This web page is from an International Students Association site at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania, designed for international students who have just arrived in this country, in order to quickly and briefly familiarize them with American culture. No author of the page is given. Do you tend to agree or disagree with the characteristics listed below? Why or why not?

WHAT IS AN AMERICAN?

We don't want to stereotype, so we will try to be very careful with this section. There are so many aspects to any one culture that it is difficult to describe a specific culture in only a few words. Most people in the U.S. are either immigrants themselves or descendants of immigrants who have been arriving since the beginning of the 1600s. It is not surprising, therefore, that the U.S. contains many different cultures and ethnic groups. How then can we talk about "Americans?" When people try to describe Americans, they are often referring to the behaviors, values, and ideas of the white middle class, since historically people in this group have held the most prominent positions and have exerted the greatest amount of influence on the predominant ideals of society. Not all the Americans are white or middle class, or necessarily agree with middle class values, but these values are widely evident in the U.S.

To help you understand better the behavior you may observe in the United States, some characteristics of American culture are described below, but BEAR IN MIND THAT NOT EVERYONE IN THIS CULTURE WILL DISPLAY THESE TRAITS.

Progress & Change

Most people in the US accept change as an inevitable part of life. Achievement, positive change, and progress are all seen as the result of effort and hard work. In contrast Non-Western people tend to look upon their traditions as a guide to their future.

Individualism

Although family, community and national loyalty is important here, Americans place a higher value on individualism. Success (material success) depends largely on how well a person can take care of his/her own interest. This can seem selfish to some of you and, for others, may seem like freedom.

Informality

Americans are informal in their behavior. Older people are often addressed by their first names. This is not a mark of disrespect, but of a sense of equality.

Limited Friendship

The U.S. is an extremely mobile society. A natural consequence of this fact is that relationships are sometimes casual and of a short duration. Americans also have a very breezy "hi-bye" attitude. Do not expect a deep and lasting relationship to develop from a good talk one day. This is said not to discourage you but merely to point out that conceptions of friendship may differ.

Dating

In the United States men and women mix freely. Dating is the most common way for men and women to get together. Men and women look at each other openly. This does not mean that the person in question is flirtatious, bold or disrespectful.

In today's world, either the man or the woman asks for a date though it is more traditional for the man to do so. No matter who makes the invitation, the couple may decide to go "Dutch", or one may pay for both.

Dating does NOT presume sexual involvement or a long term commitment. It means that you meet someone for a specific (e.g. dinner, movie, party) purpose, mostly in order to get to know each other better.

Time Orientation

For Americans, time IS money. Americans use their time very efficiently and are highly conscious of the value of time. The American attitude toward appointments is indicative of this philosophy. Americans place considerable value on punctuality. Being on time is very important. If you have an appointment (with a faculty member, or your advisor, or a friend) and you are late or can't go, you should immediately give that person a call or leave a message with an explanation. If you know you are going to be late in advance, give that person a call on time so that they can re-arrange their schedule. Different types of activities have different conventions. One should arrive at the exact time specified for meals, and for appointments with professors, doctors and other professionals. You can arrive any time between the hours specified for parties, receptions and cocktail parties. Plan to arrive a few minutes before the specified time for public meetings, plays, concerts, movies, classes, sports events, church services and weddings. Because they tend to organize their activities by means of schedules, Americans often seem hurried, always running from one thing to the next and unable to relax and enjoy themselves. Realize that this is a consequence of their time saving philosophy, perhaps different than your own lifestyle, but respect it and don't see it as necessarily bad. Besides, an intelligent use of your time at Lafayette will definitely help you to be successful in taking advantage of your time here. Try to use all your free hours, and you'll see that you can actually do many more things than you thought you could.

Egalitarianism

Although there are many differences in social, economic, and educational levels, a notion of equality predominates in the U.S. Americans emphasize individual merit rather than a fixed social position and believe that anyone who works hard and well can achieve and succeed in life. Thus, people are generally treated equally (almost always). For example, Americans do not often show deference to people of greater wealth, greater age, or higher social status. Visitors from other cultures who hold high positions sometimes feel that Americans do not treat them with proper respect and deference. In the U.S., there is (generally) an attempt to equalize the relationship between two people and to avoid calling attention to rank and authority. Americans call each other by their first names much sooner and more often than people in other countries. You might, for instance, call some of your professors by their first name. In the U.S., people are seen as having equal rights, equal social obligations, and equal opportunities to develop their own potential, even though in reality things aren't always so equal.

Prejudice & Discrimination

This may seem contradictory after reading the previous paragraph. No matter how important human rights maybe in the U.S., the truth is that prejudice and discrimination is shown towards minorities. One of the most serious of these attitudes is racial prejudice or racism. Many international students are shocked to find racism in many places and situations. Discrimination is showed to other minorities, such as homosexuals, women, people of a different ethnicity, or of a religion other than Christian. At Lafayette, however, you will find a strong movement fighting against this discrimination, trying to open people's minds and showing them that we are all the same. The ISA plays an important role in this task. Other similar organizations on campus are ABC (Association of Black Collegians), ALW (Association of Lafayette Women), C.H.A.N.C.E., F.L.A.G. (Friends of Lesbians and Gays), and others.

Role of Women

There is a strong feminist movement in the U.S. which aims to ensure that women have responsibilities and opportunities equal to those of men. Lafayette women place a lot of importance on this movement. Although there are still aspects of society in which women have not yet achieved this equality, women play a fairly public and visible role in this country and have more responsibility and authority than they do in many other countries. At Lafayette you will hear expressions such as "sexism", "chauvinism" and "macho". They all express the negative attitude of some men towards women. Women at Lafayette will expect you to treat them as your equal peers.

