Monday, September 20, 2010

USA Lesson #5

Living in a home in the USA

First of all----Please know that no one expects you to CHANGE how you do everyday things; however as a person living in a foreign country for an extended amount of time, it will help you to know HOW certain, everyday things are done!

1. SLEEPING...

Yes, we sleep just like you do. In a bed. Lying down. In the dark. At night.
HOWEVER... (Have you noticed that there's always a "however"?!)

Americans do not know what a "dyne" is.
Our beds are made up with sheets and pillows and covers, but you need to be aware that your bed will have a bottom sheet (like in DK), but you will also have a TOP sheet....a sheet you cover with before you cover with your bedspread/comforter/quilt (our version of the dyne). You can choose to use the top sheet or not, but just be aware it's there for your COMFORT! :-)

Also, our pillows are quite different from the Scandinavian version. Just be prepared.

And finally, our beds are usually more decorative! Especially knowing that you are sleeping in a "guest room" in a "guest bed". There is a HIGH probability that your bed will have lots of small decorative pillows on it. Why? Because it looks nice! :-)


2. EATING...

Yes, we eat just like you do. Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner. Snacks... again, HOWEVER...
BE AWARE that MOST Americans only use their knives for cutting their meat. After you cut one piece, you put it down and eat with your fork...only your fork.
In fact, it would not shock me if, at some meals, you do not have a knife set out. It is quite common in your home to only set out a fork at the place setting unless there is a meat that needs to be cut.
In the US, we are taught as young children that it is very rude to hold your knife in your hand while you eat and that it is very rude to cut all of your meat at once. You cut one piece and eat that piece before you cut another one.

But remember...
No one expects you to CHANGE how you do everyday things; however as a person living in a foreign country for an extended amount of time, it will help you to know HOW certain, everyday things are done!

1 comment:

  1. Hahaha...I had to laugh at the sleeping part...those top sheets still confuse Peter!

    ReplyDelete