■American Society and Culture
◆ Diversity
America is eventually a nation of immigrants and consequently is a cultural hotchpotch in every sense of the word. Not only is the country inhabited by people from foreign countries but all Americans in one way or another trace their origin back to another culture, whether Irish, German, Italian or Scottish. Walking around any major city one will observe the “melting-pot” that it is.
◆ Informal and Friendly
Most people coming to the United States may already know something about the people through TV. Although this is of course a distorted reality some of the fixed images are true, especially American friendliness and informality. People are inclined to not wait to be introduced, will begin to talk with strangers as they stand in a line, sit next to each other at an event, etc. Visitors can often feel surprised when people are so informal to the extent of being very direct or even impolite.
◆ Time is Money
The country that invented the phrase obviously lives as the phrase. In America, time is a very valuable commodity. People “save” time and “spend” time as if it were money in the bank. Americans assign personality characteristics and values on the basis of how people make use of time. For example, people who are punctual are thought to be good people, trustworthy people who others can rely on.
◆ The Family
The family unit is usually regarded as the nuclear family, and is typically small (except among certain ethnic groups). Extended family relatives live in their own houses, often quite far away from their children.
Individualism is valued, and this is demonstrated in the family unit. People take pride in their individual achievements, enterprise and success, and may, or may not, share those sources of pride with their seniors.
■Customs and Etiquette in the USA
◆ Meeting and Greeting
◇Greetings are casual. All that is needed is a handshake, a smile, and a “hello”.