Culture Shock
Você já viajou para algum lugar (seja no brasil ou no exterior) e percebeu que os costumes daquela região eram muito diferentes que você era acostumado? Essa experiência é tão comum que até ganhou um apelido: choque cultural, ou culture shock. No post de hoje, vamos descrever alguns costumes americanos que talvez te surpreendam, para ajudar você a se inserir nessa cultura com o mínimo de choque possível!
While Brazilians are known for their warm greetings and hospitality, Americans have made a name for themselves in being more reserved. Not quite as much as the Europeans, but almost.
The simple handshakes that they greet with in the United States may seem "cold" and distant to a South-American observer, but we have to remember that in their culture, this is a very nice and friendly way to say hello to someone.
So lesson number one on American customs: rather than greeting with a hug or a kiss, try a smile and a nice handshake.
And even after greeting, be sure to remember to respect personal space while you talk with your American friends. Usually, they will keep the distance of one arm between themselves as they stand talking. And now that we've learned about social distancing in the pandemic, some people might need even more space to feel comfortable. A good idea is to look at the others in the room and try to match what they are doing.
If you happen to bump into somebody, or need to pass by them in a smaller space, it's okay, just make sure you say "sorry" or "excuse me!" and they will most likey respond with a polite "It's ok!" or "no worries."
Other manners you should remember in the United States is to say "I'd like" instead of "I want" when you ask for something. So for example, if you are at a restaurant and you want to order a hamburger and some fries, the best way to ask for this is to say: "I'd like a hamburger with fries, please." You can use this same idea to offer something to someone else. So to ask your friend to share your fries with you, you can ask them "Would you like some?" this is better than saying "do you want some" because using "want" in these situations can seem a bit rude. It's just how Americans are!
Ah! and while you're ordering, don't forget to tip! If you are being served in a bar, restaurant, or coffee shop, it is expected that you give an additional 10-15% of your ticket price to the person who is serving you. These people actually do not receive a full wage from their job, and they depend on these tips to complete their salary! Plus, it is the polite thing to do. So if your meal was $20.00, it's a good idea to leave a few dollars on the table for your waiter.
Another thing that Americans do not include in their prices is the sales tax. The rules and percentage vary depending on the state and the items you are buying, but there will always be some additional tax you will have to pay at the register, that is not included in the price labeled on the items. If you need to buy $16.99 worth of items, for example, be sure to have a couple extra dollars with you, because you may have to pay a little more than that to the cashier. This is true for online shopping as well!
Something else that perhaps no one told you about the USA (but is very important to know), is that when you use the bathroom, there will be no trash can to throw your used toilet paper into! This is because in the United States, the correct thing to do with your used paper is to throw it directly into the toilet. It may take some getting used to, but you'll get it! Just don't forget to flush when you are done.
Of course there are many other things I could tell you, but some things you will have to discover on your own. That is why travelling is such an incredible experience, because you will see life from another point of view. You may feel a little culture shock in the beginning, but soon you will get over it and will learn so much about this new place, and maybe even learn a little bit more about yourself!
Katie Smith