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Adjusting to Life in the U.S.
Be Careful About Generalizations
People representing a large number of ethnic, religious, socioeconomic, age, and occupational groups live in the United States. While people within any one of these groups are likely to have ideas and opinions that differ from each other, it is possible to define certain characteristics that describe attitudes and practices that are common among Americans and that tend to distinguish Americans from people from other countries. While the following are generalizations -- and you will find individuals who are exceptions - they do tend to characterize Americans.
Characteristics of Americans
Individualism
Americans generally believe that the ideal person is an autonomous, self-reliant individual. Americans tend to see themselves as separate individuals, not as representatives of a family, community, or group. They dislike being dependent on other people or having others dependent on them. Some people view this attitude as "selfish." Others view it as a healthy freedom from the constraints of excessive ties to family, clan, or social class.
Equality and Informality
Americans are taught that "all people are created equal." While they often continue to violate this idea in some part of their lives, Americans tend to try to stick to it. Americans treat each other informally, even if there are great differences in age or social standing. For some, this behavior reflects a lack of respect; for others it reflects a healthy lack of concern for unnecessary social ritual.
Time Consciousness
Americans place considerable value on punctuality and tend to organize their activities around schedules. As a result, they sometimes seemed "hurried," always running from one appointment to the next and not able to relax and enjoy themselves. Some see this as being ruled by the clock; others see it as a helpful efficiency, a good way of assuring that things get done, but as a rule appointments should be kept.
Hard Work
Working hard is considered good. In theory, if not always in practice, working hard provides a road to personal success and material wellbeing, and enables the individual (even someone from a humble background) to climb the ladder of social prestige and wealth. There is a deeply - held belief that anyone--through persistence, talent, and especially hard work--can rise above the station in life to which s/he was born. This emphasis on "the work ethic" helps explain the importance Americans place on values such as efficiency, punctuality, and practicality.
