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    9 views127 pages

    What's Up America

    Uploaded by

    omar

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
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    of 127
    ‘TRAVELReferenceCuture WHAT'S UP, AMERICA? is humorous look at American behavior based on real questi6ns international visitors and residents ask. ‘+ How do we judge if an American is just being friendly or truly being a friend? ‘* What is American food besides hamburgers and hot dog? « If his is the land of the free, why are there so ffiany rules? +a witty and insightful guidebook for understanding that clusive phenomenon, America poet A. Paso ror of lternational Mis at American University “if you want to get inside of US mindsets, forget the travel books, the culture guides, and the ip sheets and grab a copy of What’ Up, America” 7 orgs Sion, Co-author of Th Culture Detective USA “Whats Up, America?is a useful resource, not only for newcomers, to the US, but for those who welcome them." osha Wether, APS Intercltual Programs USA. Diane Asitimbay is the award-winning author whose insights, have been featured on FOX & Friends, KPBS Public Radio, and in various magazines and newspapers ee All requiasy aud &éWDIaWV ‘dN S.AWHM. WHAT'S UP AMERICA? Diane Asitimbay ‘A Foreigner’s Guide to Understanding Americans What's Up, America? A Foreigner's Guide to Understanding Americans Diane Asitimbay Culturelink Press Polak Alvoks Velo Prgea« ne be ec0 ! Ctr Pes, PO. Box S88, San Ding, Ch 92168 ars, Amer? Sond ion Copan ©2009 by Diane astndy Al its reserved No pa of his pubeaon my he reproduced ur warmed any Kem or hy ‘pedo fn he pulser PRINTED IN THE UNETED STATES OF AMERICA. bay of Congress Cason Pub Data Astinbay, Dane "atts Up. Amen? a Soreigners mide uneneinding Amescins / Diane Assay om BIR ROI 2 Prevod cto a 1. Und Stes Hamdloks, mazanso.2 Ud Sec if an estcee1571- Hanoy ‘mamas ec. 3. Vator, Rca! Sate andivog mamas Tie ise ss amt ms aot Fo nsuioral and Quay Oe: Cabra ree PO. Box 3598 Sun Dis, a 92163 Te (69) S138 {cover san by fn Whe ver design al cert by Kiss Chane ‘Vit or wehite a wow crelekpesscom Acknowledgments ‘would like w thank my husband Angel_and my ‘daughter Sonia for lending their enduring patience and, AL suppor: wile writing this book. A special thanks 10 ‘Gyanamn Saclananda, a dear friend who eritiqued my book and encouraged me at the same time. I am indebted to Lindy Ferguson for her editing of my early draft and for giving me practical advice. A big thanks to Geonge Simons ‘who gave his valuable feedback on this second edition. And finally, to all the international students that have come into ‘my life, for inspiring me to write this book, thank you. Material Girls & Boys... Coast (0 Cos onsen Mating Rituals Ills, Pills & Medical Bil... ‘A Game for All Seasons... phy. Introduction culture is, What's Up, America? tackles the why questions foreigners ask Americans and no one ‘wants t0 answer. This book explains the values bebind what Americans do. In doing so, uncovers the hidden rules of the culture and for the first time, reveals the ‘American psyche to foreigners, Since the first edition of What's Up, America? was published, this book has tken on a hfe of ts own, It has been used in a variety of courses including classes of English language study, American studies, student exchange programs, orientation programs for international students and introductory college courses in cultural anthropology and sociology. 2 Readers ‘will ind this second edition expanded with ew chapters on the American health care system and US. sports People who have come from countries that have ‘ational health insurance have asked me how the largely ppavate US. health care system works, hope their questions have been answered in the new chapter entitled “Ils, Pill, LT alike other books that will tell you what American and Medical Bills.” The sports chapter was also the product fof many conversations with international vistors about sports, Neweomers scratch their heads and ask, “How come Americans have so much passion for teir four professional sports other than the world’s beloved “football” This has led me to wete the new sports chapter called, "A Game for All Seasons.” Finally, I have updated the staisties for this ‘second edition based on new reports and surveys whenever it was possible What's Up, America? sets out to take the image of Americans out of the television tbe and makes them into real live three-dimensional people, with their myths, paradoxes and prejudices. By examining twenty-«wo aspects of the American character and lifestyle, ic unlocks the secrets fof how Americans really live. It will ake the international visitor inside the culture 10 reveal American passions and obsessions up close, where the landscape is often different from what was expected, ‘While I was writing this book, I realized the risks. We all know Americans come in all shapes andl sizes, as do four mindsets and beliefs, Because of our differences, some ‘Americans believe that it impossible to generalize about ‘American culture without tuming to stereotypes. While 1 realize there are variations on what I have ‘writen about American culture, 1 do believe there are distinguishing ‘cultural paterns that identify American behavior. Though T have made judgments about my culture and people throughout the book, | have often shown the cultural habits of not only the mainstream culture, but also the ethnic subcultures. T have also taken into account some of the regional differences in the United Stares. “Though What's Up, America? aims to reduce the culture shock that foreigners face, it is also for Americans who ‘vant 10 broaden their world view. The book compares American cultural habits to other pants of the world. This coffers a unique global perspective to American readers. If Americans become more curious about people from other countries and learn something about their cultural habits, it will improve our friendships and business relationships ‘with our global partners Since the Intemet and cell pbone have shrunk the world into a size that everyone is talking about, I believe the international perspective sn Whats ip, America? makes this book unlike ny ether handbook ‘These international comparisons are based oa my tavels aod work abroad as a journalist as well asthe numerous discussions with international students inside and ouside the chssroom, The book is also supponed by research, ranging ftom up-to-date US. Ceasis repons © current surveys cited at the end of the book. Though the Census is taken every fen years in the United States, I have inchided fRovernment updates whenever they were available. Every ‘effort has been mace to make ths book as complete and as ‘curate as possible, Graphs throughout the book illustate facts andl figures about Americans, which | hope readers ‘wil find useful From candid reflections on the American family, t0

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