Cultural differences can confuse anyone. Especially for Asian students, especially from Indonesia who study in the United States, where there is a big difference between western and eastern culture. However, if you study it first, you can prepare yourself to adapt to American life better.
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Facing cultural differences
Try to listen to the experiences of your friends or relatives who have visited the United States to get to know the culture there more clearly so that it doesn’t confuse you later!
The United States is a diverse country consisting of many ethnic groups, so the culture there is very varied. The majority of the population there has ancestors from other countries which makes this country very multicultural.
Although you shouldn’t believe what you see on television, you can get a general idea of ​​the culture of the people there, which tends to be more relaxed and informal. Sometimes you can have long conversations with people you don’t know while standing in a long queue, which is an unusual occurrence in the east.
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Say greetings
Greetings in the United States tend to be informal, make sure you smile and address someone by their first name. If you are with your friends, don’t forget to introduce them to each other. Handshakes are common and “Hello” is commonly used to start a conversation. Americans tend to speak openly as they are. Don’t be offended by what they say, because they basically don’t like small talk.
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Ethics
Dinners in the United States tend to be relaxed and informal, so don’t be surprised if you attend a dinner where the attendees are dressed casually. What you have to remember is to start eating when the host invites you to.
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Clothes
People in the east tend to dress more formally than those in the west. Students there tend to wear something comfortable and tend to be casual. If you attend a job interview or job interview, of course you still have to attend in more formal clothing.
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College life in America
Campus life in the United States is very different from what you are used to. There the learning atmosphere tends to be relaxed and informal. In America, you don’t have to be embarrassed to ask. The staff and lecturers on campus are quite close to the students, where students are always encouraged to come to the office and discuss anything, from learning difficulties to personal problems. The majority of campuses also provide student associations and special services for international students.
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American Culture
America is famous for many things, but sports, music and art play an important role in its culture. The most popular sports in America are American Football, baseball, basketball and ice hockey. The United States has won many gold medals and received various awards at the Olympic games. College sports also play an important role in American sports culture.
Multicultural elements in America make a big contribution to its music industry, from pop, rock, jazz, to blues. The music industry in America is the second largest music industry in the world.
Besides music, art also plays a large role in American culture. You can find various musical theater, dance, performing arts, fashion and photography in America. Especially New York City, which is famous as the center of fashion in the world. In New York there is also Broadway, which is famous for its theatrical productions, which always tour around the city. So, wherever you study in America, you can enjoy Broadway theater arts.
Experiencing culture shock is normal for every international student. especially those from Asian culture. However, if you have lived in America for a while, you will find that it is not difficult to adapt to life there. You’ll even enjoy your new life in the United States!
