| United States ((in)United States of America) | |
.jpg/210px-Dean_Franklin_-_06.04.03_Mount_Rushmore_Monument_(by-sa).jpg) | |
| Flag | |
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| Information | |
| Capital city | Washington |
|---|---|
| Area | 9 630 000 km² |
| Population | 310 000 000 hab. (2010) |
| Density | 32,19 inhab./km² |
| Form of State | presidential regime, federal republic |
| Official language | English |
| Other languages | Spanish |
| Change | US dollar (USD) |
| Religions | Protestantism 48% Catholicism 22% Others 9% No religion 20% |
| Electricity | 120 V/60 Hz, American plug |
| Telephone prefix | 1 |
| Internet suffix | .us, .mil, .gov |
| Flow direction | Right-hand drive |
| Spindle | UTC-5 to UTC-10 |
| Location | |
 39 ° 49 ′ 41 ″ N 98 ° 34 ′ 46 ″ W | |
| Official site | |
The United States of America form a country ofNorth America.
The country is a federal republic made up of a union of 50 states, 48 of which are adjacent and located between theAtlantic Ocean and thePacific Ocean, from east to west, then bordered to the north by the Canada and to the south by the Mexico. The last two states are theAlaska, located west of Canada, and Hawaii, an island state located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
It is the fourth largest country in the world behind the Russia, Canada and China, and the third most populous behind China andIndia. It has a mix of densely populated urban areas and exceptional natural landscapes. With a history of immigration since the XVIIe century, the United States is proud of its diverse cultures. Even a brief visit to the country amounts to a great experience in North America.
Understand
Geography
Weather
The general climate is temperate, with notable exceptions. The climate ofAlaska is an arctic tundra climate, while Hawaii, the south of the Florida have tropical climates. The great plains are dry, flat and grassy, gradually turning into arid desert in the West and Mediterranean climate along the coast of the California.
History
Population
Regions
.png/475px-Map-USA-Regions02_(fr).png) United States Map |
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Cities
The United States has more than 10,000 cities and towns. Here is a list of the most popular cities for tourists.
- 1 Washington (D.C.) (Mid-Atlantic) – Federal capital of the nation.
- 2 Boston (New England, Massachusetts) – Colonial capital of New England, guardian of the nation's history.
- 3 Chicago (Mid-West, Illinois) – City of Vent. Abundant heart of the Midwest.
- 4 Los Angeles (Where is, California) – Swimming pools and movie stars.
- 5 Miami (Florida)
- 6 new York (Mid-Atlantic, new York) – Nicknamed the "Big Apple", it is, with more than eight million five hundred thousand inhabitants, the largest city in the United States.
- 7 New Orleans (South, Louisiana) – French-speaking capital of Louisiana, center of the festival.
- 8 San Francisco (Where is, California) – Victorian homes, hills, Internet entrepreneurs, diverse cuisines.
- 9 Seattle (Pacific Northwest, Washington) – Rainy, green, new center of the Pacific margin. City of Coffee and Starbucks.
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The other cities are in their corresponding region.
Other destinations
- The National parks
Amerindian Reserves
There are over 300 Native American reservations across the United States and many Native Americans still live within them. Some have "chosen" to be integrated into the dominant culture of the newcomers. The woman at the hotel reception could be a Pueblo or a Cheyenne. The banker who changes your money can be a Shoshone. The waiter at the fast food restaurant may be Cherokee in part. Some reserves are open to the public and the inhabitants welcome visitors there. On some reserves, the tribes offer museums, cultural exhibits, hotels, resorts, and even gambling casinos. A few of the tribes even allow visitors to observe or participate in their cultural ceremonies and games. dances.
Not all reserves are open to the public. Sometimes the tribes exclude all outside visitors from their dances and religious ceremonies.
To go
Formalities
Visa
- United States
- Countries that do not require a visa to travel to the United States
- Countries eligible for the visa waiver program (90 days)
Note that specific rules apply to certain US territories, consult the pages of those territories for specific information. The passport is required when traveling to the United States by any means, even if you are crossing the border by car.
Visitors with a passport from Canada do not need a visa to visit the United States and can study or work there through a simplified procedure according to the TN status of the'NAFTA. Citizens of Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands and Palau, countries linked to the United States by a treaty of free association, do not require a visa to enter, reside, study or work indefinitely in the United States.
