Reading America pdf

Nathaniel Patton
What is
America?
Contents
 Foreword..........................................................................................................................3
 C hapter 1: Where do Americans come from?.........................................................4
 C hapter 2: What happened to the Native Americans?.........................................8
 C hapter 3: What are American people like?.........................................................13
 C hapter 4: Where do Americans live?....................................................................19
 Chapter 5: What’s up with religion in America?...................................................25
 Chapter 6: What are American schools like?........................................................29
 Chapter 7: What sports do Americans like?..........................................................35
 Chapter 8: What else do Americans do in their free time?............................... 40
 Chapter 9: Why are Americans so fat?.................................................................. 44
 Chapter 10: Why do Americans like guns so much?.......................................... 48
 Conclusion.....................................................................................................................51
What Is America?
written by Nathaniel Patton
illustrations by Jean
editors: Auburn Scallon, Megan LeBoeuf, Zuzana Pernicová
graphics, DTP: Ondřej Strnad
production: Jan Dosoudil
book and e-book published by Bridge Publishing House
You can read this e-book at www.bridge-online.cz/studenti/e‑books
3
FORE WORD
I’m an American who lives in the C zech Republic. Over the years I’ve heard
Czech people say a lot of interesting things about my country. Apparently1, we
Americans drive our cars everywhere, eat McDonald’s regularly, everyone owns
a gun and believes in God, and we don’t know the difference between the C zech
Republic and Chechnya. There is some truth to these statements, but I also feel
that a lot of the stereotypes of America are unfair.
That is the main reason I wanted to write this book: to address some
common opinions about Americans. The United States is a huge country with
an extremely diverse2 population, so it’s nearly impossible to make general
statements about all Americans. A businessman from New York has very little in
common with a rancher from Texas or a Native American living on a reservation
in Wyoming.
On the other hand, the United States certainly does have its own culture, and
living in America is much different from life in the C zech Republic in so many
ways. The purpose of this book is to try to explain not only how we are different,
but more importantly why.
Hopefully by the end of this book, you’ll have a better understanding of
the United States and its people. Just remember that you can find all kinds of people
in any culture. It’s our different experiences that make each individual unique.
1 apparently – used to say you have heard this but are not certain it is true
2 diverse – including many different kinds of people
4 ← Contents
Chapter 1
Where do A mericans
come from?
You may be familiar with Cristoforo Colombo, the I talian explorer better known
as Christopher Columbus in English. He gets most of the credit3 for discovering
America on his cross-Atlantic voyage4 in 1492. The purpose of his journey was
to find a sea route5 from Europe to Asia, but unfortunately for him, there was
a whole continent in the way! Although many schoolchildren are taught about
Columbus, he wasn’t the first to really “discover” America. Some historians
believe that the Viking explorer Leif Eriksson visited the A merican continent in
the 11th century, but didn’t see any good reason to stay. And of course, millions
of Native Americans were already living there so they must have come from
somewhere. Most experts think these original Americans crossed over from
Asia thousands of years ago when the continents were still joined together.
Naming the New World
Once Columbus reached America, it would never again be the same.
Europeans wanted to know more about the “New World”, and the leaders of
Britain, France, Spain and other nations started thinking of how they could use
it to their advantage6. They wanted to know what valuable resources could
be found there and they hoped to build colonies before other countries did.
But first of all, they needed to make maps of this unfamiliar land. That’s where
Amerigo Vespucci comes in.
Amerigo was an Italian mapmaker who made several journeys to the New
World, and he was one of the first to realize that they had found a completely
new continent. He created maps of the land and of course he signed his name on
them. Many people think the name “America” came from the similar-sounding
“Amerigo”. However, not everyone agrees with this theory. Some historians
think that Vespucci changed his name later in his life, so people would give him
more credit for “discovering” America. These historians believe that the word
3 gets most of the credit – most people believe he was responsible for it
4 cross-Atlantic voyage – a journey across the Atlantic Ocean
5 sea route – way across the sea
6 use it to their advantage – use it in such a way that makes their lives better
5
6 ← Contents
“America” comes from a word in the M ayan language – “Amerrique” – which
can be translated as “Land of the Wind”.
A nation of immigrants
Most of the early colonies in America were established by the E nglish, Spanish,
French and Dutch. The “original” American settlers7 are known as the Pilgrims•.
They were a religious group that was protesting the C hurch of England. Life
was becoming uncomfortable in England, so they left for Holland in the hopes
of finding a place where they could live the way they wanted to. But they were
not welcome in Holland, either. So, they sailed for America in 1621 and founded
a colony in present-day Massachusetts. The next year they celebrated the first
Thanksgiving with the help of friendly natives who showed them how to grow
food and survive in the unfamiliar continent.
After the A merican Revolution, a group of states joined together to form
the United States of America.
7 settler – a person who arrives in a new place to live there and use the land
Ray Kroc (1902–1984)
You may not have heard of this
2nd‑generation Czech immigrant, but you
definitely know the company he helped
to create. After growing up in Illinois, he
worked as an ambulance driver in WWI
for the Red Cross at the age of 15. Then,
he became a traveling salesman1 until he
met the McDonald brothers, who owned
a small burger restaurant in California.
Kroc had an idea about how to run
a successful fast food restaurant and then
became the President of McDonald’s in
1955. Six years later, he bought the whole
company from the McDonald brothers and helped to turn McDonald’s into one of
the most successful businesses in the world.
Kroc was just one of many Americans who started their lives as children of
immigrants, but later became extremely successful.
