Society

The American Dream — the idea that anyone, regardless of origin, race, or class, can achieve success and prosperity through hard work — is the founding myth of the USA. It explains much of what Europeans find puzzling about the USA: the minimal welfare state (why help from the state if everyone can make it on their own?), the glorification of entrepreneurship (failure is not a stigma but a learning experience), and the deeply rooted skepticism towards government regulation.

In reality, social mobility in the USA today is lower than in many European countries — those born poor are more likely to remain poor than in Germany or Scandinavia. But the belief in the American Dream remains alive and shapes the self-image of Americans. When an American asks you, "What do you do?" (what do you work as?), it's not rudeness — it's the fundamental question of American identity.

The American tipping culture is the biggest culture shock for Europeans — and the most common source of misunderstandings and awkward situations. In the USA, tipping is not a sign of appreciation, but an integral part of the wage. Waiters earn a legal minimum wage of sometimes only $2.13 per hour (yes, really) — their actual income consists almost entirely of tips.

The rules:

• Restaurants (with service): 18–20% of the bill amount BEFORE taxes. 15% is considered the minimum and signals dissatisfaction. Less than 15% is an insult. Many restaurants automatically charge 18–20% "gratuity" for groups of 6 or more.
• Bars: $1–2 per drink or 15–20% of the bill.
• Hotels: Housekeeping: $2–5 per night (left on the pillow). Bellboy/porter: $2–5 per bag. Concierge: $5–20 depending on the service.
• Taxi/Uber/Lyft: 15–20% (via the app for Uber/Lyft).
• Hairdresser: 15–20%.
• No tip: Fast food, self-service, supermarket, cinema.

The Second Amendment of the US Constitution (1791) guarantees the right to bear arms — "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." In the USA, an estimated 400 million firearms are privately owned — more than the population. For Europeans, this is often difficult to comprehend.

The gun culture has historical roots: The settlers of the frontier needed weapons for survival and self-defense. The revolution was fought by armed citizens. In rural areas (especially in the South and West), gun ownership is deeply embedded in the culture — hunting, shooting ranges, and the feeling of being able to defend oneself and one's family are part of the identity.

At the same time, the USA suffers from an epidemic of gun violence: Over 45,000 people die each year from firearms (more than half by suicide). Mass shootings occur with alarming regularity — schools, churches, shopping centers, concerts. The political debate is deadlocked: Democrats call for stricter laws, Republicans defend the Second Amendment.

For travelers: The likelihood of becoming a victim of gun violence as a tourist is extremely low. But you will see people openly carrying weapons (Open Carry) in many states — in Texas, Arizona, Montana, and other states, this is completely legal and normal. In states like California and New York, the laws are much stricter.

The USA is the most diverse country in the world — a nation born of immigration and still shaped by it today. Over 330 million people from practically every country on earth live here: 60% White, 19% Hispanic/Latino, 13% African American, 6% Asian, 1.3% Native Americans/Alaska Natives, and a growing number of people of mixed heritage.

This diversity is reflected in everything: in the cuisine (you can eat authentic Mexican, Ethiopian, Korean, Indian, and Lebanese in every major city — often on the same street), in the music (Jazz, Blues, Hip-Hop, Country, Salsa — all American inventions), in the language (over 350 languages are spoken in the USA; in many cities, you need Spanish more than English), and in the religion (from megachurches to mosques, from Amish to Zen Buddhists).

At the same time, the USA is a country where race plays a much larger role than in Europe. The consequences of slavery, segregation, and systemic racism are still visible today — in wealth distribution, the education system, police violence, and the political landscape. As a European traveler, you may not necessarily experience these tensions directly, but you should be aware that they exist.

Americans are incredibly friendly — and they (mostly) mean it. Strangers are smiled at, the cashier in the supermarket asks, "How are you today?", the Uber driver tells you their life story, and a neighbor you've never seen before invites you to a barbecue. For Europeans accustomed to a certain reserve, this can seem overwhelming — or superficial.

Important rules of American small talk:

• Always respond to "How are you?" with "Good, thanks! How are you?" — no matter how you actually feel. It's not a real question, but a greeting.
• Acceptable topics: weather, sports, travel, work, food, movies, pets, children.
• Taboo topics (with strangers): politics, religion, money (never ask how much someone earns!), weight/diet, and anything about race — unless the other person brings it up themselves.
• German directness is perceived as rude in the USA. "That's an interesting perspective" actually means "I completely disagree" in American. Learn to read between the lines!
• Americans say "Awesome!" and "Amazing!" about things that are at best "quite nice." It's not an exaggeration, but the normal communication style.