US Culture 1

8/2/2019 US Culture 1

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Government


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Federal government of the United States

The federal government of the United States is the United Statesgovernmental body that carries out the roles assigned to the federation ofindividual states established by the Constitution.


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Federal government of the United States

The federal government has three branches

The Executive

The Legislative

The Judicial


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Living and Working in USA


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Cultural Indicators

Time

Punctuality is tightly defined

Quick results are expected

Focus on one task at a time

Deadlines are expected to be met diligently


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Communication

Words are used to exchange facts and information

The communication style is objective and task-oriented

Cultural Indicators


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Cultural Indicators

Individualism

The individual comes before the group

Rules come before relationships and apply to all


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Cultural Indicators

Equality and Achievement

Equality is valued and very few levels of power are maintained

People are admired for what they have achieved through merit and hardwork


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Cultural Indicators

Thinking Style

Analytical thinking is preferred

Theory and logic are the basis of reasoning

styles


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When In America

The telephone is never "engaged", it's

always "busy"

You don't "disconnect " a phone, You

simply "hang-up"


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When In America

You don't "schedule" a meeting, You "schedule (skejule )" it

You no more ask for a route but for a "RAUT"

Your tyre never "punctures", You may have a "flat tire"

Trains have no "coaches or bogies" only "carriages or boxes"

There are no "petrol pumps", but "gas stations"


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When In America

There's no "Business Area" ... only "business districts" and no "districts" but

"counties"

There's no "Town Side", it's "Down Town"

In a hotel you no longer ask for a "bill" and pay by "cheque", rather you ask

for the "check" and pay with "bill's (dollar)"

There are no "soft drinks", only "sodas

Idont know nothing two negatives dont make a positive

here


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When In America

You never go to see a ball game, You go to watch a game

There' s no such thing as a "Zero" its called an "o", and no "Z" -Zed its

Zee"

There's no FULL STOP after a statement, there's a PERIOD

Also there are no lady's finger, its Okra

You dont stand in a queue, you are in a line


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When In America

Never "post" a letter, always "mail" it and "glue" the stamps, don't "stick"

them on

No one stays "a stone's throw away", rather "a few blocks away

You no longer live in "flats", You live in "apartment

You do not ask for a Toilet but for a RestRoom


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Dress investments

Men

Shirt - White stands for purity, success

Tie more of blue, less of red

Trousers should be dark

Shoes well polished, preferably with laces

Belt is compulsory and should match with the shoes

Take a good metallic pen, not a plastic pen

Hair well groomed


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Ladies

Touching hair constantly sends wrong signals

No Dangling ear rings

Nails polished with light enamel color

A professional business woman uses closed pair of shoes high

heels are preferred

Local Ethnic / Formal wear (e.g. Salwaar suits / Sarees) might attract

attention. So be prepared!

Dress investments


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Dos and Don'ts

Some Dos:

Greet people

Show Politeness

Talk slowly

Apologies should be prompt

Reply to compliments with a simple Thank you

Treat your staff with fairness, your colleagues with friendliness and bosswith respect


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Dos and Don'ts

Some Dos

While coughing, use a handkerchief or a napkin to cover your mouthand say Excuse Me

Show Courtesy to ladies & old people

Return phone calls / emails

Confirm invitations

Adhere to time limits / deadlines


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Dos and Don'ts

Some Donts

Don't speak fast

Don't Monopolize the conversation

Don't sit on somebody's desk

Don't speak in your mother tongue

Dont shout in the office


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Dos and Don'ts

Some Donts

Dont try to put on an accent

Intrusion of privacy is an offence

No politics and religion discussions

No height, weight, salary, sex, etc. discussions

Don't ask age, whether married or not?
http://images.google.co.in/imgres?imgurl=http://www.queenslandsafety.com.au/images/hazard/no_entry_sign.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.queenslandsafety.com.au/hazard.htm&h=500&w=380&sz=66&tbnid=cgdCVuXgeJ2uLM:&tbnh=130&tbnw=99&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dno%2Bentry%2Bpictures%26um%3D1&start=2&sa=X&oi=images&ct=image&cd=2


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Dos and Don'ts

Some Donts

Don't make personal ISD / STD calls from office

Don't misuse the Internet

Don't misuse office stationary

Minimize the usage of plastic bags

Dont leave waste bags outside your apartment door


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Dos and Don'ts

Some Donts

Avoid bad breath use a good mouth wash

Use a good deodorant / perfume to reduce Body Odor

Don't stop / walk on the speedway

White shoes not recommended


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Stay in USA

Business Hours

Business and government offices work an eight-hour day,

Monday through Friday

Working hours range between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Retail outlets are generally open between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.,

and sometimes as late as 9 p.m.


