1. Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1), California:  One of the U.S.’s most beautiful and iconic roads, this coastal drive provides scenic views of the Pacific Ocean. The 332 miles from San Francisco all the way south to Santa Barbara overlook gorgeous beaches on one-side, and stunning trees, redwoods inparticular, and greenery inland.

2. Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia and North Carolina: This parkway has been referred to as “America’s Favorite Drive.” You will drive through miles of breathtaking scenery and plenty of National Park to explore. The parkway extends 469 miles along the southern Appalachian Mountains and connects Shenandoah National Park in Virginia with North Carolina’s Great Smoky Mountains. Go in May for the wildflowers, but consider the fall season to catch a glimpse of the beautiful foliage.

3. Route 66, the American Heartland: The initial section of this iconic U.S. route is 300 miles from Chicago, Illinois to St. Louis, Missouri. Much of the historic landmark road exists today only in scattered sections that parallel the interstate. Still, this culturally and historically famous U.S. road (featured in American literature, music and television) represents the ideas of freedom and western migration in the American heartland. There are tons of roadside stops and attractions including eccentric drive-in restaurants.

4. Overseas Highway (Highway 1), Key West, Florida: 110 miles of beautiful island hopping—what else could you ask for? This scenic drive through the Florida Keys has picturesque views of turquoise waters and lush green. It takes you along a total of 42 bridges over the Atlantic Ocean, Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.

5.Highway 12, Southern Utah: This 122-mile route through the southwestern region of Utah is breathtaking. From Torrey, Utah to Bryce Canyon National Park, passing through the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and over Boulder Mountain and the Dixie National Forest, you have the opportunity to take in the unforgettable scenery, not to mention from 9,000 feet high!

6. Route 6A – Cape Cod, Massachusetts:  Stretching 34 miles through the hook of Cape Cod (the easternmost portion and peninsula of Massachusetts), you’re sure to experience what makes locals and tourists alike fall in love with the Cape. Breathe in the saltwater air and take in the views of the surrounding marshes, blue inlets and beaches as you drive through quaint towns like Yarmouth, Dennis, Orleans and Truro and end up in Provincetown, a beautiful beach town on the furthest tip of Cape Cod. 6A is easily one of the best coastal New England road trips.

7. Sonoma and Napa Valleys, California: Get a taste of Northern California wine country by driving through the Sonoma and Napa valleys. A 132-mile drive starts in Santa Rosa, just north of San Francisco, and follows three highways (Sonoma Highway, St. Helena Highway and Redwood Highway) with views of sprawling hills, oak woodlands, as well as several state parks—and of course, vineyards!

8. Million Dollar Highway-Western Colorado:  This 25-mile stretch of highway is a beautiful journey through the mountainous regions of western Colorado.   The highway follows the route of U.S. Route 550 between Silverton and Ouray, Colorado and presents stunning views over three mountain passes. The origin of the name Million Dollar Highway is disputed and there are several legends.  Some say that it cost a million dollars per mile to build in the 1920s, and another says that the road’s dirt fill contains a million dollars in gold ore.

9. State Route 179-Red Rock Scenic Byway, Arizona: This road is known as “a destination unto itself.” The byway winds along the prehistoric and strikingly beautiful Red Rock Country of Sedona, Arizona and meanders through the Coconino National Forest. Sedona and the surrounding area has become an increasingly popular place to visit in the U.S. due to the stunning scenery of the Red Rocks. Biking and hiking is encouraged to explore the incredible vistas.

10. Route 100, Vermont Ski Country: This road runs straight up the length of the state of Vermont. Whether in the fall for the foliage, or during the winter for ski season, this route will certainly impress those looking for spectacular New England mountain views. Route 100 is in fact the main route for the most popular Vermont ski and resort towns, including Mount Snow, Killington, Sugarbush, Stow Mountain Resort and Jay Peak.

