7 Cultural Taboos To Avoid While Living In The United States

One of the biggest taboos in the USA is not tipping as everyone tips, and tips big.

Since the great depression, tipping has become a part of American culture and it is now expected to tip 20% of your bill at restaurants.

Besides your waiter, it is common practice to tip anyone who provides you with a service – this includes taxi drivers, hairdressers and bartenders, among others.

It’s no secret that politics is a sensitive topic in the United States. After all, the nation is pretty much divided between two camps: conservative (Republican) and liberal (Democrat), with this divide cutting through households sometimes.

At gatherings, it is considered to be poor taste to talk about politics, especially if you are a foreigner with an opinion.

It helps to keep the conversation light and discuss topics such as the local sports teams, your weekend plans, your profession (but not how much you earn!) or the weather, especially when an American strikes up a conversation with you.

In the USA, it is illegal in some states to drink alcohol in public spaces such as parks and sidewalks. This is to restrict public intoxication and also prevent people from operating a vehicle while not sober.

Hence, if you choose to drink alcohol in such public spaces rather than at bars or restaurants, it will reflect badly on you and you might even get arrested if it is illegal in that particular state!

In this day and age, it is becoming less and less acceptable to make jokes about race and gender.

As America has undergone a cultural revolution in recent years, equality is becoming more and more valued and race relations are taken very seriously. Hence, comments that could offend people of colour or women tend to get frowned upon.

It has reached a point where some comedy clubs are cracking down on such jokes that might be offensive to others. Having said that, most cities have comedy clubs that still embrace politically incorrect jokes.

As a visitor to the United States, it is best to avoid discussing gun rights. This is especially so if you’re from a country where gun ownership is restricted. This is because opinions from these gun-restricted places are not welcome.

Although there are lengthy discussions on the Internet and sensationalist news, there’s a high chance that the people you’re having lunch with will have a very different view on the topic than you do.

Most Americans are proud of their country and consider themselves patriots.

Thus, it is important to keep any negative opinions about the country to yourself, especially if it will come across as mocking.

In the event you make fun of the USA, you would most likely offend the Americans.

If you’re a guest in someone’s home, it may be considered rude to start eating before the host sits down.

However, this varies from home to home. Some hosts will encourage you to dig into the food right away while others will serve the food to everyone and then serve themselves last.

To be on the safe side, it helps to just not eat until everyone is seated and about to eat.

During your meal, avoid slurping, eating with your mouth open, chewing loudly, burping or blowing your nose at the table as this is considered impolite.

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