Living in or even just visiting a new country can be an exciting and fun experience, but you will most likely also have to adjust quite a few of your preconceived ideas about the world. You will often find yourself wondering why people do or say things in a specific way. The United States is no exception to the rule. To make the adjustment easier, here are a few of the most important things you should know about Americans and their culture.
Diversity in American culture
The United States is often referred to as a melting pot because its population consists of people from so many different cultures and backgrounds, and the variety of values, beliefs, and traditions is so huge.
There is, in reality, no such thing as a typical American. Customs and cultures vary from one region to the next, and even from one family to the next. If you are invited to take part in a Californian cookout, that could involve grilling on a beach. In Texas, however, it will more likely mean a barbeque contest in a local park. And in New York City it might be a block party right in the middle of the street.
The American Dream and individualism
The culture in the United States is extremely individualistic and people are expected to be independent and self-reliant. The Americans believe in a meritocracy and equal opportunities – that reward should be based on someone’s abilities instead of his or her social standing or wealth. American society, therefore, promotes the ideal that every person should have a chance to achieve success and prosperity and be upwardly mobile, irrespective of his or her place of birth or social class.
This idea, which is often referred to as the ‘American Dream’ is driven by the rather idealistic viewpoint that someone’s successes or failures in life are a direct consequence of their personal contribution to society. If they put in enough effort anyone should, therefore, be able to achieve a higher living standard than their parents.
This worldview is typically epitomized by ‘self-made’ people (entrepreneurs) who work their way up to the top even if they started with very little. The belief in the American Dream is also what drives large numbers of immigrants to leave their home countries and seek a new future in the United States.
American food and drink
The food scene in the United States is incredibly diverse. This can largely be ascribed to the diversity of the population and the sheer size of the country. The US population currently stands at more than 1/3 of a billion. Included in this number are people from across the world, including many Native Americans.
Corn and wheat are the main cereal grains. Other traditional ingredients include potatoes, sweet potatoes, maple syrup, squash, and turkey. The national cuisine also includes many indigenous dishes that originated among American Indians, slaves from Africa, and early settlers from Europe.
Highly popular American meals such as pizzas, fried chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers, tacos, burritos, pasta dishes, and apple pie derive from recipes brought in by generations of immigrants that have since often been adapted to local tastes.
A love for sports
Millions of Americans love and closely follow sports such as football, basketball, and baseball. You will, however, soon find out that a big difference between your home nation and the United States is probably that soccer has a relatively small following here.
Sports is often both a dividing and a uniting factor among the people of the United States. During the annual basketball and football season, you should not be surprised to see Americans getting involved in heated debates about whose team is superior.
While it’s fun to watch football, it can also be rather difficult to understand. Americans will gladly help you out with this. After such an information session you might even begin to comprehend why more than 100 million Americans regularly watch the Super Bowl!
Thinking big
While many other nations might place a high value on being practical and concise, Americans often go for luxurious, ostentatious, and large. Do not be surprised, therefore, by the huge SUVs you will often see sprawled across parking lots, or the massive trucks on the road. In line with thinking big, Americans also love their space. To the average American, large often means practical.
Thinking big has also found its way to American food. You will quickly notice the huge portions served in many restaurants. It is also very common for somebody to order a meal that’s way too big to finish in one go and then take whatever they can’t finish home as a ‘doggy bag’ or leftovers.
Small Talk
Many Americans love what is locally known as small talk. This involves making conversation with friends and strangers alike about topics that are not controversial, for example, sports, the weather, or popular TV shows.
Don’t be alarmed, therefore, if while waiting for the bus to arrive a total stranger asks your opinion about last night’s Super Bowl match. He or she might also crack a joke about how long the line is, or comment on the weather. Small talk is supposed to be completely harmless, so it’s not acceptable if a stranger e.g. makes a politically loaded statement.
Americans love competition
Similar to many other nations, Americans strongly believe in the merits of a competitive society. From a very young age, therefore, U.S. kids are encouraged to always try their best and work harder, especially in academics but also in sports and even in hobbies.
Not surprisingly, therefore, universities are typically also highly competitive. Children are being prepared for the stringent admission process from a young age. Many high schools (and even a fair number of pre-schools) also have their own very competitive admission processes. Even Girl Scouts will compete during fundraising events to sell the most cookies so they can earn a prize.
Being ambitious is another part of the American Dream. People are encouraged to be proactive if they are trying to accomplish something and not to sit back and allow someone else to take first prize.
Speaking out and speaking up
It is also encouraged in American culture to speak up and speak out about what you believe is the best way ahead. This is especially common in the workplace, where you will find that your fellow workers are not scared to voice their views.
Although your manager should be respected, therefore, it is quite acceptable to ask questions about the way things are done. If you want more clarity about a specific project or job, your American boss would actually appreciate it if you speak up. Note, however, that even here there is a thin line between asking questions or voicing your opinion and being rude and/or subversive.
Being self-sufficient and independent
In the United States, the idea of being independent and self-sufficient is highly valued. That is why large numbers of American teenagers and students often leave home for relatively long periods of time to travel or attend summer camps. And after they’ve graduated from secondary school, they often choose to attend universities and colleges that are relatively far from where their parents live. Once they graduate, they would also often accept jobs in major cities that might be hundreds or even thousands of miles from where they grew up.