Resources:

http://www.scenicdrivesusa.com

http://www.maps.google.com

http://byways.org

Homesickness can take many forms. Most commonly, it is characterized by a sense of anxiety and stress that comes about when someone is missing home.  Often people feel sad or nervous and constantly think about home. Sometimes homesickness can be so overwhelming that individuals may withdraw from their new surroundings instead of getting out and exploring them.  In addition, you may not become homesick right when you arrive in the U.S.  Often the first few weeks in your new city will be so exciting that homesickness will be kept at bay. However, many people find that after the first month, once they have gotten settled into a routine and the initial thrill wears off, feelings of homesickness will begin to surface.

If you have found yourself experiencing some homesickness, do not despair! Homesickness is easily managed. Here are some good ideas for what you can do to overcome a bout of homesick blues.

• Be prepared – Before you leave for the U.S., it is good to be aware that you may become homesick at some point. Remember to pack pictures of loved ones and to collect email addresses and contact information for friends and family. That way you can keep in touch and not feel as though you are so far away. However, keep a good balance. Talking to loved ones back home too much could intensify your homesickness.
• Meet new people – Feeling as though you have a community in the U.S. is a key component of overcoming homesickness. Try to get out and make new friends, or find people who share your interests.  Having friends to hang out with makes your new city feel more like a second home! Here are some tips for meeting people in the U.S.
• Talk to someone – It’s never a good idea to keep homesickness all bottled up inside. Talking to a friend or family member about what you’re feeling is a great way to release some anxiety and get perspective. Remember, almost everyone feels homesick at some point in their lives, so your friends probably have experiences or strategies that could help you, too.
• Stay positive – Remind yourself of all the things you have the opportunity to try and explore while you’re in the U.S. Jump right into your internship and make the most of it! Venture out and see the sites in your new locale, or travel and see what the U.S. has to offer!
• Get busy and stay active – Perhaps the most effective way to combat homesickness is to not give yourself too much time to think about home! Staying active, exploring your new location, meeting new people and participating in different activities will all keep your mind off what you miss from home. Exercise will also help relieve the stress of feeling homesick. The more you do, the more you will enjoy your time in the U.S. and the less you will feel homesick.

Everyone deals with homesickness in different ways, so you need to find what works best for you. Just know that homesickness is not permanent and you will not be away from home forever. Be patient and give yourself time to adjust to your new surroundings. Coming to the U.S. can be overwhelming, but with time you will get comfortable and find out what you like and how best to spend your program in the States.

Your time in the U.S. is for learning and exploration and we hope you experience it to the fullest. The more you take advantage of the opportunities here, the more you will have to share with friends and family when you return home!

To read more about homesickness and how to deal with it, you can visit the following sites:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2330049_beat-homesickness-living-abroad-extended.html

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/08/16/homesickness.not.about.home/index.html

The theme of this winter’s photo contest is “Winternship: Interning and Training in the USA.”We are looking for images of you in action at your host company!  Send us pictures interacting with

Our last Career Training USA Winner!

colleagues or clients and anything else that shows you at work this winter in the USA.

Each person may submit multiple images for this photo contest. Here are the requirements for your entries:

• YOU must be in the picture! If not, how will we know you’re having a spectacular winter at your internship?
• Your photograph must be taken in the work place! Pictures at your desk, talking with colleagues, or anything else that is happening in your host company are the kind we want to see!
• Your picture needs a description! Please send us a brief explanation of what the image shows: where you are, whom you are with, and what you are doing.

To submit your photos, email your pictures with “Winter Photo Contest” in the subject line to swadlinger@interexchange.org by February 10^th, 2012. Please include your full name, email address and phone number in your message. You must also send a signed photo release form, which will be sent to all CT participants via email. Note: We cannot consider your entry without this signed form!

All photo submissions will be uploaded to our Career Training USA Flickr stream.  The lucky winner will get a $75 cash prize, be featured in an upcoming blog post and be posted on our Facebook page! Not to mention the bragging rights!

So grab your camera and get to the office!  We can’t wait to see what amazing photographers we have at Career Training USA!

