100 Questions and Answers About Americans

"One Hundred Questions and Answers About Americans" is part of the Michigan State University School of Journalism series in cultural competence. This guide to understanding Americans and American culture has sections on social behavior, education, race, religion, money, culture, health, food, family, relationships and language. It also includes a glossary of American slang and idioms. This guide is intended for anyone visiting, studying or planning on living in America.

We began by asking international students for questions they had about America and Americans. We learned that perceptions of Americans are very different from one person or culture to the next. After whittling the questions down to 100 that we thought were best, we placed the questions into categories such as social behavior, education and race. We then researched the questions and consulted with experts. The result? This guide, which uses studies and surveys, generalities and ranges of possibilities to explain U. S. culture.

Not all parts of the United States are alike--and neither are all Americans. There can be greater differences within one country than there are between two countries. Even brothers and sisters from the same family can be quite different.

Questions include:

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• How big is the United States?
• How does a typical college classroom function in the United States?
• Why is it acceptable for students to speak out and challenge professors?
• Is it emotionally hard for American families to send their children away to college?
• What are the main American religions?
• How much do Americans work?
• Why don't Americans take more days off?
• Why are a lot of Americans so willing to work overtime?
• Is success at work important to Americans?
• Why do Americans eat so quickly?
• Why are the meal portions so large?
• How much time do Americans spend with their families?
• Why is every person in a family treated like an individual?
• Why do American children do chores?
  
  We sorted the questions into categories and then set out to answer them. We used research and interviews to answer the questions and then had several expert allies check our work.
  
  We intend the guides in this series as just a first step. The questions in them are simple, though the answers are often complicated.
  
  We want these clear and simple guides to give you the confidence and comfort to start asking questions on your own. We hope that, with some of the basic questions cleared away, you can go onto the next one.
  
  Thank you.