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Public Holidays

Date Official Name

January 1 New Year's Day

Third Monday in JanuaryBirthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., orMartin Luther King Day

January 20, every fourth year,

following Presidential election Inauguration Day

Third Monday in February Washington's Birthday

Last Monday in May Memorial Day

July 4 Independence Day

First Monday in September Labor DaySecond Monday in October Columbus Day

November 11 Veterans Day

Fourth Thursday in November Thanksgiving Day

December 25 Christmas Day
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year%27s_Dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Third_Monday_in_January&action=edithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King_Dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inauguration_Dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Third_Monday_in_February&action=edithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington%27s_Birthdayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Last_Monday_in_May&action=edithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_%28US%29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Monday_in_Septemberhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_Dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Second_Monday_in_October&action=edithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbus_Dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/November_11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans_Dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fourth_Thursday_in_November&action=edithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_%28United_States%29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_25http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_25http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_%28United_States%29http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fourth_Thursday_in_November&action=edithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans_Dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/November_11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbus_Dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Second_Monday_in_October&action=edithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_Dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Monday_in_Septemberhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_%28US%29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Last_Monday_in_May&action=edithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington%27s_Birthdayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Third_Monday_in_February&action=edithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inauguration_Dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King_Dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Third_Monday_in_January&action=edithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year%27s_Dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_1


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Pointers

In America people drive on the right side of the road

The voltage is different (110 Volts) and you turn switches up for on, rather

than down

You may have no domestic help: America was built on the concept of self-reliance!

Keep your ID (passport or driving license) handy if you want to drink or

smoke

Get used to a different way of describing dates and time. The date in

America is generally written with the month first, then the day, then the year.


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Genre of Music and Movies


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Genre of Music

Folk music

Blues and spirituals

Other immigrant communities

Classical music

Early classical music

20th century


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Genre of Music

Popular music

Early popular song

Blues and gospel

Jazz

Country music

R&B and soul

Rock, metal and punk

A fife

Country singer,Randy Travis

Aerosmith, Rock star
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c8/Aerosmith.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/Randytravis.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Fife-wooden%2C_civil_war_era.jpeg


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Genre of Music

Alternative Era, 1991Present

The Grunge Explosion

Continuance of Alternative

Hip hop/rap music

House Music

Nu Metal

Other niche stylesEminem, Rapper


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Genre of Movies

Early Development

Rise of Hollywood

Parallel Foreign language versions

Golden Age of Hollywood

Decline of the studio system


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Genre of Movies

Blockbusters

Independent film

Rise of the home video market


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Case Study


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Slangs and Idioms


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Slang

24/7 - All the time; always available;around the clock, 24 hours a day, 7 days aweek

All ears - Listening carefully; keenlyattentive.

Barking up the wrong tree - Looking forsomething in the wrong place; to bemistaken.


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Slang

Dressed to kill - Wearing fashionable clothing; dressed in one's most stylishand sophisticated apparel

Gibberish - Speech that doesn't make sense; nonsensical words andphrases.

Grub - Food, with the implication that the food is basic and simple.

High Five - A way to say 'Bravo!' or 'Good job!' by slapping someone's handin the air; to congratulate someone.

Hit the road - To leave; to go home. Also used as a command meaning 'goaway' or 'leave me alone'.


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Slang

On the same wavelength - Sharing a common understanding; thinking thesame thing as another person.

Outta here - A phrase indicating that someone is leaving.

Pass out - To fall asleep from exhaustion or from drinking too much; to faint

Psyched - Very excited and ready to go; in high spirits.

Quick buck - Fast and easy profit; money made in a short period of time.

In a funk - Depressed or upset.


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Idioms

Tongue-in-Cheek

Pull Someone's Leg

Jump Down Someone's Throat

Smell a Rat

Cat Got Your Tongue?


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Idioms

Leave Someone High and Dry

Straight From the Horse's Mouth

Hang On

Make Ends Meet

Lemon


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Cultural Races


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Cultural Races in the US

Caucasians

African Americans

Latin Americans

Native Americans

Asian Americans

C i


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Caucasians
http://grono.net/pub/u/36482/gallery/2136609/1/


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Caucasians

Primarily people who migrated from England and other parts of Europe

Form a large part of the US population

Live in nuclear families

Are well-educated

Indulge in solitary sports like hiking, skiing, etc

Usually, both the spouses work


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African Americans


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Were originally brought in as slaves or migrated from West Indies

Live in large families

Need for accomplishment greater than their white counterparts

Have traditionally been discriminated against, but have more acceptancenow

African Americans


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Latin Americans


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Latin Americans

Are of Spanish descent

Form a large part of the American population after the Caucasians andAfrican Americans

Are family oriented


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Native Americans


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Native Americans

Though they are the original inhabitants of America, today they form only 2%of the population

Have lived in reservations for a long time

More than 200 different tribes

Have their own culture and prefer not to mix with society

Are gradually getting absorbed into the mainstream


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Asian Americans

A i A i


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Asian Americans

Migrated to the US in search of money and better job opportunities

Most of them are hardworking and highly educated

Found in the big cities

Are family oriented


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Presentation Time


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Movie Time


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Thank You !!!Thank You

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US Culture 1

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