_{HOW ARE YOU?}

_{Yes, I have experienced a cultural shock. When I moved to United States of America from small village in Poland. In my country, it is not common to talk to strangers or to ask them the question 'How are you?'.  It is not common to just casually start talking to a person we have never seen before.}

_{When I first arrived in the U.S. everyone was asking me 'How are you', 'How is it going', and at first, I was confused as to why they would want to know it?  I would give them a full lecture on how it is really going. But after a few, rather strange looks I realised this is not what they are asking me about. I realised that my answer should be short and to the point and I should ask them the same question without even waiting for them to reply.}

_{In Poland, only your closest friends would ask you the question when they would really want to know, otherwise it is not common to ask, and for sure not the strangers.​}

_{SHOES IN THE HOUSE}

_{Another time when I experienced a cultural shock was when I saw people wearing shoes inside their house or lying-in bed. This is not acceptable in Polish household. It is considered rude. I could not understand, as it seems disrespectful towards the person whos house it is.}

_{WEARING A HAT WHEN STTING AT THE TABLE}

_{Another example is wearing hat while sitting at the table or eating. In Poland it is a rule that once a person is sat at the table or is eating, the hat should not be on their head. The same principal applies when entering someone's house for men. A man (as a gentleman) should remove the hat off their head when sitting at the table and the woman should remove their hat when sitting for a substantial meal.}

_YOU

_{Addressing everyone as 'you' no matter their age and seniority. In my country, you are not supposed to address someone as 'you' unless you are given a verbal permission, especially if it is clear that you are addressing an older person. The same principal applies to teachers, professors etc. You would always address them in a formal way such as 'Sir/Madame' or 'Professor'. At the beginning it was hard for me to understand that I can call everyone 'you' or by their first name, even though I only just met them, they are my teacher, or they are clearly older.}

To overcome all of the above it took some time. But I was reading about the U.S. customs and was trying to understand it. At the moment, I am in between, when it comes to asking people 'How are you' I would do it, and I think it is a nice thing to do, it breaks the ice, and it makes people feel better. I am still unsure about the shoes in the house and a hat at the dining table is still a no for me. Addressing people 'you' I have no problem doing it in English – it seems natural, but I would still not do it in Polish, but I also know that would not be welcomed in Poland.​