Cultural Differences Between Asians and Americans

After living in the US for a year, I noticed some cultural differences between America and my home country, Thailand, or maybe with Asians in general. Here are some of the things I found different. 

Small talk

One of the first things that impresses me about Americans is that they are friendly and are generally so good at socializing, especially in small talk. When you live in the US, a lot of the time you’ll find yourself talking to a person you met in the elevator, while waiting at a bus stop, or even with a random stranger in a restaurant/street. This kind of thing rarely happens in Asia, as in Asian culture, we would only have a conversation with a person we know. It took me a while to adjust to this culture and be able to talk to strangers on a daily basis, but once I am able to do so, I think I found myself enjoying talking to people and making new friends. Therefore, to all Asian friends reading this blog, don’t be afraid to have a small conversation with people around you, this is totally common in the US and you might find your new best friend this way.

Tipping

In a lot of Asian countries, when we go to a restaurant, the service charge is already included in  your check, therefore, you don’t necessarily have to tip the waiters/waitresses and it’s totally fine not to tip. But here in America, most of the money that waiters/waitresses make are from tips and it’s considered rude not to tip them once you’re in a dine-in restaurant. You may ask how much should you tip? The tip can vary, but the common rule for tipping in a restaurant is usually 15-20% of the total price. Moreover, if you are a large group of people (party of 6 or more), it is also common to tip a bit higher than a smaller group.

Independent life

In the US, after high school, a lot of students move out from their parents to live by themselves, while in a lot of Asian countries, it is totally normal to stay with your parents throughout college (or even until you get married). Another thing that I realized is that in Thailand, we tend to do more things in groups, compared to in the US where people tend to do things more individually. 

Seniority

In a lot of Asian countries, seniority plays a big role in society. Especially in college, younger students will have to pay respect to older students, while in the US, a lot of time younger and older students study together and act like friends. 

These are some of the things I noticed throughout the year and I am sure I will discover more during my stay. These make me understand the importance of understanding cultural diversity. For me, adapting to a new culture is challenging but also fun in its own way. 

Written by Arachaporn (Eye) Phucharoen

Summer Orientation Peer Advisor

Graduate Student

Thailand