1 traveling salesman – a person without a shop who goes to people’s homes,
trying to sell things to them
7
The largest number of settlers
came from England at first, but
people from many other nations
came to America in the 19th
and 20th centuries. Each group
brought their own culture and
traditions with them which helped
to shape8 America into what it is
today. In the mid‑1800s, many
Irish people came to America
because of a shortage9 of food
in Ireland. The second half of
the 19th century saw the arrival
of many German immigrants who
founded (= started) some of the first
breweries10 in America. Many Polish,
Scandinavians, Italians, and other
Europeans, including Czechs and
Slovaks, came in search of work,
success and a better life. They were
followed by Asians who also came
to find work. Chinese workers, for example, helped build the first railroads in
America. And of course, many Africans were brought to America against their
will11 as slaves. All of these groups of immigrants helped to make America
what it is today.
Nowadays, there are still plenty of people emigrating to the “land of
opportunity”, hoping to find work and a better life for themselves and their
families. Today the majority of immigrants come from Mexico and other Latin
American countries. In fact, almost 14 % of America’s population today was born
in another country! This is why they call America a “melting pot”•, because so
many different people come together to create a diverse culture.
8 to shape – to change something by using your influence
9 shortage – not enough of something
10 brewery – a place where beer is made
11 against their will – agaist their wishes, they were forced to do it
Culture Points
The name Pilgrim comes from
the word “pilgrimage”, which means
a religious journey. The settlers who
came to America in 1621 on a ship
called the Mayflower are also called
the Pilgrim Fathers.
The expression melting pot is used
to describe how different groups of
people mix and “melt together” with
the original inhabitants (like when
you add new ingredients to food
while it’s being cooked in a pot).
8 ← Contents
Diversity and discrimination
Personally, I think that America’s diversity is a special quality that makes our
country really unique. The history wasn’t always positive. Wealthier (= R icher)
people in power often exploited12 poor immigrants, and slavery was an ugly
chapter in American history. But all of these groups of people from different
backgrounds have shaped America in some way. The Smith family may live on
the same street as Mr. Horák, Miss Nguyen, and the Garcias. Most of the time,
people from different racial13 or ethnic groups live together, work together, go
out together, and there are no problems. But discrimination14 still exists, and it
seems like some groups have a harder time compared to others. We can always
do more to make sure that everyone has the same chances and opportunities for
success. After all, that is why most people came to America in the first place15.
Chapter 2
What happ ened to
the Native Americans?
While America is a melting pot of immigrants, let’s not forget about the Native
Americans. After all, they were here first and they were often treated quite badly
by the E uropean settlers. Imagine how they must have felt while watching these
foreign visitors taking over their homeland.
Why “Indians?”
Since Columbus and his men thought they had arrived in India, they referred
to (= called) the local people there as “Indians”. Even though most people soon
realized that they were not actually in India, the name stuck (= continued
being used). Much more recently, Native American groups protested the use
of “Indians”• because it was not historically accurate. Many prefer the terms
“American Indian” or “Native American”.
12 to exploit – to use unfairly, in a way that helps you
13 racial – of different races (e.g. Afro-American, Asian...)
14 discrimination – treating a group of people worse (because of their nationality or skin
color, for example)
15 in the first place – originally, in the beginning
9
10 ← Contents
Before Columbus arrived in
the New World, there were many
Native American tribes (= groups)
living there, including the C herokee,
Iroquois, Mohawk, Apache and
many others. Some of the tribes
were peaceful, while others were
more aggressive, so you can’t really
describe Native Americans as one
big group.
Sharing the continent
It’s hard to estimate (= guess) how
many Native Americans there were
before the arrival of Columbus,
but it was probably at least a few
million and maybe a lot more.
The largest Native American “city”,
called Cahokia, had as many people
as the biggest cities in Europe in
the 13th century. So, it’s clear that
they had a very large, developed
culture. Even though their
technology was not as advanced
as Europe’s at the time, they had
developed a close relationship
with the land and formed their
own traditional way of life. When
the first Europeans arrived, it was
the worst thing that could have ever
happened to them.
Some Native Americans
had peaceful and productive
relationships with the colonists.
One famous example of this was the celebration of the first Thanksgiving.
The colonists would not have survived without the help of local tribes,
Culture Point
Washington Redskins Controversy
Some people don’t like the name of
the professional football team from
Washington called the “Redskins”.
Their logo is a Native American with
traditional feathers on his head.
The team has existed since 1932, but
recently some people have argued
that the name “Redskins” is insensitive
towards (= hurts the feelings of)
Native Americans. Some people think
they should change their name, and
maybe they are right. We wouldn’t
accept a team named “Whiteskins”
or “Blackskins”, would we? There are
a few other sports teams connected
to Native Americans, including
the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL
and Cleveland Indians baseball team.
Many well-known place names in
America come directly from Native
American languages, including
the states of Mississippi, Missouri,
Iowa, Delaware and others. Even
Manhattan, in New York City,
comes from the local Native word
“mannahatta”, which meant “the land
of many hills”.
11
who showed them how to grow crops16 and produce food in the unfamiliar
environment.
But inevitably17, conflict happened between the Native Americans
and the colonists. Some Europeans were terrified of the wild “savages”
(= uncivilized people) that lived in America, while others simply wanted to steal
land away from them. And of course, many Native Americans were afraid of
these white Europeans, who had appeared out of nowhere to destroy their lives.
Colonists would often kill whole villages of Native Americans, which would
naturally cause the tribes to seek revenge18. A lot of blood was spilled on both
sides, although the Native Americans suffered far more.
16 crops – plants that can be used as food
17 inevitably – it was impossible to avoid it
18 to seek revenge – to look for a way to punish somebody after they do something bad
Geronimo (1829–1909)
Geronimo was an Apache leader who was
famous for resisting the advances1 of the white
people invading his homeland. He was born in
Mexico, and his people had many conflicts with
the Mexican military. In one raid2, his mother,
wife and three children were killed. He spent
the next decade (= ten years) attempting to get
revenge on (= punish) the Mexican soldiers who
were responsible for their deaths.
