Annonse

Warning: Oops, I did it again: I was thrown out of the bus because of Groupon

12. april | Artikler,Helse,Nyheter,Reise Read post in english

Please check carefully before you buy Groupon Deals when visiting a foreign country: The deal might not work! The hop on and off bus offer with Groupon was really cheap, but the coupon never popped up. Guess what: I had to leave the bus – with the ticket man….

I cant believe I have such bad luck again. A few days ago I had to leave a famous nightclub because the guard did not like my ID. Now I am in a hop on and off bus with Big Bus in Miami and look forward to see the whole city in a few hours. But no…

The first bus accepts my printout of the Groupon deal, but I have to change bus downtown, and there a ticket man appears and want to check my ticket. He shakes his head, and says this printout is not valid. He has to see the coupon. I also want to see the coupon, but it was nowhere to be found and the hostel kindly enough printed out the deal for me that I just bough. It was they who recommended me to buy a Groupon deal as it would be so much cheaper – and it was. I paid 29.90 dollars instead of 45 dollars.

«Just that the ticket is useless.»

(God, why do I always listen to these advices without checking for myself if it is wise or not.)

Please leave the bus – now!

The ticket man says the bus is about to leave and I have to get out. I am quite upset and asks him if he wants me to stand stranded in the street, and he says of course not madam, I will leave the bus with you.

There we stand in the street, me and this young stud with so strict rules to follow. We both look for the coupon – we try my IPhone first and even download the Groupon app twice – then we do the same on his phone – but the coupon does not exist!

«I can prove that I have bought and payed for the Bus deal, but I can still not go on my planned bus tour.»

He says last week another person had the same problem: «Groupon is cheap, but it is difficult,» he says. He thinks that maybe the Norwegian and American Groupon system do not work together properly.

He threw me out – now he wants to hang out???

He really wants me to enjoy the bus tour this day, and offers me a new lowcost ticket for 25 dollars. Normally it costs 45 and you can use it for two days. He also gives me his WhatsApp number on a written piece of paper with a heart on it. «We can probably hang out together,» he says.

What?? This guy brutally threw me out of the bus – now he wants to take me on a date?? I really have problems to understand The American Life. I say thanks, but I leave soon and dont know if I can make it, I don´t have so much time left! Actually when a guy asks me to hang out, I never know if he means we are going on a walk together in a park, or if he simply just wants sex, and I am too embarrassed to ask.

Good times in Wynwood

Well, anyways – It is like 100 degrees where we are standing, and I am burning up. Eventually a bus arrives and he pushes me in front of the big queue. «You shouldn’t be back there, you have waited long enough,» he says – adding «dont forget to add me on WhatsApp.» Then he is gone, and I am on my own. I am dying of thirst, and leaves the bus at the next stop, which is the famous Wynwood art district. The driver says this is a good place to stop for a beer, and I nod and say out loudly: OH YESSS!

Actually I feel warm and tired and when I at last feel like moving from my table in the Wynwood restaurant after finishing two enormously expensive and extremely small tapas dishes and two beers, it is already late – and I can´t find the bus stop. I normally struggle with direction and this time I am completely lost. Also there are no Big Bus signs.

Heyyy, I am lost!

«I am lost! Where do I jump on,» I ask the ticket man on WhatsApp. He quickly gives me the information I need and I am lucky to find the bus stop at last. Time is out and the bus leaves me in the city downtown. I have to go back to Miami South Beach with the local bus, which takes an hour…

Cool times with my roommate in Wynwood on next day bus drive

Next day my nice roommate-cutie Kim from Brazil wants to go on the bus ride, and when he asks me if I will join him I say yes. This time I know my way around and most luckily of all, I now ride with a valid ticket. Before we go I email Groupon and say I want the money back from the worthless deal. Kim and I go back to Wynwood and take photos of all the vivid and funny artistic walls.

It starts raining heavily and we hide inside a cafeteria and have a beer. We want to stop also in Little Havana, but agree there is not much to do there besides having a Mojito -and they also serve delicious Mojitos in our hostel. Also, I already spent a whole night in Little Havana dancing salsa with a girl I met from Brazil last week in another hostel – Flavia.

Kim and I decide to take the bus back to South Beach, end up in North Beach and have to sit in the bus all the way back. It seems we both suffer from lack of direction-disease.

