New Zealand Family Reacts to The DONT'S of Visiting AMERICA (When Are We Coming To The USA?) 

One thing to be aware of, in the South (particular the South east) you will have people addressing you with a term of endearment that might sound extremely toward and intimate. So when that waitress if calling your husband (or son) Honey and Sweetheart, she likely doesn’t mean anything by it

A big one is if you are pulled over, DO NOT GET OUT. The cop will come to you and ask you for your things. Do not reach for anything unless they tell you to.

My mom was born and lived in the U.S. until she was 12. She then moved to a tiny town in Canada (in the early 60's) and her social studies teacher told them there were 52 states. Mom corrected her, and the teacher argued that there had been 50 and then they added Hawaii and Alaska. Teacher finally went into the hall to consult the encyclopedia, came back in the room, and never mentioned it again. 😂

Had some friends visting from europe and they wanted to know why we couldn’t go to Los Angeles for the day (i lived an hour outside of San Francisco). I told them it was a 500+ mile drive, ONE WAY. They didn’t believe me, rented a car and made the trip on their own. They were completely shell shocked when they returned 2 days later.

We all definitely say goodbye. They don't on TV or in movies. But in reality life we absolutely do! People usually get angry if you "hang up" without saying goodbye.

this is an old video, but dont be afraid to not finish your meals. portions are quite large over here, and most restaurants will provide boxes so you can take your leftovers with you.

I went to Germany recently as an exchange student and I met my host's friends. One of them said her parents didn't want her to be a part of the program because us Americans are mean. I immediately asked if he went to a major city like NYC or Chicago and she said yes. But then she said that us exchange students that she met were really kind. So it's really huge to keep in mind that not every American is the same. There's no typical American, only traits that groups of Americans will most likely exhibit, such as an attitude or gesture typical to a certain region.

As an American, I am just as perplexed by people not saying goodbye on the phone in TV and Movies. This is just on the screen. In real life, we say goodbye. Maybe on TV they are trying to save screen time? But it's actually incredibly rude to hang up without saying some kind of goodbye in the US.

As an American it's funny to hear "visiting the US" since visiting two states away is a trip for us

I, and almost every American I've ever spoken to on the phone end it with some sort of "goodbye" exchange between both parties. Hollywood, love it or hate it, doesn't always depict things the way they actually are. For example, movies often depict all American neighborhoods as being either very upscale suburbs or inner city ghettos. Great reaction guys... as always! 🇺🇸💙🇳🇿

In the Midwest there is something we call the “Midwest goodbye” We take forever to say goodbye usually starting a several new conversations even after we have tried to leave or let someone leave. This extends to phone calls too. I usually have to say good bye multiple times while chatting on the phone before I actually hang up.

In regards to tip #1, we like our space from strangers. But in general Americans are very huggy and open with our friends, family and acquaintances. We give hugs, we welcome them. We also are well known for loving to start conversations with complete strangers just about anywhere lol. Something I find a little different here in Europe where people are more distant. I think in general Americans are very open and friendly and not so closed off.

Just be warned, we Americans love the NZ/AU accents so be ready to have a lot of people asking you to say things so they can here it 🤣

Even as an American, I can confirm EVERY state is different and it’s crazy because if you drive across our country it’s so crazy because as soon as you cross over the state boarder, you can tell by the environment and nature youre in a different state! It’s super cool! Accents also change too!

I was born on the west coast but have lived on the east coast for half my life. I can tell you that the majority of people everywhere here in the US are understanding, patient and forgiving. Most of us do not get offended easily. We are so welcoming to people from other countries and genuinely curious to talk with them. I wouldn’t worry too much. Most people here are so very kind and open. We love meeting new people and we love New Zealand.

Also if you come to the non-coastal west (Wyoming, Colorado, Nevada, Nebraska) or anywhere along the Rockies- hydrate really well and give yourself a day to acclimate before drinking or doing any strenuous physical activity. I’m in Colorado and most areas are a mile above sea level and altitude sickness is very real. Enjoy your trip! Look forward to hearing all about it.

Be prepared to get asked "Where are you from" at least 10 times a day. They're not being rude, they genuinely have an interest and are curious. Given the chance they'll keep buying you drinks to keep you talking. I moved here over 20 years ago and even with a faded accent I still get asked all the time :)

One thing you guys will notice is we all love your accent. New Zealand and Australian accents are loved by most Americans.