In 1858, the Apache homeland was taken
over by the United States. The Apache chief at
the time wanted to make an agreement with
the Americans, but Geronimo never trusted
them – and for good reason. He was captured
in 1877 but he escaped and became a legend
among Native Americans and white Americans. After he was caught again, he
became somewhat of a celebrity, met the American president and wrote an
autobiography. But even as he was dying, he was still a warrior. He said, “I should
never have surrendered3. I should have fought until I was the last man alive.”
1 resisting the advances – preventing the invaders from getting farther
2 raid – short sudden attack where the enemy comes into your area
3 to surrender – to stop fighting and admit defeat
12 ← Contents
The Trail19 of Tears
After the establishment of the United States, the government tried to “deal with”
the Native Americans in a few different ways. In some cases, they encouraged
citizens to kill buffalo (= bison), which the Natives depended on for food
and clothing. In other cases, the government forced them to live on special
“reservations”, which were often far away from their homelands and unsuitable
for farming and hunting. But the biggest killer was disease. Europeans brought
all kinds of illnesses to the New World which the Native Americans had never
encountered (= met) before. Sometimes, they even gave the Native Americans
infected blankets to spread diseases among their population.
Perhaps the saddest chapter of the Native American story was known as
the “Trail of Tears”. In 1830, the U.S. government passed a law giving themselves
the right to remove Indians from their native homelands in the South and
relocate (= move) them to land in the West. Whole tribes had to leave the land
they had called home for centuries, and a lot of them died before they could
reach their new homes.
Of course, some Americans didn’t like the way Native Americans were treated,
but the majority of Americans, as well as the government, believed in “manifest
destiny”. This meant they believed Americans had the right to expand their
borders20 as much as possible, and it didn’t matter how they achieved this goal.
Native Americans today
Today, only about 1 % of the A merican population identifies themselves as
Native American. Some of them still live on reservations in states like Arizona,
Oklahoma and Wyoming, but most of them have integrated into (= mixed with)
modern-day society. As you can imagine, it’s nearly impossible for them to live
the way their ancestors21 did.
When I visited Arizona and New Mexico, there were stalls on the side of
the road with Native Americans selling traditional crafts22 and other souvenirs.
I felt a bit guilty that Native American culture has turned into a kind of tourist
attraction. It’s probably too late to preserve (= save) much of this culture, but
hopefully future generations will do their best to preserve and respect it.
19 trail – path, journey
20 expand their borders – make their territory larger
21 ancestors – their relatives who lived a long time ago
22 crafts – handmade items
13
Chapter 3
What are American
peopl e like?
This is one of the most common questions that Czech people ask me. However,
it’s a very difficult question to answer because how can I describe a group
of over 300 million people? Americans come in all shapes, sizes, and colors,
and you can probably find every different kind of person in the United States
(or the C zech Republic, the UK or anywhere else!). So, it’s next to (= almost)
impossible to describe Americans in just a few words.
On the other hand, there are behaviors and characteristics that are more
common in a specific culture. On average (= I n general), people in America are
certainly different than people in the C zech Republic.
Not honest?
One thing that Czech people often say about Americans is that we always ask
each other “How are you?” even if we don’t really care how that person is doing.
It seems that people are suggesting that Americans are insincere23, that they
don’t really mean what they say. That is partly true, but in America “How are
you?” is just a normal greeting like “Dobrý den”. And let’s be honest, do C zech
people really care if you have a “dobrý den” when they say this to you? So I think
it’s a bit unfair to criticize Americans for this.
A little too nice?
However, it is true that Americans are usually friendly towards other people
in public because that is what we expect. If someone walked around in a bad
mood, frowning24 and being rude to everyone, then that person would stand
out25 in a negative way. We often say “hi” to people we don’t know, and smiling
and making eye contact with people on the street are pretty normal. In my
opinion, this is one of the best things about Americans! Who cares if it’s sincere
or not? You’re in a better mood when people around you are more pleasant. I feel
that strangers aren’t so friendly to each other in Prague, which can put other
23 insincere – saying things or acting in a way that isn’t real or honest
24 to frown – to make an annoyed or worried face with your mouth turned down
25 to stand out – to be different and very easy to notice
14 ← Contents
people in a bad mood. Maybe Czech people are more direct than American
people, but that isn’t always a good thing.
I also feel it’s easier to get to know Americans than Czech people because
Americans are generally more open and outgoing26. We like to make small talk27
with people around us, and we usually introduce ourselves to people we don’t
know. I feel like I have to introduce myself to some Czech people because they
wouldn’t do it first! That’s another thing we don’t like: long periods of silence.
When a conversation goes silent, we might add a pointless (= useless) comment
about the weather or current events just to break the silence.
Not taking it seriously
One thing that sometimes bothers me about Americans is that we don’t take
things very seriously. We tend to be pretty informal, and like to make jokes or
sarcastic comments in conversation. I’m not sure why this is, but I feel that
people want to show others how funny or clever they are. Whatever the reason28,
Americans prefer to be less formal in most situations. When I was in high school
and university, it wasn’t unusual to call teachers by their first names, something
that probably wouldn’t happen in most countries.
In America, we also don’t have specific formal or informal ways to address
someone else. In the C zech Republic, it might be rude to simply say “hi”
to a stranger, but in America it’s usually OK. In business, it’s better to use
something a bit more formal such as “Good afternoon”. I think that Americans
used to be much more formal, but we have become more casual in the last few
generations.
