United States Cross Culture – Dining Etiquette

Table manners is the most important thing in the corporate world. You might even lose a deal or win one with these. Thats why its important we study cross culture. For starter lets get to know what’s on the table.

1] US Cross Culture : Holding The Utensils Correctly

American style also called “Switch and Switch” style or the “zigzag method”, Initially, the fork is held in the left hand, tines facing down. The Knife is held in the right hand. After the knife is used to cut food, it is set down on the plate and fork is then switched to the right and while eating.

2] US Cross Culture : Resting Signal

When talking, drinking or excusing yourself from the table, set your fork so that tines are facing up and balance the knife on the right side of your plate.

3] US Cross Culture : Finished Signal

When you have finished eating, the knife and fork are placed side by side on the right side of the plate, fork tines face up the knife parallel with the blade facing in.

Well, I am getting late now, I will tell about other elements of dining etiquette in our next call.

4] US Cross Culture : Like and Dislike

5] US Cross Culture : Passing Etiquette 

Food should be passed to the right but the point is for the food to be moving in only one direction.

6] US Cross Culture : Salt and Pepper Etiquette

Always pass salt and pepper together. If a person asks for just one, pass both anyways.

7] Few Things to Avoid

1. Do not chew food with your mouth open
2. Never speak with a full mouth
3. Avoid resting elbows on the table while eating
4. Don’t stuff your mouth full of food
5. Don’t push your plate when you have finished eating
6. Don’t slouch sit straight up

United States – Seasons

Sessions in the USA differ to that in India. The sessions vary in northern and southern hemispheres. There are 4 seasons in USA.

Spring – March, April, May

Summer – June, July, August

Autumn/Fall – September, October, November

Winter – December, January, February

So many specific activities are associated with seasons

Spring – Celebrate easter, grow various types of plants etc

Summer – Go on vacation, go hiking, camping, take road trips etc

Autumn/fall – Celebrate Halloween and Thanksgiving, harvest vegetables etc

Winter – Go skilling, ice skating, celebrate Christmas and New Year etc

United States – Time Zones

India is about 9.5 hours Ahead of Washington, DC, USA

There are 6 time zones in the USA

• Hawaii Time
• Alaska Time
• Pacifica Time
• Mountain Time
• Central Time
• Eastern Time

If the person live in new jersey – Eastern Time Zone, 9.5 hours behind Indian standard time

If the people live in Houston, Texas – Texas has 2 times zones. Texas also has the Mountain Standard Time.

They follow day light saving time as well,

During summer, the run stays up for a longer time than usual and sets late in the evening. To make better use of daylight time, certain countries advance the time by a hour at the start of the summer and adjust back an hour during the autumn.

Day light saving time begins at 2:00 a.m. on the local time on Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November at 2:00 a.m.

Most area of the united states observe day light saving time, the exceptions being Arizona, Hawaii and the overseas territories of American, Samoa, Guam, the northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and United States Virgin Islands.

US Cross Culture : Currency

 

As you know the Dollar (US$) is official currency of America it is most used currency in international transactions.

1 Dollar = 100 cents

1 Quarter = 25 cents

1 Dime = 10 cents

1 Nickel = 5 Cents

1 Penny = 1 cent

Coins are usually made of copper and zinc or nickel. Currency paper (also called as bill) is composed of 25% linen and 75% cotton.

Halloween

One of the most interesting festivals, Halloween is celebrated on October 31^st

Children dress up in scary costumes like ghost, witch, or like that of fairies, cartoon characters, etc After it gets dark children walk through neighborhoods asking for candies. Asking for candies, placing lit candles in the hollowed out pumpkins with carved faces outside the houses is a popular Halloween tradition.

Thanksgiving

The next is Thanksgiving, one of the major holidays; It is celebrated on fourth Thursday in November. On this day people reunite with their families, Thanksgiving dinner consist of turkey with stuffing, corn, cranberry sauce, sweet potato and pumpkin pie.

The day after Thanksgiving is called Black Friday, during which is biggest sales of the year occur. It is the official start of the Christmas shopping season.

Christmas 

Christmas is the biggest festival of the year. People decorate Xmas trees and their houses with lights. You may see animal models like reindeers lit up in front yards.

It’s fun to celebrate festival with family. Be it in India or in the U.S

US Cross Culture: Indian English Vs American English

Let discuss with some commonly used Indian and American words, I have provided in two columns

Indian	American
Prepone	Advance/move “up”
full stop	Period
bank holiday	Legal holiday
past performance	track record
at the rate of @	At
the needful	whats necessary
clever	smart or bright
diary	Journal
Dustbin	trash can
Cabin	Office
Garbage	Trash
guest house	Motel
Lift	Elevator
PIN code	ZIP code
to dispatch	to ship
Notepad	scratch pad
to repair	to fix
IBM compatible	IBM clone

I am sure that above provided words definitely useful to you when you stay in America or India.

Let’s go with some of commonly used Indian and American words related to transportation, check I have provided in two columns

Indian	American
Footpath	sidewalk
zebra crossing	crosswalk
Signal	signal/traffic light
Flyover	overpass
car parking	parking lot
Highway	freeway/expressway
return ticket	round trip
take a lift	get a ride
Gears	shifts
Silencer	muffler
number plate	license plate
Spanner	wrench
Motorway	freeway/expressway
Garage	garage./shop
car accelerator	gas pedal

Above provided words definitely useful to you when you stay in America or India.

Let’s go with some of commonly used Indian and American words related to telephonic communication, check I have provided in two columns

Indian	American
Directory	phone book
personal call	person to person
put the phone down	hang up/disconnect
STD code	area code

I am sure my readers will get more clarity about Indian and American words while conversation.