Interacting

Americans have many of the same interactions each day that you do, but there is a fair chance that we handle them a little differently. There are many ways of greeting people, many levels of formality, many ways of showing agreement or celebrating success. Overall, Americans act with a great degree of informality, but there are differences based on situation and region. Here is a great video showing 60 ways to say hello in America.

Addressing Others One thing that may be different is that many people - adults, professors, host parents, and staff - will ask you to call them by their first name and speak rather informally. When first meeting these individuals, it's appropriate to call them by their titles - Dr., Ms., or Mr., and allow them to tell you what they prefer. When you first meet someone formally, it is usually expected that you will shake hands. If you're not comfortable with this, politely let the other person know. More informally, Americans might greet each other with high-fives, fist-bumps, and nods. Sometimes they even hug! Please and Thank you While Americans sometimes forget to say "please", they will almost always say "thank you". It is good practice to remember not only "please" and "thank you", but also "you're welcome". When sitting at a table, especially with food, it is impolite to reach across the table or someone else's plate, so this is an excellent time to practice your "please" and "thank you"! Personal Space The amount of personal space - the space around a person in which they feel comfortable - needed by Americans maybe different from that expected in your home country. As a rule of thumb, it is best to keep an arm’s length away from people you’re not too familiar with, just close enough for a handshake. If someone moves away, you might have gotten too close. Check out the video for more information.