Visiting America? Here are some travel tips and cultural “do’s and don’ts” when going to America.

List of 10 tips (from Japan) on “American do’s-and-don’ts” if visiting America

American lines at grocery stores and restaurants are abysmally slow. And even though the article linked below might encourage you as an international student or visitor (or you may be personally tempted) to speak to others while standing in line – Americans tend to check their smartphones, or remain quiet in lines unless complaining about the service, or unless a person is extremely gregarious (or criminally insane). And they don’t get too close to one another even in lines. It’s a BIG country, so they choose to stand a little farther apart rather than crowd too close together. And that goes for most public places, whether transportation or the ATM line at the bank or at customs. Americans, like Brits, are good about queuing and waiting their turn.

If visiting America for the first time, it’s hard to tell the truly insane from the gregarious as everyone laughs loudly, and often, at things that often won’t make sense to you. Have a nice smile ready because smiling politely is always the best response when in situations where you do not understand the joke or comment.

Luckily in America, besides panhandlers or those living on the streets, you are not likely to find too many crazy people. They hide them somewhere. And no one knows where that “somewhere” is. Honestly.

When visiting America, if you decide to practice your “English as a Second Language” skills, know that most Americans expect everyone else to speak and understand English FLUENTLY. It is simply incomprehensible to most Americans that people still live places where they don’t speak English, even if they do not speak a second language themselves. Asking for help with your English is always a good and easy introduction, since it says that you are trying and wish to fit in. While Americans (depending on where you are) are always busy, they do try to be helpful, when they stop long enough.

Overall, most Americans are also forgiving, tolerant, open and helpful even if they seem busy or distracted. They guard their free time selfishly and sometimes seem a bit isolated from one another. Technology and individualism encourage this trait.

See all 10 tips the Japanese tell other tourists from Japan coming to America – Read the entire article here:

http://mentalfloss.com/article/55140/10-japanese-travel-tips-visiting-America