Cultural Differences in the States?

Hells Kitchen

Hey, i'll be moving to Chicago early next year on a fiance visa and i was just wondering what kind of cultural differences you guys experienced when you moved over? I read on another thread that the most important thing when moving is to prepare for the cultural differences and i was trying to figure out what they were and couldn't. I'm not talking about small things like not being able to buy your favourite food and stuff like that but big things that would take time to get used to. Any opinions especially from people who have actually settled there?

Killer Wench

First and foremost, pedestrians have the right of way when crossing at intersections and within designated pedestrian crossings. We also walk slower. When eating out, tipping is expected if you are at a sit-down restaurant and a server has provided service. Standard tipping is 15%. We also tip delivery drivers. Some people tip hair stylists, nail technicians, and just about anyone who is in the service industry.

silja

A lot is regional, and I am not sure on Chicago, only been there on city breaks. For me, the four big things were:
- Car culture. Even if something is in walking distance, people drive. If you are an adult and do not have a drivers license, it is assumed it has been taken away, not that you never had one.
- Gun culture. The amount of people who own guns is staggering, and it is easy to purchase one (depends on state, but usually just 3 day waiting period)/ You'd be surprised at the amount of people who always carry one (concealed carry, so you don't know until the subject comes up).
- Politics. It's odd having only two viable parties here, and the voting system is so different. Also, the place is sooo much more conservative than Europe, even in big cities. In Ireland, I was by far the most conservative of my group of friends. Here, I am considered a bit of a hippy.
- Religion. I doubt this would be the case in Chicago, at least center of the city, but here, everything revolves around churches. They are a main socialising point, people talk about "church family" (friends they made in church), every public event and sports event starts with a prayer, people will say "bless you" or "I will pray for you" all the time.

avalon68

I also find people here quite blunt - they have no problems asking the most personal of questions. I found it very off putting when I arrived here, but have just gotten used to it now. Work hours are much longer than home, and holidays much shorter - generally 10 days a year

CyberJuice

dont throw the C word around, usually i would use it as a descriptive word as in "look at that mad c**t over there" or something along those lines.. swearing is fine (around adults obviously) but it just seems that they will flip out or look at u funny if they hear the c word..

christmas2012

they dont like swearing in offices or that using fvck or anything like that,you say instead of fvcking you say freaking..etc,or damn sugar!

M5

The false greeting you get when you come into any shop wrecks my head!

One place in particular in Phoenix they have 2 people at the entrance to greet you as you come in. Big smiles all round. While your there they have people come up to you and ask if you need help. After that when you go to the checkout the person will ask if you found everything! The hilarious part is that they then search your bag, and check your receipt at the exit.

The absolute falseness is sicking after a while

avalon68

M5 wrote: »

The false greeting you get when you come into any shop wrecks my head!

One place in particular in Phoenix they have 2 people at the entrance to greet you as you come in. Big smiles all round. While your there they have people come up to you and ask if you need help. After that when you go to the checkout the person will ask if you found everything! The hilarious part is that they then search your bag, and check your receipt at the exit.

The absolute falseness is sicking after a while

lol, I cant describe how much this bugs me sometimes! I feel like its an obstacle course - get in, get to item I want, get to register and get out.....bonus points for not making eye contact with any employees! On the flip side if you actually do want help with anything they wont rest until you get sorted - i was buying a camera one day and the guy let me try pretty much every camera in stock....try doing that in Ireland!

InTheTrees

Never ever ever compare the United States with any other country unless its favourably.

InTheTrees

Visitors to the USA complain about the superficial friendliness in shops and restaurants.

But I guess I've been here long enough that I would take it in a heatbeat over the sour faced surliness of irish shop assistants!

:cool:

InTheTrees

The driving is maddening for a petrolhead like myself.

You can get a drivers licence in about 15 minutes in the US, and driving standards reflect this. Its like Bombay but in slow motion. They dont use turn signals, mirrors or any of the rules in their own "Drivers Handbook" because the only thing the cops ever seem to enforce is speeding.

And 1mph over the absurdly low speed limits (usually set artificially low just to generate more fines) and you're likely to be ticketed.

InTheTrees

The Police:

A friend once told me when I first moved here; treat them like a wild alsatian on a leash.

Never NEVER make sudden unpredictable moves. Reaching for ID for instance. (Always carry ID) If you're stopped in your car and your licence is not immediately to hand, explain to the officer that you're reaching for it. "its in the glovebox, officer, I'll get it".

Remember these guys are possibly facing a gun fight and death at every traffic stop they make so they dont appreciate humour, excuses or being a smartass.

