Our parents teach us to be polite, but what you learned as a kid doesn’t always apply
when you’re in another part of the world.
So, if you’re heading to the US anytime soon, I’ve got some tips for you on what
we Americans consider the rules of etiquette and some stuff that’s totally ok in the
US that other countries might consider rude!
Let’s start with my favorite: food etiquette!
1.
Feel free to ask for some condiments.
If you’re eating out and your food is tasting a little bland, it’s completely fine to
ask for salt, pepper, or sauces to add a little zing to your meal.
I know some places in Europe see it as an insult to the chef if you start adding a little
spice of your own, but don’t worry about that in the US.
Nobody’s gonna be offended or give you weird looks if you ask the waiter for a bottle of
ketchup.
Even if you’re at someone’s house visiting, they won’t see it as a jab to their culinary
skills either.
Some just like it spicier than others!
2.
Always tip!
Ok, well, maybe not always, but it’s a rare occurrence if you don’t tip your waiter,
hairdresser, cab driver, and so on – only if the service was really awful.
But even then, a lot of Americans feel guilty about not leaving any tip.
The rule is 15-20% of the bill, so get ready to do some mental math each time you eat out.
I’ve heard that tipping isn’t a thing in some countries, especially in East Asia,
since restaurant staff always provide good service no matter what.
But in the US, it’s simply a sign of gratitude that your waiter did a good job, even though
they’re probably tired, their feet hurt, and they’ve got a bunch of other tables
to tend to!
3.
Clean up after yourself at fast food restaurants.
Of course, if you’re going to the States, I imagine a lot of your eating out will be
done in fast food joints.
You’ll see a lot more of those than your traditional “sit and be served by a waiter”
types of places.
But anyway, if you’ve finished eating and your tray is now full of wrappers, used napkins,
and empty boxes, take it to the trashcan and dispose of the garbage yourself.
Most fast food places don’t have a separate cleaning staff for that.
It’s pretty much always the cashier that needs to find time between ringing people
up to go clean up in the dining area.
So, we try to help them out a bit and clean up after ourselves!
4.
Open gifts immediately in front of the giver.
I was pretty surprised when I found out that opening a gift as soon as you get it is considered
bad manners in certain parts of the world.
I guess some cultures see it as kinda greedy when you start tearing into a present right
away.
(Others)In the US, it’s pretty much the opposite – open it as soon as you get it,
right in front of the giver.
That way, they can see your reaction, and you can thank them right there on the spot!
There are also no rules about using both hands or a certain hand when giving or receiving
a gift.
(gifts) Just grab it and open it already!
5.
Be ready for small talk.
“How about that game last night?”
“Brr, when’s this weather gonna let up already?”
Yes, Americans love small talk, so don’t be surprised if a stranger just starts chatting
with you while you’re waiting in line or sharing an elevator.
It could be sports, the weather, traffic – anything just to have a short light conversation.(pets,
people, cars, Life, space) I can’t really say why we like talking to people we don’t
even know.
But, I mean, if you’re sharing a space with someone, are you just gonna totally ignore
their presence?
That’d be awkward…
Oh yeah, and you’ll get asked how you’re doing a lot, even by strangers!
It’s usually waiters and cashiers that’ll greet you with a “Hi, how are you today?”
Just answer with a "Fine, and you?" even if you’re not exactly having a fantastic day!
6.
Expect a lot of smiles.
First of all, let me bust the myth that Americans constantly walk around smiling ear-to-ear.
Nobody does that because that’d be weird.
But, again, if you’re sharing a space and making small talk with a stranger or maybe
someone opens or holds the door for you, they’ll smile at you, and it’s polite if you do
the same.
Cashiers and waiters also greet you with a big friendly smile.
I read somewhere that this goes back to our early history as a country built by people
who all spoke different languages.
They didn’t understand each other all-that well, so they just smiled!
But I still think we just like to be open and kind!
7.
Respect the bubble.