I’m also from Connecticut and confirm a lot. People in my area describe distance in time it takes to get there rather than the actual distance. One interesting aspect is that people in New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut all walk pretty quickly. Stay to the right and people will walk around you to pass. You will see this on escalators, as well. We also drive very aggressively and quickly (speed limits are suggestions here) but I know most densely populated areas are similar with driving habits. Also, with driving, be aware of wildlife. We have deer, bears, moose, turkeys, squirrels, fox, etc., that wander into the road. A deer will total your car and walk away like nothing happened. Each state has their own scary animal to avoid on the road. The way to think about the US is that each state is it’s own little country. Each state has their own culture, accent, phrases, history, food, cities, and funding. This is why tax is mostly different from place to place, why there’s more tolls in one state and barely any in another, why the roads or public transportation are nicer in one area vs another. This is also true for laws, most notably the gun control laws. Americans kind of mentally break the states down to red (republican) or blue (democrat) although people of parties exist in all states. For example, you’ll find regions of a state are red despite being a blue state. Something might be really cheap in a state like Missouri compared to the same item in New York City or Hawaii. Everything in Hawaii is imported and costs more. Most other states have prices relative to the cost of living in that state. Reservations have their own laws and set their own prices for things. If they say you need a mask for a tour, they are not kidding. There’s also sometimes reservation taxes based on specific tours on native land. People up north generally don’t talk to strangers unless they’re working or have something to say (compliment, question, etc) but this changes down south, where people will say hello/good morning if you’re in the same space. Like others have mentioned, Americans will be attracted to your accent and ask you about your trip. The animal caution is also true for hiking. Do your research on the areas you want to see. I went to Arizona last year and based on the array of poisonous snakes, I opted to not go hiking on lesser known trails. In the desert, there is nothing for miles. Heat stroke is a very real thing. Make sure you have water and snacks if you plan on going for a hike. Keep gas in the car. My cousins in Australia are under the impression that America is similar to Jersey Shore or The Kardashians. There’s a lot of poverty here that you will come across in especially cities that might surprise you. In my opinion, the national parks are some of the most beautiful places in the country and there’s more to see than Los Angeles and New York City. If you plan on coming to New England, you have to see autumn here. Avoid snow if you can because it’s not easy for newbies to drive in and can be dangerous. The weather varies drastically from place to place, sometimes even in the same state (California is a great example). America is also really interesting other than having it’s own cuisine place to place. New Jersey, New York, and CT have a large Italian American population and have amazing Italian food. Boston has great Irish pubs. States bordering Canada have great poutine. Florida has great Hispanic food. West coast has amazing Asian food. You have to think about who settled where in combination with what that state has going on, whether it’s a coast, lots of farmland, desert, etc. Most Americans have not seen the whole country because of how big it is, so don’t feel pressured to do it all. No matter how much time you have, it honestly still wouldn’t be enough.

As a person born and raised in the USA, thank you for posting this. It explains a lot to those that are NOT native to our country. If you pay your tip on your credit card, then it will be taxed. So, if you are able to give your server a cash tip, the server will get that WHOLE tip. And yes, the tipping culture has gotten WAY out of hand. I have the philosophy that I am only tipping someone that has been doing all the "leg-work" to get me my order. If I am picking up the order, you don't get a tip.

It’s so weird that you mentioned that in American movies people don’t seem to say ‘goodbye’ and just hang up. That’s definitely NOT what anyone here does in real life. Lol. That’s an artifact of American cinema and most of us have no idea why characters on TV and in movies just hang up that way! It’s really interesting that you noticed that.

Born and raised in the U.S. since '65, and yes, we do say "goodbye", "bye", "talk to you later", etc., when on the phone. Unless you are in a massive hurry or at work, etc. Most people are friendly and share common courtesy. In addition, it also depends on the person on the other line too. It's extremely rare for someone to just hang up - LOL

If you’re a foodie, you should visit New Orleans. Especially during springtime, when the crawfish are in season. Some grocery stores will have boiled crawfish for sale in front of the store, and you can smell the seasoning a block away. In summer, the snowball stands are open (sweet syrup over shaved ice, with 50 different flavors) serving the perfect snack for a 95° (35°C) summer day. And then there’s the year round food. Search for a RU-vid video of “Homer Simpson eats New Orleans” to get an idea of how many different local recipes there are.

