UnderstandingUnderstanding American Culture American Culture

International CenterInternational CenterPfeiffer UniversityPfeiffer University

Understanding American CultureUnderstanding American CultureThis presentation has been created to help you make a This presentation has been created to help you make a successful transition to the United States and to Pfeiffer successful transition to the United States and to Pfeiffer

University.University.

“ “Culture, as a body of learned behaviors common to a given Culture, as a body of learned behaviors common to a given human society, acts rather like a template (i.e. it has human society, acts rather like a template (i.e. it has predictable form and content), shaping behavior and predictable form and content), shaping behavior and consciousness within a human society from generation to consciousness within a human society from generation to generation.”generation.”

“ “Culture is ordinary: that is the first fact. Every human society Culture is ordinary: that is the first fact. Every human society has its own shape, its own purposes, its own meanings.” has its own shape, its own purposes, its own meanings.”

Cultural GeneralizationsCultural Generalizations Each culture has Each culture has

some some generalizations generalizations that you can use to that you can use to better understand better understand its values and its values and characteristics. characteristics.

By understanding a By understanding a new culture’s new culture’s values and values and characteristics you characteristics you can better navigate can better navigate the challenges of the challenges of day-to-day life and day-to-day life and become more become more comfortable in your comfortable in your new surroundings.new surroundings.

American Characteristics & ValuesAmerican Characteristics & Values individualism & self-individualism & self-

reliancereliance

friendly, informal,friendly, informal,outgoingoutgoing

confidence, idealism & confidence, idealism & ambitionambition

generosity, openness generosity, openness and predictabilityand predictability

respect for lawsrespect for laws

tolerance and tolerance and multiculturalismmulticulturalism

passionate about truth, passionate about truth, justice, & equality justice, & equality

firm believers in the firm believers in the

written word & written word & contractual agreementscontractual agreements

affluence,affluence, consumerism, consumerism, capitalismcapitalism

friendly, outgoing, informalfriendly, outgoing, informal

““Bold Talent shook his head. How like Bold Talent shook his head. How like children the Americans were, with their children the Americans were, with their pranks and easy warmth. Men who offered pranks and easy warmth. Men who offered their hands for strangers to shake, ladies their hands for strangers to shake, ladies who sat and chatted at dinner with who sat and chatted at dinner with gentlemen they had never seen before, gentlemen they had never seen before, children who threw snowballs at adults no children who threw snowballs at adults no matter what their station. He would miss matter what their station. He would miss them.”them.”

-Betty Bao Lord, Spring Moon-Betty Bao Lord, Spring Moon

confidence, idealism, ambition, and confidence, idealism, ambition, and “a can-do attitude”“a can-do attitude”

““It is a fabulous It is a fabulous country…it is the one country…it is the one place where miracles place where miracles not only happen, but not only happen, but where they happen where they happen all the time.”-Thomas all the time.”-Thomas WolfeWolfe

““This is America. We This is America. We can do anything can do anything here.”here.”-Ted Turner-Ted Turner

““The United States is The United States is like a gigantic boiler. like a gigantic boiler. Once the fire is Once the fire is lighted under it there lighted under it there is no limit to the is no limit to the power it can power it can generate”generate”

-Sir Edward Grey-Sir Edward Grey

tolerance, multiculturalismtolerance, multiculturalism

““For me there was only For me there was only one place to go if I one place to go if I couldn’t live in my own couldn’t live in my own country: America. It is country: America. It is a country of a country of immigrants. There is immigrants. There is such tolerance for the such tolerance for the foreign and unfamiliar. foreign and unfamiliar. Americans continue to Americans continue to amaze me.”amaze me.”

-Milos Foreman, Time-Milos Foreman, Time

"America is not like a "America is not like a blanket -- one piece blanket -- one piece of unbroken cloth, of unbroken cloth, the same color, the the same color, the same texture, the same texture, the same size. America is same size. America is more like a quilt -- more like a quilt -- many patches, many many patches, many pieces, many colors, pieces, many colors, many sizes, all woven many sizes, all woven and held together by and held together by a common thread.“a common thread.“-Henry M. Jackson-Henry M. Jackson

respect for the lawrespect for the law

““Once we were out in a rural area in the Once we were out in a rural area in the middle of nowhere, and we saw an middle of nowhere, and we saw an American come to a stop sign. Though he American come to a stop sign. Though he could see in both directions for miles and no could see in both directions for miles and no traffic was coming, he still stopped!”traffic was coming, he still stopped!”

