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!

Pronunciation Pointer

Fun Fact!

VOCABULARY