The cultural differences are mainly in the way we approach interactions with others. Russians are very reserved until you get to know them. Americans tend to be much more friendly right up front. They start out at an average senior engineer level salary and progress to an average senior management salary level. They are on a government pay scale which varies from year to year.
Some astronauts are still in the military and are paid by their military branch.
The Space Shuttle takes about 8 minutes to reach orbit. The only city I have been to in Massachusetts is Boston. It has been nice but a little cold. During the day it has been in the 50s. But today it is raining and turning colder.