Citizens of the countries identified in green above are eligible for the Visa Waiver Program (Visa Waiver Program) entitling them to travel to the United States for tourism, business or transit for a period of up to 90 days without visa. Note that the maximum duration of 90 days includes time spent at Bermuda, at Canada and at Mexico as well as the islands of Caribbean if the arrival was made through the United States. This program applies to 50 states of the United States as well as the American territories of Porto Rico and US Virgin Islands with application limited to other territories. Although a visa is not required, citizens of these countries must obtain authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (Electronic System for Travel Authorization abbreviated as ESTA) if they arrive by air or aboard a cruise ship. Note that ESTA is not a visa, but is a necessary prerequisite for travel to the United States by air or sea under the Visa Waiver Program. Once obtained, the ESTA is valid for two years unless you receive a new passport or an answer to the eligibility questions changes. The visa waiver program does not apply if arrival is by other means than an approved air or sea carrier.
However, a visa is required if you plan to move to the United States, practice a profession or study there. Different types of visa exist.
- Website of the United States Embassy in France – Information in French
Customs
Non-American travelers are not allowed to bring meat, fruit, or vegetables, but they can bring cookies, bread, and other foods without meat or fresh fruit.
- APHIS – For details.
By plane
There are many airlines to the United States: it is the country where this type of transport is the most preferred.
There are also the largest airports in the world serving around the world: New York JFK, Chicago O'Hare, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta.
In most airports near the exit you will find "courtesy" telephones. You will see the various motels and hotels in the area displayed with their prices. The free phone allows you to call, make a reservation and request a shuttle to pick you up from the airport. The shuttle is free most of the time, but it is customary to tip the driver.
On a boat
By train
By bus
By car
Gasoline in the United States is much cheaper than in Europe. However, be careful, the unit is the gallon (3.785 liters) and the price differs from state to state.
For long road trips (touring the United States), it is very beneficial to subscribe to the American Automobile Association (AAA). This subscription will give you the right to a slew of free road maps as well as 3 or 5 repairs depending on the chosen map (AAA or AAA plus). In addition, road atlases are free for holders of the "AAA plus" card and the subscription is at low cost (50-80 € about). This card also opens the CAA (Canadian Automobile Association) network, which gives you the right to the same services.
It is necessary to have an international license if you travel in Georgia, elsewhere the French license is valid.
On a motorcycle
Cradle of the famous Harley Davidson, the United States is a pilgrimage for bikers; and in particular its famous Route 66. Many agencies are therefore located on site and offer exceptional motorcycle rentals (often recent and at low mileage). Before your trip, you will need to define your budget, the time available but also the type of landscape (desert, rocky mountains etc.) in order to choose a tour adapted to your needs. minimum 21 years, 1 year minimum license and you will have to free yourself from local taxes and LDW (road insurance in the event of theft or accident).
Circulate
In the United States, to find your route, you need to know not only the name but also above all the route number and your destination. This is particularly true for the outskirts of large cities. We distinguish the interstates (too freeways which are the wide highways), which perform transnational routes and secondary roads. These consist of national roads (eg “US 17”), state roads, county (county) roads and some unnumbered roads.
For example: if you want to get from Phoenix to Sedona, don't look for the sign that says Sedona. You won't find it just because it doesn't exist. So you need to look at the map and find Interstate 17 heading north.
Distances are counted in miles (one mile equals 1.609 kilometers). In general, if you ask for the distance between two cities, you will be given the number of hours by car needed to get there. By car, the authorized speed is limited by each state: normally at 55 miles per hour, 65-80 miles per hour on highway and some rural roads. Fines vary from state to state. The law too! In Arizona, the first 10 miles of speeding will cost you 66 $; from 11 to 15: 75 $; from 16 to 20: 89 $. Beyond that, you risk ending up in prison. The alcohol level detected in the blood must not exceed 0.8 grams per liter of blood.
Reminder of some rules of conduct:
- Seat belt: it is mandatory (except in New Hampshire)
- Signage: the signs indicating the names of the streets that one crosses are generally hung on the lights or on the posts of the crossroads, which makes it possible to locate them a little in advance.
- Priority on the right: it is only necessary if two cars arrive at the same time at a crossroads. The car on the right then has priority. In all other cases, the first to arrive is the first to pass!