-Turkish exchange student in -Turkish exchange student in

““There is a Difference”There is a Difference”

generosity, openness and generosity, openness and predictabilitypredictability

““Khoo Ah Au liked Americans. He found them on Khoo Ah Au liked Americans. He found them on the whole, generous, easygoing and completely the whole, generous, easygoing and completely predictable. Above all he found their personal predictable. Above all he found their personal relationships easy to read…relationships easy to read…

His own people were always very careful not to His own people were always very careful not to give themselves away, to expose crude feelings give themselves away, to expose crude feelings about one another. Americans seemed not to about one another. Americans seemed not to care how much was understood by strangers. It care how much was understood by strangers. It was almost as if they enjoyed being was almost as if they enjoyed being transparent.”transparent.”

-Eric Ambler, Passage of Arms-Eric Ambler, Passage of Arms

affluence, consumerism, and affluence, consumerism, and capitalismcapitalism

““But as always happens, But as always happens, no matter how often one no matter how often one visits America, the really visits America, the really overwhelming thing was overwhelming thing was the affluence…We should the affluence…We should always remember that always remember that when Americans talk about when Americans talk about being in a slump, they being in a slump, they mean a slump by their mean a slump by their standards. For the visitor, standards. For the visitor, the sheer wealth of the the sheer wealth of the country must remain the country must remain the abiding impression.”abiding impression.”

-Clive James, Flying Visits-Clive James, Flying Visits

““America is really a America is really a salesman’s society…they salesman’s society…they are always selling are always selling something. They are something. They are selling their product, their selling their product, their company, their services, company, their services, and last but not least, they and last but not least, they are selling themselves-and are selling themselves-and doing quite well at it too.” doing quite well at it too.”

-Visitor from the -Visitor from the Netherlands.Netherlands.

American attitudes toward…American attitudes toward…DirectnessDirectness Americans are Americans are

generally direct in generally direct in their communication their communication style (factual, style (factual, concise, using words concise, using words efficiently, open)efficiently, open)

Students may Students may (sometimes) need to (sometimes) need to modify their modify their communication style communication style to be understood by to be understood by faculty and staff.faculty and staff.

FriendlinessFriendliness Americans are Americans are

generally friendly and generally friendly and outgoing when outgoing when meeting new people.meeting new people.

This sometimes leads This sometimes leads international international students to think they students to think they have found a new have found a new best friend and then best friend and then to be disappointed if to be disappointed if this is not the case.this is not the case.

American attitudes toward…American attitudes toward…

InformalityInformality Americans tend to be Americans tend to be

informalinformal in terms of in terms of titles. If you are titles. If you are unsure, ask them how unsure, ask them how they prefer to be they prefer to be addressed. addressed.

PromptnessPromptness Be on time or 5 minutes Be on time or 5 minutes

early (no earlier)early (no earlier) Do NOT Do NOT be latebe late

Concept: “Time is Money”Concept: “Time is Money”Why? Americans want to Why? Americans want to spend their time spend their time productively. If you are productively. If you are late meeting with them, late meeting with them, they have lost time to do they have lost time to do other important things.other important things.

American attitudes towardAmerican attitudes toward……

Personal HygienePersonal Hygiene

Many Americans bathe or shower at least once a Many Americans bathe or shower at least once a day, more often if they're involved in sports or day, more often if they're involved in sports or fitness activities. The American bath or shower fitness activities. The American bath or shower involves immersing the body in water and involves immersing the body in water and covering it completely with soap lather, often covering it completely with soap lather, often from a deodorant soap. Many Americans use from a deodorant soap. Many Americans use talcum powder after their bath or shower, but talcum powder after their bath or shower, but virtually all well-groomed Americans use an virtually all well-groomed Americans use an underarm deodorant before they get dressed. underarm deodorant before they get dressed. Nearly $2 billion in deodorant is sold every year. Nearly $2 billion in deodorant is sold every year. Many Americans also wear newly cleaned Many Americans also wear newly cleaned clothes every day, including underwear, shirts clothes every day, including underwear, shirts and tops. and tops.

American Attitudes Toward…American Attitudes Toward…DatingDating

Both men and women initiate dates (men more Both men and women initiate dates (men more often)often)

It is expected by many Americans that the man will It is expected by many Americans that the man will at least offer to pay, but the host (asker) usually at least offer to pay, but the host (asker) usually pays, or the bill is split (this is called “dutch treat”)pays, or the bill is split (this is called “dutch treat”)

Is it a date? If you’re not sure, it’s okay to ask.Is it a date? If you’re not sure, it’s okay to ask. ““I think of you as a friend” is often a polite way of I think of you as a friend” is often a polite way of

saying “I don’t want to date you.”saying “I don’t want to date you.” Despite what you may have seen from American Despite what you may have seen from American

television or movies, most Americans do not “sleep television or movies, most Americans do not “sleep around.”around.”

