Cultural Differences In America

There are many cultural differences when coming to a new country, especially when being only fifteen. Arriving in a new country by yourself is scary, mostly when you do not know the culture, and more importantly, the language. In my first weeks of being here, I really did not notice the differences, but as the time goes on, I notice more and more. One of the major differences noticeable is the Danish school systems, is in the U.S. you will not have a first-name relationship with your teacher. If you call a teacher by their first name, even if you have a close relationship with them outside of school, you will get yourself into trouble. You would address them as “Mr. Mrs. or Ms.” Another thing about American school, is we have a set schedule …show more content…
In Denmark, the school hours and schedule resemble that of a college schedule. If the teacher happens to be sick, of not able to make the class, you would have a substitute teacher, instead of having the class cancelled. In most schools, you would have gym one day, and a science lab the other day. This does not occur in Denmark because of the four period day, and having each class for an hour and a half instead of forty minutes. Computer usage in Denmark is substantially larger than in the U.S. Usually, computers are only used for projects that computers are absolutely needed for. If you bring your computer to class, have it out, and it is not requested that you bring it, that is also another way of getting into trouble. This also applies to cellphones. Cellphones are prohibited in my school except during the lunch break. In the U.S. cursing in the classroom is not acceptable. Occasionally if the teacher is using it as an example it is okay to then use it only if it applies to the lesson. I have noticed more …show more content…
In the United States, 12.8% of the population is foreign-born. In Denmark, 10.1% of the people are immigrants, and included in that number, are descendants of the immigrants. I don’t really have the opportunity to interact with the foreign population other than exchange students and nurses obtaining parts of their degrees at the local hospital, because I live in rural New York, where 95% of the population is white. Living in Cooperstown has a sort of “blinding” effect on young people who don’t get out to do much in larger cites, because they believe they are the only people who matter, which is definitely not true in the