Ladies First
Lines
Elevator
Tipping
Table Manners
While not practiced as much as it was a few years ago, most American ladies still appreciate it if you hold a door open for them when entering a building; allow them to enter and exit an elevator first; hold a chair for them to sit in at a restaurant; extend your seat to them on a crowded bus; or any other chivarious action. These type of courtesies extended to ladies are practiced mostly in the southern States today, but are still appreciated by ladies all over in the USA. If you are thanked for the courtesies extended, a common reply is "you're welcome" rather than saying "mention not".
Americans are very used to queuing, or lining up, for particular things. If they are cashing a check, paying for items in a store, buying tickets to some event, waiting to see an art exhibit, Americans will usually form a line; proceeding forward until it is their turn. To break into such a line is considered very rude; and, depending upon the events, fights have been known to occasionally break out when some one tried to do this.
While waiting for an elevator, most americans position themselves so that when the doors to the elevator open, the people inside can exit quickly and orderly. Usually, an American wait for everyone to completely exit the elevator before they start to enter. Also, if a number of people are waiting, someone will usually hold the 'open door' button to let as many people as possible enter before the doors begin to close.
Tipping, as a reward for service, is common throughout the USA. It is customary to tip from 10 to 15 percent of the bill for meals served in restaurants and hotels. Many of the waiters and waitresses receive their total income from just tips; so it is in their interest to see that you get the best service possible. You only leave no tip, or a very small tip, if you are expressing to the waiter that his service was terrible. Be aware that for parties of six or more people, a fifteen percent tip may already have been added to your bill; just understand the total, and tip accordingly. At fast food businesses and Cafeterias, no tip is usually expected.
Correctly, no body should start eating until everyone has been served. However, if some people are served before others, the unserved should turn to the served and say "Don't wait.. Please start". The served do so, but pick slowly at their food so that the others will be able to catch up.
The array of silverware at a classy dinner can be formidable, but the rule is simple; use it from the outside in. That is, use the outside spoon for your soup, the middle one for dessert, and the inner one for your coffee. The truth is, though, that nobody will notice or care if you use the salad fork for your cake.
We eat nearly everything with a fork, which most right-handed people hold in the right hand. If something has to be cut up, you switch your knife to the right hand, do your cutting (hold the item in place with the fork in the left hand), then lay down the knife (on the side of the plate), switch the fork back to the right hand, stab and put the food into the mouth.
You use the fork even when facing a number of foods that easily could be eaten with the fingers. Generally, if something could grease up your fingers, don't touch it. The exception is fried chicken, which may be seized between both hands. Bread, bacon, artichokes, pizza, olives, corn-on-the-cob, and raw vegetables may be eaten with the fingers. With rolls, muffins, we break them off and butter one small piece at a time, having first transferred an adequate supply of butter from the general butter plate to our own plate. Never stick your hand or your fork into a serving dish. If you want the last cherry tomato left in the salad bowl, remove it to your plate with the salad tongs.