The American way of life
The United States is a vast country and is made up of a diverse group of people. Life can vary greatly from one region to another. Even so, a unique lifestyle in the United States has developed over time. Expats will probably find that Americans in general are a friendly, optimistic and generous group. However, some Americans may sometimes seem ignorant about the world outside their borders. Each person's experience will vary, but here are some common aspects of the American lifestyle.
Family
The nuclear family unit is more common in the United States, although there are families formed by any combination of relationships. While before marriage before having children used to be the norm, unmarried couples and single parents are very common now. American families value individuality, and the stigmas of the past towards different types of families are rapidly becoming something of the past. Even so, the multiple generations of family members living together are not common.
As children grow up, they become more independent of their families. Americans are considered adults at the age of 18, which coincides with high school graduation. It is normal for young adults to live alone, even if they are in the same city as their parents. The United States' focus on personal happiness means that it is common for families to live apart because of their work or personal preference.
Work-life balance
Americans work hard, marking more hours than any other industrialized country. Part of this rule is the idea of the American Dream and that anything can be achieved if you work hard enough. It is probably the most valuable part of life in the US. UU to the point that a job is almost synonymous with the identity of a person. In fact, contrary to many cultures, asking a person what he does for a living is a common question and is not considered rude or intrusive. In American working life, earning money is the supreme goal and is not considered in bad taste to say so.
An unfortunate result of this lifestyle is that many Americans do not have many paid vacations (that is, annual vacations), or even when they do, they do not always use them. Paid free time is an additional benefit in the US. UU and companies are not required to grant annual licenses to employees. Initial level jobs usually come with 3-5 days of vacation per year, and additional days are added depending on the number of years of service. In addition, if the company opens on a holiday, such as Christmas or New Year, they may require their employees to work on those days.
Values
American values largely shape the way people live and relate to each other. Because individuality is considered sacred, many expatriates will have no problem living their lives at will.
Independence
In general, Americans value the right to do what they want over almost anything else. They prefer to do things their own way and see themselves in control of their own destinies. As stated in the Constitution of the United States, Americans believe that happiness is a right.
Informality
Americans are very informal in their speech, dress and behavior. Addressing one's own name, such as introducing people by their first name or addressing older people by their first name, and sitting without being asked, are considered normal behaviors. This is not considered rude and is more a result of its equality value.
Franco and direct
Americans prefer to get straight to the point. They value eye contact, openness and prefer to deal with problems by discussing them. Much importance is given to personal opinions. In addition, the questioning of ideas and the open discourse of any subject are encouraged, especially in an academic environment.
Equality
The US Constitution establishes the belief that everyone should be granted the same opportunity. The United States has no monarchy or titles. Any naturally born citizen can run for public office. This belief has shaped the informality values of Americans and the expectation of social ascent.
Consumption
While most would not be proud to recognize this, it must be said that Americans are the largest consumers in the world. The "bigger is better" mantra forms the American way of life and many expats are surprised by the portions in the restaurants, the average household size and the spending habits of the Americans. Part of this is the result of the economic cost of products in the country. In lu
Family
The nuclear family unit is more common in the United States, although there are families formed by any combination of relationships. While before marriage before having children used to be the norm, unmarried couples and single parents are very common now. American families value individuality, and the stigmas of the past towards different types of families are rapidly becoming something of the past. Even so, the multiple generations of family members living together are not common.
As children grow up, they become more independent of their families. Americans are considered adults at the age of 18, which coincides with high school graduation. It is normal for young adults to live alone, even if they are in the same city as their parents. The United States' focus on personal happiness means that it is common for families to live apart because of their work or personal preference.
Work-life balance
Americans work hard, marking more hours than any other industrialized country. Part of this rule is the idea of the American Dream and that anything can be achieved if you work hard enough. It is probably the most valuable part of life in the US. UU to the point that a job is almost synonymous with the identity of a person. In fact, contrary to many cultures, asking a person what he does for a living is a common question and is not considered rude or intrusive. In American working life, earning money is the supreme goal and is not considered in bad taste to say so.
An unfortunate result of this lifestyle is that many Americans do not have many paid vacations (that is, annual vacations), or even when they do, they do not always use them. Paid free time is an additional benefit in the US. UU and companies are not required to grant annual licenses to employees. Initial level jobs usually come with 3-5 days of vacation per year, and additional days are added depending on the number of years of service. In addition, if the company opens on a holiday, such as Christmas or New Year, they may require their employees to work on those days.
Values
American values largely shape the way people live and relate to each other. Because individuality is considered sacred, many expatriates will have no problem living their lives at will.
Independence
In general, Americans value the right to do what they want over almost anything else. They prefer to do things their own way and see themselves in control of their own destinies. As stated in the Constitution of the United States, Americans believe that happiness is a right.
Informality
Americans are very informal in their speech, dress and behavior. Addressing one's own name, such as introducing people by their first name or addressing older people by their first name, and sitting without being asked, are considered normal behaviors. This is not considered rude and is more a result of its equality value.
Franco and direct
Americans prefer to get straight to the point. They value eye contact, openness and prefer to deal with problems by discussing them. Much importance is given to personal opinions. In addition, the questioning of ideas and the open discourse of any subject are encouraged, especially in an academic environment.
Equality
The US Constitution establishes the belief that everyone should be granted the same opportunity. The United States has no monarchy or titles. Any naturally born citizen can run for public office. This belief has shaped the informality values of Americans and the expectation of social ascent.
Consumption
While most would not be proud to recognize this, it must be said that Americans are the largest consumers in the world. The "bigger is better" mantra forms the American way of life and many expats are surprised by the portions in the restaurants, the average household size and the spending habits of the Americans. Part of this is the result of the economic cost of products in the country. In lu
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