If someone says “No” or “Stop” or indicates they are If someone says “No” or “Stop” or indicates they are not interested, not interested, YOU MUST BACK OFF AND LEAVE YOU MUST BACK OFF AND LEAVE THEM ALONE.THEM ALONE. Not understanding that can lead to a Not understanding that can lead to a serious offense like sexual harassment or assault. serious offense like sexual harassment or assault.

American attitudes toward…American attitudes toward…Public BehaviorPublic Behavior

Being “Orderly”Being “Orderly”• First come first served; first in line goes firstFirst come first served; first in line goes first• Get in line, wait your turnGet in line, wait your turn• Walk/Drive on the right side, pass on the leftWalk/Drive on the right side, pass on the left

Respecting OthersRespecting Others• Don’t block trafficDon’t block traffic• Don’t block viewDon’t block view• No smoking in most public buildingsNo smoking in most public buildings

Ask before you light upAsk before you light up

American attitudes toward…American attitudes toward…ReligionReligion

America is a highly religious country, America is a highly religious country, and has been since its earliest days. and has been since its earliest days. Nearly every religion in the world has Nearly every religion in the world has organized institutions in the United organized institutions in the United States. American religious institutions States. American religious institutions are large, powerful and influential in are large, powerful and influential in social and political life.social and political life.

American attitudes toward…American attitudes toward…

Cell Phone EtiquetteCell Phone Etiquette

Do not allow cell phones to ring in class or when you Do not allow cell phones to ring in class or when you are meeting with faculty or staff at Pfeiffer.are meeting with faculty or staff at Pfeiffer.

Also, do not let them ring while at movies, theatres Also, do not let them ring while at movies, theatres and other performances.and other performances.

If the phone rings, turn it off. If the phone rings, turn it off. Do not talk to the Do not talk to the callercaller..

Inappropriate cell phone use is considered rude Inappropriate cell phone use is considered rude behaviorbehavior..

Adjustment to a new culture often occurs Adjustment to a new culture often occurs in four distinct phasesin four distinct phases

Honeymoon Stage Honeymoon Stage (Euphoria)(Euphoria)

Hostility Stage Hostility Stage (Culture Shock)(Culture Shock)

Humor Stage Humor Stage (Gradual Adjustment)(Gradual Adjustment)

Home Stage Home Stage (Adaptation)(Adaptation)

For more information on these phases look in the International Student For more information on these phases look in the International Student Handbook’s discussion of “Adjusting to Life and Customs in the U.S.”Handbook’s discussion of “Adjusting to Life and Customs in the U.S.”

Symptoms of Hostility Phase:Symptoms of Hostility Phase: homesicknesshomesickness

withdrawal: spending time only with people from home withdrawal: spending time only with people from home countrycountry

need for excessive amounts of sleepneed for excessive amounts of sleep

compulsive eating or drinkingcompulsive eating or drinking

irritabilityirritability

stereotyping or hostility toward localsstereotyping or hostility toward locals

physical ailments (psychosomatic illnesses)physical ailments (psychosomatic illnesses)

loss of concentrationloss of concentration

Suggestions to help you to adapt to Suggestions to help you to adapt to your new cultureyour new culture

Accept as normal, a Accept as normal, a certain amount of certain amount of confusion.confusion.

Don’t expect too much of Don’t expect too much of yourself.yourself.

Talk with an American Talk with an American classmate or ask a faculty classmate or ask a faculty member to explain certain member to explain certain aspects of American aspects of American culture.culture.

Try to get more rest and Try to get more rest and eat well.eat well.

Ask questions. If you are Ask questions. If you are

not sure what someone not sure what someone means, do not hesitate to means, do not hesitate to ask them.ask them.

Speak English as often as Speak English as often as possible.possible.

More Suggestions for Adapting…More Suggestions for Adapting…

• Keep a journal about your experiences and emotions

• Set aside time each day to do something special and DO IT.

• Stay physically active (Intramural teams, running, biking)

• Speak with a trained counselor in Pfeiffer’s Counseling Center (ext. 3422).

• Speak with someone in Health Services (ext. 3425) if you develop physical symptoms.

• Speak with an advisor in the International Center (ext. 3368).