A false Groupon turned out to be a good deal

This has been such a nice day. Also the tour guide made me laugh several times, he was so funny, telling lies about how he used to live in these big expensive houses that we were passing – with his ex-wife Shakira. Several times he asked us to bend our heads not to get the branches from the trees in our heads, that was also a bit funny, lol. It was heavy wind on the top floor, and we also were asked to hold on to hats, babies, partners and toupees! During the day I almost forgot that I paid double prize for the trip, both from Groupon and from Big Bus directly.

After a few days, I luckily get at notice from Groupon that I can spend the money on another deal or they can give me my money back. I choose the last. By all luck they return the money.

Now I want to message the ticket man and thank for his help and for giving me a good prize. I say sorry there was no time left to hang out together as he suggested we could probably do. «Did you really want that?» I ask, I am a bit slow sometimes to understand what a guy means. Sure, he thinks we could have a good time! He tells me he is originally from New York and worked for Big Bus in Miami for a year now.

Oh well, shoot – but time ran out and I got my nice day with Kim, who is now in marvellous San Francisco having a ball while I am at home in Norway recovering from a cold.

Groupon really let me down in Miami , but then a lot of other nice things happened, so thank you Groupon.

Will be more careful using you next time, though..;)

Do you use Groupon – and what are your impressions? Good or bad??

Read about all my good times and disasters in Miami, Florida:

I was denied access to a nightclub in Miami – read my 3 warnings: What not to do

Pool-drama: A young man is thrown out after harrassing other people for a week

How I survived sleeping in a bunkbed in a small room with 5 guys for a week

What I learnt in Florida: The American Dream does not exist, here are 6 reasons why

Why I turned down a luxurious stay at Hilton – 3 good reasons

Outfit of the day: I paid just 5 dollar for this amazing jumper

These are the 3 hostels I lived in during my stay in Miami South Beach:

The hostel in South Beach

Freehand Miami

Rock hostel

These are the 2 schools I attended during my stay:

South Beach Languages

Spanish Hangout

Annonse

I was denied access to a nightclub in Miami – read my 3 warnings: What not to do

7. april | Artikler,Helse,Nyheter,Reise Read post in english

I was denied access to a famous nightclub in Miami, and it was not because I was drunk. Read my 3 warnings about what you should not do when you are out enjoying nightlife in the United States.

Bring your driver’s license and passport: I joined a party through my hostel, which was pretty cool. We got free drinks in the chill bar in Rock Hostel, a spacious and modern, fully equipped hostel one block from the beach. A party bus took us to another hostel, where we had a drink before driving to a famous nightclub called Story. We were on a guest list, but had to queue up. When I finally reached the entrance, a big, black guy asked for my ID. I had brought my Norwegian Bank Visa with personal photo and full personal number on it. This was a huge mistake, according to the enormous guard in front of me. He rolled his eyes when I said that this was a good ID In Norway. «Not here in the States,» he said. He showed me a book with photos of what IDs he could allow: Only passports and driver licenses! When I asked if he could let me in anyway, he asked if I wanted to get in trouble with American law.

I am quite certain I do not look under 21, I was not drunk and I had dressed up nice in red dress and high heel gold sandals. But that did not help me.

I was denied access as the only guest from our party – the others were mostly latinos and young people under 30 – and I – the only white grown up woman, was kicked out.
I tried to discuss with the guard, but that was not a good idea, it made him even more demanding. Luckily, our host from Rock hostel felt sorry for me, and he took me back and forth with Uber Pool, so that I could get my passport from the room safe. I felt like a criminal and he understood I was upset, but at the same time he also claimed that my bank ID looked like crap; like it could have been homemade in my kitchen. IDs that are not issued by the state are worthless, he said. This was new and shocking facts! In my country driver´s license is considered more crap than bank IDs with full personal number and photo!

I got in at last showing my passport with the host at my side – but after this experience I did not have such a good time, actually, so I just stayed for short time and went home.
In the nightclub Mango in Miami – at salsa nights – I was never asked for any ID. Therefore I never thought I would need to bring my passport to Story. The thing is – you never know when they will ask for ID either because they need to or because they want to show their power. Please do not do like me and claim your bank Visa with personal photo and personal number is the best ID ever and that Norway is one of the world ´s safest country in the world in front of an angry big guard. He will not understand. Bring your driver ´s license and passport wherever you go in the US. It is all this country understands. According to my hostel host, these people deny people for all kinds of reasons – they might say you picked the wrong kind of shoes that night or wrong clothing or they will claim you had too much to drink, so be careful! (The photo below is from my more happy night in Mango.)

