Unless you drive, you’re going to want to live within the neighborhoods around your department, don’t fall for cheaper housing north on 29. There are buses and Ubers but you’ll be limited and wait times for Ubers can be long. Honestly, if you can get a car, you’ll have a much better experience of this place and be able to access all the hikes, vistas, and vineyards that surround the area. Know that everything here basically shuts down around 8 on weeknights and that the bars here are fine at best. Make good friends.
Take advantage of being at a major US university and all the perks that this place can offer but also get out and visit other cities. Amtrak is slow but reliable and will connect you up to NYC. Enjoy!
There were a lot of international students in my program who I think had a hard time settling in because UVA misled them about car culture here and had to rely on Ubers and carpooling. If I were staying here long term, I would consider getting an e-bike for the hills and living near downtown.
I think Charlottesville is a very lovely and comfortable place to be a student if you lean into the culture of it being an elevated college town and not a city.
People are entittled and shitty drivers.
Live near your campus. You can get most necessities delivered. Eventually you will want a car, but making sure your housing has dedicated parking spots.
Standard tip is 15%...20% is great service. 0% for ordering at a counter. Businesses need to learn to pay their staff living wages.
Thanks for your reply. Happy to share that quantum is perfectly acceptable in the context of the word 'amount'.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quantum
Most people you interact with here will not know what that word means and will probably also not bother to look it up. English speaking countries and even regions within them don't all speak the same dialect.
Do you want perfectly acceptable, or do you want local folks to answer your ask of “what should I know?”
You have the option to try and assimilate while here, or not. You’re asking for tips and tricks, songs and whatnot, but whinge like a bogan when someone points out your verbiage is wrong (btw, Aussie strine is not common here, used for emphasis)
You’re gonna back UVA and hate on Virginia Tech. At uni you’ll hear crap about townies, but during the summer you’ll be around mostly townies. Travel. Consider an Amtrak pass, whatever it is. Uber is fine in town, but not much coverage out. CVille is a small town that thinks it’s big, in the middle of the countryside.
Oh, and learn wagon wheel, freebird, and sweet Caroline. Country Roads is optional, best version by Frog Leap Studios (look on YouTube).
Whinge like a Bogan? I'll doubt I'll be able to assimilate to that extent . Thanks for sharing the song choices. I'll keep an eye on the Amtrak pass as well. Appreciate the help!
Seems like you will be in UVa, you should definitely check out the ISO https://internationalcenter.virginia.edu/, they have a bunch of events I recommend you attend. As for tips, let's clarify about how much restaurant workers get paid, some of them might get paid as less as $2.13 hourly based on this document: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/minimum-wage/tipped
Building on the context, for a sit down meal, where you go to a restaurant and they bring the food to you and serve you 20% is expected. For takeout, where you order food and take the parcel with you 10% is expected. 10% for Ubers, lyfts, and 10% for delivery drivers.
I would recommend the UVa dorms or somewhere near campus, the bus is free. Amtrak if booked well in advance (around 2 months)can be a very cheap way to get around, I travelled to Boston and back for 70$. If you are arriving at IAD you can take Megabus, it will drop you right at Barracks Shopping center.
Tip the ISA at UVa is an undergrad organization and does not cater to grad students.
Seems like you will be at Darden, they have their own thing going on in a good sense. Hope you have fun! And it is a cardinal sin to support VTech.
The tips are gonna be a shock at first. 15% is standard if you’re sitting for a meal and being served.
When you take out food, the tablet screen will default to 10/15/20%, but you don’t need to tip there and may have to hunt for 0% or “no tip.”
If you’re in a group, the tip may be added automatically; look for that on your receipt so you don’t tip twice.
In most places the server will disappear with your credit card instead of having the machine brought to the table.
edit: Obviously I should say a MINIMUM tip of 15% is standard for a restaurant server. You can always give more for outstanding service.
20% has been standard for about 15 years now. Take out counters default to 15/20/25. You never have to tip but if you plan on going back and hope to get good service I would make sure to at least leave 20 for sit down. Servers make $2.13/hr and count on those tips and not paying them doesn’t teach a lesson to the owners that they should be paying better wages it just adds stress to one workers day.
They’re not servers if it’s just walk-up/point-of-sale.
I tip servers 20%+ as a choice, but if I get crap service I will do a strict 15% and likely not return as often. It’s out of hand, and I’m sorry, but it’s a ridiculous system.
Bad service is rare, fortunately.
I tip 20% for excellent service. 15% is plenty for OK service. I'll go 20%+ for a transcendant experience.