Please don't forget what side of the road we drive on!! My first ever car accident was a tourist from New Zealand (we live in a small town but it's home to the Luray Caverns and we get a LOT of tourism) pulled out onto a divided highway and looked thw wrong way, didn’t see me coming and pulled out right into me. I didn't even have my driver's license yet, I had a learner's permit, and that was TERRIFYING. So. Just remember what side of the road to look at, or just look both ways lol!

I know one tip that I never see in videos for people visiting America, is remember that cars can turn right on red. I hear people say all the time that they almost got hit because they tried to cross the street and didn’t know cars can still turn right. I know they are supposed to watch out for pedestrians but just look to be safe. I hope you guys enjoy your trip!

He forgot to mention how huge our portion sizes are! Don't be afraid to ask for a box or a to-go container because we fully expect you to take home any food you don't eat !!!!

The whole 52 vs 50 states thing is in relation to places like Puerto Rico, Washington, D.C. (The US’s capital), Guam and other US territories like others have said. I’m from North Carolina, but I’ve lived in New York for basically my whole life, so I consider it my home state. It’s interesting to see you learn about my country and it’s interesting to see the differences between us here and you guys in New Zealand.

The sales tax thing is because each individual city can set their own sales tax. There's a state rate, plus a city rate that varies. And it can vary based on what you are buying, too - for example, in Texas grocery items are untaxed - except for the food that's not considered "grocery," like soda.

As a Canadian, because the us is so big it sometimes helps to think of the different states as individual small countries. They have vastly different cultures, climates and people, so it could be a bit of a culture shock if you think you’re going to see the same things everywhere!

We do say goodbye always. If we don't, it means we're angry LOL. A lot of families too will say "I love you" every single time when hanging up, regardless of time or circumstance.

This was an interesting video to watch and I’m from USA! Olympia, Washington. All of these tips are fantastic and I can see how they would really help visitors.

As an American,I have to say that saying goodbye is far more common than not saying it. Occassionally some will say something like 'see you later or'see you', or even 'it was nice to meet you' instead.

Big DON'T for America: DO NOT STOP IN THE DESERT. Absolutely serious about this as someone who grew up in Nevada. If you are driving out into the deserts of the western US you are absolutely taking your life in your hands - especially in summer. Every year we have tragic stories of tourists unerestimating how dangerous our wild spaces are like there are places where there is NO ONE for almost 100 miles. Just...avoid or be VERY careful please. 😅

This is so exciting for you guys! I hope you enjoyed your trip. I live in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon/Washington) area of the U.S. but it’s true the culture, terrain and food is so different state to state! Couple things I’d add is don’t stress out too much about the tips. I typically tip at sit down restaurants but have friends who refuse to and it’s no big deal. I agree it’s a VERY odd concept that I wish we didn’t do. Most Americans (except in large cities) are very proud of where there are from and friendly. Most of us are excited to share and also learn from you!

He mentioned regional cuisine…the funny thing about that is there can be many local restaurants that serve the same food but different people will have their favorites and can be VERY passionate about it.

In the USA you will find most people extend kindness and curiosity towards foreigners. It is genuine. Your accent will give you away. The US is very large and for many Americans it may be years between a conversation with foreign visitors. I enjoy your reaction videos and you are a handsome family.

Traveling in the US, whether far or just to the corner, is typically measured in time. Examples include "I'm 25 minutes away" or "The beach is 2 hours away". I rarely use miles to refer to traveling distance. Mostly time.

Tip 1 is more of a northern east coast or big city thing. A handshake is the customary greeting but lots of hugs are happening at intimate social events.

Tipping is very important here in the USA because unless you live in a metropolitan area, your hourly pay can be very low. Plus the fact, tips are taxable income. Many small town restaurant employees actually end up working basically for the tips.

The thing about different cultures is *real.* Two hours in any direction and you'll be met with a whole new set of people, culture, slang, and sometimes even different accents

Not sure about other regions in America, but the south has a “southern goodbye.” This takes anywhere between 15 minutes to an hour. The person that initiated this goodbye will continuously say “well I’m gonna let you go” throughout the conversation. Although it is funny to think about saying goodbye for this long, this is a polite gesture that each person will participate in to show the other person that they care.

Hope tthat you have a great time. I'm in the North Central Plains states but, understand that we arent high on the visit list. Hope that y'all have a great time.

If you going to the Rockie Mountain region or even the Appalachians I would suggest having an awareness of altitude. I've seen to many people who wouldn't be used to the higher elevation and the lower oxygen. Also keep in mind the dryness in the desert areas and the humidity in most other areas of the country, particulary during Northern Hemisphere summer.