- The right turn at a red light: even if you have a red light, you can still turn right (or even left if it is two one-way streets) as long as the road is clear, and unless that this is not forbidden (you will then see a sign "NO TURN ON RED").
- The traffic lights: they are located after the crossroads and not before as with us. If you stop at the traffic lights, you will be right in the crossroads.
- Speed limit: As a general rule, speed is always limited in the United States. The states set these limitations. It does not exceed 55 mph (88 km / h) on many roads. But on the Interstates, it can reach 80 mph (129 km / h), in town: 20-25 mph, or 32-40 km / h. These limits must always be respected.
- Respect for pedestrians: respecting protected crossings is not an empty word, and the pedestrian REALLY has priority. As soon as a pedestrian pretends to enter the roadway to cross it, everyone stops.
- The PV: if you have a PV ("ticket") with a rental car, it is better to pay it on the spot and not when you get home. For some time now, when you sign the rental agreement, you have implicitly given the landlord the authorization to pay the fines for you (with a mark-up).
- Tolls: Few pay roads in the United States and are generally located around large cities. You must stop on the right and not go straight ahead. Prices are generally a few dollars.
Speak
There is no official language in the United States; however, english is spoken everywhere. American English is different from British English in terms of accent and some regional or slang expressions, but if you can handle Standard English well, you shouldn't have a problem. Additionally, non-American accents are often considered quite romantic.
There are quite marked accents in the South and Texas as well as in New England, New York, California, and Northern Mid-West. Most Americans speak with an accent of Mid-West, popularized by radio and television. African Americans often speak with an accent that is sometimes referred to as Black English (black English).
If you ever spend a day in Louisiana, expect to hear some French spoken that is a holdover from old New France. Indeed, many Cajuns (descendants of Acadians) speak French. Moreover, the accent of the English speakers of New Orleans is a slight French accent.
In many places, such as California, the Southwest, Texas, Florida, and New York, Spanish is the primary language of Hispanic populations. While it's rare to find yourself in places where no one speaks English, a little Spanish can sometimes help improve communication. But, in any case, start by speaking English.
Other than first and second generation immigrants, few Americans speak any other language fluently. Most cultivated people have been taught a foreign language (very often Spanish), but they rarely use that other language and tend to forget it. Without basic English, it will be very difficult for you to make yourself understood.
Buy
The currency of the United States is the dollar (symbol: US $) and "cents" (1/100 of a dollar, symbol: ¢). It is an extremely stable currency, with a maximum of 3% inflation per year. Conversion rates change daily, but other currencies also vary based on the dollar. Here are the current rates (indicative as of 01/15/2013):
1 $
- Euro: 0.74
- Yen: 89.40
- Canadian dollar: 0.98
- Swiss Franc: 0.91
- Pound sterling: 0.62
- Australian dollar: 0.94
- Mexican Peso: 12.64
The dollar bills are: $ 1, $ 2, $ 5, $ 10, $ 20, $ 50, $ 100. $ 2 and $ 100 bills are rare and some stores do not accept $ 50 or $ 100, especially at night.
The dollar coins are: 1 ¢ (hundred, also penny), 5¢(nickel), 10¢(dime), 25¢(quarter), 50 ¢, and $ 1. The $ 1 and 50 ¢ coins are seldom used. None of the coins have a number indicating their value. The penny is copper. The $ 1 is in gold color. The others are in the color of silver or nickel.
Due to the relative isolation of the country, it is rare to find currency exchange offices outside major cities. However, most banks can do these conversions. Most automated teller machines ("ATM") accept credit cards, but exchange rates are often unfavorable and charge a fee of $ 2 to $ 10.
In principle, in the United States you can buy anything, anytime. There are small shops in almost every town that are open until midnight; in every medium and large city you will find supermarkets and other stores open 24 h/ 24, especially "drugstores" (eg CVS or Walgreens) which are not just pharmacies; you can buy a little of everything there. Americans generally favor hypermarkets (Walmart, Target) or even shopping centers (shopping center or shopping mall) which are usually found outside cities and can only be reached by car. Stores in city centers often have higher prices and less choice.
Although the metric system is officially preferred and package contents are stated in grams or milliliters, a gram scale is rarely found in the fruit and greens section. There is more often a hanging scale indicating only in pounds (books) and ounces (ounces). Note that the American pound (454 g) is not equivalent to French (it is about 10% smaller).
