Things NOT To Forget:

• Tipping: restaurant and bar menus indicate prices without sales taxes (varies by city/county) and tips (15 to 20%), so everything you will order on the menu will end up about 21% to 26% more on the bill. If tip is not included, don't forget to add it. Waiters' and waitresses' salaries are extremely small (half minimum wage, $2.75/hour) so they depend on tips.
• Tipping is also common in the service and hospitality industry, from valet to housekeepers at your hotel.  $2 to $5 tips for valet and $5 to $20 or more for the housekeeper at your hotel at the end of your stay is common.  
• Alcohol Laws. American alcohol laws are a patchwork of rules that vary by state, county, and towns. In some places (primarily in the South), entire counties or towns may prohibit alcohol. In all states, however, the drinking age is set at 21 for both sexes and is fairly well enforced with ID checks by the alcohol seller. Furthermore, it is illegal in most states to provide a minor with alcohol even in the company of his parents.  Drinking in public is usually a civil offense in most communities, though many towns and beaches permit alcohol consumption in public. Driving under the influence is very much illegal and could net you a large fine and possibly jail time. (Illicit drugs have similar risk but can have significantly more severe consequences.)
• Pets: Bringing a dog  or cat with you to America is permitted, provided they go through quarantine.  The general rules for having a dog with you in America are that it should be recently vaccinated against rabies prior to arrival and that it can behave itself in public. Generally, dogs must be kept on a lead in public and cleaned up after in major cities. They should also have a tag on their collar with your name, full home address,  and phone number on them: it is a quick way to identify them if they are lost. They are generally not permitted in stores or on public transportation unless they are guides for the blind, deaf, or impaired, but smaller ones are allowed if they are kept in a pet carrier.  Dogs are allowed in nearly all parks (including national parks) and many city parks in fact have special areas for them to run and play with other dogs in.  Not all hotels permit pets in them, so ask your travel agent or a hotel chain about which hotels allow pets in them.
• Sexuality:; The age of majority in America is 18 years nationwide for both sexes.  Those caught soliciting a minor may face time in jail and there are no exceptions to this rule: statutory rape is a serious crime the law enforces rigorously and embassies may be in a position to do very little to assist you if you are arrested aside from helping to hire a lawyer. Prostitution is also illegal although occasionally found in areas of ill repute, those caught soliciting a prostitute may face similar penalties and problems.

Things To Avoid (general):

• Controversial topics may include  politics, religion, homosexuality, racism, abortion,  criticism of the government, and criticism of an individual's patriotism. As in any country, locals generally do not take too kindly to constant criticisms of their government by foreigners. Make sure you know the political leanings and temperaments of those around you before broaching such topics.
  
• Discussions of wealth or money. Americans generally do not discuss how much money they make or how much they paid for certain high-end items (such as houses, cars, boats, TV systems, etc.) cost. It is considered very rude to ask and is even more uncomfortable to discuss.
  
• Smoking. Smoking restrictions vary greatly from place to place, from having no restrictions at all to complete city-wide bans.  Smoking is prohibited on airplanes entirely-they are seen as a fire risk (this includes smoking in the toilet at the back of the plane: you may force the plane to land if you are caught.)  On the ground, laws may be enacted by individual states, counties, and cities. Some laws even limit outdoor smoking by prohibiting smoking within a certain distance from a building's entrance.  Observe to see if others around you are smoking, or ask if anyone minds before doing so. Many restaurants and hotels have special seating for smoking customers, which you may request during booking.  Fines for smoking in a prohibited place range from nothing to hundreds of dollars.
• Loud cell phone usage.  It is considered rude to speak loudly on cell phones in enclosed, public places such as trains, restaurants, museums.  (Obviously, if you are in a noisy bar, ball game, etc. where people aren't trying to listen or concentrate, it doesn't matter.)  But if you are on a train, elevator, in a rest room, or anywhere where people are trying to concentrate, work, or listen, please don't speak loudly on your cell--any more loudly than you would if the person were sitting next to you.  As for the opera, theatre, cinema. places of worship, lectures/classes, please turn your cell to "vibrate." If you absolutely must receive messages when in any of these locations please allow your cell phone to be set to vibrate and also ask any who would contact you to leave a text message instead.
• Hugging, kissing or touching. Most Americans prefer a firm handshake as a first greeting. Hugging is reserved for close family members and friends. Kissing people in greeting is a more intimate affair: it's usually done only in the context of relatives, lovers, and friends; it is sometimes controversial when performed between members of the same gender. Also, refrain from touching people during conversation unless you know them well, as it generally makes them uncomfortable.   When it is a kiss, friends and family typically get kissed on one cheek and lovers on the mouth. (Once an American does embrace or kiss you, however, it is a guaranteed sign you have made a friend for life or sometimes something more. Spontaneous bear hugs are not uncommon if an American grows fond of you!)
•   Personal space. Americans usually talk to each other from a distance of about two feet (.6 meters); any closer is viewed as uncomfortable. (Closer contact is reserved for closer accquaintances-the barrier shall break down as they get to know you.)
  
