Friendships
Friendships among Americans tend to be different than those among people from some other cultures. Americans may have a few very close friends, but they also develop many less intense social relationships with people. Americans tend to have many "friends" – people with whom they have work, class, social, or sexual relationships. The American concept of friendship is difficult to understand. Many international students feel some frustration in their attempts at forming and maintaining friendships with Americans. This is not meant to discourage you from making friends with Americans, it is only intended to make you aware that behavior between American friends might be different from what you would expect.
Public Displays of Affection (PDAs)
In normal situations, Americans tend to avoid "Public Displays of Affection", or "PDAs" between friends of the same or different sex. In general, Americans do not hug or hold hands with their friends in public areas unless it is some special occasion. PDAs may lead to lead Americans to misunderstand the nature of your friendship when in public. In private, Americans may hug or hold hands with their friends.
Romantic partners may show PDA's, but only within limits: hand holding and short kisses in public are OK, but prolonged kissing and other activities are considered offensive, and even strangers may ask them to stop.
Romantic Relationships
Romantic relationships may seem very different from your own country. Dating is acceptable between people, and is usually arranged with an informal invitation from a man, although it is increasingly acceptable for a woman to give the invitation. Accepting or offering a "date" does not necessarily mean that you are interested in marriage, or a serious or sexual relationship. People often get together to go to movies or to dinner to have a good time and to get to know someone. Most Americans will date many people and regard them as friends.
In the United States, marriage normally happens only after a person has had several romantic relationships. Only the two people in the relationship can make decisions about carrying the relationship further: family members – including parents – have very little influence in any marriage decisions.
Sexual relationships are common when two people become romantically involved. Sexual relationships can be very difficult – and dangerous. You should take time to think, and get advice from a trusted friend, counselor or advisor before beginning a sexual relationship.