UNIVERSIDAD AUTÓNOMA DE NUEVO LEÓN

FACULTAD DE INGENIERÍA MECÁNICA Y ELÉCTRICA

British Culture
ESSAY ABOUT PAST AND
CURRENT TRADITIONS IN THE
USA

Nomber: Víctor Daniel Flores Rodríguez

Enrollment: 1601961
Master: GUILLERMO ROBERTO ROSSANO PEREZ
Hour: V3
Date: 21 of october of 2020

Ciudad Universitaria, San Nicolás de Los Garza, Nuevo León

 A) traditional food or dishes

1. Apple Pie
The saying is "American as apple pie" for a reason: this sweet treat is a national institution.
Forget anybody who will try to tell you pecan or key lime is better, because they are lying.
The simple combination of sugar, buttery pastry and tart sliced apples produces a dessert
so extraordinary people have devoted their entire lives to perfecting it. For a particularly
excellent example, try the apple pie with added green chilies at the Pie-O-Neer, in Pie
Town, New Mexico. Phone ahead and Kathy Knapp, the self-proclaimed "Pie Lady of Pie
Town", will save you a slice.

2. The Hamburger
Every single American will have a different idea about where to find the best hamburger in
the country, ranging from fast food on the West Coast (In-N-Out Burger) to fine dining in
New York (The Spotted Pig). But only one place is recognised by the Library of Congress as
being the birthplace of hamburgers: New Haven, Connecticut. The year was 1900 and the
establishment was Louis' Lunch, run by one Louis Lassen. Today his great-grandson, Jeff
Lassen, guides the ship, which still serves burgers made from five-meat blend and cooked
in a century-old cast iron grill.
3. Clam Chowder
It is basically illegal to visit Boston without trying New England clam chowder. The fragrant
soup is sold everywhere, and it looks hideous, being white and lumpy. But one taste is all it
takes to fall in love. Whoever decided to mix the quahog shellfish with tender potatoes,
salted pork, heavy cream and herbs is a total genius. There are many ways to eat it, but
you may as well go all out and get a bread bowl at the Atlantic Fish Co., where the chefs
carve out a cavity in a fresh boule, pour in the heavenly juice, then put the top back on.
Edible dinnerware.
4. Bagel and Lox
Trying to narrow New York down to a single representative cuisine is a fool's errand. A
Nathan's hot dog? Pastrami from Katz's? A bad cup of diner coffee? Let's pay respects to
the city's strong Jewish population and go with bagels and lox, a weekend staple on many
Manhattan tables. Scientific studies have been conducted trying to work out why the New
York bagel reigns supreme over all others; legend attributes it to the water. Whatever the
cause, head to Russ and Daughters on the Lower East Side and tell them you want a
selection of smoked fish, cream cheeses and, if you're feeling flash, caviar.
5. Deep-Dish Pizza
Pizza in Chicago looks and tastes different. The dish is deep, as the name suggests,
meaning the crust rises high and allows for an artery-choking volume of cheese and
tomato sauce. Unsurprisingly, they call it a "pie". It is not for the lighthearted and should
only be attempted while wearing dark clothes or a large napkin. For a particularly
authentic meal, pair the pie with sugary soda. You might like to do this at an Uno Pizzeria,
which claims to have invented the Italian American hybrid dish in 1943.
6. Drop Biscuits and Sausage Gravy
A biscuit in America means, essentially, a flaky scone often made with lard and buttermilk.
In places such as Montana, where people burn energy working on horse ranches, biscuits
are eaten at breakfast smothered in a thick white gravy that is studded with bits of
sausage. It certainly wakes you up in the morning. For a fun twist, try a musical version in
Austin, Texas, where Biscuits and Groovy offers varies with names like "the Aretha
Franklin" (maple bacon, colby jack cheese).
7. Texas Barbecue
Australians might like to stoke up a barbie on the weekend, but Texans live and die by the
practice. Mesquite smoked meats and tenderising rubs are common obsessions, and it is
not uncommon to go to football games and find people have brought entire ranges to the
parking lots that are worth upwards of five or even ten thousand dollars – a pastime called
"tailgating". For excellent brisket, head to the Dallas Farmers Market, stand in line for a bit,
then find a seat at Pecan Lodge. Also good are the pork links, pulled pork, beef ribs and
collard greens.
8. Hominy Grits
Southern food seems to exist in its own universe, and an entire list could be written just
focusing on things like chicken and waffles (yes, you read that correctly). So perhaps it's a
good idea to just go with one of the basics: hominy grits, which is essentially corn milled
into a rough powder and then boiled up with butter or bacon grease. It sounds rough but
it's actually sublime. For proof, try Blossom Restaurant in Charleston, South Carolina,
which offers Geechie Boy grits with shrimp and andouille sausage. Pair it with brussels
sprouts and sweetened ice tea.
9. Tacos
Los Angeles is a city with a taqueria on every street corner, basically. With so many
Spanish-speakers it's possible to find anything from greasy nachos on Venice Beach to
exquisite Michoacan-style goat stews. For a good sampler, forget the chain stuff and try El
Huarache Azteca, a tiny, no-fuss eatery in the neighbourhood of Highland Park, where
menus run the full gamut from fajitas to mole verde and "flautas" – fried crisp taquitos
stuffed with chicken. (Guacamole is a no-brainer.) Keep in mind that Mexican food and Tex-
Mex are two very different things.
10. Thanksgiving
So "thanksgiving" isn't technically a food, but it's such a legendary date on the American
culinary calendar (the fourth Thursday of each November), that it needs to be
acknowledged. Officially, the holiday is about friends and family, but everybody knows it's
really about turkey, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, green bean casserole and bellyaches.
While the recipes, like most things on this list, seem custom-made to give you a heart-
attack or diabetes, they're all delicious, and taken together create one of the most
ridiculous and enjoyable feasts you could ever attend. Many restaurants offer a menu, for
the most special option is always a friend's house, even if they burn the bird.
b) particular mannerisms or behaving on people social interactions

