Getting Accustomed to U.S. Culture: A Guide for Immigrants
A guest post by Tina Martin
Tina Martin stays busy as a life coach and works hard to help herself and her clients achieve a healthy work-life balance. She started Ideaspired as a side project to reach as many people as possible, and encourage them to put their dreams first.
When you immigrate to the United States, you can anticipate a lot of changes. It’s not just that you’re trying to establish a home in a new place, among unfamiliar people. You have to get used to a whole new culture. If you’ve derived an idea about the United States from movies and television, or even from news reporting, there are a lot of cultural idiosyncrasies for which you might not be prepared. Guest blogger, Tina Martin, shares the following guidance.
The United States really is diverse.
● It’s not just that the nation was created out of components of many different cultures. The national character differs from one region to the next.
● There are huge deviations in cost and standard of living. This reflects the significant income gap in the US, but also different regional economies.
● Some areas of the US are more diverse and more welcoming of immigrants than others. Urban areas are more likely to be immigrant-friendly, although Civil Eats explains that is changing in some rural communities.
● Core American values such as liberty and self-determination may look very different from one region to the next.
The health care system might be very unlike what you had at your previous home.
● While there are some options for low-income or older citizens to access free health care, you have to purchase insurance or get it from an employer.
● Prescription medicine can be extremely expensive if you don’t have insurance, as there is no regulation on cost.
● Riding in an ambulance is not free. In fact, it can be quite costly.
● If you are undocumented, you will not be eligible for aid programs, but may be able to purchase insurance and can access some services through community clinics.
There are some challenges to actually settling in here.
● The ultimate dream for most people living in the US is to buy their own home. While this might not be an option right now, you can still find affordable housing through rental listing sites.
● Finding the right school for your children is also important, but trying to balance affordable housing with a great school can be tricky.
● You may feel nervous about making friends with neighbors or new people, so look for groups from your home country or establish yourself in a new church.
There are cultural differences to get used to in the US.
● As Business Insider notes, some minor cultural trends that may take some getting used to include the expectation to tip for many services, heavily iced drinks, and not using the metric system.
● Patriotism is important to people in the US. You can expect to see the national flag flying in many places.
● Most citizens of the US refer to themselves as “Americans,” even though there’s a lot that qualifies as “America” beyond the United States.
What resources are available to help you settle in here?
● Both government and private programs can help you as you learn the ropes.
● Try some of the top apps that can assist you in settling in.
● You may also want to purchase a calling card through a company like CallingCard.com, which will enable you to stay in touch with family and friends back home.
● Connect with a pro bono lawyer if you need help with the legalities of immigration.
As well as digital, government and community resources, many people in the US will be excited to welcome your family, to learn about your culture and to help you as you find your footing here. So enjoy!
An additional resource (in English and in Spanish): https://www.mymove.com/moving/buying-selling/daca-home-buying/
https://www.mymove.com/moving/buying-selling/daca-home-buying/es/
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