The document discusses cultural differences between American and Chinese families, noting that while American families emphasize self-sufficiency, cases of adults still living with parents and not working are rare exceptions. It also addresses retirement ages being higher in America due to cost of living and cultural values of independence. For seniors, options discussed include living independently, with children, or in assisted living/nursing homes, with most families striving to care for elders but economic needs often requiring all adults to work.

2.  MythMyth:
 An idea or story that many people believe is
true, but it is not.
 AssumptionAssumption:
 Something that is taken as true or certain to
happen, but has no proof.
 GeneralizationGeneralization:
 When you think something is true always for
all of something, but it is really only true some
of the time or rarely.

4.  Just like in China, American
children are taught many
cultural things from birth. One
of these things is self-sufficiencyself-sufficiency.
 Self-sufficiencySelf-sufficiency: Not needing help to provide forNot needing help to provide for
one’s daily needs.one’s daily needs.
 This is considered the way to be responsible and
respectful to parents and family.
 Just like in China, different American families do different
things. However, cases like this are extreme and rare.
They are the exception and not the rulethe exception and not the rule.
 Exception and not the ruleException and not the rule: Something that isSomething that is
very much out of the ordinary.very much out of the ordinary.

5. In your country –
One of your classmates graduated from university. Now,
he still lives with his parents. He stays home all day
and watches tv and plays video games. His parents
go to work each day. He spends his parents’ money
and he gets everything he needs for life from them.
In your culture, is this a good son?
Most people say “No!” – America is the same. We are
taught to take care of ourselves when we become
adults. So most young adults will either
go to college or get a job.

7.  The Second Amendment to our Constitution does
allow people to own guns as a way to protect
themselves.
 No, not all people own gunsnot all people own guns.
 No, people are not required to have guns.
 No, people are not required to learn how to shoot
a gun.
 Some people do like guns.
 People who like guns are
not always violent people.
 Some people like to hunthunt.

9.  Divorce rates are
around 50% in the USA.
 Marriage is still important!
Marriage counselorsMarriage counselors provide
hundreds of thousands of
hours of service to couples every year.
 Marriage counselorsMarriage counselors: Mental health professionals whoMental health professionals who
help couples recognize & resolve conflicts andhelp couples recognize & resolve conflicts and
improve their relationship.improve their relationship.
 American culture is more open to accepting children from other
relationships (stepchildrenstepchildren), and this makes it easier for
parents to get out of bad situations.
 Divorce in America increased as women became more able to
earn more money, to get more education, to vote – and, in
general, be equal to men. So, marriages didn’t become
unhappier. The bad marriages just became easier to escape.

11.  Much of the world thinks
Americans eat only fast
food because so many
Americans are obese.obese.
 There is a portion of the
population that can’t afford
healthy food. Often, junk foodjunk food & fast foodfast food is
cheaper than healthy meat, fruit, and vegetables.
 Just like in China, different people have different
eating habits. Reasons include many things, such as
gaps in food education and regional
food cultures.
 These unhealthy foods have a lot of
commercials.commercials.

13.  SuburbsSuburbs generally offer a quiet lifestyle that is
attractive to families with small children.
 They became popular after WWII because soldiers
came home from the war and started families, and
middle-classmiddle-class income began to increase.

14.  Suburbs often have more affordable houses, so
people with more modest incomesmodest incomes move there
so they can get more bang for the buckmore bang for the buck.
 SuburbsSuburbs: districts far away from the center of the
city, especially residential districts.
 With each new generation, more young people are
moving into cities and changing their lifestyles for
both economic and social
reasons

16.  American family structure is different than Chinese
family structure.
 Retirement age is higher in America.
◦ MandatoryMandatory retirement is as high as 70 years of age
◦ OptionalOptional retirement age is occasionally as young as 62.
◦ MajorityMajority retire at 65-67 years of age.

17.  Cost of livingCost of living in America is much higher than in
China, so in most families both the husband and wife
must work to have enough money for the family.
They don’t have the luxuryhave the luxury of staying home to
take care of grandchildren or older family members.
 Because of our culture of self-sufficiencyself-sufficiency, many
older people want to live in their own homes for
as long as possible.

18.  Live with their childrenLive with their children:
 Some seniors will see this as a sign of their weakness. They are
embarrassed to be too old or too weak to take care of themselves.
 Many seniors will think they are being a burden on their children or
that they are taking their lives and happiness away from them. (But
usually they are wrong!)
 Mother-in-law SuiteMother-in-law Suite:
 Homes with a separate small apartment
 Assisted Living FacilityAssisted Living Facility:
 Group home for seniors with medical professionals to give limited
help.
 Nursing HomesNursing Homes:
 Home for seniors who require professional medical care all the
time.
 Like with anything else, there are exceptions. There’s aLike with anything else, there are exceptions. There’s a
small percentage of seniors without family attention. But,small percentage of seniors without family attention. But,
again, it is theagain, it is the exception and not the ruleexception and not the rule.