The prices displayed are fixed and it is rarely possible to be able to negotiate. The only big exception is the purchase of a car where haggling is part of the buying habits. Many stores have discount for students or the elderly, but they are sometimes hard to find. Americans love discounts, and asking sellers how to get lower prices isn't a bad idea. Prices displayed do not include taxes, which must be added in most states for most products.
The tip is almost obligatory because the waiters of restaurants, bars, etc. earn less than the normal minimum wage and therefore rely on their tips for a living. It is advisable to add at least 15% to the addition or even more if one was very well served.
Eat
Americans in the United States are known for their abuse of foods that are extremely high in calories and saturated fat. When traveling to the United States, it can be difficult to find an alternative to this high fat cuisine. Some alternatives to fast food have developed in the North East and on the west coast of the country. For this, it may be best to get away from the highways and experience the gastronomy of the regions you visit: lobsters in Maine, oysters in New York, corn in Iowa, steak in Texas and barbecue nationwide, with specialties in how to prepare it in each region.
California has a lot of grocery stores that offer healthier food ("Fresh Food Markets"). Florida is known for its oranges, Georgia for its peaches, New Mexico for its spicy Mexican specialties, and Milwaukee for its beer, although many breweries across the country have delicious ones too.
Potlucks, ie buffet meals planned by the community, are often organized - especially in the mid-west and the south. If you are invited to any of them ... be sure to go! You will appreciate what is on offer, from salad with jelly, venison (most often from deer), to fried southern chicken.
- United States restaurants listed in the Michelin Guide
To drink
The legal drinking age is 21. Identity document checks are carried out with each purchase of alcohol. Merely attempting to buy alcohol can be a crime if the buyer is under the legal age. However, the application of this law varies, and the consumption of alcohol by minors at private parties is generally tolerated. Some establishments are more flexible than others when it comes to age checks, but be warned: these are often uncrowded places, and the police regularly check them. In some states (Texas, Washington, Montana, Ohio, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Nevada, Louisiana, Wyoming, Kentucky, Mississippi) it is legal for those under 21 to drink in the presence of a parent, but some will refuse to sell alcohol even in the presence of a parent. Even if you are 21 or older, liquor store owners often refuse to sell alcohol if someone under 21 is accompanying you. In Puerto Rico, the minimum age is 18. Alcohol on some Native American reservations is prohibited.
Housing
Hotels are available in cities, and large hotel chains are widespread in the United States. Most of these hotel chains offer free smartphone apps, making it easier to plan a trip. They also offer rewards and bonuses for repeat customers. Bed and Breakfasts are common in many towns and tourist sites.
Campsites are also very common, mostly along highways or near lakes and rivers.
To make the most of the United States, you have to go through a "Bed and Breakfast"! They are usually run by the owners who live in their home (like a lodge), which will give you a better experience of what it really is to "be American". Many of its owners have traveled and read, and they have the knowledge to guide you to unique experiences in the United States.
- Camping: They are found everywhere, large, small, beautiful, ugly, with or without swimming pool, etc. The best is to buy a guide to choose. Count from 10 $ at 20 $ per pitch (and not per tent). In most cases, forget about campfires or barbecues in the summer. It's so dry that it's forbidden to make any fires (you wouldn't want to burn the little vegetation in the Grand Canyon though). Moreover, it is even forbidden to smoke in the majority of the parks.
- Motel: Like campsites, they are found everywhere and of all kinds. Count from 40 $ at 70 $ the night in a double room. To choose well, a guide can be useful.
Learn
The United States is a prime destination for language study trips. There are many language schools in different states.
To work
It is essential to have a green card (Green Card) or a work visa to work legally in the United States. To do an internship, you have to do it well in advance. For the French, you have to go to the US consulate in Paris. You must first make an appointment by phone (each call is billed by a flat rate of 15 €). The visa application fee is 85 €Students can go on an internship, find a summer job or even go as an au pair with one and the same visa, the J-1. This site will give you useful explanations: [1]Several associations are also working to make the procedures easier for you, such as Club TELI for example. [2]
Communicate
Internet
Contrary to what one might think, it is not that easy to find internet access (almost all Americans have access). There are still a few internet cafes, but if you have your own computer, the more common regular cafes (Starbucks, etc.) often offer wireless internet, sometimes for a fee. All public libraries have free internet access (if you can find one).
