Why Are Americans Like That?

Preface:

Welcome to America

Whether you are an international student, a business traveler, an immigrant or a tourist,

Welcome to America!
May your time here be full of good things.
May your studies or your business go well.
May your American friends be many.
May this book help you live the American dream and avoid the American nightmare.

The better you understand Americans and their cultural values, the better chance you have of adjusting well, avoiding embarrassment, making friends, and succeeding in your study or getting a good job. This book will introduce you to American values by explaining 100 common American sayings and why we say them.

The aim of this book is not to try to convince you that our proverbs or our cultural values are better than yours. Like any other culture, ours has plenty of weaknesses and plenty of strengths. This book aims to describe our culture clearly so you can understand it. Then you can decide for yourself what you think of it and what to do about it. Several empty pages are provided at the back of the book for your notes.

If you are trying to improve your English, this book should help. It is written in fairly easy English, and explanations of the more difficult words are given at the bottom of each page.

The most helpful thing for your English and your understanding of Americans is conversation with Americans, and this book will make it easy for you to start interesting conversations. You will find about sixty “Ask an American” questions here. None of these will sound offensive to Americans, though some might not be appropriate to ask in your country.

In America, do not be afraid to say what you are thinking. This will probably seem strange to you if you are from Asia or Africa, but it really is the way we do things here. You can practice in a safe way by reading this book and then sending me your suggestions about ways to improve it. Email <improvements@enculturation.org>.

I will take your questions or criticisms as compliments, not insults, for two American reasons. First, we value time, and you are showing me respect by taking the time to send me your opinion. Second, you are helping me achieve my goal of making future editions of this book even more useful, and we value people who help us achieve our goals.

We are glad you have safely arrived in the USA and that you have got this book to help you adjust to American life. As we say in this country, “Enjoy!”

Stan Nussbaum

Colorado Springs, April 2005

Click here if you would like to see the Table of Contents or here if you would like to read the first chapter of this book.

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Cartoon by Kathleen Webb, one of ten cartoons illustrating ten key American values in Why Are Americans Like That?