• First names. In general, most Americans, even in a business setting, will prefer to be called by their first name. However, it is a good rule of thumb to address them by their title (Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr., or Professor, in general) and last name (e.g., Mr. Anderson) until you are specifically told otherwise. Americans may also address you by your first name immediately after being introduced to you; this is not considered rude at all and reflects the more casual style of Americans.
  
• Miss, Ms. or Mrs.  There seems to be some controversy, perhaps regional, over the usage of Miss (pronounced "miss"), Ms. (pronounced "miz") or Mrs. (pronounced "miss-iz").  Mrs. is used strictly with married women, although some married women may prefer Ms.    Ms. is a title that came to be commonly used in the early 1970s during the women's liberation movement.  Feminists objected to the double standard inherent in the use of only a single title for men (Mr.)--which did not reveal whether a man was married--versus two titles for women, either of which revealed their marital status ("Miss" for unmarried women; "Mrs." for married).  Now, one and a half generations since Gloria Steinem, many women use "Ms."; incidentally, "Ms." is the title used in U.S. courts (unless the subject apprises the Court otherwise).  "Miss" is still commonly used for little girls and at times for unmarried women, if they prefer.  Bottom line:  If you are not sure how to address a woman, use "Ms." followed by the woman's  last name as in, "Pleased to meet you, Ms. Smith."  If the woman objects to "Ms.," she will tell you, "Please call me Miss/Mrs."
• "Sir" and "Madam."  Many countries outside the USA  use the term "Sir" or "Madam" when greeting someone new, and it is a respectful introduction before the person's details are known. Within most of the U.S. these terms are used to address people to whom great respect and deference should be shown ("Madam Secretary [of State]"), one's senior officer in the military, or one's higher level boss at work ("Yes, Sir!"), or "older" people in the U.S. One may also be called  "Sir" or "Madam" in very expensive restaurants or hotels, or in some less urban parts of the country. Colloquially, the altered term "ma'am" is considered polite for a woman older than oneself and a new acquaintance.

Hygiene

• Spitting Spitting is unacceptable in any public setting except for baseball players on a field. If you have a cold and cannot avoid spitting up phlegm, use a tissue and then throw it away.
  
• Public urination In some cultures in East Asia it is acceptable for some, especially small children, to be allowed to urinate and defecate wherever possible or whenever needed. In the United States this is very much frowned upon unless you are in a wilderness area-it is considered a health hazard and potential scenario where one could be fined. If a small child needs to relieve him or herself, take him or her into the nearest bathroom (most restaurants and public buildings will allow it regardless of whether or not you are a patron and few managers turn away the desparate) and assist the child if needed. If traveling with a baby, most restaurants and publicly funded places like museums and monuments have bathrooms that include a place to change the baby's diaper and clean him/her off (split pants are very impractical in a climate that can get extremely cold or extremely hot, sometimes in the space of one day.)  Wet sanitary wipes designed for baby are available in any pharmacy, supermarket, or gas station.
  
• Chewing with your mouth open  Generally, an American will forgive you for the occasional slip of the mouth opening while chewing one's food, but generally don't like it when a person chews with their maw wide open and may or may not be talking. It will distract them from most of what you are saying, so kindly chew and swallow first.
  
• Picking your nose This activity is considered childish by Americans and makes you appear uncouth. Do not do it in view of others.
• Bathing  Customs surrounding bathing vary around the world, but Americans typically bathe once a day in hot water and wash their hair at least every other day; they shower directly after strenuous exercise.  They also use underarm deodorant:  if you have not brought any with you it is recommended you buy some as  hot, humid summer weather or stressful business meetings are no excuse if people smell you before they see you!
• Shaving  American women typically shave their armpits and legs.  This practice is not universal, but some people will have a strong reaction to armpit or leg hair on a woman.

