US life — the practical survival guide
This lesson packs four practical US topics into one reference. Each topic deserves a textbook of its own; here we cover what you actually need at B1 to function.
Part 1 — Tipping (revisit and extend)
A2 covered the basics. Here’s the extended B1 version with more contexts.
Standard percentages
| Service | Tip | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sit-down restaurant | 18-22% of pre-tax bill | 20% is the default; 22%+ in expensive cities like NYC, SF |
| Bar (per drink) | $1-2/drink | Cash on the bar; or 18-22% on tab |
| Food delivery (DoorDash, Uber Eats) | 15-20% | App default |
| Pizza delivery (cash) | 15-20%, $3-5 minimum | |
| Uber / Lyft | 15-20% | App suggests it after the ride |
| Taxi | 15-20% | Round up to a whole dollar |
| Hairdresser / barber | 15-20% | Cash or via card |
| Manicure / pedicure | 15-20% | |
| Hotel housekeeping | $2-5/night | Cash on the pillow daily, visible |
| Hotel valet | $2-5 | Each time car is brought |
| Hotel doorman / bellhop | $1-2/bag | When luggage is helped |
| Tour guide | $5-20/person | Depending on length |
| Spa / massage | 18-20% | Often auto-added |
| Coffee shop counter | $1 (optional) | If you go regularly, tip every few times |
| Baristas (good service) | $1-2 |
Tipping NOT required
- Fast food (counter, no service).
- Take-out (small tip is nice but not required).
- Government employees (TSA, postal, DMV).
- Doctors, lawyers, accountants.
- Self-service stations.
Tipping etiquette
- Tip on pre-tax bill (post-tax is over-generous but acceptable).
- Cash tips at restaurants often go directly to the server (better for them).
- Look for “service charge / gratuity included” on bills (parties of 6+ often have auto-gratuity 18-20%) — don’t double-tip.
- 0% tip = clear insult. If service was bad, talk to the manager.
- Round up generously for small bills. 5.
Quick math
- 20%: double the bill, move decimal one left. Bill 108 → $10.80.
- 15%: 10% + half. Bill 5.40 + 8.10.
- Tax doubling shortcut (in states with ~7-9% sales tax): doubling the tax line ≈ 14-18% tip.
Part 2 — Healthcare basics
US healthcare is the most confusing system for foreign visitors. Here’s the survival vocabulary.
Insurance
Most Americans get health insurance through their employer. Your employer pays a chunk; you pay a chunk (deducted from paycheck). This is called employer-sponsored insurance.
If you’re self-employed, unemployed, or your job doesn’t offer insurance, you can buy from the marketplace (HealthCare.gov, set up under the Affordable Care Act / “Obamacare”). Older Americans (65+) have Medicare; very low-income folks have Medicaid.
Key insurance vocabulary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Premium | What you pay every month for the insurance itself |
| Deductible | What you pay out-of-pocket each year before insurance kicks in (e.g., $2,000) |
| Copay | Flat fee per visit (e.g., 50 for specialist) |
| Coinsurance | Percentage you pay after deductible (e.g., insurance covers 80%, you pay 20%) |
| Out-of-pocket maximum | Annual cap on what you’ll pay yourself (e.g., $7,000) |
| In-network | Doctors/hospitals your insurance has a deal with — cheaper |
| Out-of-network | Not on the deal list — much more expensive |
| HMO / PPO / EPO | Different plan types (HMO requires referrals; PPO is more flexible) |
| Claim | Bill submitted to insurance |
| EOB (explanation of benefits) | Document showing what insurance paid and what you owe |
Where you go for medical care
| Place | Use for |
|---|---|
| Primary care doctor (PCP) | Routine checkups, non-emergency illness, referrals to specialists |
| Urgent care | Non-life-threatening but can’t wait for PCP appointment (sprained ankle, infection, mild flu) — open evenings/weekends, faster and cheaper than ER |
| Emergency room (ER) | True emergencies only (chest pain, heavy bleeding, breathing trouble) — very expensive ($1,000-10,000+ even with insurance) |
| Walk-in clinic | Like urgent care, often inside pharmacies (CVS MinuteClinic, Walgreens) |
| Pharmacy / drugstore | Pick up prescriptions (CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid) |
| Telehealth | Video appointment for minor issues |
Russian visitor tip: don’t go to the ER for non-emergencies. The same visit at urgent care is 5-10x cheaper.
Prescription savings
- GoodRx app: shows pharmacy prices, often cheaper than insurance.
- Mail-order pharmacy for chronic medications: often cheaper.
- Generic versions: usually 80%+ cheaper than brand-name; ask your doctor.
What things cost (rough, with insurance)
| Service | Typical cost with insurance |
|---|---|
| Primary care visit | $20-50 copay |
| Specialist visit | $40-100 copay |
| Urgent care | $50-150 copay |
| ER visit | $200-1,000+ copay (plus more if admitted) |
| Generic prescription | $5-30 |
| Brand prescription | $30-200+ |
Without insurance, everything is 5-20x more expensive. Get insurance.
Part 3 — Education
K-12 (kindergarten through 12th grade)
- Public school is free, funded by local property taxes.
