Friendship and Dating
While many Americans are fairly open and warm people who are quick make new acquaintances, their mobility and sense of individualism mean that their relationships are often casual and informal. This is not to say that American take friendship lightly. It just means that while American know a lot of people, their lasting friendships are often few.
Comparatively, women in American are generally less inhibited than women from other countries. They are not usually shy with Americans or International visitors. Their relaxed and more independent attitude may be misunderstood by people whose native culture is more restrictive of women's activities. It is not unusual, for example, for unmarried women to live by themselves, to share living space with other single women, or to go to public places unescorted.
There are no universally accepted rules about dating Americans. Traditionally men have taken the initiative in asking women on dates, but this is changing as women are asserting their equal status in society. Common dating events include dinners, concerts, movies, and plays. If you want to know someone better, you might ask the person to join you for coffee or a lunch; such meetings can provide the beginning of an enduring friendship without the pressure of being a "date." It used to be the practice that the one who invited a person on a date would pay for any expenses incurred (such as the dinner check or the ticket price). It is becoming more common for people on a date to "go Dutch," which means that each person pays for his or her own expenses. If you plan to "go Dutch," make sure the other person understands this before you go out.