2. Do not take for granted that the waiter will give you the right money back. When in a party and if you have been drinking a bit or have a lot on your mind, it is easy to forget to check your wallet and money. When we were stopping at another hostel to get a drink before the night club, there was a crowd of people there and pretty chaotic. A roommate of mine from Brazil did not discover until he was inside the disco that 80 dollar was missing from his wallet – the waiter in the hostel bar had given him too little money back from a 100 dollar. When I am writing this he is still trying to get his money back. At first the hostel said they could not help him, but the manager at our hostel made a call and made them check the cashier and the cameras. I feel so sorry for this guy – my friend – visiting Miami, Las Vegas and Los Angeles who lost his precious money. Two days later, when we visited the famous art area Wynwood, he had still not got his money back.

In fact we should always check the bill when we are shopping to see if it is right – and check that we get the right change back in restaurants and bars. It is human to do mistakes, but it is so hard to come the next day and claim you were not given your change back or that the bill is wrong! So here we have all something to learn. Better check twice right away.

3. Do not bring your wallet and a lot of money to beach at night. In Miami (and many other places) hanging out with your friends on the beach at night is popular. I also did this one night – I was invited by my former room mate in Freehand hostel and two more people. Together with my friends from Denmark, Mexico and Canada I climbed inside a beach house and had some drinks and food and nice talk there. Late in the night, the other girl in our nice group, noticed both her wallets were missing. She and the guy from Denmark looked everywhere, even in the garbage, but the wallets with her last money were lost. At night in the beach there might be thieves around waiting for you to lose control of your things, so do not bring too much money and do not leave your thing behind when you go to the toilet or some other errands. Besides from this, we had a supernice time on the beach. My first time to spend a whole night in a beach house.

Good luck with your nights out -and do not forget valid ID. 😉 I have learnt my lesson.

After I printed this, my friend from Mexico lost his phone in a gay club – so please, please, hold on to your things… 🙂

What have you learnt by travelling?

Check out nice and cheap hostels here. Fun way to travel as you meet new friends every day.

Read about my experiences in Miami here.

How I survived sleeping in a bunkbed in a small room with 5 guys for a week

What I learnt in Florida: The American Dream does not exist, here are 6 reasons why

Outfit of the day: I paid just 5 dollar for this amazing jumper

Pool-drama: A young man is trown out after having been harrassing other people for a week

Why I turned down a luxurious stay at Hilton – 3 good reasons

Annonse

Why I turned down a luxurious stay at Hilton – 3 good reasons

5. april | Artikler,Helse,Reise Read post in english

Sex in the City: He was tanned, cute, with dark hair and a charmy smile and he offered me a 3 night free stay at luxurious Hilton hotel. Here are 3 reasons why I said no and chose a free banana in a cheap hostel – and why you should do it too…