- Private school costs money ($10,000-50,000+/year for elite ones).
- Grades: K (kindergarten, age 5) → 1st through 12th (age 17-18 by graduation).
- Levels: Elementary (K-5), Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12).
- Graduate of high school = high school diploma.
College / university
In the US, “college” and “university” are largely interchangeable in casual speech. Both mean the place you go after high school for a bachelor’s degree.
- Undergrad = bachelor’s degree, usually 4 years (Bachelor of Arts/Science = BA/BS).
- Grad school = after undergrad. Master’s (MA/MS/MBA) = 1-2 years; PhD = 4-7 years; JD (law) = 3 years; MD (medicine) = 4 years + residency.
- Community college = 2-year associate degree, much cheaper, often a stepping stone to a 4-year college.
- State school / state university = funded by the state. In-state tuition is much cheaper than out-of-state (i.e., you pay less if you live in that state).
- Private college / university = independently funded, usually more expensive but offers financial aid.
Tuition and aid
- Public state school in-state: $10,000-30,000/year.
- Public state school out-of-state: $25,000-50,000/year.
- Private university: $40,000-80,000+/year (before aid).
- Most students pay much less than sticker price thanks to financial aid.
- FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) — file this every year to qualify for federal aid (grants, loans, work-study).
- Scholarships: merit-based or need-based, from the school or external organizations.
Useful terms
- GPA = grade point average (4.0 scale; 4.0 = all A’s).
- Major = your primary field of study.
- Minor = secondary field (smaller).
- Prereq (prerequisite) = a course you must take before another.
- Syllabus = the course outline document.
- Office hours = times when professors are available for student questions.
Part 4 — Civics quick reference
Three levels of government
| Level | Scope | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Federal | Whole US | President, Congress, Supreme Court, federal taxes (IRS) |
| State | One of 50 states | Governor, state legislature, state taxes, public schools, driver’s licenses |
| Local | City or county | Mayor, city council, local police, garbage, parks |
This is why a thing legal in California can be illegal in Texas — states have a lot of independent power.
Federal government — the three branches
- Executive: the President + the President’s cabinet. Enforces laws. Term: 4 years, max 2 terms.
- Legislative (Congress): writes laws. Two chambers:
- House of Representatives: 435 members, 2-year terms, # depends on state population (CA has 52, WY has 1).
- Senate: 100 members (2 per state regardless of population), 6-year terms.
- Judicial: Supreme Court (9 justices, lifetime appointments) + lower federal courts. Interprets laws.
State government
Each state has its own version: Governor (executive), state legislature (varies in name), state supreme court.
Local government
Cities have a Mayor + City Council. Counties have a Sheriff for some law enforcement.
Voting
- You vote starting at 18.
- Primary elections: each party (Democrat, Republican, etc.) picks its candidate. Held in spring/summer of election years.
- General election: the actual vote between the parties’ picks. Held in November.
- Presidential election: every 4 years (next: 2028 after 2024).
- Midterm elections: every 2 years between presidential elections (Congress only).
- Voting requires registration (which is a separate step — handled at the state level).
- Many states allow early voting and mail-in / absentee voting.
Two main parties
- Democrats (blue) — generally more left-leaning.
- Republicans (red) — generally more right-leaning.
- Smaller parties (Libertarian, Green) exist but rarely win seats.
Common Russian-speaker mistakes
- Assuming healthcare is free because of universal-care assumptions. US healthcare is paid (insurance + copays). Even with insurance, expect to pay something for every visit.
- Going to ER for non-emergencies. Cost can be $1,000-5,000+. Use urgent care for non-life-threatening issues.
- Not buying insurance because it seems expensive. The bill for one ER visit without insurance can wipe out years of premium savings.
- Tipping not because you don’t know — it’s mandatory not optional. Always 15-22%.
- Confusing college and university. In US English, both refer to the same thing — the place you go after high school for a bachelor’s. (In some other countries, “college” = high school equivalent.)
- Assuming federal law applies the same everywhere. State law varies enormously (taxes, drugs, alcohol, gun laws, abortion). Always check the state.
- Misunderstanding which Congress chamber does what. House = lower (more, shorter terms). Senate = upper (fewer, longer terms). Both have to pass a bill for it to become law (then the President signs).
- Not filing FAFSA if you have college-aged kids. It’s free; without it, you don’t qualify for federal aid.
Summary
- Tipping: 18-22% restaurant; 15-20% taxi/hairdresser/delivery; 2-5/night hotel housekeeping. Always pre-tax.
- Healthcare: insurance from employer or marketplace; copay (per visit) + deductible (annual before insurance kicks in) + out-of-pocket max (annual cap). Use PCP, urgent care, ER appropriately. GoodRx for prescriptions.
- Education: K-12 free public; college = university; undergrad 4 years; community college 2 years cheap; in-state vs out-of-state tuition; FAFSA for aid.
- Civics: federal/state/local levels; President + House (435) + Senate (100); vote at 18; primary then general elections; states have huge power.
Next lesson: US holidays and inclusive language basics.
A2: Tipping math A2: US units, dates, time, and phone numbers B2: US civics and political discourse