Being seen
Here is another thing that people might find annoying: sometimes we talk too
much and too loudly. Some Americans take the small talk too far and almost
never stop talking! Perhaps it’s because they want to get along29 with people or
maybe they just enjoy talking about themselves or their lives. Many Americans
want to be the center of attention, while I feel that Czech people might be
happier if other people didn’t notice them. On the other hand, Americans
are helpful to strangers and will offer assistance (= help) most of the time.
26 outgoing – friendly and easy to communicate with
27 small talk – conversation about unimportant things, just to be polite and continue
a conversation
28 whatever the reason – no matter what the reason is
29 to get along – to have a good relationship
15
16 ← Contents
Sometimes I see lost foreigners in
Prague looking totally confused and
most people don’t stop to offer help.
In America, you probably wouldn’t
have to ask for help; someone would
ask you first!
Money, money, money
Another thing I realized after living
in Europe is that Americans are
much more obsessed with30 money
compared to most Europeans I’ve
met. In America, there is constant
pressure31 to earn more money, get
a good job and buy a house in a nice
neighborhood. At the same time, it
seems that everyone in the States
is in debt32. People use their credit
cards to buy things that they really
can’t afford, and I feel that many
Americans care too much about
material objects like nice cars,
huge TVs and the newest electronic
gadgets (= devices). Americans are
pretty hard-working in general,
but maybe it’s just because they
have so many bills to pay! The U.S.
government recently estimated that
it costs almost $250,000 to raise
a child to the age of 18 in America,
and that doesn’t include university
costs. It isn’t normal for kids to live
30 obsessed with – extremely interested in
31 there is constant pressure – people feel like something is expected of them all
the time
32 in debt – owing money that they borrowed from a bank or somebody
Culture Point
Being PC
(politically correct)
Some Czech people think that it’s
racist to call someone “black” in
America, but it’s actually normal for
us to talk about “black” or “white”
people. Of course, it’s better to say
African-American. And no one can
agree what to use for immigrants
from Spanish-speaking countries
so the US census gives them
the choice of “Hispanic”, “Latino” or
“Spanish origin”.
Fans of the TV show South Park
are familiar with the character Eric
Cartman. Eric is, let’s be honest
here, a fat kid. But whenever
the kids at school say so, he
always yells that he isn’t fat, he’s
“big-boned”. This is an example
of a euphemism, when you take
a negative topic and make it sound
more positive.
17
at home after they finish school because in America, people are expected to be
independent and support themselves.
American brains
Another stereotype of Americans is that we’re not so clever. We mix up
the C zech Republic and Chechnya, and we don’t know much about the rest of
the world. This is partly true, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. First of all, lots of
excellent universities are located in the States, and many very successful and
intelligent people come from America. However, I would say that education is
a lower priority in America compared to many other countries. Many people
don’t take it seriously, and many public schools just don’t provide a very good
education for lots of reasons. It’s more difficult to get a good education when
you live in a poor neighborhood, and not everyone can afford to attend a good
college. However, I really don’t think Americans are as stupid as the rest of
the world thinks we are. You can find idiots everywhere!
The main reason that many Americans are ignorant33 about other countries
is that we don’t travel abroad very much. Traveling to foreign countries is
33 ignorant – not knowing much
Rocky Balboa
It’s not easy to think of one
person or fictional character to
represent (= show) American ideas
or values, but one of the most
famous is Rocky Balboa, the boxer
played by Sylvester Stallone.
The Oscar-winning film Rocky
(1976) is a typical underdog story,
which Americans seem to love.
An underdog is someone who is
expected to lose, but in American films they always seem to defy the odds1 and
defeat their enemy. Rocky is a boxer who seems to be at the end of his career
until he gets an opportunity to face the world champion. He doesn’t win at first,
but he trains hard, never gives up and believes in himself. In the end, of course he
wins the match, as well as everyone’s respect – even his opponent’s! That’s why
Americans love characters like Rocky so much.
1 to defy the odds – to achieve something that isn’t likely
18 ← Contents
expensive and you can plan almost any kind of holiday without leaving
America. But I believe that you can’t really understand a nation (= country)
unless you see it for yourself, so this is why Americans don’t know much
about the rest of the world. They see things in stereotypes, how foreigners are
portrayed (= shown) in films, on TV, or perhaps in the news. (I feel that many
Czechs have false stereotypes about Americans because of films and TV, too.)
I wish that more Americans would be more intellectually curious34, however,
because it is embarrassing when over 60 % of young Americans can’t find Iraq
on a map… even though we were actively at war with that country!
America = the best!
Americans are generally very patriotic and proud of their country. Most
Americans would probably say that the U.S. is the best country in the world even
if they couldn’t tell you why it’s the best. This is just a message that is put into our
minds our whole lives, and most people are genuinely (= honestly) proud to be
American. People talk about our “freedom” and “liberty” as if other countries
aren’t as “free” as we are, which is kind of silly. Lots of people fly (= display)
American flags outside their homes to show their patriotism, and no group of
citizens is respected more than the military. So, you could say that the idea of
freedom is quite important to many Americans and our politicians. On the other
hand, people often use their freedom of speech to criticize the government or
protest against wars, which is important too.
Do not offend
Another phrase you often hear in America is “political correctness•”. In America,
we generally try not to offend people, so you have to be careful what you say
when talking about race, sexual orientation, or personal characteristics. For
example, it would be rude to tell someone they are fat, even if it’s true, because it
could hurt their feelings. I feel that Czechs are much more direct when speaking
and don’t worry so much about being “PC”. I’ve heard a lot of Czech people make
comments about the R oma population that Americans would probably keep
secret if they were talking about any minority group. Politicians and celebrities
in the States often get in trouble for saying negative things about homosexuals
or different ethnic groups. Of course, there is still discrimination in America, but
it isn’t very popular to say these things publicly.