They most likely only want sex: These guys who tell you they liked you the first minute they saw you and you are so beautiful and they simply cannot leave you that night …. most of them are simply just looking for sex. Guys sometimes stop me in the street to say something like this, some follow me and start hugging and kissing me. One not so good looking fellow followed me into the restaurant and sat there when I ate my meal. It was his day off from work in a restaurant and he wanted to take me to the beach. I was going to a Spanish class and was not interested. After a long time he finally understood it. Another a bit scary looking fellow who I met in the street at night, wanted me to take me for a ride in his van. I ran! This time it happened in the bar of my hostel. A cute looking guy gave me an eye and asked if I was looking for company. I just passed, but later he came over to where I was sitting and accidentally spilt my beer and offered to by a new Heineken. I said yes. So far so good. He told me he was a helicopter pilot from Algerie on a job journey with colleagues from all over the world, and he had room for me in Hilton. I could upgrade my cheap and filthy stay just by saying yes. Three days later he was going to leave Florida and go to New York. It was tempting to go to a luxurious hotel after two weeks in cheap hostels with room-mates, but he was probably married and it would not be worth it. Maybe for him, not for me. I have done some stupid things in my life, and a hotel romance with a married guy seeking sex, is not on my to do-list or my Bucket-list right at this moment. Younger girls I know, tell me that they often get offers like this: A man insisted on paying for one beautiful ´s girls gas when she stopped her car at a gas station, but she was not looking for a sugar daddy and said no. He kept on asking, and wouldn’t leave her. In the end she had to say she was married. Another of my study mates actually said yes to go to at hotel with a much older guy after a salsa class. He gave her so many drinks that she got wasted and could not say no. The next day she could not wait to take a taxi back to her apartment. She regretted the sex so much she was too embarrassed to go to salsa the next day – as he would be there too, as one of the help out guys. Also she had to go to the pharmacy to buy a regret-pill. Regret – and what´s in it for me – are reasons to turn these offers down. Because what ´s in it for you, rather that a short not so happy romance? These stories happen everywhere. The MeToo-campagin did not change the world all of a sudden. Sometimes these hungry men out there seeking company for a night wants two girls. A friend of mine gets so mad when a man comes up to her and me in a night club and invites us to three- somes that she screams at him that he can go and buy girls on the street! I am milder, but in the end I also manage to say no. The thing is, I love to meet new people and grab a beer together and chat and flirt, but the minute I feel uncomfortable it is over. Like this night in the hostel – when I said no and his answer was that I was stupid to say no and that a lot of other girls would have had accepted: He could have chosen anyone in here but chose me. That´s the minute it is definitely over for me and I just want to finish my drink and go. Or the minute they say you are probably a lesbian because you dont want their dick. Offensive behavior does not turn me on and does not make me horny. And I know the difference.
You will most likely regret it: After seeing the movie «He is not that into you» episodes like this always reminds me of this movie. One unlucky girl finally learns how to turn badguys down and say no – and look for something worth keeping. A good friend, who in the end turns out to become her boy friend, tells her «don’t do it – he is not into you. The girl look for love, not for a free drink: If you are young and out of money, it might be tempting to have a sugar daddy to pay for you for a while. If you are older an need sex, why not – we live in a free world. In the right moment when I feel young and alive and happy anything can happen! But when you have had too much to drink before, experienced some headaches, felt some stress and some regrets after some night with these not-so-hot-afterall-guys, you will learn how to say no. Short time romance can be fine but there is such a thin line between when you feel open for romance with someone – and when you just feel that a guy is trying to buy you like something he sees in the store and wants. Actually I find younger guys more attractive because they are sweeter and more innocent and they don’t come on to you in the same kind of tacky way. By this I do not mean that younger guys are necessarily worth more of you time. They often just want sex too… But at least you will feel more flattered.
You do not know who the guy is: The best reason to turn these offers down is that you do not know who the guy is. Girls have been killed on internet-dates. This time the guy showed me his business card, I met his colleague and had no reason to believe that he was pretending to be someone else. But the guy lives in Algerie and clearly was not serious with me, and probably has a wife and three kids there. «Who cares about this? We are in Miami,» the guy said. Well, right there I did care. This was a guy I could have liked, which actually made it worse. Also, after you go with them to their hotel, your luck might change. After two hours the charm might be all gone. I have seen some of these guys getting mad, they have a temper and they soon turn into a hungry man wolf who wants a blowjob and you dont get more else besides of that. Or he can’t do it because he is too drunk. Of course, he might be terrific in bed and fulfill all your dreams in these three nights – and we only live once. But the fact is, there is more chance that his room will be small, he will not pay for your dinner the next day and he will not be a good lover – because he had too much to drink and he is selfish and because most girls need to know a guy better or at least feel safe before good sex can happen. Better offers will come. Also it is more fun to hunt than be hunted on from my point of wiew.

«Actually a free banana, meeting new friends in a hostel and a good night ´s sleep is probably more fun than a stay at Hilton with a married man who wants sex on his last night.»

Agree or disagree?

Read more about my three week stay in Florida, USA.

How I survived sleeping in a bunkbed in a small room with 5 guys for a week

What I learnt in Florida: The American Dream does not exist, here are 6 reasons why

Pool-drama: A young man is trown out after having been harrassing other people for a week

Read more about one night stands – pros and cons:

13 Good Reasons to have a one night stand.

7 signs you are not ready for a one night stand.