I feel the phone etiquette thing is mostly on TV shows and movies where they don't say goodbye before hanging up. I don't know a single person who doesn't say goodbye. Even when you call the doctor's office or customer service, we all say goodbye.

Also, funny thing from an American: we also often tell you distance in reference of time it takes rather than how far away something actually is. Like 'How far away is X?" "Oh, it's about thirty minutes south.", which I don't know happens anywhere else (haven't been around much)

im born and raised in louisiana and it really surprised me how different texas is, its so much bigger and buildings are so tall! its took me 5 hours just to get from where i was at in louisiana all the way to houston! Its a really big place

I'm from San Diego, California, and we say "bye" here before hanging up the phone. Customer service people will usually wait for the customer to initiate the "bye" before they will say it.

In the Midwest, it's almost considered rude to not say hi to a passersby, or to hold a door for someone when they're right behind you, or to say thanks etc. Being very polite is the normal and although not mandatory, it could get you a cold shoulder later on, especially in smaller towns.

The "No Goodbye" on the phone is a movie trope - we absolutely say it. The "52 States"-thing is because Washington DC an Independent district and Puerto Rico is a US territory - although some people wrongly think both have statehood. I hope you enjoy your visit!

WOW, that Ron Flor de Cana shirt brings back a lot of memories. I lived in Nicaragua in the mid 70s and have had my share of the Cana.

Ive lived in Boston for 4 years and I totally recommend it. One of the cleanest cities Ive been to and the metro system is actually pretty reliable

Nadine, the not saying bye on the phone is a movie and TV trope that even drives us crazy. We may not say "good-bye," when hanging up, but we will usually say something like "See you later," or "I'll talk to you later."

The misconception of the 52 states probably comes from the U.S. territories, Guam, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands, these are sometimes viewed as basically being a state by foreigners, even though most citizens don't feel so and the government hasn't acknowledged it.

I’m sure someone answered, but, yes we do say goodbye or some other courtesy at the end of a call. I think it’s just shortened for tv/movies. Uber is big here too

Lol I regularly drive from Castle Rock CO to Mathis Tx straight through, in 16 ish hours, 1 playlist for the radio

Another thing to update this video on, when you ask someone how far something is, they probably won’t say it’s so and so miles, they will most likely says it’s 5 or 10 minutes. We calculate a lot of driving by time, not miles, at least in the Midwest. What’s nice about this is if it’s far away or depending on the time of day, most people will add time due to traffic or weather conditions.

It's not uncommon in some parts of the US for complete strangers to talk to you like they've known you for years, usually rural areas are like that. Extremely casual, no inhibitions, no social rules, no formalities; literally the same as talking to a long time friend or family member. You can carry on an hour long conversation and not even know the person's name because the conversation started off with a random statement or question and it just kept going from there. That's something I've heard people from other countries say they find extremely odd or unexpected. They're not necessarily crazy every single time, that's just the culture in that area. It's assumed the other person is a decent person with a big sense of community and hospitality. So you'll get people talking to you very informally even though you've never met.

We definitely say goodbye in the South. In my experience there’s usually an average of three goodbyes before you actually get to hang up the phone or walk away. We’re very chatty down here.

Absolutely love your family ❤ God bless ❤

I think the lack of goodbyes on phone calls is just in the movies. Once in a long while, I have encountered someone who doesn’t say goodbye, but it’s rare. Most people here do have some form of a farewell when ending calls.

Remember, that the U.S.A. is a very large country and what applies in one place may not be the same in another. Don't be afraid to ask for help wherever you are. Generally, people are happy to help. Once it is realized that you are a visitor, people will often go to great lengths to help you.

This gentleman sure put out good points for travelers.

5:29 that is a very good question. No, you do not tip on the tax. In a restaurant when receiving the check, add the tip based on the subtotal and then add the tax to the total

If I asked someone, "How's it going?" as I'm walking by, and they started telling me about their real problems, you'd best believe I'm turning on my heel and stopping what I'm doing to listen. We all have problems, but we all don't have someone to listen. I can definitely take a few minutes to be there for someone, and I know I'm not the only one!