Public Transportation Courtesy:

• Boarding: It is typical policy for most buses to board from the front door, unless if policy says it is allowed to board other entrances with proof of payment.  Passengers should never evade paying their fare to ride public buses by entering through the rear door and board the bus until all passengers, including elderly passengers exit first.  On subway cars, is is basic courtesy for boarding passengers to line-up on the sides of subway train doors and permit exiting passengers to leave directly out of the doors.
• Exiting: Passengers on buses should get the bus operator's attention by pulling on the cord near the window or a designated button located on poles on the vehicle.  The "bell" should be rung at least one half of a block to permit the bus driver to make a smooth stop at the designated bus stop.  Late activation of the "bell" system may result in the stop being intentionally skipped, force the vehicle to stop immediately, stop several feet away from the designated stop, or cause passengers to be upset.  On all transit vehicles, passengers should be prepared to exit the vehicle by moving towards the exit doors, and should never be seated when the vehicle arrives at the stop.
• Elderly and Disabled: Federal law and some state and local policies require front seats on buses to be vacated for the elderly and disabled passengers.  On subway cars, seats located nearest to the doors are designated for this purpose as well.  It is also respectable to permit elderly and disabled passengers to exit the vehicle first as a sign of courtesy and respect, and to permit them additional time to exit the vehicle safely.
• Seating: Passengers should extend courtesy by not taking more than one seat on the vehicle, and especially in situations where the vehicle is crowded.  Passengers sitting at a window seat with a passenger sitting in the asile seat, and requiring to exit should have the passenger in the asile seat stand up and move away from the seat to permit exiting.  In no fashion is it proper for an aisle seat passenger to turn to their side.
• Standing: On buses with front door boarding, it is typically required for passengers to move to the rear of the vehicle to allow the most passengers to board the vehicle.  Passengers sometimes fear it is not acceptable to move to the rear of the bus as it has been stereotyped that the rear of the vehicle is common for "thugs" and other non savory people; while some people believe in this stereotype, this may be an advantage to find an open seat.  In a situation where passengers do not move to the rear and stay within the first half of the bus, the driver may assume the enire vehicle is full and cannot pickup any more passengers, thus making passengers at stops become frustrated and forcing them to wait for another vehicle.  On all vehicles (including subway cars), it is disrespectful to stand near doors and block the exit, especially when it is not your stop.
• Eating and Drinking: consumption of food and beverages is typically against transit policy for a number of reasons, but is not limited to spills, garbage left on vehicles, and increased risk of fire on subway lines using the electric third rail.
• Bicycles and Baby Carriages: Many public transportation agencies permit bicycles onboard buses because of the installation of bicycle racks, typically on the front of the vehicle that extends when unfolded.  On some light rail and subway cars, they may have bicycle racks installed in designated areas or an open area used for either wheelchair passengers or bicycles.  Baby Carriages are permitted onboard all public transit vehicles, as long as it can be collasped.
• Cellular Telephones and Music: Basic courtesy is required when using cell phones and listening to music.  Passengers should limit usage of a cellular telephone or force the call to their voicemail account, and earphones are required for all music devices.
• Passenger Contact: Passengers are typically uncomfortable having conversations with other passengers that are not their friends, family, or of any personal relationship.  In some cases, passengers may assist visitors and tourists who may be unfamilar with the public transporation system.  Passengers are also uncomfortable of passengers who stare at others, thus people "minding their own business."
• Operator Contact: Most public transportation agencies permit passengers to ask questions on destinations, or request for basic assistance to their destination.  All public transit operators discourage passengers to have unncessary conversations with the operator.

A Day at the Seaside, Waterpark, or Swimming Pool

 As in many places all over the world, fun in the sun is a perfectly acceptable and beloved pastime for people of all ages: most Americans would consider it a total waste not to utilize the nearly 20 thousand km of coastline or hundreds of swimming pools available during summer: Florida and the Los Angeles area alone have all three, for example. There are a few things to remember, however:

