Do Not Reach across the tableĭo not reach for anything while you are dining with an American. The person will call back when the situation at his/her end permits. If you are to make a call, call the person not more than two times when you did not respond with your first call. Better to dismiss the incoming call or put your phone in silent/vibration to concentrate on the discussion. While discussing with an American, do not answer a phone call unless it is important. Calling & Answering Every Phone Call During Conversation It does not necessarily mean that you are staring at them like a frightened salmon, but you maintain decent eye contact during discussions.ĭo not look at your wristwatch during a discussion with an American, or else you would have committed a strong faux pas. So when you are speaking with them in a conversation, they expect your gaze to be on them. If your handshake is too strong, then you are giving the person a dead fish! Do not go beyond a firm grip that will not break the other person’s hands.Īmericans value the concept of body language. However, there is a clause to this your handshake should not discomfort the person’s fingers. Your handshake is expected to be firm, especially when you are about to say goodbye. It can also extend to a hug depending on your closeness with the person. When you come across new acquaintances, it is customary to shake hands, which happens among coworkers. It is customary to shake hands in the American culture for both men and women as a sign of friendship. If you are a student planning to study abroad in the US, then this is for you. We shall be considering 10 American faux pas or American culture no-nos. As a foreigner, you could commit a culture-related mistake, and this type of social mistake is called a faux pas. So before you step into America, get yourself familiarized with American culture if you want an excellent reception all through your stay in the land. When you tickle a local with a falcon feather, you have done something bad. The majority of Americans are traditional they are not comfortable talking about some things, and travelers that throng the country do some things that make Americans uneasy. If you believe that most Americans are easygoing and can say whatever pleases them, you are damn wrong because that happens to be a myth far from the truth.

Social faux pas examples