Electronics

Technology is very weird here. The have all the same appliances etc. that we do, but here, things with plugs cost much more than in the States. For example, I bought an iron the other day (only because I don't have a dryer and even if you hang stuff up right after it's done washing, there are still wrinkles - lot of 'em) and the cheapest one was $20 - and I'm talking barely a step away from heating a flat rock on the stove type of iron. The better ones ranged around $70. A toaster was $30 minimum. Which isn't that much more, but when you can get a crappy toaster from Walmart for $10, it's a big difference.

The weird part is that they have more technology is others ways. There is wifi all over the place - it's faster and free in the airport here, but you have to pay in Atlanta. Their hospital was very tech savy and they save energy in all kinds of ways (automatic lights when you walk down the hall instead of leaving them on all the time, escalators that are motion sensored etc.). The doors to my school not only have an electronic lock with a PIN, it also has a fingerprint register to open the door (only the principals (and maybe the receptionist) can open the doors).

It's just odd how some things are more advanced in the US and others are more advanced here. I guess part of it is your value systen - they would rather have fancy locks, we would rather have cheap toasters. One isn't better than the other, they're just different. Although I wish I had a toaster :-)