Annonse

Outfit of the day: I paid just 5 dollar for this amazing jumper

4. april | Reise,Velvære Read post in english

You don´t have to rent a car and drive one hour to the biggest outlets to find clothes on sale in Miami. Many of the stores downtown, in Lincoln Road, have good offers: This cool jumper I bought for 5 dollars and it took me like 5 minutes to buy it. Here I wear the jumper at breakfast in Freehand, Miami – the cute hostel I wrote about in an earlier blog.

My Freehand hostel-friend from Brazil, Flavia, rented a car and spent a whole day shopping in Sawgrass shopping mall and outlet. She offered me to join, but I choose a yoga class on the beach instead! Shopping makes me really tired – and leaving with her 8 that morning was too much for me.

When she came back from that long trip late in the night and joined me in a salsa club, she knew what I was talking about: She was exhausted!

I bought tre jumpers on sale – and some other stuff not on sale…

Actually is it hard to dress in Miami, because outside it is super warm and inside they have so cold air condition that you feel you are inside a freezer. I asked several people why they do this, but they do not have a good answer. Because of these cold inside conditions, I had to buy a tights at HM and some long sleeve jumpers.

I take Spanish classes in Spanish Hangout in Lincoln Road and on my way back to the hostel, I found some real good bargains: Lots of stuff was on sale – like this cute jumper! I bought like three of them and will show more of the clothes later on. I also bought a new bikini top and two dresses that were not all that cheap – and some new sandals – because I lost one gold sandal and couldn’t find it.

I wrote an email to my first downtown hostel and asked, but they were sorry, they could not find it either…:) It was gone – like Cinderella.

Read more about my three week stay in Miami Florida:

How I survived sleeping in a bunkbed in a small room with 5 guys for a week

What I learnt in Florida: The American Dream does not exist, here are 6 reasons why

Pool-drama: A young man is trown out after having been harrassing other people for a week

Annonse

Pool-drama: A young man is thrown out after harrassing other people for a week

3. april | Artikler,Helse,Nyheter,Reise Read post in english

– No one else would be talking to you! A kind woman at the pool is about to get enough of this drunk boy ´s behavior. Earlier, she has been filming him, saying she will send it to him so that he can see how he acts. The manager has been trying to kick him out, but he keeps coming back and he is loud and swearing.

One hour later, he is taken away by the police.

Just as I was about to tell about my chill and idyllic stay at Freeman hostel in Miami, a drunk Englishman made my day. For days now I have been enjoying my stay in this reinvention of one of the Miami Beach’s classic 1930s Art Deco buildings. A chill oasis with a flowery backyard with pool. I would tell about this amazing place where the birds are singing in the trees, the nice garden where they grow their own organic vegetables, the artistic scenery, the nice and colorful chairs and sofas, the good music, the terrific food and drinks, the reward-winning bar outside Broken Shaker and the famous 27 restaurant.

It is such a vibrant and still peaceful atmosphere her – and I have extended my stay because it is so much better than cheap hostels in the city and I needed some rest. In the weekend a big wedding took place here; there were more than 90 guests. The wedding took place on the beach and the couple were dressed in costumes, pretending to be prisoners of love. What a fun and creative idea! The reception was onsite. I talked to my son on the phone for like an hour and showed him around with FaceTime and said this would be a perfect place for him and his girl friend to get married or bring a small kid, if they get one. He said the place looked pretty cool. It is cheap and still so much value for the money.

I love vacation, he screams

On my 8th day at Freehand the scene changes: One hour before I am leaving for my Spanish class in Lincoln road, it happens. I see a man sitting in a pool chair, and he is really loud – talking to himself: «Aunt Mary, I love you. I love vacation,» he screams. I smile at first, because Mary is the name of the organic garden here where they grow their own organic vegetables, fruits and herbs, and it is a bit funny. I can hear his accent is British English. He trows himself in the pool with shoes, trousers and pants on and looks wasted. He must be on drugs or booze.

This would be a nice, good Englishman when clean and sober. But its clear he has been drinking for a long time – like a real, good alcoholic. The waiters stop by and sigh and say «oh man – I dont wanna work tonight with him around here – its been going on the whole week. Last night he was harrassing some guests in the restaurant.»

«After he got a warning, he rented a suite,» a girl at the pool says. There he could drink even more.