About tipping: it’s not just wait staff who you tip. You should also tip anyone who cuts or styles your hair, anyone (taxi/Uber/Lyft) who drives you to a destination, anyone who handles your luggage, housekeeping staff in hotels and motels, and anyone who gives you a manicure and/or pedicure. Basically, tipping is embedded in our culture and is expected, especially whenever someone performs a personal type of task for you.✨ Waving for a taxi is only in New York City. Nowhere else has them roaming around looking for passengers. Everywhere else, you have to call for a ride.✨ We here in the USA do say goodbye (or its equivalent) at the end of our phone calls.

No tax on tipping. We have territories that people might confuse as states like puerto rico. We do say goodbye on the phone. Also if you are at an airport there are taxis lined up in order to take you wherever you need to go, in smaller towns we do call for taxis. I thinknlike its mainly new york that waves taxis down, ive never saw it done anywhere else.

The goodbye thing is one of those things that depends on the person or area your from. Like im from minnesota and we say "ope" allot.. which is an expression like "oops". I personally say "alright, talk to you later" even if i dont plan to call them again for a while.

As someone who was born and raised in the rural south east US and moved to the north east a few year's ago, i can honestly say there are some extreme culture differences throughout the US.

I love how concerned the daughter looks reacting to every single fact

He really gave good advice. As far as the 50 states, some think mainland has 50 states PLUS Alaska and Hawaii... Only 48 on continental U.S

Mystic, CT is stunning! I hope you get to see it!

Also as someone else said, if you are driving in the US, be mindful of the fuel level in your car and keep topping off the tank. The US is big and sometimes it can be very far until the next available fuel stop, especially in the western half of the US. You do not want to be stuck at 11 p.m. in the middle of Wyoming on the side of the road because of poor fuel planning. Another point is don't underestimate the weather here. The US weather varies tremendously from region to region and can swing wildly in a single day. Pay attention to weather forecasts each day and be prepared. Here in Montana, we can swing from 100F in some valley areas down to 35F up in Mountain areas on the same day. Always carry water and stay on main roads. Just because a map shows a road, don't assume it's appropriate for normal travel.

I can say that I, as a guy living in South Louisiana, NEVER end a call with out telling the person on the other end of the conversation “bye” or “bye bye” or at least “thank you” if it’s that sort of call. And some of us in the USA are very considerate of others, whereas some are downright thoughtless. Things differ person to person at times.

LOL! Taxi service is the same here as it is most places. We usually just call an Uber. However, if you are in a high traffic tourist town, you can wave a taxi down. It’s also usually more prominent in areas where there are a lot of bars. We do say goodbye on the phone. 🤣 Tv and movies do it to shave screen time.

Dang! Watching this vid and all the food being seen just makes me very hungry. Great vid!

The part about us Americans genuinely wanting to help visitors have a good time is absolutely true. Many people also like to pay for their guests so when you come to America and a fan wants to pay for your dinner, it's best to just let it happen because we won't let it go 😂 Whenever you guys do come, you will have plenty of us wanting to help give you the greatest experience possible

50 states (50 stars on the flag), Washington DC is a district, and we have territories. Some of the territories are uninhabited Islands. I think people may end up counting Guam and Puerto Rico as states but they are 2 of the main territories. We have run into this before and it is what some other countries teach their kids that we have 52 or 54 states. Our flag has always had a star for each state which is an easy way for others to tell.

Your kids are so smart! I love your family. I always say good bye and "I love you" to all my family and close friends. I am American!.

Well, with the distance, in some states when you become introduced to someone they may hug you or give you a hand shake. But if youre just by soemone random leave a bubble. Its mostly common courtesy everywhere.

Here's the answer: "Shoe leather" It's a term in movie production for not showing an unnecessary conclusion, like someone saying goodbye. The movie audience assumes that a goodbye exchange took place between the characters even though it wasn"t seen in the movie. It's like when someone is climbing a flight of stairs in a movie, it's unnecessary to show every step taken because the audience again, assumes that character reaches the top stair. So, to answer you question, we do say goodbye in real life.

As someone who’s lived in New York City, Minnesota, Florida, and Alaska, this country is more diverse and expansive than one trip could encompass for you. I’d say 3 trips at least, because each one will be vastly different depending on where you go. One trip you’re takin body shots of rum on Coco beach, next trip you’re 4 IPA’s deep on a snowmachine in the HooDoo mountains.

A big reason for tipping here is sp restaurants can sell the food at a cheaper price. It also encourages wait staff to be friendlier. Crappy service means less money. Wait staff also tend to make much more (if they're good) than those making minimum wage. A lot of waiters/waitresses like having tips. Some make thousands or more a week on tips alone, sspecially if they're good.

