158 - Moving Across the U.S. with Lucas

Music

In this section, Shauna introduces the American English podcast and its goal of teaching English spoken in the United States through common expressions, pronunciation tips, and cultural stories.

Introduction to the Podcast

• The podcast aims to teach American English through common expressions, pronunciation tips, and cultural stories.

• Shauna's goal is to make learning fun, useful, and interesting for listeners.

• The focus is on English as spoken in the United States.

Lucas' Moving Adventure

Lucas joins Shauna on the podcast to discuss their recent move from California to North Carolina using a U-Haul truck.

Moving Across Country

• Lucas reflects on their previous episode about getting a green card.

• They recently moved from California (west coast) to North Carolina (east coast), covering approximately 2,300 miles.

• A friend from Brazil helped drive a U-Haul truck during the move.

U-Haul Experience

The discussion delves into the differences between moving in the United States with U-Haul compared to other countries like Brazil.

U-Haul vs. Other Countries

• In the US, renting a U-Haul allows individuals to drive the truck themselves, unlike in some countries where drivers are provided.

• Renting a giant 26 ft truck made their move an adventure.

• Pricing for U-Haul varies based on mileage and days rented.

Costs and Logistics

The conversation shifts towards discussing costs associated with transporting belongings across states using services like U-Haul.

Transportation Costs

• Pricing for transporting belongings is based on mileage and rental duration.

• They paid $5,000 for driving up to 2,500 miles over eight days.

• Additional charges apply if you exceed the allotted mileage or rental period.

Challenges of Driving a Large Truck

Lucas shares his experience of driving a 26-foot long truck during their cross-country move.

Driving Challenges

• Driving a large truck can be intimidating due to its size and maneuverability.

• Previous experience with a smaller truck helped navigate challenges during this move.

• Choosing less mountainous routes can make driving such trucks easier and safer.

Road Trip Across the United States

The speaker discusses the route for a road trip across the United States, highlighting the simplicity of navigating highways and the diverse landscapes encountered along the journey.

Route Details

• The route involves taking Highway 10, then Highway 20, followed by Highway 30 and 40, passing through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, and Tennessee. -

• Emphasizes that the route is flat with no mountains or snow, making it ideal for trucks. Suggests an alternate scenic route through Colorado when traveling back unloaded. -

• Mentions "Road Trip USA" website offering various routes across the US from South Pacific to Great Northern routes. Encourages research on different routes for unique experiences. -

Exploring Cities Along the Route

The conversation shifts towards observations about cities along the road trip route and how each state offers distinct attractions and cultural experiences.

City Exploration

• Describes initial states (Arizona, New Mexico, Texas) as dry and flat but mentions surprising massive cities like Little Rock in Arkansas and Albuquerque in New Mexico. -

• Highlights diverse city features such as casinos, stadiums, and parks in unexpected locations like Texas and New Mexico. Emphasizes that each state has something unique to offer travelers. -

Cultural Contrasts Across States

The discussion delves into differences between states beyond landscapes, focusing on varying state laws, cultural experiences, hospitality norms especially in Southern states.

State Contrasts

• Points out variations in state laws such as regulations on marijuana or casino access differing across state borders. Discusses enriching cultural experiences transitioning between states during a road trip. -

• Reflects on notable contrasts in hospitality norms particularly evident in Southern states where friendliness prompts self-reflection on personal interactions. Acknowledges regional differences shaping individual dispositions during travel encounters. -

Food Experiences Along the Journey

The dialogue explores culinary adventures during the road trip including regional specialties like barbecue in Texas and fried chicken in Arkansas.

Culinary Delights

• Recounts food highlights along different states visited including Mexican cuisine near Mexico border and iconic barbecue experience in Texas featuring brisket cooked low-and-slow for tender texture with classic sides like beans and macaroni cheese. -

Food and Impressions Along the Route

The discussion revolves around the experience of exploring different restaurants and landscapes while traveling across various states in the United States, particularly focusing on the impressions of a visitor from Brazil.

Exploring Different Landscapes

• The guest from Brazil was impressed by the diverse landscapes along the route, especially noting the classic desert scenery between Arizona and Texas with tumbleweeds reminiscent of cartoons.

