Nama
: Ni Kadek Dwitayani
NPM
: 2063
Semester
: VII B
INVITATION AND THE WELCOME GUEST It is a common thing in America having dinner outside or inviting someone for having lunch or dinner with us because it is the time for them to socialite with other people. people. Kinds of dinner can be a formal dinner, cocktail party or barbeque. There are three kinds of invitation you might receive from the America : 1. The The printed printed invit invitatio ation. n. This This require requiress a reply since since the the letters letters ASVP ASVP (reply (reply if you please) always appear in the left corner. You should receive or decline the invitation soon. 2. The hand hand written written invitation invitation.. When a written written invitation invitation is is received, received, the guest guest is expected to telephone or write to the host to accept or decline the invitation. At the time of acceptance, guests notify the hostess of any medical or religious restrictions with foods, such as pork, beef, or beverages containing alcohol. Once an invitation has been accepted, the commitment to attend is regarded as a firm firm obli obliga gati tion on to be resp respect ected ed by both both gues guestt and and host host,, even even if othe other r invitations for the same time are received later. In addition, it is assumed that guests will accept no other invitations for a later hour on the same evening they are invited for dinner. 3. The persona personall invitation invitation may be given by phone phone or in person. person. This invitati invitation on is very common. There are some general advices on invitation that should be concerned: 1. In other other countri countries es,, it is poli polite te to decli decline ne the first first invi invita tati tion on,, but but it is not not in America. It is customary in America to accept the first invitation. If you decline decline some invitation invitation from the same person, person, she or he might might think that you don’t want to develop relationship and never invite you anymore. To avoid misunderstanding, you should explain to them why you can not come or join with them. 2. Show consi consideratio deration n by always always attending attending if you you have accepted accepted the the invitation, invitation, if if you are unable to come, you should say when you are first invited. If you become ill at the last moment, you should appologise as soon as possible. 3. Bringing Bringing a gift is traditi traditional onal in some some countries countries but but not in America. America. If you you want to follow the tradition in your country it would be considered as a charming gesture, but an expensive give would be embarrassing. Expressing your thanks later in a brief telephone call or a written note is quite enough. 4. If you are are a lunch or or dinner dinner guest in in America, America, you may may see others others help help the host host or the the host hostes esss both both befo before re and and afte afterr the the meal meal.. If you you accep acceptt the the seco second nd invitation from the same family and become more intimate wit the family, your help will be pleasure to everyone. Beside all of those things above, there are some things that should be concerned when we are invited at American people, such as:
When to Arrive
In the U.S., punctuality is one of the most highly valued traits a person can have. It is very important to be on time of you want to make good precision. If your invitation has specific a definite time you should arrive within ten or fifteen minutes of that time no longer. To be late for an engagement or an invitation is insulting to the person who is kept waiting. If you are unable to be on time telephone their hosts at the earliest possible moment both to explain your lateness and to give an estimated arrival time. Who is Invited Unless the host indicates otherwise, an invitation offered to a guest is only for that person. Americans usually prepare for a specific number of guests and often plan to have a similar number of male and female guests. Therefore, for a dinner guest to arrive with one or two unannounced friends is considered impolite and embarrassing to the hosts who may not have prepared enough food for extra people, or who may not have enough room for them on the table When a social rather than business invitation is extended to a married person, the assumption is that the spouse is invited, as well. The guest should ask the host if they have any questions about this. What to Expect when Visiting an American Home American behavior in the home reflects a belief in equality between the sexes and the value of informality. Some of the customs described in this section may be new; some may be quite familiar. They are presented to inform and for interest. •