A young guy dive into the pool to look for his key card

A manager appears and points at him, it is clearly he want the Englishman out of the pool area. The man gets the message, he is apparently mad, but at the same time tells the manager he must never forget that he is a champion. It is clear that the manager is not at all flattered.

Just as the man is leaving the pool, a girl calls for him: – S….., you forgot your shoes. He says he will be back, I think it is a threat. The drunkard comes back after some minutes, he has forgotten his key card in the pool and asks for help. A young guy dives into the pool, find the key card and give is to him. One more time he leaves the pool area, he is mad and kicks his foot into the pool and makes a small splash.

I will not touch your fine ass

It is not over. Five minutes later he is back, and climbs behind the girl to get his wet shoes. «I will not touch your fine ass,» he says, extremely loud. She is uncomfortable ands she says something like » Nobody else would want to be seeing you (or speak to you.)» He rambles on talking about niggers, killings and bitches. He calls the skinny girl fatso and tells her she has to lose some weight. It is extremely embarrassing.

I leave to my Spanish class not much later, and am shocked to see two police cars outside the reception. Apparently the manager now had enough of drunkboy and wants him out. One week with this badass was enough.

He came here to recover

I ask for information in the reception and is told that the poor guy apparently came her to sober up, recover and get in shape – but the tempting booze was way too easy to find – and he ended up ruining his luck both with the super nice hostel and the super nice girl that was so patient with him. He also bothered my room-mate on his way to beach, shouting with a bottle in his hand to the older man that he would like to be his friend. My roommate is 72 and wasn’t really ready for it.

«S´s family or friends – if your read this – please help this guy out.»

It is not about niggers, killings or bitches as the angry man was shouting about – the drama was all created by one young, white English man with snobbish accent, enough money to rent a suite and too drunk to know the American way of behaving.

OMG.

There are so many tragedies happening with too much booze and drinking. This is just one small story.

I still will recommend Frehand, though. Awesome place – and they took care of the tragic situation in a good way.

Just sad you missed out of all the fun, S. Hope you are now being taken good care of. I´d like to know how things are gong with you, so please send me a note. If you dont like what I wrote, we can work on a more happy ending. 😉

Ciao!

At Freehand hostel and hotel in south beach, Tina.

Global Burden:

In 2012, 3.3 million deaths, or 5.9 percent of all global deaths (7.6 percent for men and 4.0 percent for women), were attributable to alcohol consumption.¹²
In 2014, the World Health Organization reported that alcohol contributed to more than 200 diseases and injury-related health conditions, most notably DSM–IV alcohol dependence (see sidebar), liver cirrhosis, cancers, and injuries.¹³ In 2012, 5.1 percent of the burden of disease and injury worldwide (139 million disability-adjusted life-years) was attributable to alcohol consumption.¹²
Globally, alcohol misuse was the fifth leading risk factor for premature death and disability in 2010. Among people between the ages of 15 and 49, it is the first.¹⁴ In the age group 20–39 years, approximately 25 percent of the total deaths are alcohol attributable.¹⁵

Also read: How I survived sleeping in a bunkbed in a small room with 5 guys for a week

Also read: What I learnt in Florida: The American Dream does not exist, here are 6 reasons why

What I learnt in Florida: The American Dream does not exist, here are 6 reasons why

1. april | Artikler,Helse,Nyheter,Reise,Trening Read post in english

In a few years to come, 48 percent of all Americans will be out of work. 25 percent are already homeless, claims an experienced professor in South Beach languages in Florida, USA. The American Dream is haltering. If you are not prepared for the crisis, having to buy cheap burgers at Mc Donalds for your family every day, might hit you like a hurricane. Here are 6 reasons America is struggling to keep the balance. Actually this yoga on the beach is probably one of the last free things in this tough country.

By Tina C Holm, Norwegian freelance journalist and teacher, visiting Florida on a small scholarship from NJ – Norwegian journalist Association. I am studying English in Florida for some weeks and tell about my experiences.

Florida is overrated and it is not the real America, claims my professor.

Why did you come here? my professor in South Beach Languages asks harsly. He is a black, experienced businessman and teacher and father of 2 teenagers. One of them luckily got an athletic scholarhip and can study for free, the other one he has to pay for in college – and it is indeed expensive. Teaching doesn’t make you rich, and he and his family live on a low budget.