Money and Materialism

America has a reputation of being a materialistic country. It will probably seem so to most international students. You will see that almost nothing is done for free; that there are few things to do in this country without spending money; that many people, including very young children, talk about money surprisingly often; that success is often defined in terms of affluence.

America is a country where the basic needs are covered and guaranteed for almost everyone. Therefore you may be surprised to see how discontent many people are, just because they can't afford a fancier car. Lafayette has a special reputation for this. It is known as a preppie school where many students have a lot of money. Don't feel inferior or even different if you can't afford as many things as some of your Americans friends can, or if you don't think their materialistic attitude correct. Make them respect you, and you'll be fine.

This is not to say that Americans are not concerned with the welfare of others. Large-scale volunteer efforts take place on the Lafayette campus to help those less fortunate. Students raise tens of thousands of dollars and donate thousands of hours of time each year to causes such as the homeless, children's shelter, prison tutoring and many more. If you are interested in such service, contact the volunteer coordinator, Sue Ruggles, at the Farinon College Center.

Hygiene

Americans are generally very concerned with personal hygiene, and most take a shower, change their clothes, and wash their hair everyday. Americans tend to find natural body odors unpleasant. In addition to frequent bathing, they use perfume, cologne, and deodorants on a regular basis. Occasionally a person may be shunned by Americans and not realize that it is because they find body odor offensive. Frequent bathing and the use of deodorants, soaps, etc., may not be necessary for one's health, but they may have an effect on a person's social relationships in the U.S. If you have a problem concerning this matter (e.g. with your roommate, hall friends...) you can try to adapt to them or, if you don't want to for your own personal reasons, try to explain that you are from a different culture and you have your own habits. However, remember the saying: "When in Rome, do as the Romans do".

Drinking

Drinking is a commonly accepted social custom among many Americans. However, you must be aware that the drinking age in the U.S. is 21. This law has several consequences.

- On one hand, it means that if you drink when you are under 21, you will be breaking a United States Federal Law, and you can get in a lot of trouble if caught.

- On the other hand, it means that many of the Americans who are under 21 will consider alcohol as something forbidden and therefore more desirable than it might otherwise be. You will see that young people will often look for a chance to get drunk. They will not drink alcohol to enjoy the taste, but simply to get drunk. Alcohol may also not be purchased. This has led some students to get fake IDs, so that they can buy alcohol and to enter nightclubs which require the legal age. This fact will probably be shocking for some international students from countries that allow drinking at any age. You may feel uncomfortable with the general attitude towards drinking and getting drunk. You will see that (even though this is not legal) most of the parties at fraternities and elsewhere will include drinking. Once again, try to explain your own habits and DO NOT FEEL OBLIGATED TO DRINK. If you are against such abuse in the use of alcohol there are certain student clubs, and living groups such as Substance Free, Straight Edge that promote abstinence, you may consider contacting them.

Towards International Students

This is a special tip for all international students. Many Americans feel uncomfortable, and sometimes offended when, in their presence, international students speak in a language different than English. International students may not realize this at Lafayette. You can of course speak your own language, but please try to be sensitive to the special situation in which you will find yourself.

For more information on cultural differences and possible misunderstandings check the handout given out by Pamela J. Grimes in the June 1994 NAFSA National Conference and other websites.

Gestures

Different cultures use different gestures to express certain indications, emotions or opinions. Therefore, some of the commonly accepted gestures in your culture may seem rude, inappropriate or meaningless to people from other cultures. It is important to be aware of some of these differences to avoid misunderstandings and to create a more harmonious environment:

1. "Thumbs up!"

A perfect example is a raised thumb, where in Western Europe and in the United States, it is used to signal approbation and approval. In contrast, there are other countries, specifically some areas in Greece and Italy, where this same gesture is considered an insult. The Greeks associate it with the expression "katso pano" or "sit on this!" As you see this "thumbs up" gesture in Greece certainly does not contain the same connotation that it portrays in other parts of the world.

2. "Motza" vs. "High Five"

The "Motza" is an insulting gesture used by the Greeks. It is displayed with the fingers and the thumb of the hand separated and it is pushed towards one's adversary. Both hands can be employed in this gesture. In the USA, this gesture is often used to show camaraderie or joy at having sine something well.

3. "The Horn Sign"

In Spain, for instance, this gesture is a big and very offensive gesture. In Italy, it is used to throw a bad spell on someone, like the evil eye. In the United States and most other countries, this gesture means nothing in particular.

4. Affirmation vs. Negation

The head movements for affirmation and negation have different principles when indicating "yes" and "no." Here are three examples that are used in Europe:

a) The nod-shake system: this movement involves the shaking of the head in an up and down manner for affirmation and back and forth for negation. This system is used throughout most of Europe.

b) The dip-toss system: this movement involves an upward movement indicating "no" and a downward movement indicating "yes." This movement is seldom repeated and is often used in Greece, Turkey, southern Italy and Sicily.

c) The roll-toss system: this movement consists of the rolling to the head from shoulder to shoulder indicating "yes" and upward movement indicating "no." This system is often used in Bulgaria and parts of Yugoslavia.

Despite of these differences, remember to respect one another for you may learn from each other.

original site: http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~isa/info/handbook/handbook_american.htm (November 11, 2002).