IV. Some Facts About American Way of Life

1. The United States is often referred to as the “Melting Pot”, a metaphor that connotes the blending of many cultures, languages and religions to form a single national identity.

2. Americans need a lot of “elbow room”; they like personal space around them.

3. Americans must be over the age of 21 and must have an ID to buy or drink alcohol.

4. The age for driver’s license varies from state to state. Normally, at 14 teenagers get Learner’s Permit. At 16 teenagers get restricted license (no driving from midnight to 6.00 a.m., no more than one passenger allowed, etc.). Full license (no restrictions) is normally given when the driver is 16 years and 6 months old.

5. Americans are extremely informal and call most people by their first name or nickname. They smile a lot and talk easily to strangers, sharing personal stories.

6. It is normal for an American teacher to sit on the desk and for an American student to call the teacher by his or her first name. It’s also quite normal for students to have a meal during the classes.

7. It is normal for American children to have very messy rooms.

8. A significant event in every American high school student’s life is Prom. Prom (short for promenade) is a semi-formal (black tie) dance or gathering, typically held near the end of the senior year (i.e., the last year of high school).

9. Most buses in the USA require the exact amount of money to pay the fare. Passengers don' get change.

10. Most American women do not feel comfortable having the man pay for everything all of the time.

11. Americans love “showers”. A bridal shower is a gift-giving party held for a bride-to-be in anticipation of her wedding. A baby shower is a way to celebrate the pending or recent birth of a child by presenting gifts to the parents at a party. The term shower is often assumed to mean that the expectant mother or the bride-to-be is "showered" with gifts.

12. Every corner or every street in America has fast food. McDonalds, Burger king, Dunkin Donuts etc. are the favorite places to go. Hamburgers, hotdogs, fries and coke is the basic meal.

13. Americans use pounds and ounces as weight units, inches and feet as length units and Fahrenheit system for measuring temperature

14. Americans are addicted to sports. Baseball, football, ice hockey, and basketball are the most famous sports here. Sundays from early September to Super bowl in February are considered holy Sundays for football fans.

15. Normally Americans celebrate their holidays on the following Monday (except for some holidays – Thanksgiving, Christmas) so that to make a week-end longer.

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