My Small Culture Shocks in the U.S. — What I Learned From Everyday Moments

⭐️このエピソードの全スクリプトと日本語訳はこちら: ⁠https://englishwithwacaco.com/ep-110-my-small-culture-shocks-in-the-usa-all-english-episode/775/⁠

① Intermediate-Level

Hi everyone!

Welcome back to “5-Minute English Tips to Lift Your Spirits.”

This is Wakako, an English instructor at a U.S. university.

It’s Friday, which means… it’s All-English Friday!

The whole episode will be in English, but don’t worry — we’ll start with intermediate-level English, and then I’ll tell the same story again at an advanced level with more natural rhythm and expressions.

Are you ready? Let’s get started!

Today’s topic is… my culture shock in the USA!

When I first came to the U.S., I experienced many small surprises — things that are completely normal here, but very different from what I was used to in Japan.

For example, in the U.S., people say “Hi” or “How are you?” even to strangers — in the elevator, at the grocery store, or while walking in the neighborhood. At first, I didn’t know how to respond.

But I learned that this is part of the culture. Saying hello is a way to be polite and friendly. Even if you don’t have a long conversation, just saying, “Hi!” or “Good, thanks!” makes a good impression.

Also, I noticed something interesting at stores. In Japan, cashiers usually say “Thank you” to the customer after payment. But in the U.S., it’s often the customer who says “Thank you” first, and then the cashier says, “You’re welcome.”

At first, I thought, “Wait… why is the customer thanking the cashier?” But I realized the cashier helped you buy things. It’s common to thank people for helping you, even in small ways. Also, customers are not considered “always right.” We’re all equal. It’s a two-way street.

Another surprise was how often people hold the door open for others. It’s such a small gesture, but it means a lot. I realized that in the U.S., people often speak and act kindly, even to people they don’t know.

These little things really changed the way I see everyday communication. I started to feel more connected to people around me.

Now, let’s level up and hear the same story in more natural, advanced English.

Even if you don’t understand every word, just enjoy the rhythm and try to catch new phrases!

Ready? Let’s go!

② Advanced-Level

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⭐️このエピソードの全スクリプトと日本語訳はこちら: https://englishwithwacaco.com/ep-110-my-small-culture-shocks-in-the-usa-all-english-episode/775/

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