• The Brazilian visitor found the desert landscapes in certain spots, including cacti, tumbleweeds, red mountains, and rock formations, to be strikingly similar to what they had previously perceived as imaginative or exaggerated scenes.

Contrasting Environments

• The transition from deserts to regions abundant with trees like Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina was notable for its tall pine and oak trees vastly different from those in Brazil.

• The Brazilian visitor found it fascinating to witness seasons with bare trees in contrast to Brazil's evergreen environment, highlighting a new visual experience.

Impressions of Appalachian Mountains

Delving into the significance of Appalachian Mountains and how pronunciation reflects regional identity.

Appalachian Mountains Experience

• Upon arriving in North Carolina near the Appalachian Mountains range, there was an emphasis on pronouncing "Appalachian" correctly as "appalachin" to align with local customs and avoid being considered ignorant.

• Observations were made about seeing leafless trees during fall in North Carolina as a stark contrast for Brazilians accustomed to evergreen surroundings.

Great Smoky Mountain National Park

Discussing the beauty of Great Smoky Mountain National Park compared to other renowned national parks.

Natural Beauty Comparison

• Highlighting Great Smoky Mountain National Park as a top-ranking national park in the United States despite being lesser-known compared to Yellowstone or Yosemite.

Moving to North Carolina

In this section, the speakers discuss the reasons behind their move to North Carolina, highlighting geographical advantages and lifestyle preferences.

Reasons for Moving

• The move was influenced by the convenience of shorter travel distances. Traveling from LA to Miami felt like traveling abroad due to the distance, while from North Carolina, it is only an hour and 20 minutes to Miami and New York.

• Geographical factors played a significant role in the decision. North Carolina's proximity to music cities like Atlanta and Nashville, as well as its accessibility to LA and Brazil, made it an appealing choice. Additionally, the desire for a nature-centric lifestyle with more hiking opportunities influenced their decision.

Attraction to Asheville

• Asheville's appeal lies in its artistic and cultural vibrancy reminiscent of Berlin in the '90s. Surrounded by mountains and waterfalls, Asheville offers a unique blend of arts, music scenes, breweries, and natural beauty.

• Highlights of Asheville include over 40 breweries, 150 waterfalls within a 50-mile radius, a thriving food scene with diverse restaurants drawing visitors even from distant locations like Nashville.

Asheville's Artistic Vibe

This section delves into Asheville's artistic community and vibrant cultural scene.

Artistic Community

• Asheville is described as an artsy city akin to Berlin in its earlier days. The prevalence of musicians and artists contributes to its creative atmosphere.

• The Arts River Arts District stands out as a hub for creativity with art studios transforming abandoned warehouses into vibrant spaces for various art forms such as sculpting, painting, ceramics, and murals.

Cost of Living Comparison

Here the speakers compare living costs between Los Angeles and North Carolina.

Cost Discrepancy

• In Los Angeles, monthly expenses exceeded $4,000 just for rent in a modest location. Childcare costs were notably higher compared to North Carolina.

• Moving away from LA was driven by cost considerations; while LA offered certain amenities like access to music scenes, other regions in the US provide similar attractions at more affordable rates.

Moving Tips

Practical advice on moving preparations is shared here.

Moving Advice

• Sourcing boxes from places like Home Depot or online marketplaces can be cost-effective. Reusing boxes or obtaining them for free can help reduce moving expenses.

Moves and Packing Tips

The speaker discusses the importance of securing items during a move to prevent damage. They emphasize the need for proper packing and hiring help to ensure a smooth relocation process.

Packing Advice

• Emphasizes the significance of securing belongings tightly during a move to avoid damage.

• Suggests setting a driving goal of 7 to 8 hours, stopping at hotels, and not overexerting oneself, especially at night.

• Highlights the significant cost difference in gas prices between states during a move.

• Recommends utilizing USPS services for address changes to ensure mail forwarding at minimal cost.

• Encourages taking breaks during long drives to appreciate different states' uniqueness and enhance the travel experience.

Closing Remarks and Podcast Promotion

The speaker concludes by thanking the host for having them on the show. They also promote their podcast, emphasizing its goal of improving listening comprehension and American English speaking skills.

Final Thoughts

• Expresses gratitude for being on the show and bids farewell until next time.