8. www.owwa.gov.ph
USA COMMUNICATION
When Calling from USA
to Philippines:
Dial 00 + 63 + area code
+ tel. no.
When Calling from the
Philippines to USA:
Dial 00 + 1 + area code +
tel. no.
Internet Country Code: .us
Time Difference: Philippines is 12 hours
ahead of Washington D.C
10. www.owwa.gov.ph
USA DRIVING TIPS
• Always stay on the RIGHT
of the road.
• Safety belts are required for all
front passengers, regardless of
age.
• You may turn RIGHT on a red
light after you have come to a
complete stop, check the coast is
clear and that there are no signs
posted stating “NO RIGHT” turn
on red.
11. www.owwa.gov.ph
USA WORKING DAYS AND HOURS
• Full-time means working for 40
hours per week
• Part-time could be anything up to
30 hours per week
• Traditional working hours in the
U.S. are Monday to Friday from
9:00am to 6:00pm, with one
hour for lunch and, usually, two
breaks of 15 minutes.
12. www.owwa.gov.ph
USA PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Date Holiday
January New Year‟s and Chinese New
Year
3rd Monday of
January
Martin Luther King Day
February 2 Groundhog Day
3rd Monday of
February
Washington‟s Birthday
April 22 Earth Day
13. www.owwa.gov.ph
USA PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Date Holiday
Last day of April National Arbor Day
Last Monday of May Memorial Day
June 14 Flag Day
July 4 Independence Day
1st Monday of
September
Labor Day
14. www.owwa.gov.ph
USA PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Date Holiday
2nd Monday in
October
Columbus Day
November 11 Veteran‟s Day
4th Thursday
of November
Thanksgiving Day
December 7 Pearl Harbor Remembrance
Day
December 25 Christmas Day
15. www.owwa.gov.ph
USA TERRAIN
Vast central plain, mountains in
west, hills and low mountains in
east; rugged mountains and broad
river valleys in Alaska; rugged,
volcanic topography in Hawaii.
16. www.owwa.gov.ph
USA CLIMATE AND SEASONS
Winter
(December-
February)
Summer
(May-
September)
Spring
(March-May)
Autumn
(September-
November)
24. www.owwa.gov.ph
USA CUSTOMS
• Americans often greet total
strangers, particularly in small
towns and communities.
• Americans generally dislike
formality or any sort of social
deference due to age or position
• If you‟re invited to dinner, it‟s
customary to take along a small
present, e.g. flowers, a plant,
chocolates or a bottle of wine
(but nothing extravagant or
ostentatious).
25. www.owwa.gov.ph
USA CUSTOMS
• Guests are normally expected to be punctual
• You will notice that most
Americans don‟t eat with a knife
and fork like „normal‟ people.
When not eating with their
hands they usually eat
everything with a fork held in
the right hand
• Tipping is expected. The one
you will encounter most often is
at restaurants
• Smoking is not as common in
America as in many other
countries. Generally,
Americans smoke less than
Europeans and much less
than Asians. It is a practice
that is becoming less and less
socially acceptable.
26. www.owwa.gov.ph
USA LABOR LAWS
• A green card is a permanent residence visa and gives a
person the legal right to live and work permanently in
the United States and to enter and leave the country
freely. You can become a lawful permanent resident
based on a family relationship, through employment or
through the Green Card Lottery.
• Generally, you are not expected
to work on weekends.
27. www.owwa.gov.ph
DO’S IN USA
• Do say “Hi” or “Hello” when
first meet, it‟s not necessary
for handshake, but do
respond appropriately if they
shake hands, nodding, or
hugging first, and have eye
contact
• Do make an appointment
before visit someone, and do
prepare a small gift when visit
a friend.
28. www.owwa.gov.ph
DO’S IN USA
• Do avoid number „13‟, „3‟,
„Friday‟ and use the bat for the
design of goods, and
packaging materials, as they
are associated with the bad
luck.
• Do mind the conversation topic.
Try to avoid some taboo topics,
such as polygamy, abortion,
pedophilia, incest, race,
religion, and suicide.
29. www.owwa.gov.ph
DO’S IN USA
• Do wait in front of the
restaurant door for the waiter
to lead you to the table.
• Do take off hat, coat and
sunglasses indoor
30. www.owwa.gov.ph
DON’TS IN USA
• Do not call black people
“Negro”. They will feel contempt
for his indemnity, as Negro
mainly refers to Africa black
slaves sold to the United
States.
• Do not give white lilies as gifts.
Do not give presents with the
company logo, as it‟s obliged
for advertising.
31. www.owwa.gov.ph
DON’TS IN USA
• Do not casually take off your
shoes or bare feet in front of
others, which give people the
impression of barbaric
debauchery. So do not take
off your shoes when visit an
American house.
• Do not stick out the
tongue to others, which is
considered as rude,
vulgar, obscene behavior.
32. www.owwa.gov.ph
DON’TS IN USA
• Do not smoke in front of
the others without
consent.
• Do not use or ask for
toothpicks at a restaurant or
at a guest home. Americans
love their pretty teeth, they
usually use dental floss, but
rarely use the toothpick.