And also No Sudden Movements.

Hazys

InTheTrees wrote: »

Visitors to the USA complain about the superficial friendliness in shops and restaurants.

But I guess I've been here long enough that I would take it in a heatbeat over the sour faced surliness of irish shop assistants!

:cool:

Lol completely agree.

A smile (whether real or fake) is waaaay more welcoming than the most real frown. There have been times at home where i felt i was bugging the shop assistant by asking for help.

I always find in bars if its busy, back home a lot of bar tenders would almost throw a beer at you to get you to go away while in the US no matter how busy it gets the bar tenders are 100x more friendlier and willing to chat (even if you dont want them too).

I know they work for tips/commission, but the level of service 100X better than back home.

I think its unfair to say its all fake smiles and politeness from Americans because in general they are more upbeat and enthusastic in life compared to Irish people. A lot of people who work in retail and the service industry have pride in their jobs unlike back home, where a lot of people think that type of work is beneath them.

lil_lisa

To be honest, cultural acceptance is one thing I recognize in this country a lot, and possibly why so many people immigrate here. There are people from all kinds of cultures living together so everyone automatically has this open mindedness when it comes to other cultures. It's not strange to be the only english speaking person at a bar or the only person not using chopsticks at a sushi bar. Maybe that's just Southern California...

FatherTed

It also depends on where you are. I'm in Connecticut and unlike silja who is in Arkansas I think, I don't know anybody who carrys a gun around with them, also religion is much less of a factor here compared to down south with all the bible-belters. Also people in cities like New York do walk and a lot don't even own a car.

Try not to put America down otherwise you'll be branded an outcast. People generally are polite and hard working much more so than the average Irish person.

spideog7

silja wrote: »

Also, the place is sooo much more conservative than Europe, even in big cities. In Ireland, I was by far the most conservative of my group of friends. Here, I am considered a bit of a hippy.

Same as that. Although I find it tends to be very bipolar here, either you're a raging liberal or a raging conservative, there's no real middle ground!

Also it really irks me that every event is an excuse to celebrate the military, they're far worse than the communists!!

Also tend to work too much here, salaries are generally higher but I don't know if it accurately reflects the amount of additional work you have to do, I'd gladly take unpaid leave if it was an option. My workplace is actually quite fun compared to most places, but still no atmosphere compared to home.

Very consumerist society over here, everywhere you go you're bombarded with advertising, I know home is getting like that too but it's much worse here, it's very blatant and people buy into it big time, it's hard not too when it's everywhere.

Hazys

silja wrote: »

A lot is regional, and I am not sure on Chicago, only been there on city breaks. For me, the four big things were:
- Car culture. Even if something is in walking distance, people drive. If you are an adult and do not have a drivers license, it is assumed it has been taken away, not that you never had one.
- Gun culture. The amount of people who own guns is staggering, and it is easy to purchase one (depends on state, but usually just 3 day waiting period)/ You'd be surprised at the amount of people who always carry one (concealed carry, so you don't know until the subject comes up).
- Politics. It's odd having only two viable parties here, and the voting system is so different. Also, the place is sooo much more conservative than Europe, even in big cities. In Ireland, I was by far the most conservative of my group of friends. Here, I am considered a bit of a hippy.
- Religion. I doubt this would be the case in Chicago, at least center of the city, but here, everything revolves around churches. They are a main socialising point, people talk about "church family" (friends they made in church), every public event and sports event starts with a prayer, people will say "bless you" or "I will pray for you" all the time.

Culture in the US varies vastly from region to region. I live in Boston and i've pretty much had the complete opposite experience to Silja.

-Car Culture. I've been living here almost 4 years and i have never been behind the wheel of the car.

-Gun Culture. Gun control is very strict, nobody carries guns.

-Politics. Boston would be mostly democratic. I feel the people here would be more liberal than back home, possibly because of the large student and academic population.

-Religion. Discussion of religion is not very prevalent here. I'd say you'd have more or less the same percentages of religious and atheist people as you would have back home.

PhotogTom

There are lots of regional differences with big cities, particularly on the North, being more liberal than rural areas.
The positive thing I think you'll notice is the "anything is possible" attitude, particularly when it comes to business. Almost everyone will know someone who has "made it" on their own.

dave2pvd

I'm a bit surprised at several of the comments. There are some blanket comparisons made in this thread that are inaccurate. The inaccuracy stems from the reality that the US is far from homogenous (little did I realize this before moving here). Some of the cultural differences between states are as different as what you will find when comparing to Ireland. I actually think it's difficult to find cultural 'norms' that are consistent throughout the US. There are some, but not many.

