Common Etiquette in US
One of the preparations travelers generally overlook is obtaining knowledge of etiquette of the visiting country. While it is always better to know and understand about the culture of the planned destination, it also adds to ones’ general knowledge. And when the nation is as big and diverse as the United States of America, being familiar with the culture, social, and other etiquettes becomes important especially, for the people of the Middle East countries. If you are citizen of the UAE and are planning to visit America for tourism or any other reasons, you must know these common etiquettes in US.
Greeting
Addressing a known person formally or informally, depending on your closeness, is a common rule followed globally.
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What are common among them is that they are impromptu and unstoppable. The good thing is that you get the urge a few microseconds ahead. If you are tempted to sneeze and cough, hold your handkerchief around your nose and mouth and after you are done you have to say “Excuse me” whether somebody is listening or not.
Tipping etiquette
It is common in America to tip waiters after having a lunch or dinner at a restaurant. There is no standard or set rules on how much should be the tipping amount. However, if you like the service and the food, it is a good gesture to tip 15 to 20% of the total billed amount.
Expressing gratitude and apology
Whenever you receive any gift, you should express your gratitude by thanking the person. Another customary way of showing gratitude is through a written note or a thank-you note. If you are too busy to write and drop the note, you may use the phone and say how happy you are to receive the present. Similarly, when any mistake is committed by you, you can apologize and say “sorry” for it. Sorry and thank you are the two words that are most commonly used by people in U.S. You can use “sorry” not just for your wrong doing or behavior, but also when you hear your bad news from someone in this way, “I am sorry to hear about the sad demise of your
In the nonfiction book “Keep the Change: A Clueless Tipper’s Quest to Become the Guru of the Gratuity” by Steve Dublanica, he uncovers the hidden truths within tipping in establishments. Dublanica talks about his investigation of tipping in jobs like restaurant servers, casino dealers, exotic dancers, taxi drivers, etc. He ends up discovering some secrets about tipping along with some ugly truths, but in the end he finds out that tipping is necessary and that tips are all about relationships. While some may argue that tips are not necessary or that tips aren’t about relationships, I agree that with Dublanica that tips are a necessity for workers and that relationships are the base for tips. Dublanica’s main arguments revolve around tips being
Tipping has become a huge debate within America. Many times people are unsure of how to tip and what to tip when at a restaurant. In countries overseas like Japan or in Europe, they work their tips into the prices at restaurants. Many claim that this is the way restaurants in America should start to do things. In the article “Don’t Forget to Stiff Your Waiter” by Nachum Sicherman, he argues that tipping is out of date and poses the question of why tipping even came about.
The Big Picture: Social Class in the U.S. Basically, this video talks about social class. In class systems, people are ranked by both birth and individual achievements. Also, people are born into certain social classes, but are able to move through individual effort in class systems. The divide between the rich and the poor is increasing. I believe that richer people have more opportunities.
In “The Case Against Tipping,” Michael Lewis argues that we are growing into a society that tips someone “for doing what they’ve already been paid to do” (22). Lewis believes that the more thought the customer puts into deciding whether or not to tip, the more unpleasant it becomes (21). It is putting you under pressure to make a decision based on whether or not the employee needs the money. Lewis continues by arguing that no one who is going to buy a coffee is “evaluating the performance” of the person behind the counter (21).
America, the land of equity, has the largest ratio of rich citizens to poor citizens at 12:1. Compared to Japan and Germany’s measly 4:1, this information is outrageous. America is shown to have the most skewed economic pyramid when denoting the amount of people on each side of the economic slide. The selection, Class in America - 2006, an academic paper by Gregory Mantsios, argues the existence and magnitude of class and economic standing in the United States; through the use of fact and opinion, he creates the visual of a society severely divided by economic standing. Gregory Mantsios effectively convinces the audience of the differences in class sanding that cause a significant impact in the lives of americans and economic spectrum with his use of logos, anticipation, and credible evidence.
It is very dangerous to use cultural blindness and forget that different culture see different manners as acceptable. Every culture comes with different manners. While it is normal to have a stare eye contact, call people by their first name, be open and speaking up, etc. all of the above could be disrespectful in, as an example, Japan. Eye contact is in most Asian countries considered rude, calling someone by their first name is disrespectful, openness and speaking up is the opposite of the Japanese culture and goes against their believes.
Everyone knows that tipping is an act of kindness that I put towards those who provide service beyond the expectation. Michael Lewis, a convincing author that addressed the pros and cons of tipping. Whether the workers were an excellent server or a poor server determines the amount of the tips that is given. In “The Case Against Tipping,” Michael Lewis created an arguable topic that can in truth get people thinking, but his essay lacks the evidence of logic. Michael Lewis’ first point was valid.
Proper manners around the table are not just reserved for special occasions; you should use them whenever you dine. Relaxed politeness is the key to any dining situation. You should not be stressed or worried as it will be noticeable through the way you talk. Your voice will be shaky and people will not be able to understand what you are saying. Enjoy yourself at the dining table.
For my second experiential learning assignment, I decided to break a social norm while going out to eat with my family at a restaurant: granted this is something I have a habit of doing but the reaction I got from my dining mates was particularly interesting this time. To give a little bit of background of the setting I was in at the time, I was with my mother, younger brother, and my mother’s friend at a restaurant in DC for my birthday dinner. The restaurant was crowded, but not many people were paying attention to what we were doing. The behavior I decided to break was dipping my fingers in the container caramel was in and then proceeded lick my fingers after doing so. I choose to break this social norm because one, the caramel sauce was really good, and two I was testing to see if my mother would say anything: normally on my birthday she lets me get away with
“Remember, you must behave as you do at a banquet. Something is passed around and comes to you: reach out your hand politely and take
For our group and our shared love of food we figured that a social norm that had something to do with that would be perfect for us. We decided that the norm to drive through a drive thru needed to be tested. Why should cars be the only ones with the fast access to fast food at their convenience? We believed that people should be able to walk through the drive thrus if it is more convenient for them.
Most American people conserve eye contact while communicating, and also they are expertise in showing enthusiasm and compassion. When greeting in social situations women pat each other on the right forearm or on the shoulder, rather than shake hands where as men shake hands until they know someone well, at which time they progress to a more traditional hug and back slapping. conversation take place in close physical distance when stepping back may be regarded as unfriendly. generally, people refrain to use first names
Commonly when approaching a peer, teacher, or a stranger, the first phrase to be said is often a form of polite speech. Polite speech can be categorized by the use of phrases that show regards for others. With some people backing the sense that what is said is portrayed as literal speech, most of it is said for the sake of sounding welcoming and responsible. Having polite speech implemented into people’s day to day lives serves the function of creating a well developed impression of a person.
I believe social classes have defined our society in many ways. In America, they separate people into three different classes: the upper class, middle class, and the lower or working class. Based on wealth and various occupations, social classes determine the population’s status in society. Social classes today define individuals and influence their actions. Although people born in a certain class may choose to stay there, they also have the choice of leaving.
A culture, by definition, is a set of shared beliefs within a society; learning how to interact with people from different cultures is important in order to communicate and work with each other. It helps us become understanding of one another and widens our perspective of what the world has to offer. To be able to cross cultural communicate with others, the first step is to be aware that every culture is complex and has its differences. While traveling to new countries and trying to understand each other, there is a large possibility of miscommunication, which can come in the form of misinterpreting messages or body language; therefore, it is crucial to keep an open mind whilst communicating. There are multitudes of factors in various cultures that play a role in decision making, so being aware of the expectations that are influenced by someone’s culture will help you understand their choices.