English the American Way: A Fun ESL Guide to Language and Culture in the U.S. » Unit 13: Around Town
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. |
On, around, in, over, near, and between are all prepositions of place. They indicate where something is. Did you spot them in the dialogue?
on this block
around the block
in the middle of the next block
over the entrance
on the table
near the sofa
in this neighborhood
between the bank and the drugstore
The present continuous is used to talk about things happening at this moment. Use the verb to be and the ing form of the verb. We usually use the contractions, especially when speaking.
I am sending. (I’m sending.)
You are sending. (You’re sending.)
Note: Don’t be confused! Some books call this tense the present continuous, and some call it the present progressive. It’s the same tense!
There are tons of services available in every city and town to help you with any need. Sometimes it can be confusing to know how to find what you’re looking for. Most towns have a website you can check, but if you’re looking for that personal touch, the people at the local municipal offices can help. They know about all the services your town and county offer. Are you wondering about trash pickup? Town workers can tell you the schedule. And because the whole country is focusing more on recycling, towns are making it easy for residents by supplying special recycling containers. The Public Works Department is responsible for the care of all township property. Is there a pothole in your street? Call the department! Does your road flood in a heavy rain? Call the department! Do you need someone to take away all those piles of leaves you raked up? Call the department! Are you looking for parks and recreation? Call the department!
Oh, yeah, we all can use a little recreation. Take your pick! There are local jogging trails and nature paths. There are baseball fields and tennis courts. How about a picnic in the park while the kiddies are playing in the tot lot? Some parks even have a dog park. Yes, take your pooch along so he can play with his little doggie pals! Remember to take some poop bags. Owners need to clean up after their mutts.
Are you thinking about new activities with the neighbors? How about yoga? You can find boat safety classes and golf lessons. And most towns have special activities designed just for seniors. If someone you know is looking for bus trips and special crafts activities, just call your town office! You can even call the town for help with stray animals in the neighborhood or information about immunization shots for your cat. Count us out for that one—we’re dog people! :)
We’re not kidding when we say your town and county offices can help you find anything at all you need. Even the police department offers great tips on how to keep your home safe. If you’re going away (did somebody say vacation? Yay!), you can ask the police to drive by your street and keep an eye on things while you’re gone. Local government offices also provide special programs and services for seniors and people with disabilities. And if you’re wondering about how to register the kids for school, the town can direct you to the right school district. Back to school, kids! They’re waiting for you!
RECEPTIONIST: Hi. Welcome to Slumberton Township. Can I help you?
LIA: Thanks, yeah. I think I’ve got a big problem. Now that the nice weather is here, I’m spending more time outside in the yard. The other day I noticed a cat with a litter of kittens in the corner of the yard under a tree.
RECEPTIONIST: I love kittens! They’re so cute! Did you ask your neighbors if anyone is missing a cat?
LIA: Oh, I think kittens are cute, too. But I’m not crazy about them when they grow into cats. I’m a dog person. Anyway, I checked with the neighbors, but they don’t own the cats. I don’t know what to do about them. I don’t really want a litter of kittens in my yard, but I don’t know who can help me.
RECEPTIONIST: Come on in. Mr. Farkel is our animal control officer. His office is right down the hall, on the left. His department takes care of these things. I’m sure he can help.
LIA: That’s a relief! I don’t want them to go hungry, but I don’t want the responsibility of taking care of them.
*** a short time later ***
MR. FARKEL: I understand that you have some feral cats in your yard. Be careful. These are wild cats, and they can be very aggressive around humans.
LIA: I don’t want to hurt them. Is there some way to move them from my yard?
MR. FARKEL: Actually, we have a feral cat program. There are a few specially trained cat people in the neighborhood who can trap the cats humanely. Then they’ll take them to a vet to be neutered or spayed. When the cats have recovered, they’ll be released back into the woods.
LIA: Won’t they be in danger in the woods?
MR. FARKEL: These cats can take care of themselves. They’ll be fine.
LIA: Wow, thanks so much for the help. I didn’t know there are so many ways the town can help residents!
| Tip 3 | One of the most important services offered in every city is education. Everyone who lives in the United States can have a free public school education. Kids start early, but the cutoff dates for birthdays vary from state to state: - Pre-K is for children aged three and/or four. (The actual age depends on where you live. Pre-K is not mandatory.) - Kindergarten is for five-year-olds. - Elementary school starts at first grade. - Middle school (sometimes called junior high) is usually for grades 6, 7, and 8. - High school (also called secondary school) is for grades 9, 10, 11, and 12. |
| Tip 4 | To register for school, people need to prove that they live in the town. These are the documents most schools districts require: - Proof of the student’s birth date - A record of immunizations - Proof that the student lives in the district: A copy of an apartment lease agreement; A copy of a utility bill (for example, water, telephone, or cable); Parent’s driver’s license or another photo ID |
Hey, did you spot the present continuous tense again?
I’m spending more time outside in the yard.
Here it has a slightly different meaning. Rather than meaning “at this particular moment” (as in “I’m sending” in Dialogue 1), it means the general time frame around now. So Lia is not out in her yard right now (she is in the township office talking to Mr. Farkel!) but she is out in the yard more often, in general, around this time of year.
Remember those stative verbs (see unit 4)? Although she is talking about time around now, some verbs cannot be used in the continuous tense. Examples are the verbs to know and to want. They are stative verbs. Look at these examples from the dialogue.
| Correct Examples: | Not: |
| I don’t know what to do about them. | I’m not knowing what to do about them. |
| I don’t really want kittens in my yard. | I’m not really wanting kittens in my yard. |
| I don’t know who can help me. | I’m not knowing who can help me. |
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