leave parcels in a safe place. You can pick up your mail here, and there’s a place to leave mail that’s going out. In some neighborhoods, there’s a special large metal container where you can drop off mail. Pickups of that mail are scheduled at regular times during the day.
If you live in a house, you probably have your own mailbox next to the street. You can leave your outgoing mail there, but be sure to put up the little flag. That’s the signal to the mail carrier that there’s something to collect. In a larger city, there will just be a slot in your front door. The mailman will put your mail into the slot. Let’s hope your little dog friend, Rover, doesn’t think it’s lunch!
Be sure to have the proper postage on the envelope, or the post office will return it to you, marked “Return to Sender. Insufficient Postage.” (Don’t forget to include a return address on the envelope.) If you don’t have stamps, or if you want to mail a package, you’ll need to head to the post office. The worker will weigh your parcel and give you several mailing choices. Regular mail is pretty speedy in the United States, but you may want to be sure that something will arrive quickly. You can choose Priority Mail, which usually arrives within the United States in three to four days. Express Mail will get your letter or package to a U.S. recipient the very next day, but this can be pretty expensive. You’ll be able to choose to insure the mail and to get notices about its delivery.
While you’re out on the post office errand, plan to stop at the local library. It’s not just about books, although you can find anything at all that you want to read. It doesn’t cost anything to get a library card, and you’ll be able to check out as many books as you want for free. You’ll need to return the books by the due date, or you’ll pay a small fine. This fine increases every day the book is late, so it can add up pretty quickly. If you want a book that isn’t checked in, you can reserve a copy, and the librarian will notify you when it comes in. By the way, you can also just relax with the newspaper and a cup of coffee; many libraries have small cafés. And check out the DVDs, videos, music CDs, and audiobooks, so you have plenty to listen to on those long commutes! You’ll be amazed at the cool things happening at the library. There are classes for just about any interest you may have: managing your money, knitting, learning computer skills, and starting art projects. Of course, there are book discussion groups for all types of books and Story Hours for the kids. And most libraries in most towns offer English classes for practice and conversation. These classes are almost always free. Cool!
Don’t forget your local town hall or municipal building as another great resource for information. At the municipal building, you can view everything from airplane flight plans that might affect your neighborhood to property limits and zoning requirements. You can learn about any town ordinances you may need to know. If you want to put up a fence or build a deck, you’ll need to get a permit. There are rules and building codes about where you can put additions and rules about how big they can be. You’ll have to pay for a permit, but it’s better than paying a stiff fine for not getting one!
ALAN: Hey, Lia, that’s a pretty big parcel you have. Can I give you a hand? Where are you going?
LIA: Thanks, Alan. Actually, it’s not that heavy, just a little bulky. I’m sending some American jeans home to my sister, so I’m headed to the post office. I thought it was on this block. Can you tell me where it is?
ALAN: Oh, it’s not far. It’s right around the block. Go to that corner and make a right. When you get to the crosswalk, cross the street. You’ll see the post office in the middle of the next block. You can’t miss it; you’ll see the Stars and Stripes hanging over the entrance.
LIA: Hey, thanks. By the way, where are you headed? If you’re not busy, would you like to grab a quick bite somewhere?
ALAN: Great idea! I’m on my way to the library, and there’s a nice café in the lobby. We could have a quick bite or some coffee and then see what new magazines have arrived. They usually put the new ones on the table near the sofa. I also want to find out about the new English conversation class that’s starting this week. It meets once a week, and I figure it’s a great way to meet new friends while I practice English.
LIA: English classes? This week? Count me in! I didn’t know the library was in this neighborhood. How do we get there?
ALAN: It’s just two blocks from the post office, between the bank and the drugstore. We cross the avenue and then turn left. That’s about a five-minute walk from here.
LIA: Let’s go!
Tip 1 |
If you have a skill or hobby, your library wants you! Local libraries offer lots of classes, and they are always happy to find volunteers who will teach their hobbies to others. |
Tip 2 |
Be sure to find out if you need a license to own a pet in your town. Sometimes there is a limit on how many dogs or cats you can have. There are also noise ordinances, so if your pets (or your parties!) make a lot of noise after a certain time, you may get a visit from the code enforcement people. |
Pronunciation Pointer
Library is a tricky word to pronounce. It sure seems like there are a lot of r’s in that word, and we should hear them both! The word sounds like lie-brerry.
Fun Fact!
In the Batman comic books, Batgirl was a librarian. We bet she didn’t have to tell the kids to shhhh! more than once.
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VOCABULARY
add up: get more expensive
additions: structures that you add to your house
amazed: very surprised
apartment complexes: groups of apartment buildings
at home: feeling comfortable, as if at home
audiobooks: books you can listen to
building code: rules about how something may be built, for example, materials and size
bulky: big and a little hard to manage, but not necessarily heavy in weight
central location: a place convenient to most people
checked in: available on the shelf
check out: sign out a book or other material with your library card
code enforcement person: someone from the town whose job is to handle complaints about anyone not following the town ordinances
commute: trip to work
corner: where two blocks meet
count me in: I want to be included!
crosswalk: a specially marked area to cross the street at a corner
deck: an open structure outside a house
drop off: leave something or someone at a place
due date: when you must bring the book back
figure: believe; think
flight plans: if an airport schedules planes to fly over your neighborhood
give someone a hand: help someone
gossip: exciting or surprising information, often about other people
grab a quick bite: have a quick, casual small meal or snack
hobby: something that you like to do in your free time
insufficient: not enough
insure: pay for a service that will pay you for the package if it is lost
librarian: the library worker
lobby: large open area before the main room
make a right: turn right
miss: feel sad to be without someone or something
municipal building (also called town hall): building where the town or city offices are
once: one time
on my way: headed for, going to
ordinances: rules about noise and pets in a neighborhood
parcel: package
permit: a document allowing you to build something
pick up (verb; two words): collect; gather
pickup: (noun; one word): process of collecting something
postage: the stamps needed to mail something
Priority Mail, Express Mail: two fast delivery options that cost extra
put up: build
reliable: efficient; dependable
reserve: have the library save the book for you when it comes in
return address: your name and address, which you put in the upper left corner of the envelope
scoop: information
scope out: explore; find out about things
settling in (also settling down): getting used to your new place; getting comfortable
signal: a sign
slot: a small opening, usually in machines, that will accept a letter or a coin
speedy: fast
stamps: postage in different denominations
Stars and Stripes: an informal name for the American flag (Can you guess why?)
stiff: harsh, extreme
Story Hour: a time (usually at a library) when children may come to hear a story read to them
write home: send a letter home
you can’t miss it: it’s obvious, very clear to see
zoning requirements: rules about what you can build on your property
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