During the early 20^th Century, African-Americans in some southern states lived under a set of laws called Jim Crow laws. The Jim Crow laws meant that black Americans were required to live separately from white Americans and they were treated effectively as second-class citizens. Blacks were not allowed to eat at the same restaurants, live in the same neighborhoods or even ride in the same section as white Americans on the public buses.

The de facto beginning of the American Civil Rights movement and Dr. King’s civil rights work was a bus boycott in the city of Montgomery, Alabama. A woman named Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger and was arrested. In turn, the boycott was organized as a non-violent protest of the city’s segregation laws.

The boycott was successful and led to the desegregation of public buses in the city. This was an important early victory for civil rights and gave Dr. King his start in the national spotlight.

He is most remembered for his speeches, including the famous I Have a Dream Speech, given during the March on Washington, D.C in 1963. The I Have a Dream Speech is a passionate call for an end to discrimination, which outlined his vision for a world where people are judged for “the content of their character” not their skin color or other superficial reasons.

I’ve Been to the Mountaintop is notable for being Dr. King’s final speech. He chillingly refers to his own death and the need for the struggle to continue even if he is gone. The speech was delivered on April 3^rd, 1968. The next day, Dr. King was assassinated while standing on the balcony of his hotel room in Memphis, Tennessee.

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a day honoring Dr. King into law. It falls on the third Monday of every January so that it occurs around the time of his birthday, January 15^th. It is a day for all people to remember that whatever differences we may have in terms of ethnicity or culture, they can and should be overcome for the benefit of society.

You may now be asking, “Well, what’s the maximum I can extend for?”

Good question!

If you are an intern or a Hospitality/Tourism trainee, then you may stay for a total of 12 months. This means, if your current program is 4 months, you can stay up to 8 more months. All other trainees may stay for a total of 18 months.

These limits are set by the U.S. Department of State. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to extend your program longer than these maximums. And it’s also never possible to change from an intern to a trainee.

If you are not at the maximum program length and would like to continue interning or training, you must then apply for an extension. InterExchange only accepts extension applications 30-60 days before the end of your program. Not sure when that is? Check your DS-2019 form to find out, then go back 60 days to determine when you are eligible to apply.

So now, it’s 30-60 days before your program ends and you are ready to apply. Great! The first thing you will need to do is email us for an application. Just email training@interexchange.org and say you want to extend your program. We will send you all the paperwork you will need to submit.

When you and your employer have completed the application materials, send them to training@interexchange.org. Once we receive a full application and the extension program fee, we will review your application—the processing time is about 1-2 weeks. If your application is accepted, we will send you a new DS-2019 form that will allow you to continue interning or training in the USA.

You may now be wondering, “What about my visa? It expires at the end of my original program! Do I need a new one?”

The answer is no. You do not automatically need a new visa when you extend. This is because your new DS-2019 form is all you need to continue interning or training in the U.S. Your visa is only needed when entering the U.S. from another country. The only reason you would need a new visa would be if you were to travel abroad during your extension program AND your initial J-1 visa had expired. In that case, you would need to get a new visa from an embassy outside the U.S. before being allowed to re-enter the country.

And that’s all you need to know about extending your J-1 Visa program. If you have any further questions, you can always email us at training@interexchange.org and we’ll be happy to help!

Cash:

It is a good idea to bring a small amount of cash in U.S. dollars with you for things you will need to purchase as soon as you arrive, such as transportation from the airport to your hotel or housing and food. You can also exchange currency at the airport upon arrival-note that airport currency exchange centers will charge a commission and may not give you the best exchange rate. Usually, you will get a better exchange rate if you use your cash withdrawal card to take cash out of your account. U.S. dollar bills come in $1, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 denominations-there are no coins in denominations larger than $1.

Traveler’s Checks:

You can use traveler’s checks in almost any store, just like you would use cash. You do not need to visit a bank or pay any commission charges with traveler’s checks. Just make sure you have a passport or photo ID with you. If your checks get lost or stolen you can have them replaced, if you have the receipt(s).

