Are you planning on leaving the U.S. for the first time? This post is a follow-up to my first time international travelers post. That post was for international travelers of all kinds. Today’s post is specifically about leaving the U.S. for the first time. There are some things that are very specific to the U.S. that are different from most other countries.

Converting Distances and Measurements

One of the first things you will realize when you are leaving the U.S. is how distance is calculated differently. Most other countries use the Metric System. This means using kilometers instead of miles. The U.S. is one of the very few countries where kilometers are not widely used. Here the Imperial System is used.

The Metric System is also used to measure items. This means that instead of using feet and inches you will use meters, centimeters and millimeters. In my opinion, if you do become familiar with the Metric System, you will see that it is easier than the Imperial System. It’s just different.

Converting Temperature

Another item that you will have to convert is temperature. The U.S. uses Fahrenheit whereas most other countries use Celsius. This can be a big change if you are leaving the U.S. for the first time.

In many ways Celsius is simpler. Freezing is 0°C.  With Fahrenheit freezing is 32°F. For some reason saying that freezing is 0° just makes so much sense. However, it is definitely an adjustment.

Counting Time

This one is fairly easy to get used to. Many countries use military time. This is where you start at 0 hours and go all the way to 24 hours. For instance, 13:00 is 1:00PM and 00:32 is 12:32AM. There is no need to specify AM or PM because you’ll know what time of day it is based on the number.

Electricity and Power

The power systems will be different in places outside of the U.S. First you will notice different electrical plugs and outlets. Also, the electrical current will be either stronger or weaker than in the U.S. You will need an adapter (image below) for almost any country that you travel to. In some cases, you will also need a converter.

An adapter changes the plug on your device or appliance so that it fits in the socket of the country you will be going to.

A converter is for items that have motors where the electricity strength is different. The power has to be either stepped up or stepped down. I melted a hair curler in Europe. I was not using a converter, and I should have. Even though I was using an adapter to convert my plug, the power was too strong.

Many adapters now also include converters within them.

Handling Trash and Recycling

Many countries take recycling very seriously. So, when you are leaving the U.S. for the first time you will notice a big difference in the trash bins.

You will need to sort recyclables from food garbage. There may be special color-coded bags you need to purchase to have your trash and recycling picked up. Otherwise, you may be fined. I noticed these types of bags in both Europe and Asia.

Did I miss anything?  If you will be leaving the U.S. for the first time soon, definitely check out my tips for first time international travelers. There are more travel tips, such as how to deal with long flights and language barriers. Then check out my post about applying for your first U.S. Passport.