What is a comfortable distance between people?
How near should you be when you are interacting with Americans?
The anthropologist Edward Hall studied personal space and found that Americans tend to favor a slightly greater distance than in many other cultures. Find out what are the comfort zones for most Americans.
Culture Brief: To get a cup of coffee, say it right!
Recently, a client at Confident Speech expressed his frustration with buying coffee. Every day on his way to work, he would stop to buy a cup of coffee to take with him. Although he spoke English with an accent, the words he used to order coffee were pronounced clearly. Why did the counter person never seem to understand him?
RSVP: How to respond to invitations in the U.S.
When an invitation to a party or special celebration comes by mail or by email, you will often see the letters RSVP, followed by contact information for the host. What are you supposed to do? The answers might surprise you!
Culture brief: Tips (gratuities) in the U.S.
Just as in most other countries, tipping or giving gratuities is part of U.S. culture. The difference is that people are customarily expected to tip more in the U.S. than in many other countries. We pretend that the tip is optional, but it really is almost always an obligation.
When you give a tip, you are giving a cash gift to somebody who has provided a personal service to you: a restaurant waiter, hairdresser, hotel bellman, housekeeping staff, coat-check attendant, parking attendant, etc. In some cases, these service providers are paid very little salary. It is expected that most of their income will come from tips. The gratuity is rarely included on the bill. It is considered bad form to ask the service provider how much of a tip to give. Suggestions for tipping in the U.S.
Culture brief: Fahrenheit and Celsius
What is Fahrenheit? It’s the temperature scale used by Americans. Nearly everyone in the rest of the world has adopted the Celsius scale. When the topic is weather, communication between cultures is sometimes awkward. Most Americans simply are not accustomed to the Celsius scale, and most people from other countries are not accustomed to the Fahrenheit scale.
However, there is one solution, unique to New Yorkers and lovers of New York. If you know the New York subway system, you can use the Lexington Avenue line (the #6 train) as your guide to approximate Fahrenheit and Celsius conversions. Find the solution!
Mother’s Day, Father’s Day
In the United States, Mother's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May. Father's Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in June. If you are new to the U.S., you may want to learn about this American tradition.
“Sugar Coating” in American communication
Some pills would be difficult to swallow because of their bitter taste. That is why they have an outer layer of sugar (a “sugar coating”). We are grateful to one of our clients for pointing out that “sugar coating” is a fundamental characteristic of American communication.
Halloween
Halloween, October 31, is a colorful and
whimsical holiday celebrated with masks and costumes. It
has a unique tradition in modern American. However, it has
roots in traditions of the ancient Celtic peoples from the
British Isles.
Quick facts
about Halloween in America
Culture Brief: Independence Day
Independence Day, also known as "the Fourth of July," is a uniquely American holiday. Independence Day commemorates the date (July 4, 1776) when the founders of the United States signed the Declaration of Independence. This represents the birth of the United States. The new country had been a colony of England.
On the night of July 4, many towns and cities have a public display of fireworks. However, in most places, it is illegal for private citizens to buy and explode fireworks.
Summer camp
Summer camp is a big American tradition.
If you or people you know have children, there is a good
chance that some of these children go to camp in the
summer. What is summer camp? How do children spend their
time there?
Click
to learn all about summer camp.
Labor Day
Labor Day in the United States is celebrated
the first Monday in September, creating a long weekend.
It marks the official end of summer.
Many people take advantage of the long holiday weekend
for a last vacation or to enjoy outdoor activities.
More fascinating
facts about Labor Day in the U.S.
Washington’s Birthday or Presidents Day
Washington’s Birthday or Presidents Day is an American holiday celebrated the third Monday in February. The holiday was originally celebrated on February 22, the exact day on which the first U.S. president was born.
Washington’s Birthday is a federal holiday in the United States. Schools, government offices, banks, the stock exchanges, and many businesses are closed for the holiday. Nearly all stores are open. How is the holiday observed?