Name: Mallorie Age: 23 Sex: Female Ethnicity: Northern European via USA 

American Manners
2. You are invited to a small dinner to celebrate the graduation of a friend. Do you bring along something to eat or drink?
NO
Explain: No, if they invited me, I assume that they have food and drinks.

3. You bring your friend a gift for his graduation. Will he open it during the party?

YES

Explain: Many times Americans just leave presents in big piles and open them later, but I would rather give the gift in person and see them open it. So
basically I would make them open it. Haha.

4. At the party, your friend introduces you to his female cousin, a doctor who is about 30 years old. Do you call her by her first name?

NO

Explain: Well it depends on how you are introduced. If she was introduced by her first name, then I would call her that. However, if not, I would call her
Dr. whatever.

5. Your friend’s cousin invites you to a party at her house next week, but you know that you will be busy then. Do you tell her you will come any-
way, just to be polite?

NO

Explain: No because if I can’t come, I am not going to say that I can. Then you are being flakey in their eyes.

6. Do you ask your host for a drink if you are thirsty?

NO

Explain: Not unless you are friends with the host.

7. Do you light up a cigarette if you feel like smoking?

NO

Explain: Smoking is seen as a faux pas in many social situations, so one shouldn’t assume they can light up at a public party when there are lots of other
people there. If you need to smoke and other people aren’t smoking inside, step outside so it doesn’t bother anyone.

UniBraw 2007 - Steven Ellis 1

 8. Your friend has a very nice house. Do you ask him how much it cost?

NO

Explain: Not polite to ask about money matters. Not sure why, this is weird. People wouldn’t ask, but then they would talk about it with other people and
ponder how much they think it cost.

9. Dinner is served and everyone sits down. Do you begin to eat?

NO

Explain: Wait until host starts or says its ok to eat.

10. The food is delicious, but you are not really hungry. Do you eat anyway, to be polite?

YES

Explain: Polite to show the host that you appreciate the food. But wouldn’t feel pressured to eat too much.

11. One of the dishes is wonderful, and you would like to try a little more. Do you ask for it?

YES

Explain: But only if there’s extra, and check with others to see if they want some too.

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12. If your host asks you if you want more to eat, do you first say no to be polite?
NO

Explain: If I want more to eat, I will say so. If you say no, they probably won’t ask again.

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13. After dinner, do you help your host take the dishes out to the kitchen, to be polite?
YES

Explain: Try to help out with anything you can, since the host planned everything else and was kind enough to invite you/.

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14. After eating, everyone leaves the table to relax. Are you shocked when your host sits down and puts his feet up on a nearby chair?

NO

Explain: If everyone is relaxing, why can’t the host? As long as he is being social with the group, while relaxing.

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UniBraw 2007 - Steven Ellis 1

 15. Several days after the party, you want to tell your friend what a good time you had. Would you stop by his house without calling first?

NO

Explain: I wouldn’t know if my friend was home or not or if it was a good time to stop by, so I would call and check.

UniBraw 2007 - Steven Ellis 1