The USA is often pictured as a coun

The USA is often pictured as a country of skyscrapers. In fact, it is not quite so. The tall buildings are located in the centre (downtown), housing offices of large firms, banks and shops. Real America begins with little cosy houses designed for one family with children. Each house has its own style and "face"; its inhabitants decorate it with love and care. Of course, young people usually don't bother about having a house of their own until their mid-twenties, and prefer renting an apartment to buying a house. As soon as they get engaged, they start looking for a suitable house to live in. Engagement lasts from half a year to three years (sometimes even longer), but anyway by the age of thirty the young couple starts living in a house of their own.

A typical house is two-storeyed. On the ground floor a sitting room, hall and a kitchen are situated, while upstairs there are bedrooms. A rage is downstairs. An American will say: "I live in a two-bedroom use" which means the house is not very large, or: "There are five bedrooms in my house", which means the house is quite large. In front of the house there is usually a small garden or a lawn. In the basement there is often a laundry and sometimes even a gym! Winters are seldom severe in the USA, so the walls are not thick. The houses are built very quickly — it will take a building company three to four months to build a new house. Of course, there are all modern conveniences.

The houses may be located rather far from the centre. Living far from the centre is not a problem as every family member has a car.