I see some of you have already pointed this out - especially with respect to religion and politics.

Even within states, the cultural differences are massive. I live in Atlanta. If I drive to middle or south Georgia, I am practically in a different country. The language doesn't even seem to be the same!

So, OP: if you are asking for cultural differences between Ireland and 'The States', I don't think you can be given a straightforward answer. How about you pick a place that you are interested in traveling to and asking for comparisons?

kessler182

The superficial friendliness mentioned in one of the earlier posts is one of the main things that stuck out for me. I hated it at first, wanting to just be left alone and browse in peace, but when you get back here to the bored looking, useless staff you see in 90% of our shops, it's not actually all that bad in comparison.

Gandhi

dave2pvd wrote: »

So, OP: if you are asking for cultural differences between Ireland and 'The States', I don't think you can be given a straightforward answer. How about you pick a place that you are interested in traveling to and asking for comparisons?

He did mention in the first sentence that he is moving to Chicago.

InTheTrees

kessler182 wrote: »

The superficial friendliness mentioned in one of the earlier posts is one of the main things that stuck out for me. I hated it at first, wanting to just be left alone and browse in peace, but when you get back here to the bored looking, useless staff you see in 90% of our shops, it's not actually all that bad in comparison.

+10000000

In ireland we call it "superficial" but americans just call it good service and I tend to agree with them.

InTheTrees

I used to love going to the "full service" pumps at the gas station, you'd get three guys rushing out like a pit crew to your car to fill it, check oil, clean the windscreen etc.

dave2pvd

InTheTrees wrote: »

I used to love going to the "full service" pumps at the gas station, you'd get three guys rushing out like a pit crew to your car to fill it, check oil, clean the windscreen etc.

But you had to pay 1.5X more per gallon.....

The last one near me disappeared ~10yrs ago.

InTheTrees

dave2pvd wrote: »

But you had to pay 1.5X more per gallon.....

It was a couple of cents a gallon I think. Well worth it!

:cool:

There's also still some states where you can't pump your own gas, its illegal. I know about Oregon but i've heard there's some others as well?

EZ24GET

Laws differ from state to state. Some laws may be in effect in one city of the same state and not in another. Culture varies too. In this state you can get a permit to carry a handgun and conceal it. Lots of people here have shot guns or rifles for hunting. Guns are everywhere.

spideog7

InTheTrees wrote: »

dave2pvd wrote: »

But you had to pay 1.5X more per gallon.....

It was a couple of cents a gallon I think. Well worth it!

:cool:

There's also still some states where you can't pump your own gas, its illegal. I know about Oregon but i've heard there's some others as well?

New Jersey is the same, the guy came out to fill mine and I told him I'd do it myself cause I didn't want to pay him but then he pointed to a big sign saying it was state law, just glad I didn't have to tip him!

FGR

Mind my asking what the situation is regarding the drinking culture over there? Or if there is one compared to here.

Hazys

FGR wrote: »

Mind my asking what the situation is regarding the drinking culture over there? Or if there is one compared to here.

Again completely varies from place to place, even neighbouring cities vary vastly.


Salt Lake City...no drinking culture...by law in a bar or a club, you cant hold two alcoholic beverages in your hands at the same time, most bars you have to be a member to drink.

Vegas a couple hours from SLC...you can practically do whatever the hell you want, when you want.


Boston...similar drinking culture as back home...same laws to curtail it, no happy hours and all bars close at 2am.

NYC a couple hours from Boston...tons of happy hours and bars and night clubs stay open till 5am.

silja

I live in a dry county- ie no alcoholic beverages outside private clubs, no wine in shops etc.

Piste

Hazys wrote: »

Again completely varies from place to place, even neighbouring cities vary vastly.


Salt Lake City...no drinking culture...by law in a bar or a club, you cant hold two alcoholic beverages in your hands at the same time, most bars you have to be a member to drink.

I didn't find that in SLC at all, never had any problem ordering in bars, at no point were we asked were we members. The only slight trouble I had was asking for a mojito (they don't seem to do cocktails in SLC, unless you go to a cocktail bar) and once I asked for a double Captain Morgan's and Coke and the waitress just laughed at me and said she could give me two Captain Morgans and Coke but couldn't serve me a double. I was surprised at how easy it was to drink there, I was expecting it to be a lot of hassle.

One culture shock I got was how punctual everyone is (except in Miami, everything runs late in Miami). 10-15 early is considered "on time" over there.