Culture Shock in the USA
More than any other country, American culture has been exported around the world. Expats will be familiar with fashions, entertainment, idioms, and even cityscapes. Beyond having a passing familiarity with mainstream culture many expats in the USA will notice real evidence of their homeland from cuisine to language and religions. The many cultures and regions are long to list but each contributes a bit to the national ethos. This is particularly apparent in cities which are always a multicultural blend as smaller towns often retain characteristics of their founding nationalities. These place names are often denoted by suffixes like 'burgh' and ville' or prefixes such as 'New' and 'San'. A number of differences from other western cultures may take expats in the USA by surprise. The geographical size of American cities in which sprawl continues for miles is common. Long commutes and long drives are normal. A dependence on vehicles is a common characteristic of American life. It is illegal to drink before 21 years of age although this law is routinely broken and law enforcement usually take drug offences very seriously. Americans consider themselves earnest, hard working and independent and many Europeans are surprised by the lack of social services provided by the government. Expats in the USA may be most surprised to find how familiar America is.
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