Phone
The rates for public telephones are as follows:
- local calls: 35 cents to 50 cents
- long distance calls: dial 0, you will get the operator to whom you will give your correspondent's number preceded by the area code (3 digits). The attendant will tell you how much to put in the machine. Bring plenty of change.
- calls in P.C.V. : ask for a "collect call" or, with advance notice, a "person to person call". Use 1 800 225-5288 or 1-800-CALL-ATT to obtain a number in France from a French operator (PCV).
There are also pre-paid phone cards on sale in supermarkets, petrol stations, hotels. You must then dial, from a public or private telephone, the free number of the card, then dial your code number written on the card and finally the number of your correspondent (super practical and very simple). Prepaid cards are cheaper because you don't go through the telephone operator.
From a private or public telephone:
- United States to France: 011 33 9-digit correspondent number (without the 0).
- France to United States: 00 (dial tone) 1 city code number of the correspondent.
Information services:
- for a local number: 411
- for a long distance number: 555-1212 or 1-region-555-1212
- for an international number: 1-800-874-4000 ext. 324
- for a free number: 1-800-555-1212
- emergency number (police, fire department, ambulance): 9-1-1
- traffic information: 5-1-1 (not available in all states)
In the United States, all telephone numbers preceded by the digits 1-800, 1-888, 1-866, 1-855, and 1-844 are toll-free numbers.
Please note: GSM service is relatively uncommon in the United States; therefore, it is possible that your mobile does not work everywhere. It is best to check with your operator before you go. AT&T and T-Mobile work on GSM but at frequencies 850 /1900 MHz, which are not the same frequencies as in Europe or Asia. Verizon and Sprint use CDMA, a completely incompatible system.
The post office
Post offices are open from 9 h - 17 h from Monday to Friday. Some open on Saturdays or 24 h/ 24 in large cities. Visiting the post office is something Americans hate, and the lines are often very long. To buy stamps, you can use ATMs at post offices, or cash machines, some of which also distribute stamps. The cost of a stamp goes from 42 cents (for a letter intended for the United States) to 94 cents (price at the end of 2009 for a letter or a postcard to Europe). The cost of stamps often increases; however, stamps marked "Forever Stamps" will always be valid, regardless of the current cost of the stamps. Keep them for your next visit! Please note that the time between sending and receiving a letter can be quite long. It also happens that letters are lost while crossing the Atlantic. You must therefore write the address and specify the country, especially for letters sent to Paris. There are many cities called Paris in the USA. In addition, the postal code of Paris (750XX) corresponds to a county in Texas.
Manage the day-to-day
Time zones
Taking into consideration even the small territories of the Pacific Ocean (some of which may not be easily accessible) the United States covers eleven time zones. Just four time zones are used in the 48 contiguous states. Be aware that time zone borders do not always match state borders!
- Eastern Time (UTC-5): Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, new York, Michigan, except counties of the extreme north-west, Indiana, except the southwest and northwest corners, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Is of Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Washington (D.C.), Maryland, Delaware, Is of Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Caroline from the south, Florida, except western part of panhandle.
- Central Time (UTC-6): Wisconsin, Illinois, southwest and northwest corners of Indiana, West of Kentucky, West and center of Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, MinnesotaIowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, North and East of North Dakota, Is of South Dakota, Center and East of Nebraska, Major part of Kansas, Oklahoma, Major part of Texas, West of Florida (panhandle).
- Mountain Time (UTC-7): Southwest of North Dakota, West of South Dakota, West of Nebraska, Strip west of Kansas, Montana, Band in theOregon, South ofIdaho, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, part of Texas
- Pacific Time (UTC-8): Washington, North ofIdaho, Major part of theOregon, California, Nevada
In addition to this, there are also the time zones of the non-contiguous territories:
- Alaska Time (UTC-9): Alaska, with the exception of Aleutian Islands
- Hawaii and Aleutian Time (GMT-10): Hawaii, Aleutian Islands
- Atlantic time (UTC-4): Porto Rico, US Virgin Islands
Most of the United States observes daylight saving time except Hawaii and most of Arizona.
security
 | Emergency telephone number: All emergency services:911 |
Government travel advice
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Belgium (Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation) 
Canada (Government of Canada) 
France (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) 
Swiss (Federal Department of Foreign Affairs)
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Health
There is a social security system in the United States (established in 1965) but, to say the least, restrictive. You must first be of American nationality, be in need, be over 65 or under 19, have a motor or physical disability or be pregnant. This insurance is called Medicare for the elderly or disabled, Medicaid for the most disadvantaged. A tax of 1.5% to 3% is levied on the salary of each citizen. Nearly 40 million Americans (including more than 2 million in New York) receive this public health insurance, which costs the state more than 350 billion dollars each year. The insurance does not cover visits to the dentist but it covers contraceptive methods and stays in a retirement home.