Now, here’s a pretty funny thing about Americans.
We’re friendly, we love to chat, but we also really like our personal bubble!
The unspoken rule is to stand about an arm’s length away when you’re talking with someone.
We’re also not too big on touching during conversation because this can be misconstrued
as a way of flirting.
Of course, the rule doesn’t apply with close friends and family, but still, even then,
most Americans aren’t too touchy-feely.
8.
And definitely no kissing!
I know in countries like Spain and France, people often greet each other with a peck
or two on the cheek.
There might be some Americans who greet the European way, but overall, we don’t kiss
each other as a way to say hi.
Again, my personal bubble is my sanctuary, so don’t come in it with puckered lips ablazing!
(kiss,kiss,kiss) It’s best to just say hi, smile, and keep it at that!
9.
Being loud is (usually) ok.
The stereotype of the loud American tourist might ring true most of the time since we
tend to project our voices, even out in public.
It’s not that we’re yelling all the time, but I’d say we certainly speak louder than
people in Europe or Asia.
I’ve gotten some friendly reminders to take it down a few decibels when visiting my friends
abroad.
But, hey, if you’re ever in the States, feel free to laugh out loud or get particularly
animated while telling a joke.
But, of course, there’s a time and a place for that.
You still have to hush down in places like libraries!
10.
Indirectness is politeness.
So, here’s the thing about Americans.
A direct “No, I don’t want or like that” is seen as pretty rude.
BUT (!) if an American gives you a polite, “No thanks, I’d rather not” or “I
don’t think that’s the best idea,” that doesn’t mean that they’re on the fence
about it.
“No” means “no” even if it’s said indirectly and super politely.
It’s frowned upon to try and convince someone to do something or change their mind because
it’s seen as pushy and disrespectful to their wishes.
11.
Sit in the backseat of a cab.
This is something interesting I found out about Australia and New Zealand.
There, it’s considered rude to take the backseat of a cab because it’s almost like
you’re showing that you expect to be chauffeured by someone who’s “lower” than you.
Don’t worry about that in the US.
In fact, you should ride in the backseat because the driver might give you a weird look otherwise.
It’s not an elitist thing, and you can still make friendly small talk from the back.
Just respect the driver’s personal bubble, that’s all!
12.
Feel free to keep your shoes on inside.
I had a friend from Russia recently ask me, “Why is it that in all American movies,
people are walking around their house with their shoes on?!”
And I just told him straight-up, “Because that’s what we do!”
Now, there are plenty of families here that have a “No Shoes Indoors” policy, although
I’d say the majority don’t.
So, here’s a good rule of etiquette to live by if you ever visit an American’s home:
when you walk in, ask if you should take your shoes off at the door.
If they say, “Nah, you’re ok,” don’t feel bad about walking around their house
in your shoes.
I know it seems bizarre to most people around the world, but it’s a-ok here!
13.
It’s ok to keep it casual!
Overall, I’d say the biggest thing about Americans is that most of us are pretty casual
and laid-back.
If you’re ever out and about in the US, you’ll see a lot of people running errands
in sweatpants, gym shorts, baseball caps, or even their PJs!
But it’s not just about clothes either – we often keep it on a first-name basis even with
people that are generally referred to more formally in other countries.
For example, most of the time, your boss is just Jim or Janet, not Mr. or Mrs. Jones.
You might start off more formally, but I guarantee you that person will say right off the bat,
“Call me Jim!”
Now what would be weird -- is if their name isn’t Jim.
Maybe it’s Howard or Benny.
Then what you say is “Hey, call me a cab!”
So, are any of these Americanisms different or the same in your country?
And to all my fellow Americans, can you add anything to the list?
Let me know down in the comments!
If you learned something new today, then give this video a like and share it with a friend.
But – hey! – don’t go call me a cab just yet!
We have over 2,000 cool videos for you to check out.
All you have to do is pick the left or right video, click on it, and enjoy!
Stay on the Bright Side of life!