In the US, we are extremely diverse. I moved from New York to Oklahoma and the culture is very different. The words used and accent when talking are also different in the different regions of the US.

One of the reasons why actors in TV shows don't say "Goodbye" at the end of phone calls is because of the time restrictions. Networks can be extremely strict about how long an episode of a show is, and cutting out the goodbyes saves a second or two for something else. It may not seem like much, but it can be vital when it comes to directors having to edit their episodes to fit into the time slots.

Food tours are everything!!! I’m from Arizona, it’s amazing. Definitely worth a visit!

As an American this is super interesting! There's stuff I didn't realize would be weird for other cultures.

When talking about distance (during the imperial system segment), most people will use distance in units of time; like where I'm from, everyone says, "it takes me about 10 minutes to drive up work," when talking about how far away they live from their workplace

Yes, service people do have to pay taxes on their tips. Because tips are often paid in cash and may not get reported, the IRS assumes that the server received in tips 8% of the price of all they served. That means when the customer does not tip anything, the server has to pay tax on money they never received. It cost them to serve you. At restaurants, tip 20% of the pre-tax totals. That’s the easiest to calculate and the amount expected.

A good thing to remember is that if you ask how far something is, someone will most likely tell you in time rather than miles. Loll and we definitely say goodbye. It’s only in movies where people just hang up

Something you'll experience also in the south is when you ask for directions, (at least here in FL), we tend to express distance in measurements of time rather than miles or whatnot. So it'll be like "Hey how far is that restaurant you mentioned?" "Oh about 30 minutes" And anything less than two hours away here is considered local.

1:24 It depends. San Francisco Bay Area public transit works well, from Marin to Oakland / Fremont, to San Mateo county to San Jose (silicon valley). Sacramento is good, LA is good, San Diego is going through a strike right now last I checked.

A place in the US is Saratoga County, NY. We got a lot of cool stuff to do especially if you like history!

When ending a phone call, I always say goodbye. I don't recall too many people that don't do that. Maybe it a regional thing, but for 73 years I've always done it. Really enjoy your videos!

As an American I have to say pretty much every other person I’ve spoken on the phone with here fights to be the last one to say goodbye😂 Trust me, we’re also very confused why American movies/tv series display so many phone conversations without the characters saying some sort of “goodbye”

Lol just had a 4 day trip to Seattle, keep in mind im from Southern California, and we barely did most things comfortably, gotta really get a feel for the size to plan things properly.

Tip for saving money when eating at restaurants, if you are at a sit down restaurant always order water instead of soft drinks. This will cut about 5-10 dollars off your bill. St fast food establishments always order small drinks, most are self serve and you can refill as often as you like.

Once you move to the US, tipping becomes reflexive, even if you travel to Europe or Asia. It’s happened many times when I’ve been overseas, but the thing I recall most was a bartender in a hotel in Alice Springs (Australia). He was a nice guy, but somewhat surly with really poor customer service. I tipped him 25% anyway. The next day, when my party arrived in the hotel bar, he rushed over to see what we wanted. The bar was busy, but his service on the second day was beyond impeccable. In the instant, tipping was stunningly effective!

The US only has 50 states because it doesnt count DC, Guam, Puerto Rico or other areas as states (yet). Hawaii has 8 major islands (137 total) and it is a single state. This was so interesting to watch! eta- we definitely say goodbye at the end of calls

I know other countries do not tip but in USA it is a must. Servers in this country make 2.13 per hour. I waited tables for many many years and it was always a bit shocking when a foreign family of 8 sat at my table, ate 200.00 worth of food, ran me after all their requests for two hours and then left a filthy area with no tip. I worked for them for two hours and made 4 bucks from the facility I worked for. I was always delighted to meet people who were visiting from other lands and would always try and talk with them if it was possible and i soon learned why they didn’t tip…..but nevertheless-it is a lot of labor, for nothing but experience. A standard of amount to tip is 20% of bill. With exceptional service and a genuinely nice and efficient server, anything over 20% is awesome. And YES we do pay tax on our tips!! So if you can, tip with cash, it helps us alot because we don’t have to claim it because it is undocumented.

No, we definitely say goodbye on the phone. I have one friend who doesn't, and everybody always laughs and thinks that's strange! So for 90+% of us, that's just normal. They only do it in movies because they don't want to add 20 minutes onto the movie with everybody saying goodbye every phone call.