ATM Card:

In the U.S., you can withdraw money from an automated teller machine (ATM). You will need a pin code, so make sure to confirm with your bank whether you will need a new pin to access your account in the U.S. If your bank has branches in the U.S., you should be able to withdraw money without paying the fees. However, ATMs that are not affiliated with your bank will typically charge a $1-$2 fee, sometimes more.

Credit Cards:

Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere in the U.S. Just remember you will have to pay your credit card bill late. Most cards only require a minimum percentage to be paid each month, but you will be charged interest for anything above the minimum amount that is unpaid. If you have never had a credit card before, it is recommended that you select a card with a low credit limit or one that requires you to pay your bill in full every month. This will help you to manage your money without accruing debt, interest charges or late fees. If your credit card is lost or stolen, call the credit card company, let them know you need a new card and they will send you one in the mail.

How to Open a Bank Account:  

Even if you are not doing a paid internship or training program, you may way to consider opening a U.S. bank account to help cut down on fees your own bank may charge for international use. If you are doing a paid program, you may want to choose the bank that your employer uses, especially if your employer offers direct deposit, a process through which your employer will electronically transfer your paycheck directly into your checking account.

Most checking accounts are free to open. While at the bank, you may want to ask a couple questions, such as; Do you have a minimum to open an account or a minimum daily balance? Do you have a monthly maintenance fee? Do you have online banking? What additional fees do you charge?

Things you should bring to the bank to open your account:

• Passport
• DS-2019 Form
• DS-7002
• Your Social Security card if you have already received it.

The bank will have you fill out some paperwork and then give you checks and an ATM card.

How to Keep Your Money Safe

Know how much money you have in your account and never spend more than that amount. You should never carry around large amounts of cash because it cannot be replaced if lost or stolen. Credit cards typically have fraud alert systems that will help them to alert you if there is unusual activity on your card. Further, if someone steals and uses your card, your card provider can help you to remove those charges so that you won’t have to worry about losing money.

Never give out your ATM number, account number or passwords to anyone. You should never deposit money from someone you don’t know into your account or transfer money for someone else. Finally, it is important to record the phone numbers for your bank and credit card provider in case you need to contact them quickly in an emergency or report fraudulent activity. You are working hard for your money–keep it safe!

To learn more about estimated costs throughout your program, you can also visit our Resource Center.

1. George Washington’s Home. Visit the beautiful home of the first American President, the Mount Vernon Estate. Located in on the Potomac in Virginia, right outside of Washington D.C., this is an easy and worthwhile trip for anyone in the area.

2. Gettysburg. One f the most important historical events in United States history, the famous Battle of Gettysburg was fought in and around Gettysburg, Pennsylvania July 1-3, 1863. Often referred to as the “turning point” of the American Civil War, this battle had the largest number of casualties in the war. Today you can take tours of the battlefields and visit the Civil War Museum.

Photo of Colonial Williamsburg courtesy of www.history.org

3. Ford’s Theatre.  Explore the historic theater where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865. Learn about his struggles during the Civil War and view exhibits relating to his fascinating life.

4. Colonial Williamsburg. This historic district was the capital of colonial Virginia. Featuring reenactments and costumed actors, Colonial Williamsburg is a living interpretation of life as it once was. Check the out the original and reconstructed buildings that date back to 1699.

5. Ellis Island. Located in the New York Harbor, Ellis Island was the entry point to the United States for millions of immigrants. It was the busiest inspection station from 1892 to 1954. Today, it is a fantastic museum that teaches visitors about the immigrant experience.

6. Paul Revere’s House and The Old North Church. The home of this American Revolution hero is just one of many stops on The Freedom Trail, which will lead you through 16 historic sites in downtown Boston.

7. Harvard University. Established in 1636, Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. The campus and grounds are rich with history so take a tour to learn more.

