United States is a country of freedom and respect, where there is a great

diversity of cultures and customs practices well formed, that may seem
interesting and strange the first time we met with them.

Love of country. Patriotism is very important in American culture, the

flag and national anthem are symbols well respected in this country. It
is common to see citizens proud of their history, with flags and
emblems decorating their homes. The Americans are, above all,
patriotic. Above anything is God, flag and his army.
There is no official national language. If English is its unofficial first
language. Spanish is the second-most common language in the
country
Americans eat large amounts of processed, convenience, and fast
foods.
Social occasions usually include alcohol. Hot dogs and beer are
ubiquitous at sporting events, and popcorn and candy are consumed
at movie theaters.
A number of secular national holidays are celebrated but are
regarded less as celebrations of patriotism than as family holidays.
The fireworks displays of the Fourth of July mark the Declaration of
Independence from Britain in 1776, but this is also a time for summer
outings such as picnics and camping trips with friends and family
members.
Thanksgiving is part of the national history that is understood by
every schoolchild. This annual feast celebrates the hardships of the
early colonists, who were starving in their new environment.
According to the legend, American Indians came to their aid, sharing
indigenous foods such as maize and turkey. Thanksgiving is important
not primarily because of its symbolism but because it is the most
significant family holiday of the year, one of the few large and
elaborate meals that families prepare.
On the first Monday in September, many Americans take a day of
work to mark Labor Day.
During the month of December, Americans traditionally decorate their
homes with a Christmas tree, colorful lights, and wreaths. They send
greetings cards to their friends and family, sing Christmas carols, and
shop for gifts.
American sports are quite distinct from those played elsewhere in the
world. The "big three" are baseball, football and basketball, which are
all popular on both the college and professional levels.
Age five: Kindergarten

Ages six-11: Elementary school. Children start in grade 1 and

advance to grade 5 or 6.
Ages 12-14 or 11-14: Junior high school or middle school (usually
grades 7-8 or grades 6-8, respectively).
Ages 14-18: High school (usually grades 9-12 or 10-12, depending on
whether the community uses middle schools or junior high schools).
Vacations are usually two weeks. Other company benefits may
include sick days and/or personal days. Americans usually retire at
the age of 65, but may retire earlier if their pension plans/financial
status permit it.
School is free through high school; college isn't, unless you get a
scholarship.
College is (normally, and excluding graduate study) four years long.
Students typically wear jeans, shorts, skirts, t-shirts, sweatshirts, and
sweaters. For class presentations, job interviews, and other
occasions, students may be asked to dress more formally. When
attending a special event, you should ask the host of the event about
appropriate attire.
All clubs and bars close at 2:00a.m. 10 or 15 minutes before this
time, the barman will say, Last call! meaning that is your last
opportunity to order another drink.
Store open between 9-11am, Store close between 5-9pm
Store in America are open all day; they DO NOT close for lunch. There
are some convenience stores, drugstores, and supermarkets which
close at midnight or are open 24 hours a day.
Politeness and patience will serve you well in the United States. This
includes remembering to say "please" and "thank you". If you need a
favor or have a simple request, saying "please" will be much more
efective than if you are simply demanding.
Americans prefer to maintain about 18 inches (46cm) of space
between themselves and the person with whom they are speaking.
This personal space is very important and, if limited, the individual
may become uncomfortable.
They will often say, "Hi, how are you?" or "How is it going?" but do not
wait for you to respond. These are friendly expressions, which are not
always a question but rather another version of "hello".
Most Americans work hard during the week days and look forward to
weekends. They plan for weekends in advance. Shopping, laundry,
TV, movies, going out with friends or relatives, outdoor activities, or
watching a game on TV or in a stadium.

Americans value their privacy a lot. If someone says come over at

any time, dont take it literally. If a person wants you to visit their
home, they will call you first and specify the date and time.
66% of Americans are overweight; 37% of those are obese.
Approximately 1% of Americans are homeless (3.5 million people).
Many people, especially teenagers, wear strange clothes, and many
have tattoos and body piercings.
Americans follow the rule of law.
You must be over the age of 21 and you must have an identification
card with a photo to buy or drink alcohol. In most states, it is illegal
to buy cigarettes if you are under the age of 18 and often you can
only smoke in certain places.
For weddings and showers, people register for gifts at a specific place
At an American funeral, it is not normal to make loud sad sounds.
Americans try to keep strong emotions inside.
Time is money. Never be late to classes, employment interviews,
appointments, parties, etc.
If you have an appointment, you'll mutter an excuse if you're five
minutes late, and apologize profusely if it's ten minutes. An hour late
is almost inexcusable.
Americans love their pets, sometimes more than they love people.
If a politician has been cheating on his wife, you would question his
ability to govern.
Americans thinks that the train system, by contrast, isn't very good.
Trains don't go any faster than cars; you're better of taking a plane.
Paying taxes. Taxes are sacred. It's no joke, try to avoid paying can be
criticized even by your best friend. They are well aware that the
country's economic power is due in large part to the rigidity and
seriousness with which address this issue.
Save. American culture is possibly the ultimate savings culture. Stay
tuned to coupons, deals and discounts. Almost all shops are called
"happy hour" which made significant discounts so I recommend you
report it before it's too late and while stocks last.