American Customs
Tipping: In the U.S., waiters and waitresses’ salaries are very small so they depend on tips. A standard tip amount is between 15-20% of the total bill. For example: If you had good, quick service, and your bill was $20, you should give at least $4 for a tip. If you are paying with a credit card, you will see a line on the receipt for you to write in the tip/gratuity. Most waiters and waitresses would prefer to receive their tips in cash, though. Your phone probably has a calculator app to help you determine the tip.
Sharing: Americans tend to not share as much materially. People tend to value the things they buy, even food and simple household items as the property of an individual. If you want to use something that your roommate has, for example, paper towels, you should give them money for it or replace the item you used (i.e. tell them you will buy paper towels next time you go to the store).
Walking/Entering: It is considered polite to move over on a walkway if someone is coming the opposite way. It is polite to hold doors open for people who are behind you, and especially if they are carrying something big/heavy in their hands. On elevators and in doorways, men generally let the women enter and exit first and hold doors for them.
Cleaning:
Only the wealthy have maids in the U.S. Therefore, you must clean up after yourself and be tidy. If you spill something, wipe it up and clean the area right away with a cleaning product. If you use an item like a dish, you are expected to put it back where you found it when you are done using/cleaning it.
Punctuality: Americans value time. If you are given a time to arrive somewhere, it is important to Americans that you arrive either 5-15 minutes early or promptly at the exact time they told you. If you are even 5 minutes late, it looks bad and gives the person a bad impression of your work ethic and reliability.
Personal Space: It is considered rude to stand too close to someone or touch/bump into them when passing them on the street or in the hall. For example, if you are standing in line waiting for something, give at least one foot of space between you and the people around you.
Personal Hygiene: Americans shower daily with soap and their everyday clothing is clean and freshly laundered. Americans wash their clothes in a washing machine with laundry and then put the clothes in a clothes dryer afterward. Americans wear underarm antiperspirant and maintain an awareness of any offensive body odor that may be caused by sweat. It is considered rude to have body odor around others and it may hinder professional success in the American work place.
Smiling and Small Talk: Americans like to smile at each other and make “small talk.” This means “Hi, how are you?” “Good and you?” - We almost always say we are “good” even if we are not good at all.
Sharing: Americans tend to not share as much materially. People tend to value the things they buy, even food and simple household items as the property of an individual. If you want to use something that your roommate has, for example, paper towels, you should give them money for it or replace the item you used (i.e. tell them you will buy paper towels next time you go to the store).
Walking/Entering: It is considered polite to move over on a walkway if someone is coming the opposite way. It is polite to hold doors open for people who are behind you, and especially if they are carrying something big/heavy in their hands. On elevators and in doorways, men generally let the women enter and exit first and hold doors for them.
Cleaning:
Only the wealthy have maids in the U.S. Therefore, you must clean up after yourself and be tidy. If you spill something, wipe it up and clean the area right away with a cleaning product. If you use an item like a dish, you are expected to put it back where you found it when you are done using/cleaning it.
Punctuality: Americans value time. If you are given a time to arrive somewhere, it is important to Americans that you arrive either 5-15 minutes early or promptly at the exact time they told you. If you are even 5 minutes late, it looks bad and gives the person a bad impression of your work ethic and reliability.
Personal Space: It is considered rude to stand too close to someone or touch/bump into them when passing them on the street or in the hall. For example, if you are standing in line waiting for something, give at least one foot of space between you and the people around you.
Personal Hygiene: Americans shower daily with soap and their everyday clothing is clean and freshly laundered. Americans wash their clothes in a washing machine with laundry and then put the clothes in a clothes dryer afterward. Americans wear underarm antiperspirant and maintain an awareness of any offensive body odor that may be caused by sweat. It is considered rude to have body odor around others and it may hinder professional success in the American work place.
Smiling and Small Talk: Americans like to smile at each other and make “small talk.” This means “Hi, how are you?” “Good and you?” - We almost always say we are “good” even if we are not good at all.