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Should the host family provide transportation, it is not uncommon for a woman from the household to arrive alone to escort a guest to the family home. Guests from nations where women are secluded from males might be surprised by this. However, in the U.S. such behavior is considered appropriate and carries no romantic meaning. Americans usually entertain simply and informally. Hosts often will say, "Make yourself at home," to a guest. This is considered to be a positive, welcoming statement. To be treated like a member of the host's family is a gesture of respect, one intended to show the host's high regard for the guest. The picnic is one of the most popular ways for Americans to entertain in the summertime. The main focus at such an event is the manner in which the food is prepared. Meat, most often chicken, pork, or beef steak, is grilled outdoors on a charcoal fire. Often a male is in charge of cooking and tending the fire. The party centers around this activity. Such informal gatherings usually take place in the late afternoon or early evening, and dress for such occasions is almost always very informal. Dress for most evenings is informal -- sports jackets and slacks for men, "street" dress for women, though less informal suits are accepted, as well. National dress worn by international visitors is generally of high interest to Americans who have not had the opportunity to travel to their guest's country. Alcoholic drinks are sometimes offered before and during the meal. Guests who are unable to consume alcoholic beverages for religious, medical, or personal reasons may request non-alcoholic drinks. Men and women who are not members of the same family converse in public and share meals together. In some cultures, men and women are entertained in separate quarters of the house. Some visitors are surprised, therefore, to find that such social segregation of the sexes does not exist here. In addition, like
other Western women, American women converse with other men, even if their husbands are not present. What to Expect at Dinnertime •
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Hosts usually invite guests into the dining room after a brief period of socializing in the living room. Dinner is generally served between the hours of 6:30 and 8:00 PM and is considered to be a family meal. The children of a family, as well as the husband and wife, will probably share the meal with guests. The evening meal is the main meal of the day , rather than the midday meal. Dinner may be served "family-style." Dishes of food are passed from person to person for each to take a portion on their own plates. Guests who are unfamiliar with foods presented often take a small amount of each food passed to them, taking more as desired when the dishes are offered again. Dinner may be served "buffet-style." In this case, food is placed on a side table for guests to serve themselves before proceeding into the dining room or living room to eat the meal. Guests who finish their first serving and wish to take a second serving simply return to the buffet table to "help themselves" to more. Some families offer a prayer of thanksgiving before beginning each meal. Saying such a prayer is referred to as "grace" and often takes place in the homes of religion-oriented families. Guests usually refrain from beginning the meal until everyone has been served and the hostess has lifted her fork. An exception to this is the "buffet-style" meal in which guests begin eating as soon as they are seated. Dinner may be served in two, three or four courses:
Soup, salad, or fruit may be offered as a first course. The main course or central part of the meal is usually defined by the o meat, poultry, or fish served. All other foods, such as vegetables and starches (potatoes, rice, or noodles) are considered "side" dishes and are served in smaller portions with the meat or fish. Note: Rice is generally not considered a main food in the U.S. Therefore, only a small portion may be prepared for each guest. It may be helpful to observe the hosts to see how much rice they serve themselves. A salad of lettuce and raw vegetables or fruit may be served before, o during, or after the main course. Dessert is served at the end of the meal and may be a sweet cake or pie, o fruit, ice cream, or pudding. Coffee is usually served with dessert. "Seconds" (a second helping of food) might be offered only once to a guest. Note: In many American homes, the host refrains from offering the food more than a second time for fear offending the guest by his persistence. International visitors who are accustomed to refusing the second helping a number of times should realize that the offer may be extended only once. o
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American men often assist women with food preparation and cleaning tasks. At an informal dinner, for example, the host may prepare the steak, make the salad, or remove dishes from the table. The traditional concept of "men's work" and "women's work" is changing in the U.S. as more women enter full-time professional careers outside the home. Household chores such as dishwashing, cleaning, and laundry are often shared
on the basis of what needs to be done at the time, rather than on the basis of whether it is considered to be the man's or woman's role.