34 intellectually curious – wanting to learn more
19
On the whole, I think Americans are quite easy to get along with. We’re
individualistic and social, and we want people to notice us. Although we may
joke around a lot, we’re not usually trying to offend anyone. Americans don’t
always see the world beyond their own borders (= outside of their own country),
but that’s partly because we’re geographically isolated35. Just remember that
we are the way we are because of the culture in which we live… if you moved to
America, you’d probably become more Americanized, too!
Chapter 4
Where do A mericans
live?
If you’ve seen American films and TV shows, you might think you know what life
is like in America. You can learn a few things about American life from shows like
Friends and Big Bang Theory, but TV shows and movies usually aren’t realistic.
To really understand American life, you need to go there. Cities and smaller
towns in the U.S. are quite different from your average Czech city or village.
Built for driving
The main reason American towns are different relates to (= is connected to) our
history. European cities and towns were built long before cars and electricity. It
makes sense that everything is close together. But in America, most cities were
built in the last century or two. There was plenty of space, and people could
travel around more easily. This is why most American cities don’t have one main
city center like most European cities do. In larger American towns and cities,
residential areas36 are usually separate from commercial ones, so people have
to travel a bit to pick up some milk and eggs from the store, send a package at
the post office or have a beer at the nearest bar•.
When America was a young country, almost everyone lived in small towns•.
There were only a few big cities in the Northeast, such as Boston, Philadelphia
35 geographically isolated – far from other places
36 residential areas – where people live, without a lot of shops (commercial) or factories
(industrial)
20 ← Contents
and New York. During the Industrial Age37, cities in the M idwest started to
grow, but most people still lived in the countryside. These people only traveled
to the cities to do business or to vote in elections. This is why most U.S. state
capitals are located near the center of each state. Before 1900, there were not
many cities west of the M ississippi River, but during the 20th century millions of
people moved west.
Escaping from cities
In the 1950s and 1960s, many Americans decided that they didn’t want to
live in cities any more. Cities had more crime and pollution, so middle- and
upper‑class Americans started moving to the newly built suburbs38. My
hometown of St. Louis, Missouri was the 4th largest city in America in 1900,
and it was an important commercial and cultural center. But when suburbs
were built, people who could afford it bought their own houses with a big yard•,
a white picket fence• and a driveway39. They called this “white flight”, which
meant that rich white people didn’t want to live in the cities with poorer, often
non-white people. St. Louis is still extremely divided today: the actual city of St.
Louis is almost 50 % black, and the suburbs and surrounding areas are nearly
70 % white. The population of St. Louis has actually dropped over 50 % in the last
100 years as more and more people move to the suburbs. Many American cities
have a similar history.
I was one of many American kids who grew up in the suburbs. Everyone says
they are from St. Louis when, in fact, many of us grew up outside of the actual
city limits. People live in strictly residential areas, so there aren’t many shops or
restaurants nearby. The streets and highways are much wider in the suburbs,
and it was always easy to find a place to park your car. Most stores and
businesses are concentrated in one area. I remember many towns that had one
long road with endless fast food restaurants, gas stations (= petrol stations), and
strip malls40. This road connected “downtown” to the highway. It’s totally ugly
and lots of people don’t like it, but what can we do to stop it?
37 Industrial Age – during the 18th and 19th centuries, when advances in technology
made life and work easier
38 suburbs – residential areas around the outside of a city
39 driveway – concrete area that leads from the street to your garage
40 strip mall – a row of shops side by side with one large parking lot
21
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Big city life
Nowadays, about 80 % of Americans live in urban areas, including larger towns,
cities and suburbs. Many people prefer to live in cities because there are a lot
of things to do and many places to go. There aren’t any paneláks in American
cities, but we do have large apartment buildings or row houses41. However, most
Americans (about 70 %) live in single family houses instead of flats or condos42.
Many Czech people seem to think that American cities are quite dangerous,
but most areas are quite safe. Yes, the crime is really awful in some American
cities, but there are usually just a few “bad neighborhoods” that you should
avoid. Drug-dealing gangs are a problem in cities like Los Angeles, New York,
Chicago, Washington D.C. and even St. Louis. Like anywhere, you have to be
careful where you go and who you talk to, but I definitely don’t feel that America
is as dangerous as it seems on the news!
Since we’re talking about cities, here is a quick word on public transportation.
Many cities used to have trams but after car travel became easy, most of them
41 row houses – many homes in a row built in the same style
42 condo – short for condominium; a housing structure where individuals own their living
space but common areas (entrance, garden) are shared by all residents
Culture & Language Points
Most Americans don’t use the word “pub”. “Bars” are places for drinking beer, wine
and cocktails. They may have some small snacks available. If a place serves meals
and alcohol is available, we would call it a restaurant.
Americans don’t use the word “village” to describe towns in America with small
populations. “Small town” is more common. City versus town is not an important
difference in spoken American English and they are often used interchangeably.
“Yard” is the large area in the front or back of a house. In America, a “garden” is
a smaller place where only flowers or vegetables grow.
“Picket fence” is a structure that surrounds your house, garden and yard, made
of flat wooden sticks pointed at the top. This picture of suburban homes with
a wooden white fence is a typical image of the “American dream”.
Americans call any area outside of a city “the country” instead of countryside. So
you either live in a city or in the country.
American English doesn’t use the phrases “go by car” or “go by foot”. Instead, we
use the specific verb. If you ask an American how they got somewhere, they’ll say
either “I walked here”, “I drove” or “I took the bus”.
23
disappeared. Only the largest cities like New York and Chicago have subway
(= underground) systems, and even a few other cities have light rail systems43
that make traveling within cities easier. Almost every city has public buses.
