The Europeans are also very special. Yesterday, I was at the committee that goes over the research grant proposals and assigns funding. One of the scholars needs to travel to Winky-Dink, Utah to conduct his research. Among other things, he requested funds to rent a car in Winky-Dink.
One of the people on the committee is a recently hired scholar from a European country.
“I don’t know why he can’t just get a cab instead of wasting the university money on a car rental,” the European announced.
There was a stunned silence.
“There are no cabs in Winky-Dink, Utah,” a colleague explained.
“What do you mean, there are no cabs?” the European persevered. “There are cabs everywhere!”
The laughter was so loud that the secretary ran in to see if we were OK.
“Let them take cabs,” a scholar from the Department of History moaned, wiping tears off her face. “And let them eat cake, as well, I suppose.”
I, however, know exactly how the European feels. I once spent 30 minutes trying to flag down a cab in New Haven, CT, and I learned my lesson.
Clarissa's Blog 
Also, sometimes you can call a “cab” (car service) to come and get you, but in America, it can be way cheaper to rent a car for a couple days than to use a car service a couple of times.
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I’m afraid that Winky-Dink might not even have a car service.
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Western Europe is not Eastern Europe and Southeast Illinois is not Chicago…
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I always really liked the public transportation system in Chicago.
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