8. Independence Hall and The Liberty Bell. Independence Hall is the meeting hall where the Founding Fathers of the United States adopted the Declaration of Independence and The Constitution. The old cracked liberty bell also holds a great deal of U.S. historical significance. Both of these, as well as many other important historic sites, can be found at the Independence National Historic Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

9. World Trade Center Memorial. This memorial commemorates the attacks of September 11, 2001. Two large square pools are now where the Twin Towers once stood in downtown Manhattan. The memorial officially opened to the public on September 12, 2011, while the museum will open one year later, on or around September 11, 2012.

10. The White House. For more than 200 years, the White House has been the home of U.S. Presidents and their families and a symbol of the United States. Take a stroll down Pennsylvania Avenue to see it, or book a tour in advance.

Discover U.S. History! For a complete list of U.S. historic sites, or to see if there are any visit-worthy historic sites in or around your city, check out the National Park Service’s website.

To all of you, we wish you a fun, safe and Happy New Year!

InterExchange Career Training USA

As a visitor in the U.S., there was no chance I would not stop by the U.S. capital city, Washington D.C. I have always had a deep interest in American history and could not wait to learn more about it outside of a university classroom. I was expecting it to be a very full-on weekend and it happened to be even busier than what I thought. Washington D.C. has so much to offer, that 2 days and a half were far from enough to do and see it all. But in the end, I managed to make the most of it and would recommend everyone to visit it.

I had not planned my weekend in advance; I had only printed out the ’10 Things to Do Under $10 in DC’ blog page on the InterExchange website and assumed that I would walk around the monuments, go to the Holocaust Museum —highly recommended by many of my friends— wander in Georgetown and join some activities organized by the hostel. This turned out to be a great and very cheap weekend!

I hopped on the train from Penn Station, New York City for a peaceful 3-hour journey to Washington D.C. As soon as I got off of the station, the architecture and whiteness of the city was striking to me. The streets were all clean, empty and surrounded by magnificent buildings. This is one of the things that I love about the U.S.: most cities have their own identity and a different vibe. Washington’s vibe was definitely inspiring history, architectural variety and quietness to me. I did not waste a minute and took the convenient Circulator Bus that goes around the city every 10 minutes for only $1 per ride. I had no idea where to start and got off at the North part of the city that leads to the National Mall. I walked around and happened to be in the middle of a protest. It did not take me long to figure out that I was right next to the White House. I had seen it so many times in movies, mainly from a helicopter view, that it seemed different, bigger and extremely bright. I spent the next 3 hours wandering around; starting with the Ellipse to reach the so-famous National Mall. However, the more I looked around, the sadder I felt: I realized that there were dozens of monuments and museums that I will not have the chance to stop at because of my tight schedule!

I managed to visit most of the main national landmarks starting with the Washington Monument, which was unfortunately closed due to the recent earthquake. I then enjoyed walking along the Tidal Basin to reach the Jefferson Memorial. The view was picturesque, no matter where I was standing. I could not take my eyes off the monument surrounded by the water and took countless pictures. The wise inscriptions posted on the building’s walls -extracted from Jefferson’s speeches- made me want to refresh my knowledge of him. I headed to the museum located underneath the monument and went through his interesting biography. Feeling in the mood for more history ‘lessons’, I decided to go to the Holocaust Memorial Museum. I spent 90 minutes following the main exhibition until the Museum closed its doors. There were so many things to read, short movies to watch and pictures to look at that I realized that I had to come back the following morning to finish it.

My feet burning and tired from so much walking, I gathered the little energy left in me to cross the East side of the National Mall, walked past the Smithsonian Institution Building and got the chance to enjoy the U.S. Capitol at dusk. The scene was even more splendid than the Jefferson memorial! The place strangely reminded me of a mix of the Trocadéro and of the Sacré Coeur in Paris: spectacular.

After 5 hours of sightseeing, I decided to take a taxi back to the hostel. There, I met an Argentinean girl studying in Minnesota and we agreed on going to the pub-crawl together. Around 15 people had signed up for the crawl, which started at Dupont Circle. Dupont Circle is nothing more than a traffic circle hosting a fountain in the middle, but what makes it so attractive are the cute benches, vegetation, ostentatious mansions around it and more surprisingly, the chess tables where competitions are on at any time of the day and night. The chess tables evoke so much of the African American culture to me that I could not stop staring. I was dying to take a picture of the players but our tour guide warned us beforehand not to disturb them as they take this game very seriously and can get angry.