However, most Americans still prefer to drive. It’s more comfortable, it’s
fairly cheap (Americans pay about half the price for gas compared to most
Europeans), and public transport in most cities doesn’t go very many places or
come very often. There were public buses in my hometown, but no one I knew
ever used them. However, we would sometimes use the M etrolink, a light rail
train, to go downtown. People are used to driving• and it probably won’t change
any time soon.
Country folk
The remaining one-fifth of Americans live in rural areas44. The A mericans in
cities have some stereotypes about people who live in the country•. A lot of city
43 light rail systems – small, fast trains used for traveling within a city
44 rural areas – areas outside of big cities or towns
Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood
(TV show aired 1968–2001)
If you ask Americans about the “most
famous neighbor”, lots of people will
think of Mister Rogers. Yes, it was
only a TV show, but more than three
decades of children grew up watching
this educational program. We can all
remember the theme song “Won’t You
Be My Neighbor?” and the opening scene
when Mr. Rogers would arrive home
and change into his house shoes (just
like a Czech person would!). The show
taught children to be kind to each other, to
feel good about themselves, to use their
imagination, and other positive messages.
Fred Rogers, the creator and star of the show, decided to start his TV show
in the ‘60s because he felt that there weren’t enough quality programs on TV
for children. Considering how horrible TV has become, maybe the world needs
another Mr. Rogers today!
24 ← Contents
people look down on45 people from the country. They believe that everyone
there owns guns, drives a pick-up truck46, is very patriotic and goes to church
every Sunday. It’s true that activities like hunting, auto racing and rodeos are
more popular outside of cities, but that doesn’t mean all country people are
the same. Every state has their own urban and rural areas, and you can’t really
put them all into one category.
On the other hand, there are certain behaviors which are more common
outside of cities. People who live in small towns in America are probably
similar to villagers in the C zech Republic. Everyone knows everyone, and it’s
almost impossible to keep any secrets! People say hello to each other and
will stop and chat if they’ve got time. And yes, people from the country are
often more religious than those who live in cities. But it’s not only about God;
for them, church is a kind of social club. Nearly everyone grows up going to
church with their family and neighbors, so it would be unusual if someone
simply decided not to go.
Where you live has a big effect on the person you become. This is true
everywhere. America has some of the same urban and rural differences that
you find in the C zech Republic or anywhere else. But American towns are more
spread out, and most people prefer to have their own separate property with
a nice lawn47 and driveway. It seems that suburb life is becoming more popular
in the C zech Republic as well. Some people just want to get out of the city to
raise their families in a quieter, more peaceful environment. Just another way
we are alike!
45 to look down on – to think something is less important or valuable
46 pick-up truck – a vehicle with seats in front and a large, open space for storage in
the back
47 lawn – the part of the yard that is only grass, not flowers or trees
25
Chapter 5
What’s up with religion
in America?
One of the biggest differences between the U.S. and the C zech Republic is that
America is a very religious country, while Czechs are among the world’s most
atheistic populations. Religious symbols are everywhere in America. You
might see phrases like “Jesus Saves” on billboards or bumper stickers•, and
the phrase “In God We Trust” even
appears on American dollar bills and
coins! Religion is very influential48 in
the States, even when people make
fun of it.
Most surveys show that between
70–80 % of Americans believe in
God, which is still lower than some
countries in South America or Africa.
By comparison, only about 30 % of
Czechs say that they believe in God.
Most religious people in America
are Christian. Only about 1–2 % of
the population is Jewish or Muslim.
And of course, some Americans
are atheists, too – around 5 % of
the population.
One nation under God
Many of the earliest settlers in
America were Protestant Christians
who were seeking (= trying to find)
a place to practice their religion
freely. They wanted to escape
48 influential – having a strong influence (= effect) on people
Culture Point
Bumper stickers
Another uniquely American
tradition is sticking messages on
the bumper of your car for everyone
else to read. Some are humorous,
political messages like “Save a cow,
eat a vegetarian” or “God must love
stupid people. He made so many!”
Many people also have bumper
stickers of the politicians they are
supporting in the next election.
26 ← Contents
the persecution49 they experienced in Europe. For this reason, “religious
freedom” was very important to the founders of the U.S., and this right was
included in the U.S. Constitution50.
However, many groups that went against the mainstream (= normal or
popular) views of Christianity have been persecuted over the years, including
Mormons, Muslims and many Native American religions. So perhaps this
promise of religious freedom is not always fulfilled (= completed).
The politics of religion
The writers of the U.S. Constitution thought that religion should be a private
and personal issue separate from the government. But just because church and
state are supposed to be separate doesn’t mean they always are. Presidential
49 persecution / to persecute – being treated cruelly because of religion, race, political
beliefs, etc.
50 U.S. Constitution – written documents with basic laws of the U.S. federal government
Joseph Smith (1805–1844)
Joseph Smith was the founder of the Mormon
church, which is best known for polygamy1. Smith
himself had perhaps 40 wives in his life! They’re
also known for abstinence (= staying away) from all
drugs, including alcohol, nicotine and even caffeine2!
There are over 6 million Mormons in America and
over 13 million worldwide.
Smith became interested in religion at the age of
12 and often spent hours in the forest praying and
meditating. According to him, an angel gave him
instructions to start a new church. Over the years,
he gained many followers but early Mormons were
not welcome anywhere. They first tried to start their church in Missouri, but locals
attacked them, burned their churches and forced them to move to Illinois. After
a few years in Illinois, Smith was killed by an angry mob3. Unfortunately, he was not
allowed the “religious freedom” that was promised in the U.S. Constitution.
