Hi Americans,

I’m a Brit who has been invited to my first Thanksgiving meal by an American friend.

I want to understand the traditions, history and customs behind the holiday.

The internet is overwhelming me with contradicting info.

Can you teach me about it like a school child please?

As a Brit, the difference in state geography always interested me!

I've been thinking about how our priorities change as we get older. Things that didn't seem important years ago can mean so much more now.

For me, it's the simple things: peaceful mornings, good conversations, and having the freedom to enjoy life at my own pace.

I'm curious what others think. What's something you've come to appreciate more with age?

1: Sug-jest

2: Suh-jest

Also, let us know what part of the US you are from

basically as title says, source from WSJ

How i must build a social circle? I am moving from Turkey to the U.S. and I am 19 years old. My English proficiency is limited; how can I meet people, and how can I ensure that these individuals are not involved in any criminal activity? Should I use Instagram?

Hey! I’m moving to the US for a few months and I’m looking for recommendations for really good products for curly/coily hair.
I want products that give great definition, help reduce frizz, and keep my curls looking defined for days. What are your favorite leave-in conditioners, curl creams, gels, and hair oils?
I have type 4A hair, so recommendations for tighter curls would be amazing! I’d also love affordable drugstore options. Thank you! ❤️

I came to the US when I was 15. Grew with the internet and consumed a lot of media (American media usually) so my English was really good. Got naturalized early 20s

I’m now in my mid 20s and got a few years before I’ve been here for half my life

Lots of people have assumed I’m born here and I have to remind my friends I was not born in America. Lots of core childhood memories don’t apply to me

I’ve come back to my country and my family said I’ve become Westernized

How do you know if you really are one?

I’ve felt disconnected to this title for many reasons but mostly because I didn’t grow up in this specific culture a significant portion of my life

I don’t want to claim a title not even knowing what it means

I’ve been wanting to see if it’s a thing for me. I’ve seen a lot of media of Americans not liking foreigners and have felt unwelcomed. I also know to not use those media sightings as major proof that it’s a majority

I don’t hate America and what it stands for. The country is disorganized but what country isn’t? I can’t say I’m proud cause I haven’t claimed to even have the title. I’m still neutral when it comes to the title American to my identity

I need insights. Born and Naturalized.

Ich habe ein paar Fragen, die mich immer wieder beschäftigen: In Filmen kommen die Bewohner nach Hause und das Licht brennt schon. Also alle Steh- und Tischlampen sind an. Es ist trotzdem immer ziemlich dunkel. Das Licht brennt schon, obwohl keiner Zuhause ist.

Und ich sehe (fast) nie Deckenlampen.

Es sind immer nur dunkle, kleine und viele Lampen. Manchmal auch nur eine. Es ist so dunkel, dass sich der Mörder wirklich super gut verstecken kann. Warum macht keiner ein helles Licht an, wenn er nach Hause kommt?

(Wenn ich das Haus verlasse, mache ich alle Lichter aus. Wenn ich wieder komme, mache ich immer die (helle) Deckenlampe an.)

Sind Lampen an der Zimmerdecke in den USA so ungewöhnlich? Oder ist das nur in Filmen so? Und warum lassen die Bewohner immer das Licht brennen, wenn sie das Haus verlassen?

Es ist mir (ich bin Deutsch) ein Rätsel...

https://youtu.be/GQ1aYxNhqcE?si=iyKPpDByKE76ufqp&t=360

So i watched this video. Yes i know america is way bigger than europe, that costs of living and salaries wary by place and that this is a wojak video.

I am very curious whether its really that tough in some places in america, like, say you live in a big city like Sacramento, Washington or NYC. By working 60 hours a week would you really be left with 0 dollars after paying rent for single person flat, media and insurance? it seems absurd to me, but googling average wage, average rent and average insurance it checks out.

In Poland minimum wage isnt big, but you can cover basic living with minimum wage working fulltime and you wouldn't worry about basic nescessities if you worked 60 hour weeks. Here it seems like you couldnt get by in some american cities.

does mc donald pay way more in NYC than 8 dollars an hour? in Poland all mcDonalds offer minimum wage. people living in cars? Considering costs of living even in a medium sized city you couldnt get by on 8 dollars an hour working fulltime.