With the exception of these poor people, everyone takes out the health insurance of their choice (well, the one that we can afford), because all medical and hospital costs are the responsibility of individuals. The prices are very high, especially for foreigners whose bills are frequently increased. It is therefore essential to take out TRAVEL INSURANCE before your departure for the duration of your stay abroad.
Consultations and Medication: If you must see a doctor, search the yellow pages for "Clinics" or "Physicians". If you want comfort drugs like aspirin, go to a drugstore. But real drugs will only be delivered to you with a doctor's prescription.
Handicap
The USA is by far the most accessible country for people with reduced mobility, a person in an autonomous wheelchair will enjoy a rare freedom in France and everywhere else, a special mention to the National parks (Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Big Cypress, Grand Glacier, etc.) (la plupart des State Parks ne sont pas en reste non plus) pour leurs efforts particuliers afin d'accueillir les campeurs et visiteurs handicapés.
Respect
La plupart des Américains n'aiment pas les grands débats. Exprimer des opinions fortes sur des sujets potentiellement sensibles (politique, religion, faits de société, etc.) rend beaucoup d'Américains mal à l'aise.
The domaine racial, aux États-Unis, est probablement le plus tabou des sujets. Que ce soit avec un noir, un blanc, un hispanique ou avec toute autre personne, une conversation dans ce domaine sera particulièrement scabreuse. Le sujet est très complexe et il est déconseillé à un touriste étranger de vouloir slalomer à travers le terrain miné que représentent les discussions sur la diversité raciale. Si quelqu'un d'autre aborde le sujet, il est préférable d'essayer de changer le sujet. De même, soyez prudent lors du choix des mots.
Theespace or bulle personnelle entre les personnes est très important pour les Américains. Sauf si vous êtes dans un bus bondé ou dans le métro, évitez de toucher les gens, même lors de conversations amicales. Le toucher a une forte connotation sexuelle et peut être très mal interprété. Entre hommes, il est autant inacceptable de se laisser toucher, à l'exception de l'accolade ou hug qui remplace le plus souvent notre bise bien française et tellement exotique. En cas de doute, laissez l'autre prendre l'initiative. En revanche, il n'est pas rare d'engager la conversation avec son voisin dans le bus, l'avion, dans une file d'attente ou même dans un magasin, surtout s'il découvre que vous êtes français. Il ne sera pas rare d'entendre « Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir ? » (refrain d'une chanson très populaire aux USA). Il est cependant fortement conseillé de ne pas traduire cette phrase et de répondre simplement par un sourire aimable et encourageant.
La plupart des fonctions corporelles (roter, péter, crotter...) sont des sujets de conversation inacceptables, particulièrement si le sujet est abordé dans un lieu mixte. En général, les hommes aborderont ces sujets avec d'autres hommes; les femmes les aborderont, de toute façon moins, et principalement entre femmes. Il est néanmoins mieux de ne pas commencer d'en parler dans même ces cas.
Les Américains sont très respectueux des lois, et la courtoisie est particulièrement de rigueur lors de la conduite d'un véhicule ou dans une file d'attente.
L'attitude envers l'homosexualité varie grandement d'un endroit à l'autre du pays, de la tolérance la plus naturelle à l'intolérance la plus explicite et agressive. The gays et lesbiennes devraient éviter d'afficher ouvertement leur orientation en public dans les régions rurales du pays, particulièrement dans le Bible Belt (États du Sud) où ils feront vite face à des réactions hostiles. D'autres régions leur seront en revanche très accueillantes, comme la Californie ou la New England. Les grandes villes côtières sont notoirement réputées pour leur tolérance envers la différence, et on y trouve des "quartiers gais" réputés dans le monde entier, tels que Greenwich Village at new York, the Castro Street et la Noe Valley à San Francisco, le Dupont Circle à Washington (D.C.) or West Hollywood at Los Angeles.