United States of America has a history of unified etiquette protocols that may not seem
obvious to foreigners. Millions of American families have etiquette books in their library. If
you are traveling to the United States on business or for a lengthy stay, you might want to
consider consulting Emily Post's Etiquette (first published in 1922 and now in its 18th
edition) or Amy Vanderbilt's Etiquette (first published in 1952). Emily Post's name has
become synonymous with proper decorum in the States, and remains so even today. Any
modern book on etiquette published in the States will cite either of these two historical
figures. For more modern situations, you may consult the Emily Post Institute, which will
help clear up any confusion on how to best represent yourself in America.

Things NOT To Forget:

Tipping: Restaurant and bar menus indicate prices without sales taxes (which varies by
city/county) and tips (15 to 20%), so everything you will order on the menu will end up
costing about 21% to 26% more. The sales tax will always be included on the 'check' (bill);
the tip is rarely included unless you are dining with a group of 6 or more people -- in this
case, many establishments automatically add a tip or 'service charge' or 'gratuity' of
between 15% and 20%. Such practices are ordinarily mentioned on the menu. 'Suggested
tips' might be mentioned on the bill to aid you in calculating the amount you want to tip.
If the tip is not included on the menu, don't forget to add it. Waiters' and waitresses'
salaries are small so they depend on tips. If you posses an iPhone or Blackberry, there are
applications that calculate tips (many smartphones also include a calculator, which comes
in handy.) Since sales tax is often around 9%, an easy way to calculate a tip is to look for
the sales tax amount on the check and double it; if it's 9% and you double it, you'll get a
figure that is 18% of the 'food/drink' amount. You can provide the tip to the server in one
of 2 ways:

Alcohol / Tabaquismo / Drogas

 Beber menores de 21 años es ilegal.
 Es un delito servir alcohol a una persona menor de 21 años.
 No se permite fumar en la mayoría de los lugares públicos. Por lo general, hay
áreas designadas para fumadores.
 Comprar y vender drogas ilícitas es ilegal en los Estados Unidos. Si lo
encuentran con estas drogas, es posible que lo arresten.
Animales / Mascotas
 Los estadounidenses tienden a amar a sus mascotas y las ven como "parte de
la familia".
 Para bien o para mal, los estadounidenses gastarán mucho de su tiempo y
dinero en mascotas.
 Existen leyes de protección animal para prevenir la crueldad animal.
 Las mascotas más populares en los EE. UU. Son los perros, gatos, hámsteres y
peces.