We then stopped in front of the sumptuous Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia that used to be a private residence. We also played a little quiz game to find out what were the purposes of some prosperous buildings along Massachusetts Avenue and found out that some buildings were private social clubs, where only elites could have the privilege to join. To be accepted in the Cosmos Club for example, one has to receive distinctions in science, literature or the arts. Another club, the Society of the Cincinnati would require you to prove that one of your ascendants fought for America in the past. My chances to enter one of these -not that I have ever considered it, dropped to zero. After the quiz, our tour guide first led us to the fancy Russian House—serving countless different vodkas—he then walked the group to Adams Morgan, a vibrant area in D.C. to share a few drinks at a bar called The Reef.

The following morning, I woke up early to finish the Holocaust Memorial Museum and managed to go through most of it in 2 hours. Though I tried to skip the ‘too-emotional-sections’ of the museum, it left me speechless and by the end of it, I truly needed to be cheered up and decided to head to beautiful Georgetown. On the way, I noticed some tents set up everywhere in McPherson Square and realized that I was right where ‘Occupy D.C.’ sets up its encampment. Along the side of the park, some homeless were also lining up to get food from a bus.

Georgetown washed away the sad image I had just seen, and I was happy to be able to make it on a sunny afternoon. The area seemed completely different from downtown D.C. Georgetown was much more colorful and lively. There was a wide variety of shops, restaurants with nice frontages—It actually reminded me of Boston. I could not help starring at people around me, everyone looked ‘classy’: most men were wearing V-neck jersey tops; beige pants matched to their brown moccasins and had perfectly sprayed hair. Women looked very posh, stylish but in a stricter way than in New York. I wandered there for a couple of hours before returning to the city.

In the evening, my new friends and I joined the hostel activity again, which consisted of a classical concert at the prestigious Kennedy Center. I was hoping to attend a free music performance there as listed in the blog post I had printed out and was glad to be able to share this experience with my friends. The band, called the Sixth Floor Trio, played some of their compositions but also turned famous musicals’ tunes and rocks songs into classical version(s). We all enjoyed it very much and found the performance pretty original and entertaining. We then all wanted to explore Georgetown by night, mainly to get some thrills. We started with the famous stone stairs seen in the movie ‘The Exorcist’. Both the darkness and quietness of the area seemed perfect to shoot a scary movie scene. The climb was actually very creepy and I was happy not to be by myself when experiencing it. Georgetown University, which hosted a few scenes from the movie, was amazingly pretty and seemed out of a horror movie too. The main building, Healy Hall, reminds me of an old boarding school where you would expect a flash of lightening to appear at any time and make you jump out of your seat!

The following morning, for my last activity, I chose to go to the National Museum of American History. I could have spent the whole day there… I personally loved the African American Civil Rights History section, and managed to go through all the wars the U.S. has been involved in, from the War of Independence to the War on Terrorism. This was definitely a good choice of mine and I strongly recommend it.

Washington D.C. is an incredible city. It has so many museums, historical sites, events, scenes, etc. that everyone can find activities and attractions that suit them. The capital city is definitely a must-go place in the U.S. if you are interested in learning more about your new host country. For more ideas on what to see and do in D.C., you can also visit our D.C. travel guide.

“To-go” concept—Eating on the run: Most Americans are always on the go. They are running from one appointment to the next, going to and from work, picking up kids, running errands and going to business and social meetings. Because of this, there is often not enough time to have a formal, sit-down meal. A common expression is, “24 hours in a day is not enough!”  You may be surprised to see Americans walking around with coffee mugs, beverages or food in to-go containers. You may see people eating a slice of pizza on the street or downing a cappuccino while in line at the bank. Since there isn’t enough time to sit down in a café and enjoy a cup of coffee, or relax for a few minutes and eat a snack, Americans often take things “to go.” 

