Getting Started and Small Talk

The residential advisors organized a "Getting started" and a "Small Talk" program for us. I found the two events pretty interesting, especially the latter. During "Small Talk". the RAs told us what is considered rude and what is considered polite in America.

In general, it is good to always use "please", "thank you", "excuse me" and "sorry". Basically you can say "thank you" to anyone, from the driver when u alight to the shopkeeper. And even if it is someone who bumped into you, you will often still say "sorry."

Another tip for politeness is to ask for things in the following manner of "Can I have the pepper please?" instead of "i want the pepper" Haha.. it should seem pretty obvious, but sometimes it is just hard to execute.

Oh, there is this other part which teaches us how to respond when people asks us "how are you doing" or "wat's up" along the corridoor . Basically I think americans just use these two phrases to say hi and your response should be just "i am good" and "See you." A lot of the europeans student were quite surprised that they do not actually need to say more stuff.

There is this chinese student who asked "what if you are feeling bad, do you still say that you are good?" haha.. i think this is a really interesting question. But I guess america is a really formal place where many things have to be done and said properly.

Oh yeah.. end of inspiration again. So i guess i shall end here.