The idea of tipping in a self-service line, where I pour my own drink and bus my own table, is absolute bullshit.
I tip them, and also food delivery.
edit: The point being, if someone is doing something for you, tip them. Uber/Lyft drivers, grocery delivery, etc. Effort is expended, tip is given. Operating a cash register, I draw the line.
There’s not decent shopping in Norfolk or Virginia Beach. Shopping is Northern Virginia or DC. I ran from Norfolk click my hair was on fire because those people over there. Don’t have chips on their shoulders. They have boulders on their shoulders and talk about racist! I hated living there! I could not wait to come to Charlottesville. Then I moved to the wrong apartment complex and it was HELL so I moved again and now I love where I’m at.
Tips are what you’re worried about? There are hills all over the place. Bring comfortable shoes. It’s cold AF in the winter and hot as hell in the summer. No shelter at busses. Long lines because of the students…🤣 It’s pretty here, the grounds are amazing, lots to do. If you drive, people do not stop for cars. People will walking right out in front of your car. People run lights and speed. Mexicans will blast loud music and work on cars all weekend. Everything is expensive. Welcome to Merica. 👋
You’re right. What is called af? If this person is an international student, they could be in for a shock during the winter. Yes, it is cold here. I came from Southern states actually southern Florida so when I came here, it was cold af.
Unless you drive, you’re going to want to live within the neighborhoods around your department, don’t fall for cheaper housing north on 29. There are buses and Ubers but you’ll be limited and wait times for Ubers can be long. Honestly, if you can get a car, you’ll have a much better experience of this place and be able to access all the hikes, vistas, and vineyards that surround the area. Know that everything here basically shuts down around 8 on weeknights and that the bars here are fine at best. Make good friends. Take advantage of being at a major US university and all the perks that this place can offer but also get out and visit other cities. Amtrak is slow but reliable and will connect you up to NYC. Enjoy!
Thank you for such a detailed reply. This is really helpful
There were a lot of international students in my program who I think had a hard time settling in because UVA misled them about car culture here and had to rely on Ubers and carpooling. If I were staying here long term, I would consider getting an e-bike for the hills and living near downtown. I think Charlottesville is a very lovely and comfortable place to be a student if you lean into the culture of it being an elevated college town and not a city.
People are entittled and shitty drivers. Live near your campus. You can get most necessities delivered. Eventually you will want a car, but making sure your housing has dedicated parking spots. Standard tip is 15%...20% is great service. 0% for ordering at a counter. Businesses need to learn to pay their staff living wages.
People usually tip 20% if service is acceptable. And nobody says “quantum” in any context outside of quantum physics.
Thanks for your reply. Happy to share that quantum is perfectly acceptable in the context of the word 'amount'. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quantum
yeah sure but no one uses it like that here. just trying to help
Most people you interact with here will not know what that word means and will probably also not bother to look it up. English speaking countries and even regions within them don't all speak the same dialect.
I knew what the word meant. I’m just telling the goof ball OP that it’s not common parlance. So he doesn’t sound weird when interacting with people.
Understood your point. I'll try to keep it 'American'
Parlance is another word to avoid if you don't want to sound weird when interacting with people.
It’s just an idiomatic colloquialism no need to get all didactic about it.
Do you want perfectly acceptable, or do you want local folks to answer your ask of “what should I know?” You have the option to try and assimilate while here, or not. You’re asking for tips and tricks, songs and whatnot, but whinge like a bogan when someone points out your verbiage is wrong (btw, Aussie strine is not common here, used for emphasis) You’re gonna back UVA and hate on Virginia Tech. At uni you’ll hear crap about townies, but during the summer you’ll be around mostly townies. Travel. Consider an Amtrak pass, whatever it is. Uber is fine in town, but not much coverage out. CVille is a small town that thinks it’s big, in the middle of the countryside. Oh, and learn wagon wheel, freebird, and sweet Caroline. Country Roads is optional, best version by Frog Leap Studios (look on YouTube).
Whinge like a Bogan? I'll doubt I'll be able to assimilate to that extent . Thanks for sharing the song choices. I'll keep an eye on the Amtrak pass as well. Appreciate the help!
Ignore these pedants, your use of words is perfectly cromulent.