Etiqueta en el aula
 Se anima ALTAMENTE la discusión y participación en clase y pueden
contribuir a la calificación general.
 Los estudiantes permanecen sentados cuando llega el profesor o cuando se
llama al estudiante.
 La asistencia es esperada y crítica.
 Es importante comprender, no solo memorizar el material de la clase.
 

Algunos profesores permiten comer y mascar chicle en clase. Consulte con su

facultad o siga las regulaciones del programa de estudios.

c) clothes or costumes

Clothing

In America, your clothing--whether business or casual--should always be clean, ironed, and

neatly worn. Business wear is fairly standard, though northeastern cities like New York and
Boston are a bit more conservative than places like Los Angeles. Both men and women in
business wear suits, meaning the jacket is of the same material and matches the trousers
or skirt. Shoes are well maintained and shined. Women wear nylon stockings of
appropriate color for the season. Men wear neckties, and many women wear some kind of
neatly tied scarf with a suit.

Do Some Research. If you don't know how you should dress in a particular environment,
do some research by observing how other people dress in that environment. Other than in
fashion-oriented businesses, conservative American cuts for suits and jackets are
appropriate. Since clothing and appearance means a lot in American business, be careful
not to spend a lot of money on a high fashion item that doesn't work.
The term business casual calls for taking general business dress a step down. Men would
wear a neat dress shirt, but with no tie, no jacket or a jacket that contrasts with the
trousers. Women may dress similarly, doing without a neck scarve, certainly wearing an
outfit less formal than a standard business suit, but still maintaining a level somewhat
more reserved than truly casual clothing. Short pants for either gender, for example,
would not qualify.

In casual settings, exercise and sports clothing is widely worn by men, women and
children, though in some environments it might be too casual. Blue jeans are worn
throughout the United States by people in all walks of life. If you are in a casual setting but
are afraid of appearing too casual, pick up a copy of a major golf magazine, and wear the
same type of clothes the male golfers do.

Clothing Should Fit. Whether business or casual, the clothing should fit well, and be kept
clean and neat. That means wearing a shirt, and certainly underwear, for a maximum of
one day before throwing it in the wash. Many Americans find body odor extremely
offensive (even though the same odor would not be out of place in certain other
countries). Even if you yourself wash and use deodorant, your body odor could come
across if you try to get an extra day out of your clothing before washing. Be sure that other
people's noses will be more sensitive to this than your own.

Furs. Many Americans object to the wearing of fur coats and other items of clothing made
of fur because of the pain and suffering caused to the animals involved. The humanitarian
aspects of fur use may not concern you, but you should be aware that you will offend
many Americans if you wear fur. If you do wear fur, you will be criticized for it.

d) holidays

Here is a list of the most important national holidays in the United States:

New Year 1st of January

Martin Luther King Jr.Day: Third Monday in January

President's Day: Third Monday in February

Memorial Day: last Monday in May

Independence Day: July 4

Labor Day: First Monday in September

Columbus Day: second Monday in October

Veterans Day: November 11

Thanksgiving Day: Fourth Thursday in November

Christmas is on the 25th of December

There are several other unofficial holidays and special annual events in the United States
that can be fun and interesting travel experiences. Although most businesses remain open,
some services may be limited and travel may be more expensive.

Super Bowl Sunday: Usually occurs on the first Sunday in February. This annual football
game decides the winning professional team for the National Football League.

Valentine's Day: February 14 is the day dedicated to the celebration of love and loved
ones.

St. Patrick's Day - Irish culture is celebrated on March 17. Many people wear green and
enjoy Irish music, food and drinks.

Halloween: October 31 is a day normally celebrated by children, who dress up and receive
treats and other surprises when they visit their neighbors' houses. Adults celebrate in
costumes or by attending parties.

Spring Break: In March or April, students have a week off. In general, beach destinations or
receive more public during this time.

Summer Break: June to August, when most schools take a break.

Bibliography:

https://www.visittheusa.mx/info/festividades-y-eventos-especiales

https://harrisburg.psu.edu/international-student-support-services/guide-american-
culture-etiquette
http://www.lifeintheusa.com/everyday/clothing.htm

https://www.traveller.com.au/the-traveller-10-musttry-american-food-gqbjjm

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g191-c3541/United-
States:Customs.Habits.And.Etiquette.html