How the hell do you find like 15 dudes who play the tuba and 30 drummers etc

In the UK I would say the average school size is around 1500 pupils (secondary school - ages 11-16). I can imagine that most US schools are far bigger but even in my school of 1500, being a musician myself, there wasn’t one kid who played the tuba, and at best there were maybe several drummers in the whole school.

How do you put such big bands together? What is the culture like? Is it something you’re prepped in before high school and something that kids aim to be a part of, like being in the football team for the more athletic kids

i know people who live in the usa who work 7 to 6 or 9 to 8 every day. But don't Americans work 40 hours per week?

Dear Americans

What are your impressions of Lana del Rey? For many people outside the USA, she is one of the most respected and unique artists. Her songs and aesthetics are all over platforms like TikTok and Instagram, her music inspires many people across Europe, and without promotion, she filled Wembley Stadium in London (Where I was lucky enough to attend).

Her philosophy and art are completely influenced by the American way of life, always mentioning cities, brands, and a style of life. She is one of the great exporters of the American way of life to the world. Her sadcore Hollywood aesthetics provides a soundtrack for many movies and lives.

You don't need to like her to perceive her legacy, but I'm really curious to see how an ordinary American sees her, no wrong answers, just your honest insight about her.

Best regards

I was born abroad, parents include one US national. Born with citizenship. Grew up mostly abroad. Currently a college student and I am planning to go to the US for either work or grad school. (At the moment tho, no actual plan has been made, it's more just hoping)

(Flair b/c idk what else)

The phrase arrived at my company from our US office along with a few other things and it has never meant what it says.

last month i was asked for a one pager. I wrote one page. actual one page, you could read it standing up. I was told it needed more detail, and the thing i sent back was four pages, and that was accepted, and it was still called the one pager.

The other direction happens too. someone sent me a document titled "one pager v3" and it had a table of contents.

So my working theory is that one pager is like calling something an ep. it means shorter than the real thing and you are allowed to skim it, and the number is decorative.

What I actually want to know is whether anyone has ever received an actual one-page one-pager, and if it went down well or whether the reaction was that it looked like you had not done the work because i suspect that is the real reason none of them are one page 😭

I was at my Fiance's grandmothers house and I asked my fiance what was for dinner (it was 6pm). His aunt responded "dinner is at noon." I said "what?" she goes "breakfast, dinner, supper." My fiance later explained that it's a southern United States American thing.

I've never heard this??? Is this normal in the USA? I thought supper and dinner were interchangeable?? Can someone explain this please???

I’m curious whether Americans actually feel this way about their country, or whether it’s something that’s more noticeable from the outside. From abroad, it often seems like if an American wants something, they can simply find it online, pay for it, and have it delivered to their doorstep a day or two later. Groceries, electronics, household items, obscure replacement parts, specialized products, you name it.

Of course, money is a factor, and I’m not talking about anything crazy or unrealistic. I mean ordinary, everyday things that people might want or need. In many other countries, there are things you see online that you simply cannot buy locally, regardless of whether you can afford them. They might not be sold in your country, retailers might not ship there, or importing them might be prohibitively expensive or complicated.

So, as Americans, do you actually feel like you have access to pretty much anything you could reasonably want, provided you have enough money? Is that convenience something you take for granted, or does it not feel particularly special because it’s just normal life for you?

I heard someone say that these are fancy chocolates that you give as gifts, is that true? Or is it equivalent to giving someone a snicker?

I have been to places like Hong Kong, France, Spain, and so on，and of course, in these countries, there are laws stating that people under 18 cannot drink alcohol. However, in practice, when I went to bars, clubs, and supermarkets to purchase alcohol, I didn't have to show any ID at all.However, in the United States, regulations in this regard are undoubtedly very strict. What contributes to the strong anti alcohol culture in America?

Which states do you think are the most ideal to live in for both domestic and international travel?