| Term Paper Title | Commerical Guidebooks |
| # of Words | 669 |
| # of Pages (250 words per page double spaced) | 2.68 |
Commerical Guidebooks
Assignment 4-1
Commercial guidebooks usually give a general description of what cultural taboos a traveler will encounter when visiting a foreign country. Handing a gift to an Arab with the left hand, flashing the soles of your feet in Thailand, or raving about the shellfish in Israel might brand you the ultimate foreign misfit if it weren't for their handy tips. General cultural descriptions for Americans, however, are little more difficult to formulate. Given the unique immigrant roots of the country, social customs from the motherland still hold sway among many second and third generation American families. Political correctness so fashionable these days in the States also dictates that nothing is truly American for the country is in a constant state of flux as it accepts the influence of all cultures within its borders.
Despite the politically correct purists, certain American cultural ticks do exist that clearly mark Americans as Americans, regardless of the cultural variations posed by the newer generations. For visitors to the States who might find themselves socializing with the natives on a more personal level than the local theme park, here are a few American quirks that, if avoided, will keep you from committing any nasty gaffes.
First and foremost, Americans are punctual, if not absolutely ruled by the clock. If the theater shows you are to attend starts at 7:30pm, expect the majority of Americans to be in their seats twenty minutes prior.
Crawling in the dark over other patrons to reach your seat even five minutes after the curtain has risen will cause grumbles. You might even be forbidden to enter by the theater ushers who will force you to wait in the wings until a suitable break in the show. Time sensitivity extends to dinner reservations at local restaurants, as well, whether or not you are meeting any Americans. A mere thirty-minute delay will push you to the end of the reservation list at bustling, popular eateries.
Dining with Americans at their home is on...Read entire document
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