Spoken Communication Visitors to other countries may have questions concerning what is "acceptable" or "unacceptable" conversation in a different culture. In addition, topics of conversation chosen by hosts in a country may seem unusual to an international visitor. Three ways to start a conversation in America, which are commented on by many visitors to the U.S., are: (1) the weather, (2) questions about a visitor's homeland, and (3) questions regarding a visitor's occupation. •
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Americans almost always talk about the weather when they wish to find a topic common to all guests. The weather, of course, is a relatively neutral, safe subject that generally does not stir emotions. This preliminary conversation leads to more serious topics once the guests have relaxed. Questions about an international guest's country - even when they may seem terribly obvious to the guest - indicate a desire to find out more about the visitor and his or her nation. By answering in a thoughtful way, visitors can fulfill the role of "citizen-ambassador." Questions regarding occupation are only asked out of interest, since one's occupation does not necessarily indicate one's social class. Hosts may ask guests about their occupation in order to discover areas of common interest.
American individualism is often shown in conversation. The expression of ideas is highly valued, even when those views oppose opinions held by others who are present. It is not impolite to disagree with another person if the disagreement is made respectfully. Most Americans not only praise, but also openly criticize their own government in a way that is not encouraged or permitted - socially or legally - in many other nations. Although Americans enjoy lively discussions and are open with a wide variety of subjects, most are uncomfortable discussing what are considered to be, by U.S. standards, private or personal matters, such as: • • • •
The amount of money they earn. How old they are. Why they have few or no children. The cost of their personal possessions (house, car, etc.).
Religion and politics are considered acceptable topics as long as guest and host alike. Respect each other point of view Unspoken Communication
Every culture has its own set of rules or guidelines regarding unspoken or nonverbal behavior. Certain hand or body gestures that are rude or insulting by one country's standards may have either no meaning or a different meaning in another country. The following are examples of nonverbal gestures and their American cultural interpretation:
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Eye contact with women or elders . The willingness to look people "in the eye" regardless of sex or age is regarded as very positive. The reverse, avoiding eye contact, is regarded as a sign that one is trying to hide the truth. Shaking hands when introduced. Men in particular customarily shake right hands upon meeting. Children also often extend a hand to an adult when introduced. In the U.S., handshaking is correct and expected behavior for men. Handshaking is optional for women. Therefore, men generally wait for a woman to extend her hand first. Kissing as a greeting. Men and women who know each other quite well may kiss one another's cheek when greeting each other. Acquaintances and those being introduced, however, simply shake hands. The use of the left hand in passing foods or making toasts, etc. Americans give no significance or negative meaning to this. Pointing the sole of the shoe toward the head of another. American men often cross their legs by putting the ankle of one foot on the other knee, thus sometimes pointing a foot in a way that is quite unacceptable in cultures such as Thailand or the Arab world. In the U.S., however, this gesture carries no negative meaning.
Bringing the Evening to a Close In the U.S., it is the guest, not the host, who chooses when to end the evening and return home. •
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Guests entertained on a weekday evening (Monday through Thursday) or Sunday generally make their leave between 10:00 and 10:30 PM in order to allow the hosts enough time to wash the dinner dishes before retiring to bed. Social engagements on weekends (Friday or Saturday) often last longer, perhaps until 11:00 or 11:30 PM for dinner hospitality, or later for party hospitality. If there is a guest of honor, he or she is the first to leave, if you are the guest of honor, it is up to you to leave at the reasonable time since no one will go before you and waiting until too late may be inconvenient to some of other guest
Expressing Appreciation to the Hosts Some expression of thanks is considered appropriate when hospitality has been extended and received. Guests express appreciation in various ways: •
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After staying overnight or spending time in someone's home as a guest, some give a small "house gift" or a token of appreciation. After receiving dinner hospitality, guests often present a gift to the hostess. This is considered a nice gesture, but not a necessary one. Many international visitors give something distinctly from their homeland, such as postage stamps or coins to emphasize the special cross-cultural spirit of the evening. A written "thank-you" note or a telephone call to the hostess delivered or given within one week after the engagement is the most common and often most welcomed expression of appreciation.