1 polygamy – having committed relationships with more than one person at
the same time
2 caffeine – stimulant (chemical making people more active) found in coffee
and tea
3 mob – a large angry crowd
27
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candidates often mention God in speeches and are photographed going to
church because so many people expect their leaders to have “traditional
values”. Religious groups often fight to have Creationism51 taught in schools
alongside (= together with) the theory of evolution. Recent surveys show that up
to one third of Americans don’t believe in evolution!
On the other hand, sometimes people take political correctness too far and
want to eliminate (= remove) all signs of religion in society. Official Christmas
announcements from government offices in America say “Happy Holidays”
instead of “Merry Christmas”, because some Americans don’t celebrate
the Christian holiday of Christmas.
Controversial issues
Few issues are as controversial as abortion52. Ever since the U.S. Supreme
Court made abortion legal in 1973, it has been a hot topic. People who support
a woman’s right to choose an abortion are called “pro-choice”. Conservative
Christians are on the other side, which we call “pro-life”. They believe that
humans should not have the right to take away the life of an unborn child. In
the past, crazy anti-abortion activists have even attacked or killed doctors who
perform abortions. Apparently they don’t believe that all life is precious53.
Another controversial topic is homosexual or gay rights, and specifically
the right of same-sex couples to get married. Many deeply religious Americans
believe that homosexuality goes against nature and God’s will (= wishes). As of
January 2015, 36 of the 50 states in America allow gay couples to get married.
This has angered (= bothered) many American Christians.
How religious are we really?
It’s no secret that many Americans take the idea of God very seriously, but
sometimes I wonder if people truly understand religion. It seems that some
people wear their religion like a symbol, proudly showing others that they are
in the God club. In some rural communities, you would become an outsider
if you didn’t attend church with others. But do people really live according to
the Bible, or do they only use religion when they want to criticize something
they don’t like? You often hear “pro-life” people talking about abortion, but
51 Creationism – the story of how God created the world, according to Christian beliefs
52 abortion – ending a pregnancy (= when a woman is expecting a baby)
53 precious – very valuable and important
29
where are those people when we are debating the death penalty54? It doesn’t
make sense to me.
Surely, religion is very important in the lives of most Americans. Many people
pray regularly, and I’m sure that many people couldn’t imagine their life without
religion. However, Americans are slowly becoming less religious as well. And
even though 40 % of them say they attend church regularly, only about 20 %
actually do. That suggests to me that many Americans like the idea of being
religious, but only when it is convenient for them.
Chapter 6
What are American
school s like?
After spending years in Prague, I can definitely say that student life is quite
different in America compared to the C zech Republic. It seems to me that
European countries often have a more standardized system in which most
students have similar experiences. In America, it depends on where you’re from
and, of course, how much money you have.
Different schools, different rules
In America, there is a big difference between public schools and private schools.
All children are entitled to55 a free public education. However, some parents
choose to send their children to private schools. These schools are generally
quite expensive, but they don’t have to follow the same rules as public schools,
which get their funding (= money) from the state. Private schools can choose
exactly what and how they teach the students, often including things like
religion. Most people feel that private schools provide a better education, but of
course most people can’t afford them.
School systems in America also differ greatly in more urban (= city) or
rural (= country) areas. In the countryside, the schools are much smaller, and
54 death penalty – the law which says the state can execute (= kill) people convicted of
very serious crimes
55 are entitled to – have the right to something
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sometimes students of all ages share one school. Also, because many school
districts are so large and because public transport isn’t common in many places,
many students ride a big yellow “school bus”. The bus picks students up at a stop
near their home and takes them back after school. Riding the school bus is
usually a memorable56 part of the school experience in America, for better or for
worse. Sometimes kids meet friends on the bus, but it also gives bullies a chance
to pick on smaller kids. It’s just a part of growing up for some children.
Nearly all children 5 years and older attend school in America unless they
are home-schooled, but many children start sooner than that. Kids as young as
2 or 3 attend nursery school, or “preschool”. These schools are more like day
care centers57 for young children with working parents. In America, maternity
leave58 is much shorter than in the C zech Republic or other European countries.
Mothers often only get a few weeks off from work after having a baby, and they
usually don’t get any money during this time. Many mothers have to go back
to work quite soon after having a baby. This is the main reason why so many
children attend preschool at such a young age.
First days at school
After preschool comes the word we’ve borrowed from German: kindergarten,
which is the first year of elementary school. Elementary school generally
lasts six years, from kindergarten to 5th grade, although some school districts
organize it slightly differently. When I was in elementary school, we always had
one teacher for the core (= main) subjects (mathematics, science, social studies
and English), but we visited other rooms for music class, art, physical education
and computers. Yes, we had a computer class even in the late 1980s! However,
most of the time was spent playing simple number or word games on Apple
computers that were already old even then.
Another thing we do in American schools that you don’t do in the C zech
Republic are spelling competitions called “spelling bees”. Obviously, words
in English are much more difficult to spell because our pronunciation is so
unpredictable, so schoolchildren must practice spelling often. My sister
actually won my elementary school competition one year, and she went on to
the regional spelling bee. We were so proud of her! This competition continues
until the National Spelling Bee, where 10–12 year-olds spell difficult and
56 memorable – easy to remember
57 day care center – a place that looks after small children while their parents are busy
58 maternity leave – time for a new mother to stay home with their baby and not go to work
31
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unusual words that would be problematic for even most adults. Last year’s
winning words were “feuilleton” and “stichomythia”. Don’t feel bad if you don’t
know these complicated words – I don’t either!
Growing up
After students finish elementary school, they usually attend “middle school”,
also called “junior high school”, for a few years. In my district, middle school
was 6th–8th grade and it was the first time we had each lesson in a different
Culture Points
Car maintenance
Since Americans can drive from
the age of 16, it’s important that they
know how to take care of, or maintain,
their car. My high school offered an
extra course where you learned how
to do basic repairs and maintenance,
like changing the oil or tires. It was
a helpful class, but let’s be honest…
most students took this class because
it was really easy!