My professor wants to tell the truth about America: Florida is not the real America, and it is higly overrated, he says. We might have come her to enjoy the sunny, beautiful beaches, the amazing food and drinks in Oceandrive and the nice outlets, but actually there is not much going on – the marketing people have done a far too good job advertising Florida as a «dream place to be.» – Really, would you consider coming here again?» he asks a German couple, and they frown and do not answer. The way he talks, makes me depressed! He talks about school shootings – there was just one in Fort Lauderdale – and the guy who did it has fans now in jail, it is unbelievable, but true. It turned out he got angry when he did not have a Valentin date and he took an Uber to school that day with a gun in his gym bag and shot 17 people. Why the government does not stop families from being allowed to have guns in their homes is a mystery both to this professor and for me and the students. «There is something sick with a country where guns are status symbols,» he says, and refers to a YouTube-video where a father gives a gun to his daughter for her 12 years birthday; and they are both so proud about it. «Guns are made to kill people,» he continues, and his face grows enormously sincere.

There are a lot of disappointed and unhappy people in USA these days with less money and success than they had hoped for, and guns do not make it better: Recently a young boy killed his sister because she took the controller and wanted to switch video game, the professor tells me. Terrible! Recently, thousands of students were marching, protesting against guns who killed their class mates. Read more about this here.

Donald Trump offered disappointed people to keep America safe

2. One person who claims he will make America better is Donald Trump. The reason he could win the election and become president is according to the professor that he offered a solution for all these frustrated people: He said he would close the borders and keep America safe, so that nobody would take your job and food away from you. It is manipulative, but it worked. In an easy way the professor explains why nationalism is increasing both in US and the rest of the world: Economics is going down, and that makes us suspicious to new people: «Why are these new guys coming here getting money and jobs – when I had to struggle for everything..?» Even in Italy people are starting to get more racist and nationalistic and the Italians did not use to be like this! Poorer life make us more selfish and protective. People become frightened to lose what they have and hold on to their own rights and goods. In Norway we see the same sad effects. One of the female teachers in South Beach Languages is as devastated about this as I am: She gets so sad reading racist comments in social media, that it hurts. It is a small relief that there is a reason for everything: Poverty, economical crisis and the envy of others seeming to have a more easy life, make some people angry and hateful.

Give the people money from the state to live for

To give the people money from the state, is a solution, says my professor: He claims that in a few years from now, 48 percent of Americans will lose their jobs. Robots and self service will take over the jobs and that will be a huge crisis for the country and especially for people that are not prepared for it. He can’t believe why Switzerland recently voted no to money from the state: It is called civil wages. (borgerlønn.) Why would anyone say no to money help? As a single mom, I sure would be grateful for it. Wouldn’t you? Still it is a sad solution to fix a society in crisis with too much unemployment.

3. A lot of young people come to South Beach in Florida, USA hoping for a better life and to live The American Dream – but they do not find a job either because it is hard or because they do not know English good enough. Some of them hope to study here, they wish for a scholarship, like a young Italian girl I helped out with her university application. Her family does not support her decision to stay in US, what shall she do? She looks a bit uncertain. She just knows she dont want to stay in her hometown in Italy anymore.

Students stay in the school for years just to have a possibility to stay in Miami

The school I attend is nothing like I thought it would be. Most students are not coming here for pleasure for a few weeks like me. Some of them stay in the school for years, and they have to come every day, if not they will have to leave the country. You cannot stay in Miami without green card or without doing anything. Attending an affordable English school like South Beach Languages is an option. It is also a good opportunity to go there study for a Toefl test. The school gives Toefl practice classes. The famous Toefl test is hard and academical – but if you pass, it will be easier to get into a college and might also help you to get a job.

As a waiter you can get good money – you can live from tips

4. People I meet are not as friendly as I thought they would be. They are impatient, hard, cynical: «Miami people are not nice,» an educated gay couple I meet downtown confess. They lived here for two years and know everything worth knowing: «People here are not educated, they are rude also. If you want to meet nice and kind people, go to Fort Lauderdale,» is their advice.

A man from New York, born in Puerto Rico goes even further: «Do not believe in the system here. It is all corrupt. Miami is a crazy city where nobody cares about anything and where people work like slaves. Write about the real America, behind the facade,» he begs me.

