Some Unique Aspects of the American Culture
by Julia Yeh（葉瑋苓）
Have you ever had such an experience that when you want to make friends with foreigners, you don’t know how to approach them or talk to them? Constantly, we are always at a loss and do not know where to start to explore the Western cultures. In fact, it’s not difficult to get along with foreigners or fit into their world as long as you are more involved in learning their life style and values for things.
The American culture may be a more popular one in Taiwan among many other Western cultures at present. Does the American culture often confuse you? The following is an introduction of some unique aspects of the American culture, such as their ideas about friendship, dating and raising pets, which I believe will be interesting and worthy of your attention.
Americans view friendship quite differently from the way we do. For most Americans, the word “friend” can be used in a very broad sense. Americans are very kind to everyone they meet the first time. They call both casual acquaintances and intimate companions “friends.’’ They are often at ease when chatting with strangers. Therefore, Americans’ being friendly to everyone often makes people with different cultural backgrounds feel confused. They do not know that to Americans a friend can mean anyone they barely know to a very close or intimate friend. Therefore, next time, when Americans say warmly and friendly, “Let’s get together some time,” be careful and don’t immediately feel they treat you as a very special friend.Do you know how differently Americans view “dating” from people of other cultures? In Taiwan, the concept of dating may still remain in a more conservative sense than the American one. In fact, most Taiwanese see dating as a formal, serious, and the first step of developing a love relationship. By contrast, dating is regarded as an opportunity to have fun and make friends in the American culture. As a result, it is common that Americans are likely to go out with different persons every week before they begin to develop a true love.
At last, raising pets for Americans is another special aspect of their culture. Sometimes, a foreigner may be very surprised at Americans’ great attention to their pets. In America, the pet food stores and dog hotels can be seen everywhere. Moreover, they can buy dog insurance policy and dog graves. Most Americans treat their dogs like their family members, which is a little different from the way we treat animals here in Taiwan. Obviously, pets have been a part of the American culture.So far, how much do you know about the American culture? Learning how Americans make friends, go on a date and raise pets will help you enter the American world more easily and understand the American way even though you are not planning to go abroad.
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