College vs. university
Americans use the words “college”
and “university” to mean the same
thing. Officially, a college is a school
that specializes in one topic (education,
engineering, etc.) and a university is
a school that contains many individual
colleges. Most American students
attend a university, even though they
call it “college” when speaking.
About 65 % of students continue
their education or “go to college”
after finishing high school at around
18 years old. Smaller colleges usually
have a few thousand students, but
some of the biggest universities are
the size of a small town. Arizona
State University, for example, has
over 60,000 students and another
15,000 Master’s degree students!
SAT and ACT tests
The SAT (originally for Scholastic
Aptitude Test) and ACT (originally
American College Testing) are
the two exams most students take
to get into college. They are called
“standardized tests” because it’s
easier for schools to compare students
who all take the same exams. The two
exams are slightly different, but
contain sections on mathematics,
reading comprehension, writing and
other skills.
A scholarship
A scholarship is when a school offers
to pay some or all of the costs of
the university. A “full scholarship”,
often called a “full ride”, covers
100 % of tuition (= schooling) and
can also include money for books,
housing and food. Universities give
scholarships to students with excellent
academic or athletic performance in
high school. Education in America
is really expensive so there is lots of
competition for scholarships.
33
classroom. Students at this level keep
their textbooks and other materials
in lockers59 and usually have only
five minutes after a lesson to get to
the next one! This was the first year
that we could learn foreign languages
or join the school band. I played
the clarinet, which was my second
choice after I was told that they
already had too many saxophone
players!
Finally, when students are about
14 years old, they graduate to
“high school” (commonly called
“secondary school” in the UK).
We also have special names for
students in each grade: 9th graders
are called “freshmen”, followed
by “sophomores”, “juniors”, and
“seniors”, who obviously think they
rule the school. In high school,
students can take more specialized
classes in addition to the basic
four subjects. Many students play
on sports teams in high school, or
get involved in other activities like
the drama club, the chess team, and
many others. I actually took a class
on car maintenance• in high school!
However, we don’t usually have
special high schools for specific
subjects or gymnáziums like you
do in the C zech Republic. Each student studies basically the same main subjects
in high school, but they can take some different classes based on their abilities
and interests.
59 locker – a large metal box with a lock on it, big enough to keep a backpack, jacket and
other clothes, as well as all books and other school materials
School stereotypes
There have been many TV shows
and films which were set in high
school, and they all have the same
stereotypical characters. I’d like to
talk about some of the different
kinds of student that you’ll find in
American high schools, in fiction
and real life.
The popular kids – the star of
the show is always a cool boy who
gets into trouble, or a pretty girl with
trendy clothes and perfect hair.
The jock – jocks are really good
at sports, but pretty stupid about
everything else.
Nerds – a nerd is a smart student
who loves computers, Star Wars
and doing his/her homework. Nerds
don’t have so many friends and
other kids often make fun of them.
Also called “geeks” or “dweebs”.
Punks/skaters – these are the kids
who wear ripped (= torn) jeans, have
earrings and tattoos, and often like
skateboarding.
Bullies – a bully is a kid who makes
fun of other kids, and often starts
fights and gets into trouble.
Mean girls – some girls can be really
aggressive and unfriendly to other
girls. Don’t be a mean girl!
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During their senior year in high school, students must start preparing for
college, if they plan to attend. This is often a long and complicated process.
Colleges and universities• in America come in all shapes, sizes and types: public
and private, more expensive and less expensive, more prestigious60 and less
prestigious. Students generally apply to at least a few different colleges, and
some people apply to ten or more! This is because you don’t know if you will be
accepted to these schools. Being accepted mostly depends on three things: your
school grades, your application (on which the student must write at least one
or two essays), and standardized test scores. We do not have typical “leaving
exams” like in the C zech Republic, but there are two tests that colleges use to
compare students’ abilities: the SAT and ACT tests•.
However, to attend an elite school like Harvard, MIT or Yale, students might
need more than good grades and test scores. Because so many people want to
get into these schools, it helps if the student has participated in extra‑curricular61
activities like sports, music, student government, or internships62.
Money matters
Of course, most future college students (or at least their parents) need money
as well: the average (= typical) U.S. college student pays almost $30,000 a year
(more than 700, 000 CZK) to attend a private university in America. Public
and local colleges and universities are cheaper, but they still generally cost
$8,000 (about 200,000 CZK) per year or more, and even these public schools
cost about $22,000 (over 500,000 CZK) if you attend a university “out of state”
(= in a different state from where your family lives). Some students receive
scholarships• to help pay for school, but most students have to take loans
(= borrow money) to help pay for college. Because it’s so expensive, it takes a lot
of people years and years to pay the money back. If students want to attend
graduate school to get a M aster’s Degree or PhD, it gets even more expensive.
But that is the A merican way: money talks.
Personally, I enjoyed my American school experience, but I can see how a lot
of students just don’t learn very much. It’s really up to each student to work
hard, and it’s up to the parents and teachers of each student to motivate them
to do their homework and get good grades. But some students just think high
60 prestigious – very respected and important
61 extra-curricular – not part of the usual school lessons
62 internship – time spent working for a company or organization in order to get work
experience
35
school is a waste of time, and they spend most of their time skipping (= not going
to) classes and partying. Maybe they feel like college isn’t for them, or they can’t
afford it. I guess some people were meant to be students while others weren’t!
Chapter 7
What sports
do A mericans like?
People often ask me about which sport is the most popular in the United
States, and it’s not easy to give a straight answer63. Americans like to watch
and participate in many different sports. More people play golf or soccer than
American football (which we call “football”), but that doesn’t mean they are
more popular overall. T