The better you understand the basic aspects of American culture, the better you will be able to interact constructively with Americans and achieve your objectives while you are living among them.

Remember, you do not have to agree with the Americans’ ideas or behavior in order to understand them.

Discussing the “culture” of a large and diverse country such as the United States is not easy. Some general differences between Chinese and American culture are presented here in the form of a chart. Remember these are generalizations, subject to exceptions and refinement. They can serve as starting points for understanding.