Individualism

The most important thing to understand about Americans is probably their individualism. The United States is the most individualistic (or second most, after Australia) country in the world.

Americans are trained from an early age to consider themselves as individuals who are responsible for their own situations in life and their own destinies. You can often hear such phrases as: «You'll have to decide that for yourself». «If you don't look out for yourself, no one else will».

They don't see themselves as members of a group. Even when they join groups – in fact many groups – they somehow believe they’re just a little different, just a little unique, just a little special, from other members of the same group. And they tend to leave groups as easily as they enter them.

When they meet a person from abroad who seems to them too concerned with the opinions of parents they think that the person is «weak» or «too dependent».

Their ideal person is an individualistic, self-reliant, independent person who prefers an atmosphere of freedom, where neither the government nor anybody else dictates what the individual does.

Their heroes are people who «stand out from the crowd» by doing some-thing first, longest, most often, or otherwise «best». They admire people who have overcome difficult circumstances (for example, poverty) and «succeeded» in life.

Informality

Americans are very informal. They are probably the most informal people in the world. You will see students going to class in shorts and T-shirts and teachers and university professors wearing blue jeans.

A booklet advertising a famous arts college has a photograph showing the college president, dressed in shorts and an old T-shirt, jogging past one of the classroom buildings on his campus. Americans like the photograph: «Here is a college president who's just like anyone else. He doesn't think he's too good for us».

Informality can also be seen in American's greetings. «Hi!» they will say to just about anyone, or «Howya doin?» (that is, «How are you doing?» or «How are you?»). The farewell can be as short as: «See you», «take it easy» or «come by some time» (although they often don't really mean it).

Privacy

Americans think that most people «need some time to themselves» or «some time alone» to think about things. Most Americans have great difficulty understanding people who always want to be with another person, who dislike being alone. They tend to consider such people as weak or dependent.

They often say: «If I don't have at least half an hour a day to myself, I will go mad».

If the parents can afford it, each child will have his or her own bedroom. Having one's own bedroom, even as a kid, means that you will have your clothes, your own toys, your own books, and so on. These things will be yours and no one else's.

Foreign visitors will find American homes and offices open, but what is inside the American mind is considered to be private. To ask the question «What is on your mind?» is very rude.

Equality

Equality is, for Americans, one of their most important values. As it’s stated in their Declaration of Independence, «all men are created equal». «One person, one vote», they say, meaning that any person's opinion is important. There are even laws that protect this «right to equality» in its various forms.

When foreign people of high position come to the United States they are often insulted by the way they are treated by American clerks, waiters, taxi drivers, etc. «They treat me just like anybody else!», they complain. But Americans hate treating people of high position in a different manner. A highly-placed visitor should be prepared to be considered «just like anybody else» while he is in America. In America, the words «sir» and «madam» are seldom used. Managers, directors, presidents and even university professors are often addressed by their first name.

Directness, openness and honesty

Americans are more direct and open than people from other countries. They will not try to mask their emotions, as Scandinavians or Japanese tend to do. They are much less concerned with «face» than most Asians are. To them, being honest is very important.

They will often speak openly and directly to others about things they dislike, especially in a work situation. «If I dislike something you are doing, I should tell you about it directly so you will know, clearly and from me personally, how I feel about it».

They will try to do so in a manner they call «constructive», that is, a manner the other person will not find offensive. If they do not speak openly about what is on their minds, they will often show their reactions in other ways (through facial expressions and gestures). They do not think it impolite to show their feelings.

Looking to the future

Americans are less concerned about history and traditions than people from older societies. «History doesn't matter», many of them will say. «New things are better than old things». «It's the future that counts». They look ahead. They set goals for the future and work systematically towards them. Children are often asked what they want to be «when they grow up»; college students are asked what they will do when they graduate; and professors plan what they will do when they retire.

American education never stops. If 72-year-old Ann Smith wants to learn creative story writing, or Italian art, she can go to the nearest college and take a course in it. And millions of Ann Smiths are doing just that. Americans are usually optimistic about the future.

Change and progress

Americans believe in change and progress. They feel confident that they know what is going on and that they can change things that don't work. A bad president can be voted out. A bad doctor can be taken to court. A bad soldier can be punished. It may be this that gives them so much confidence in their system.

An old World War II poster expressed it well: «The difficult takes a while. The impossible takes a little longer». Of course, things can go wrong, as they do everywhere else in the world, but at least people feel that they can do something about it. «Where there's a will, there's a way», they say.

Achievement and success

People in the US want more than anything to be successful. They admire achievers and despise losers. To start with nothing, to work hard, and then to make a fortune – that's the American dream. Americans never seem to stop working. Some even hold two full-time jobs at the same time. This means that there is not much time for the good things in life, such as hours spent with one's family. Few families play games together, go for walks together, or even sit down every evening for a home-cooked meal.

Competition and free enterprise

Americans believe in competition and free enterprise. They think that competition and free enterprise have made their country «the best in the world». In the US you will see competition everywhere – in the American home and in the American classroom (even on the youngest age level). They even compete with themselves! They feel good when they «beat their own record» in a sports event or other types of competition. Americans believe that competition brings out the best in any individual!

TEXT 6. Read and translate the text. Answer the questions below.