Going out to eat/Ordering take-out: American’s eat out not only in the interest of time and convenience, but because it’s fun!  The U.S. is a melting pot of different cultures, bringing along with it a variety of tasty food options. Dining out allows Americans to explore new cuisines and food varieties. It’s important to keep in mind that people’s habits always vary. Some people rarely eat out, but it is not uncommon for Americans to eat out several times a week. In addition to bringing lunch from home, many Americans get take-out for lunch or go out to lunch everyday.

Think BIG:  Whereas in other countries the emphasis is on being practical, compact and concise, in the U.S., Americans often prefer large and luxurious. Don’t be surprised by the enormous trucks and massive SUV’s taking over parking lots. Americans just like their space, and to them, large can be practical. Most restaurants also serve very large portions. It is not uncommon for someone to order a meal, and then take the remainder home as leftovers. Some restaurant entrees are also meant to be shared. If you’re out to eat and aren’t sure of the portion size, it’s okay to ask your server what they recommend! Large doesn’t just apply to size, but can also be a way of looking at things. There is a counter-movement against the “big is better” mentality though. Many people, especially young urbanites, are buying eco-friendly cars, shopping for local and healthy foods and trying to lower their consumption and waste as much as possible.

Speaking Up—In general and in the workplace, Americans are known for speaking up and generally going after what they want. Particularly in the workplace, you may be surprised to see how Americans are not afraid to voice their ideas. While your supervisor is your superior and should always be treated with respect, it’s okay not to hold back and ask a question if you have one. If you need clarification on a project, your employer would prefer that you let them know. While there is certainly a difference between speaking up and being subversive or rude, it’s okay to say something!

Sports:  Something that many Americans love and follow is sports! They love to root for their favorite team, the most popular being football, baseball and basketball. A huge difference is that the following of soccer is much smaller in the U.S. than it is in other countries. Sports are a huge uniting and dividing factor among Americans. It is currently football and basketball season, so you might see your coworkers getting into spirited debates about whose team is better. Football is fun to watch but can be pretty confusing to follow, so be sure to see what it’s all about!

Competition: Like many other cultures, Americans thrive on competition. From a young age, children are encouraged to always try their best and work hard. This has to do with academics and also things like sports and other hobbies. Universities tend to be very competitive, so parents prepare their kids early for gaining admission. Some high schools and even pre-schools have competitive admission. You will certainly see that many Americans have a very ambitious and “go-getter” attitude as well. They are proactive and if they want to accomplish something, they go for it. They don’t tend to sit back and wait for others to catch up.

Political Correctness (or being “P.C.”): Since the U.S. is so diverse, there is a general practice of always respecting other cultures and people’s differences, especially when communicating and expressing your ideas. It is an underlying rule not to use words or expressions that could be interpreted as offensive, regardless of whose company you are in.

Small Talk: A lot of Americans participate in what is called “small talk,” where you make conversation with strangers or acquaintances about non-controversial topics, such as the weather. While waiting at a bus stop, in line at a store or in an elevator, don’t be startled if a stranger says something to you. They might make a joke or comment on the situation you are in. Small talk is supposed to be harmless, so it’s not okay if a stranger says something that makes you uncomfortable.

Independence: The idea of being self-sufficient and being on your own is valued highly in the U.S. Many American kids and teenagers leave home for extended periods of time, for summer camps or travel. Upon graduating secondary school, many Americans choose colleges and universities outside of and often far from their hometowns. They generally live on their own or in residence halls with other students while at school for 2-4 years and many stay away from their childhood homes even after graduation. After 17 or 18 years, most Americans no longer live at home with their families. They also do their own shopping, laundry, cooking and pursue careers or studies on their own.

Diversity: The U.S. is a melting pot of people from many different backgrounds and cultures. It is for this reason that there are such a wide variety of beliefs, values and traditions. There is no such thing as the “typical” American—that’s part of what makes it such an interesting place!