• Attire: Most attire found in Europe and Australia is perfectly acceptable: that pair of male Speedos in a traveler's suitcase may be a bit less commonly worn, it may raise a few amused eyebrows or a few good natured chuckles,  but certainly won't spook the locals into a Puritanical frenzy. (Locals may recommend, however, wearing board shorts or wet suits on the West Coast to surfers or swimmers in the Northeast as the water is a little colder than southern France, Hong Kong, or Queensland.)   It is a perfectly acceptable practice to utilize a tee shirt to prevent severe burns on snorklers and patrons of waterslides alike.
• Red Tide: Normally, it is perfectly safe to swim in the water-stories like the ones seen in Jaws are complete fiction told entirely to scare people and nothing more. However, in some places it is common for a condition known as red tide to appear: it basically means an algal bloom has appeared in the water and is a natural, normal nuisance that happens every few years and has occured since the dawn of time.  When red tide is present in the water, it can become unsafe to swim in the water: if the news mentions this condition please take it seriously as those who ignore it may die from being poisoned. (Eating seafood taken from these waters during this time is equally a bad idea as well: toxins may leach into their flesh.)
• Shower: Most public pools  and some waterparks will ask patrons to take a few minutes to rinse themselves before entering the water.  The idea is that it keeps the water clean in the pool.  
• Food and picnics: It is perfectly an acceptable practice to bring a picnic lunch or snacks to the beach but not waterparks as the latter generally already has facilities where food is sold.  In a beach setting, remember temperatures can exceed 100° Farenheit (38° Celsius) and food will spoil if it is not chilled properly.  Bringing a cooler  (also called "cool-box" or "esky")  filled with ice will chill any sandwiches, salads, ice creams, or cheeses perfectly well and preserve most drinks very nicely for hours: both coolers and large bags of ice are available at supermarkets and pharmacies. as well as some gas stations.  At some beaches you may be able to bring something called a hibachi grill (a small portable charcoal grill)  if you desire to grill some lunch and these are typically inexpensive and also available in supermarkets, but take care to ask the store clerk/hotel concierge about the policy of the local beach first.  
• Clean beaches and clean water: Overall, it is also encouraged that you clean up after yourself and throw away all garbage before you leave any beach or when on any boat: there are many places where animals like sea turtles, manatees, and shorebirds will use the same beach to nest on or water to feed in and many of these animals receive some protection from the government already: those that don't do their part may be face fines in thousands of dollars or disgrace themselves when they see a turtle strangled by a six pack holder later in the week. If you are on a boat and using the water , DO NOT DUMP ANYTHING  OVER THE SIDE.  Wait until you make berth and dispose of waste onshore.
• Topless sunbathing: it should be remembered that not all places allow for ladies to sunbathe topless, especially in areas designed for families with young children: in large commercial waterparks, ( i.e., Typhoon Lagoon, Wet n' Wild, etc.)  this is an absolute no-no. If topless sunbathing is something you prefer to do, it might be better to check if the beaches in the area you are visiting allow it (there are absolutely places where this is possible but it is is normally not the case, as traditonally only  small babies and toddlers  are allowed to strip down.)
  
  Some Middle Eastern/Asian men should remember that criticism, catcalling, or poking of women dressed in beach attire shall not be tolerated and may result in their violent expulsion from the beach or waterpark should they harass a woman over it: the view of a woman's place in society is very different in America.

Common gestures considered friendly:

• Waving:  Done by moving the entire hand from left to right, with the palm facing outward, waving can indicate both greeting and saying goodbye.
• Showing approval.  Unlike in some Middle Eastern cultures, the OK sign or the thumbs up sign indicate approval. (A double thumbs up means eager approval.)
• The peace sign.  The " peace sign" or " victory sign" is not considered rude, even when done backwards (although this is not the correct form, and is considered insulting by the British).  It is used in America sometimes as a goodbye gesture or to convey happiness over victory, or that somebody would like two of something.  If it is done behind somebody's head when they are not looking it is meant as a practical joke (especially in photographs) and implies "bunny ears."
  
• Devil horns, corna:  These do not  have the same meaning that they have in Europe.  In American Sign Language, it is a shorthand sign meaning, " I love you" as it incorporates the signs for I, L, and U when the thumb is turned out. (American Sign Language is based on French, not British or Australian Sign Language.)   When the thumb is turned in it is the sign for the letter "U". Among the hearing, it is a common symbol for  American football fans at  the University of Texas at Austin: the school mascot is a Texas longhorn steer, known for having huge, sharp, wideset horns.  Among heavy metal fans it is an older symbol that was originally associated with the devil (it probably started at Black Sabbath concerts.) Today it usually means "Rock on!"  and indicates a person at a rock concert is enjoying the music a lot and it may be accompanied by either a lit cigarette lighter  raised high in the air or vigorous jerking  of the head up and down with the eyes shut.

Common  gestures that are obscene and should be avoided:

• The middle finger. Raising the middle finger usually referred to as "the finger," is seen as highly offensive and provocative. Avoid using it, even when pointing to objects or scratching your face.
• Flicking one's hand under the chin: this has a similar meaning  to the middle finger, except the offender is telling the receiver to do it to himself.  When scratching your chin and neck, separate your fingers and go up and down. It is impossible to mistake your intent this way.
  
• Placing one's arm at the crease of the other arm's elbow, then raising the opposite arm with the fingers of the fist facing the offender.This  gesture is a little older than the finger and is still sometimes used; it has the same meaning.
• Splitting the ring finger and middle finger apart and flicking the tongue in between them: This is EXTREMELY offensive, especially to a woman: essentially it implies she is a tramp and it reduces her to her privates. Though difficult to do by accident, it is one of the worst insults that can be directed at a person nonverbally and is most certainly worth knowing about, for women and boyfriends alike.
  
• Making a sideways fist, fingers facing the receiver, moving it left and right and simultaneously poking the inside of the opposite cheek with the tongue so it bulges out:  This also has the same meaning as above and is equally offensive: it resembles fellatio and implies this is all the woman it is directed at is capable of achieving in life. (it may be performed by members of both sexes, thus.)