United States of America
The United Sates of America is made up of 50 states and has a large and diverse population of around 300 million.
Immigration is largely responsible for this diversity, however many experts term America a "melting pot" for trying to make its citizens American.
Who are Americans?
Americans fall victim to many stereotypes: they don't know anything about the rest of the world, they are all right-wing conservatives, they can't point out their hometowns on a map, they think they are better than everyone else, etc. While this may be true in some instances, Americans are generally very friendly, welcoming, and accepting of others (especially foreigners).
American Values
- Individuality: U.S. Americans are encouraged at an early age to be independent and to develop their own goals in life. They are encouraged to not depend (too much) on others including their friends, teachers and parents. They are rewarded when they try harder to reach their goals.
- Privacy: U.S. Americans like their privacy and enjoy spending time alone. Foreign visitors will find U.S. American homes and offices open, but what is inside the American mind is considered to be private. To ask the question "What is on your mind?" may be considered by some to be intrusive.
- Equality: U.S. Americans uphold the ideal that everyone "is created equal" and has the same rights. This includes women as well as men of all ethnic and cultural groups living in the U.S. There are even laws that protect this "right to equality" in its various forms.
- Time: U.S. Americans take pride in making the best use of their time. In the business world, "time is money". Being "on time" for class, an appointment, or for dinner with your host family is important. U.S. Americans apologize if they are late. Some instructors give demerits to students who are late to class, and students at most universities have institutional permission to leave the classroom if their instructor is 10 or 15 minutes late.
- Informality: The U.S. American lifestyle is generally casual. You will see students going to class in shorts and t-shirts. Male instructors seldom wear a tie and some may even wear blue jeans. Female instructors often wear slacks along with comfortable walking shoes.
- Achievement & hard work/play: The foreign visitor is often impressed at how achievement oriented Americans are and how hard they both work and play. A competitive spirit is often the motivating factor to work harder. Americans often compete with themselves as well as others. They feel good when they "beat their own record" in an athletic event or other types of competition. Americans seem to always be "on the go", because sitting quietly doing nothing seems like a waste of time.
- Direct & assertive: U.S. Americans try to work out their differences face-to-face and without a mediator. They are encouraged to speak up and give their opinions. Students are often invited to challenge or disagree with certain points in the lecture. This manner of direct speaking is often interpreted by foreign visitors as rude.
- Looking to the future and to change: Children are often asked what they want to be "when they grow up"; college students are asked what they will do when they graduate; and professors plan what they will do when they retire.
Culture Shock
You may notice that these American values are, in some instances, quite different from your own. When you come to the U.S. the reality of these differences will be more evident. You will likely experience culture "shock" as you learn to adjust to the new culture and way of living. This is very normal and requires both time and patience.
Things you can do to help with your integration:- Speak English as much as possible. Find an American roommate or study-mate, and participate in the university's host family program.
- Ask people to speak more slowly and write down what they say.
- Discuss any problems in your studies with your professors.
- If you feel lonely or homesick, talk to someone (a counselor, teacher, or friend) and then do something nice for yourself that day.
- Take advantage of opportunities to tell others about your country and family. U.S. Americans are sometimes shy and won't ask.
- Keep a smile handy to help you feel better, and others too.
Food
The cuisine of the United States is extremely diverse, owing to the vastness of the continent, the relatively large population (1/3 of a billion people) and the number of native and immigrant influences.
Slow-cooked pork and beef barbecue, crab cakes, potato chips, and chocolate chip cookies are distinctively American styles. Soul food developed by African slaves, is popular around the South and among many African Americans elsewhere. Syncretic cuisines such as Louisiana creole, Cajun, and Tex-Mex are regionally important. Iconic American dishes such as apple pie, fried chicken, pizza, hamburgers, and hot dogs derive from the recipes of various immigrants. So-called French fries, Mexican dishes such as burritos and tacos, and pasta dishes freely adapted from Italian sources are widely consumed.
Clothing
Apart from professional business attire, clothing in the United States is eclectic and predominantly informal. While Americans' diverse cultural roots are reflected in their clothing, particularly those of recent immigrants, cowboy hats and boots and leather motorcycle jackets are emblematic of specifically American styles. Blue jeans were popularized as work clothes in the 1850s by merchant Levi Strauss, a German immigrant in San Francisco, and adopted by many American teenagers a century later. They are now widely worn on every continent by people of all ages and social classes. Along with mass-marketed informal wear in general, blue jeans are arguably U.S. culture's primary contribution to global fashion. The country is also home to the headquarters of many leading designer labels such as Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein. Labels such as Abercrombie & Fitch and Eckō cater to various niche markets.
Religion
In the USA over three quarters of Americans identify as Christian with a slight majority identifying as Protestant (56%). Catholicism 27%) is the largest Christian denomination as Protestants belong to a variety of denominations. There are also many other religions such as Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism, among others.
The government is a secular institution, with what is often called the "separation of church and state" prevailing.
Sports
Baseball is considered America's national sport, however football, golf, basketball, and NASCAR (Car Racing) are just as popular. Americans love to watch these sports on TV, perhaps more than playing them. This is one of the reasons sports stars have become so iconic. Athletes such as Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods have achieved a status even Hollywood movie stars cannot reach. Almost every child in the US grows up with at least one sporting hero.
Basketball tends to be the most popular informal game. You will see basketball hoops and people playing almost everywhere, just like you see people playing football around the world. High school and collegiate sports are taken very seriously.
Housing
About half of Americans now live in what is known as the suburbs. The suburban nuclear family has been identified as part of the "American dream": a married couple with children owning a house in the suburbs. This archetype is reinforced by mass media, religious practices, and government policies and is based on traditions from Anglo-Saxon cultures. One of the biggest differences in suburban living is the housing occupied by the families. The suburbs are filled with single-family homes separated from retail districts, industrial areas, and sometimes even public schools. However, many American suburbs are incorporating these districts on smaller scales, attracting more people to these communities.
American Holidays
Americans find many reasons to celebrate. On a National scale there are 10 Federal Holidays. Not all States recognize the same Holidays as the Federal Government. States and local governments have a separate list of Holidays which may be different from the Federal list.
- New Year's Day
- Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Washington's Birthday
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Columbus Day
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