Slang Terms & Phrases DefinedSlang Terms & Phrases Defined

all that - superior to othersall that - superior to others around the bend or corner – nearbyaround the bend or corner – nearby awesome - great; neatawesome - great; neat bad - goodbad - good baloney - not truebaloney - not true beat it – go awaybeat it – go away bite the bullet – do what is necessary no matter how bite the bullet – do what is necessary no matter how

difficultdifficult blow your top – to become excited or angryblow your top – to become excited or angry bogus - useless; incorrectbogus - useless; incorrect bookworm - someone who reads a lotbookworm - someone who reads a lot blow your stack - to become very angryblow your stack - to become very angry

Slang Terms (continued)Slang Terms (continued)

brown noser – someone who tries to find find favor brown noser – someone who tries to find find favor with someone powerfulwith someone powerful

bull – to discuss at length; falsebull – to discuss at length; false carried away - over-reactcarried away - over-react chick - female (often regarded as offensive)chick - female (often regarded as offensive) chick flick – a movie that females might enjoychick flick – a movie that females might enjoy chill/chill out - to relaxchill/chill out - to relax choked up – too upset to speakchoked up – too upset to speak cool - awesome; neatcool - awesome; neat cramp my style – to interfere with what one is doingcramp my style – to interfere with what one is doing crash - to rest or sleepcrash - to rest or sleep dog – to spurn or treat someone badly; a frienddog – to spurn or treat someone badly; a friend diss - put down/ gossip diss - put down/ gossip

Slang Terms (continued)Slang Terms (continued)

don't go there/don't start - stop talking about that don't go there/don't start - stop talking about that down the road - some distance awaydown the road - some distance away driving me crazy - aggravated/annoyeddriving me crazy - aggravated/annoyed dude - a person (usually male) dude - a person (usually male) duh - of courseduh - of course fine – cutefine – cute fixing to – about to do somethingfixing to – about to do something freak out – become hystericalfreak out – become hysterical funky – not goodfunky – not good get off my back - leave me aloneget off my back - leave me alone getting on my nerves – becoming aggravated or getting on my nerves – becoming aggravated or

frustratedfrustrated get right on it - start immediatelyget right on it - start immediately grub - food grub - food hit the road - leavehit the road - leave

Slang Terms (continued)Slang Terms (continued)

hold down the fort – take chargehold down the fort – take charge hold it - stop; waithold it - stop; wait hold up – to delay; wait; to robhold up – to delay; wait; to rob hop skip and a jump – not far awayhop skip and a jump – not far away hottie - an attractive personhottie - an attractive person homey – a good friend or someone from your home town homey – a good friend or someone from your home town just picking - just kiddingjust picking - just kidding ill – upsetill – upset in one ear and out the other – not listening or taking in one ear and out the other – not listening or taking

adviceadvice keep in touch – write, call, visitkeep in touch – write, call, visit kick up your heels – to celebratekick up your heels – to celebrate kill two birds with one stone - accomplish two things at kill two birds with one stone - accomplish two things at

onceonce killing time - idly passing time awaykilling time - idly passing time away kiss off – dismisskiss off – dismiss

Slang Terms (continued)Slang Terms (continued) knock out – attractive person; punchknock out – attractive person; punch like - no real meaning; just a fillerlike - no real meaning; just a filler my bad - my fault or mistakemy bad - my fault or mistake neck of the woods - general locationneck of the woods - general location nip it in the bud - take care of a situation before it gets out nip it in the bud - take care of a situation before it gets out

of controlof control not over my dead body - refuse; disagreenot over my dead body - refuse; disagree off the top of my head - without much thought off the top of my head - without much thought out like a light – most often used when referring to out like a light – most often used when referring to

someone sleepingsomeone sleeping over my head – do not understandover my head – do not understand over the hill - older adultover the hill - older adult over the moon – excited, enthusiasticover the moon – excited, enthusiastic pick your brain- get as much information from you as pick your brain- get as much information from you as

possiblepossible pill - a disagreeable personpill - a disagreeable person pissed off – angrypissed off – angry pulling my leg or chain - kidding or jokingpulling my leg or chain - kidding or joking

Slang Terms (continued)Slang Terms (continued) rag – to tease or disparagerag – to tease or disparage royal shaft – poor treatmentroyal shaft – poor treatment see you around - farewell remarksee you around - farewell remark shoot the breeze - have a conversationshoot the breeze - have a conversation started to – was going to do something but did notstarted to – was going to do something but did not sweet - greatsweet - great sucks - bad; terriblesucks - bad; terrible talk my ear off – the person you are talking to has a lot to talk my ear off – the person you are talking to has a lot to

say say tight - have a close relationship with tight - have a close relationship with tough – difficult; too bad; food that’s difficult to chewtough – difficult; too bad; food that’s difficult to chew trip/trip out/trippin - a strange thing; to overreact; to act trip/trip out/trippin - a strange thing; to overreact; to act

surprisedsurprised unglued – hystericalunglued – hysterical uptight – serious; conservativeuptight – serious; conservative What’s up? - greeting; hiWhat’s up? - greeting; hi

Thank you for your kind attentionThank you for your kind attention

Good luck to you Good luck to you getting settled and getting settled and enjoy your classes enjoy your classes this semester.this semester.

Please visit us in Please visit us in the International the International Center if we can Center if we can assist you in any assist you in any way.way.