Small talk, the holiday calendar, and why the dates are written backwards.
Small talk, smiling strangers and everyday etiquetteAmericans talk to strangers, smile at everyone and ask 'how are you?' without expecting an answer. None of it is fake — it's a different social protocol, and it's learnable.
Federal holidays, Thanksgiving and the rhythm of the yearThe US year turns on a handful of fixed points — Thanksgiving above all. Knowing the calendar tells you when offices close, when travel prices explode, and when not to schedule anything.Fahrenheit, miles, pounds — and dates written backwardsThe US never went metric. Weather is in Fahrenheit, distance in miles, weight in pounds — and 03/04/2026 means March 4th, not April 3rd. That last one causes real paperwork errors.