Miami is an expensive city. Here, people want to do business, they want to get tipped – at least 15 percent or more. Even 30 percent tips, they ask for! Food and drinks look cheap, but when I receive my bill, they have included tax and tips which almost double the prize! If I dont tip extra , they look bitter. It is not like in Norway where the waiter is lucky if somebody actually tips him. Here you do not have a choice. A young girl in my school from Czech republic, says she gets much better paid here than back in her country, she works as a waitress here and can live from the generous tips. Back home they do not give her extra. She works hard, both with her English in school and in the restaurant. Her boyfriend stays in her home country and the distance is hard for the relationship. Still she prefers to stay here where she gets proper paid. We discuss hostels, and yes, she knows everything about sharing rooms in cheap and filthy hostels – that was all she could afford when she got here. Now she is lucky to have her own room, most people don´t.

My female teacher does not get a good payment. Nobody tips teachers. She is lucky to have found a cheap beauty store where she can take her little daughter to get her nails done every weekend. It does not seem like much luxury. One of my room mates in the Freehand hotel and hostel, hired a bunkbed for some days to attend his son´ś wedding. You should think a nice man like this would choose a 4 or 5 star hotel for this purpose, – but no. As a retired constructive worker, he has to save his money.

No holiday – no health insurance – no proper work – 25 percent are homeless

5. After hearing all these depressing details about violence and poor payment it is clear that The American Dream is fading. There are more bad news to come: In my country Norway, we have at least 5 weeks off every year and most people can easily go to their boss and get some time off. Not in the US. You work long days and maybe after 5 years, your office will give you 2 weeks off per year. That is all. Also, do not get sick in US – treatment is not free – and unless you have a health insurance – it can end really, really bad. Delivering a baby is expensive – in Norway we would think you are crazy if anyone said you had to PAY to have your own baby! You have to do it here. And in the US people are not hired anymore: 25 percent are homeless, claims the professor. By this he means that the companies will give you only 70 or 80 percent work so that they will not have to pay for your health insurance. This means your life is unsafe. Also – struggling to get money to pay for your life, means more and more people live unhealthy and become fat: Chips, doughnuts, burgers and sweet cakes are cheaper than vegetables and real, healthy meals.

Even the police sell drugs in this country

6. Most people I meet look innocent, but eventually, who can you trust in this country? Even the police sell drugs here, claims my professor. Wherever I go, I can smell marihuana, and I do not like it. I love wine, beer and gin, but drugs has always scared me off. I dont even like the smell of pot, it makes me feel sick. (I know my son is laughing when he reads this, but it is the truth.)

As mye teacher goes on putting America down, I feel like going home. And now they are scaring me off with the police: «Do not move if the police stops you,» says a young female student, also from Europe. She has been in school now for a long time, and cannot get out. «She even sleeps here, in the back room,» the professor claims, teasing. The girl looks at me, and it is clear she is suspicious of me, «the unknowing, lucky grown up tourist.» – If the police arrest you, do not look for something in your bag, then they will shoot you, » she says, just hold your hands out and play dead. » The professor nods his head. The US police is brutal, they recently shot a young man visiting his grandmother, because they thought his phone that he reached out for in the back yard was a gun. They shoot dogs too, dogs are just belongings here, not living creatures, he goes on My god.

I already feel half dead as I leave the school this last day. I really love this school, the nice teachers, the good atmosphere and my cool school mates in South Beach languages. After 2 small weeks I have a heartache leaving everything behind. But – the harsh truth about US makes me not want to live here on a permanent basis.

I will return to Europe like I planned. There at least I know how to keep my balance. Some experts even say The American Dream is now happening in Europe – and if you want to live it, you should go to Denmark (or even Norway.)

From South Beach, Florida on a small scholarship for studies, Tina. 🙂

Also read: Did the Recession kill The American Dream

Also read: 15 reasons The American Dream is over

Also read: Is The American Dream really dead?

Read all my revealing Miami stories here:

How I survived sleeping in a bunkbed in a small room with 5 guys for a week

Why I turned down a luxurious stay at Hilton; 3 good reasons

I was denied access to a nightclub in Miami; read my 3 warnings: What not to do

Outfit of the day: I paid just 5 dollar for this amazing jumper

Pool-drama: A young man is trown out after having been harrassing other people for a week

Also read: Warning: Oops, I did it again: I was thrown out of the bus because of Groupon