For those of you new to the Midwest

For those of you new to the area, welcome.  Please understand that although we have satellite TV here, and the internet, we may not be familiar with your culture.  Lafayette, Indiana is big enough to have several places to eat and socialize, even a few spots for live music. Besides the standard classic rock ,you can easily find country music, but you really won't find daily examples of things like blues or classical, much less jazz, or international music.  They exist, but are not nearly as common as in the big cities of the world.

Please understand that the local folks want to get to know you, make you feel at home, be your friend.  Just remember, things may be done differently here than you are used to.  If you come from  a culture where negotiation for purchases is expected behavior, please allow me to assure you that here it is not expected, and not appreciated most of the time.  A large percentage of Lafayette area people work at restaraunts and stores.  Try to remember that they are not inferior to you, nor are they your servants.  They would like to be treated with the same respect and dignity with which you would expect to be treated yourself.  

Traffic is nothing like the large cities of the world here either.   Please, PLEASE, stay in the flow of traffic.  Believe it or not, there actually is a flow of traffic here. We don't have delivery vans stopping in the middle of the road to unload. Also, please realize there is room for your bicycle on the sides of the roads or sidewalks.  Please DO NOT assume you have a right to the road and pedal down the middle of the street. This may be common in many areas of the world, but here, it is very much unappreciated, and the locals may not understand that it is common where you came from.  They may yell at you, honk their horns,even  call you names possibly.

It's hard to get to know people when you begin your relationship mad at each other.  If newcomers can use some common sense, and try to follow the lead of those around them until they get a feel for the area ,we will all be better off, and have a lot more friends.  If we are lucky, we might even learn something about other cultures along the way.