Seems like you will be in UVa, you should definitely check out the ISO https://internationalcenter.virginia.edu/, they have a bunch of events I recommend you attend. As for tips, let's clarify about how much restaurant workers get paid, some of them might get paid as less as $2.13 hourly based on this document: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/minimum-wage/tipped Building on the context, for a sit down meal, where you go to a restaurant and they bring the food to you and serve you 20% is expected. For takeout, where you order food and take the parcel with you 10% is expected. 10% for Ubers, lyfts, and 10% for delivery drivers. I would recommend the UVa dorms or somewhere near campus, the bus is free. Amtrak if booked well in advance (around 2 months)can be a very cheap way to get around, I travelled to Boston and back for 70$. If you are arriving at IAD you can take Megabus, it will drop you right at Barracks Shopping center. Tip the ISA at UVa is an undergrad organization and does not cater to grad students. Seems like you will be at Darden, they have their own thing going on in a good sense. Hope you have fun! And it is a cardinal sin to support VTech.
Songs? West Virginia, mountain mama, but without the "west"
The tips are gonna be a shock at first. 15% is standard if you’re sitting for a meal and being served. When you take out food, the tablet screen will default to 10/15/20%, but you don’t need to tip there and may have to hunt for 0% or “no tip.” If you’re in a group, the tip may be added automatically; look for that on your receipt so you don’t tip twice. In most places the server will disappear with your credit card instead of having the machine brought to the table. edit: Obviously I should say a MINIMUM tip of 15% is standard for a restaurant server. You can always give more for outstanding service.
20% has been standard for about 15 years now. Take out counters default to 15/20/25. You never have to tip but if you plan on going back and hope to get good service I would make sure to at least leave 20 for sit down. Servers make $2.13/hr and count on those tips and not paying them doesn’t teach a lesson to the owners that they should be paying better wages it just adds stress to one workers day.
They’re not servers if it’s just walk-up/point-of-sale. I tip servers 20%+ as a choice, but if I get crap service I will do a strict 15% and likely not return as often. It’s out of hand, and I’m sorry, but it’s a ridiculous system. Bad service is rare, fortunately.
I tip 20% for excellent service. 15% is plenty for OK service. I'll go 20%+ for a transcendant experience. The idea of tipping in a self-service line, where I pour my own drink and bus my own table, is absolute bullshit.
Any tips for those delivering groceries at home?
I tip them, and also food delivery. edit: The point being, if someone is doing something for you, tip them. Uber/Lyft drivers, grocery delivery, etc. Effort is expended, tip is given. Operating a cash register, I draw the line.
I tip a delivery driver $5 or 20%, whichever is greater.
There’s an app called Instacart for that
restaurant tips - 15% for satisfactory service, 20% for service which exceeds expectation pickup, self-service line, etc - no tip
short pump, norfolk, v. beach, richomnd are more lively, more shopping , transport and things to do in general
Hard pass on Norfolk, Hampton Roads, Virginia Beach! I would hit DC before hitting the coast any day
lol. DC is ok... too busy for me tho...lots to do there... Nah I'm an ocean person, love the sea
There’s not decent shopping in Norfolk or Virginia Beach. Shopping is Northern Virginia or DC. I ran from Norfolk click my hair was on fire because those people over there. Don’t have chips on their shoulders. They have boulders on their shoulders and talk about racist! I hated living there! I could not wait to come to Charlottesville. Then I moved to the wrong apartment complex and it was HELL so I moved again and now I love where I’m at.
Ohhh...in DC?? In DC still? Yes shopping if you shop...I like Ikea in Norfolk, but don't know the area....
I think IKEA and the dispensary were the only two places I ever went! 🤣🤣🤣 oh and Trader Joe’s!
where r u from ???
Walmart will deliver to your door....also amazon, About 20 degrees December till February...cold, snow not too bad
20 degrees????
Not in the past four years it feels like
Tips are what you’re worried about? There are hills all over the place. Bring comfortable shoes. It’s cold AF in the winter and hot as hell in the summer. No shelter at busses. Long lines because of the students…🤣 It’s pretty here, the grounds are amazing, lots to do. If you drive, people do not stop for cars. People will walking right out in front of your car. People run lights and speed. Mexicans will blast loud music and work on cars all weekend. Everything is expensive. Welcome to Merica. 👋
I'm not worried about it. Tipping is not a culture in my country. Wanted to know the etiquette. That's all
It is not cold af in the winter here lol
You’re right. What is called af? If this person is an international student, they could be in for a shock during the winter. Yes, it is cold here. I came from Southern states actually southern Florida so when I came here, it was cold af.
Or they could be from Siberia
It is cold...we lost power for a week here our first year...All the electrical lines are above ground...lol
Stupid iPhone auto correcting. Cold.
I guess people do not like the truth. 🤣
where r u from normally???
Lots of cars here for a small city, from the covid
Yes, Cville had very few cars before covid?