Understanding American Culture Shock & Its Examples

Every visitor to this multicultural and dynamic nation faces a culture shock in the USA, which is more than just a fancy name. Imagine yourself arriving here, filled with excitement, curiosity, and a little bit of apprehension. You're eager to live out the American dream, but little do you know that there will be some unexpected turns in store for you. You won't soon forget the journey, we guarantee it! In this blog post, we will explore the concept of culture shock in America, a country with a diverse range of cultures and subcultures. 

What Is A Culture Shock?

Before diving into what culture shocks in America are, let's understand the concept of culture shocks. After moving away from home, you might notice that there are different cultures, different habits and habitats in different countries. Culture shock is basically an adjustment you might have to make or the feeling of uncertainty, confusion or anxiety after moving into a new country. While growing up, every individual develops some habits or gets used to a certain culture. Individuals might even feel lonely or overwhelmed due to the change in their way of living. Culture shock is nothing but the adjustment or the time you take to settle in and get used to the new place.

Impact of Culture Shocks In America

Leaving your home country to study in USA is an exciting yet challenging journey. The individual is bound to feel anxious and lonely and find it difficult to cope with. However, once the individual settles in and becomes comfortable with new habits, the person will start inculcating a sense of belonging to the community.

Examples of Culture Shocks In America

Whether you are an international student, an expat, or a visitor to the United States, this blog post will provide you with valuable insights and practical advice to help you navigate the cultural complexities of life in America. We will discuss the various stages of culture shock in the USA and offer tips and strategies for coping with and adapting to a new culture.

1. Tipping The Serving Staff

As in most countries, there is typically a service charge included on restaurant bills; tipping your serving personnel may be viewed as superfluous or even impolite in some nations. In contrast, you could see a section on your bill in a US restaurant listing suggesting tipping percentages and their monetary amounts, typically ranging from 15 to 22 per cent. This for sure comes as a culture shock in America, as in many countries, this practice is considered impolite. But, have a look at the restaurant's price range before you decide to eat there because you can even discover that your meal ends up being much more expensive than you had anticipated. Remember that tipping your hairdresser, nail technician, delivery person, and other service personnel is considered nice.

2. Tax Is Not Included In The Price

Consider entering the Columbia University Bookstore to make your first-ever college purchase. When you look at the tag on the perfect sweater, you see that it costs $49.95. You happen to have a $50 bill with you, which is ideal. The person at the cashier is waiting with the assumption that more money will be given over, so you head over to the counter to pay while proudly showing off your new school spirit apparel. Your total is more than you anticipated once you check at the register and see that a tax has been applied. Your budgeting plans may become a little jumbled due to this culture shock in America for the first few months, and it will undoubtedly take some time to get used to. Do not forget to manage your finances well; here is an international students' guide to managing finances. 

3. Different Public Holidays And Traditions

Many of the most beloved American public holidays are celebrated worldwide: Easter involves a huge bunny, hand-carved turkeys mark Thanksgiving, and, most importantly, Super Bowl Sunday is marked by everyone focusing on the half-time spectacle. Others have different dates in the United States than they do internationally; for example, whereas Labor Day is observed in most nations on or around May 1, it is observed in the United States on the first Monday in September. Yet, there are a few that you might not be familiar with, such as Presidents' Day and Groundhog Day. For non-residents experiencing their first encounters with American celebrations and traditions, these American culture shocks can undoubtedly be eye-opening.

4. The Imperial System

If you've always used the metric system, get ready to search up a lot of conversions, including those from miles and Fahrenheit. You'll need it to start a conversation, but you won't be shocked if everyone measures lengths in inches or knows how much coffee is in an ounce. Nonetheless, when questions are formulated utilising the metric system, STEM majors will have an advantage over their peers. It can be a considerable American culture shock for international students in America used to the usual metric system to discover the imperial system in the US.

5. The Dining Experience Is Rushed

Your main course will typically come after your appetiser unless you're in a fairly upscale restaurant. A waiter will frequently come over and inquire about how your meal is going and whether they can fetch you anything extra. For people who are not used to having their talks interrupted in this way, this might be a culture shock in America, but it indicates that the waiter or waitress is trying to be helpful by asking about your requirements. Moreover, a server has been designated for your table, so always remember to place orders for all of your meals through them.

6. Sidewalks and Pedestrian Lights Are Rare Outside of Cities

Even while you might spend the majority of your time at school inside the Morningside Heights bubble, you'll almost probably occasionally travel outside the metropolis for a day excursion or during the lengthier academic breaks. Driving outside the city, you might be surprised by how few sidewalks there are. Even a brief train ride to Philadelphia will have you crossing streets using traffic lights rather than having a separate walk signal. Pedestrian traffic lights are also less widespread than you may think, and this culture shock in America is harder to take in for many Asians and Europeans. 

7. Microwave Is The Key 

You may regret every choice that brought you to this situation the first time you enter your kitchen and discover someone using your microwave to brew tea. Despite having a separate kettle, rice cooker, and instant pot, many people you know may microwave their ramen, lentils, or even rice. You may never give in to this habit yourself, but this culture shock in America is very common. 

8. Unlimited Internet For Everyone Everywhere

While other countries have trouble connecting to the internet, the USA has high-speed internet access everywhere. Students studying in the USA can connect to unlimited Internet access anywhere, but notably on campuses. They can stream HD movies, sporting events, educational films, and other visual content. This can come as a culture shock in America for a lot of Asians, but this is for sure a good practice in America.  

9. Unique Metric System

Many overseas students are accustomed to measuring weight, length, volume, temperature, and other things in kilogrammes, metres, litres, and degrees Celsius. Nonetheless, they might face a culture shock in America if they use a distinct metric system. The standard measurement units are pounds, feet, and degrees Fahrenheit. Numerous overseas students find it challenging to understand this method at first.

10. Huge Gaps Between Every Class

In addition to having a convenient class schedule, students also benefit from extensive breaks. This gap was only in many conventional universities for 10 to 15 minutes. Nonetheless, there may only be one or two classes in the United States each day, with considerable time between them. Many Asian students face this culture shock in America because it goes against their culture.

Tips to Overcome Culture Shock in USA

Here are a few tips on how you can overcome American culture shocks

1. Learn the local language and prepare as much as you can before leaving for the USA.
2. Research the time zones and try to schedule your day around the clock.
3. Try reaching out to local groups or ex-pats to increase your contacts
4. Avoid comparing your home town with your new town as it will miss home even more.
5. Prioritise self-care and take up hobbies or activities that will help you stay active throughout the day.

6. Opting for counselling services for students can also help you overcome the cultural shock and process your surroundings better. 

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Hopefully, this list of American culture shocks has prepared you for what is to come, but you can always refer back if you come across something unknown. Remember that when you relocate to a new nation, some cultural shock is to be expected. Depending on their cultural background, many overseas students may experience a variety of culture shock in America. Nonetheless, Americans' friendliness and outgoing behaviour make it simple to blend in with their surroundings.