AnAmericanfriendhasinvitedyoutovisithisfamily.YouveneverbeentoanAmericanshomebefore,andyourenotsurewhattodo.Shouldyoutakeagift?Howshouldyoudress?Whattimeshouldyouarrive?Whatshouldyoudowhenyougetthere?Gladyouasked.Whenyouretheguest,youshouldjustmakeyourselfathome.Thatswhathospitalityisallabout:makingpeoplefeelathomewhentheyrenot.Thequestionofwhetherornottobringagiftoftenmakesguestssquirm.Givingyourhostagiftisnotjustasocialnicetyinsomecultures-itsexpected.ButinAmericanculture,aguestisnotobligatedtobringapresent.Ofcourse,somepeopledobringasmalltokenofappreciationtotheirhost.Appropriategiftsforgeneraloccasionsmightbeflowers,candyor-ifthefamilyhassmallchildren-toys.Ifyouchoosenottobringagift,dontworry.Noonewillevennotice.Americanhospitalitybeginsathome-especiallywhenitinvolvesfood.MostAmericansagreethatgoodhomecookingbeatsrestaurantfoodanyday.Wheninvitedforameal,youmightask,"CanIbringanything?"Unlessitsapotluck,whereeveryonebringsadish,thehostwillprobablyrespond,"No,justyourself."Formostinformaldinners,youshouldwearcomfortable,casualclothes.Plantoarriveontime,orelsecalltoinformyourhostsofthedelay.Duringthedinnerconversation,itscustomarytocomplimentthehostessonthewonderfulmeal.Ofcourse,thebiggestcomplimentistoeatlotsoffood!Americanhospitalitybeginsathome-especiallywhenitinvolvesfood.MostAmericansagreethatgoodhomecookingbeatsrestaurantfoodanyday.Wheninvitedforameal,youmightask,"CanIbringanything?"Unlessitsapotluck,whereeveryonebringsadish,thehostwillprobablyrespond,"No,justyourself."Formostinformaldinners,youshouldwearcomfortable,casualclothes.Plantoarriveontime,orelsecalltoinformyourhostsofthedelay.Duringthedinnerconversation,itscustomarytocomplimentthehostessonthewonderfulmeal.Ofcourse,thebiggestcomplimentistoeatlotsoffood!Americansusuallyliketohaveadvancenoticewhenpeoplecometoseethem.Onlyveryclosefriendsdropbyunannounced.Thisisespeciallytrueiftheguestswanttostayforafewdays.Heresagoodruleofthumbforhouseguests:Shortstaysarebest.Asone19thcenturyFrenchwriterputit,"Thefirstdayamanisaguest,thesecondaburden,thethirdapest."Evenrelativesdontusuallystayforseveralweeksatatime.WhileyourestayingwithanAmericanfamily,trytokeepyourlivingareaneatandtidy.Yourhostfamilywillappreciateyourconsideration.Andtheymayeveninviteyouback!MostAmericansconsiderthemselveshospitablepeople.FolksinthesouthernUnitedStates,inparticular,takeprideinentertainingguests.Infact,"southernhospitality"hasbecomelegendary.ButinallpartsofAmerica,peoplewelcometheirguestswithopenarms.Sodontbesurprisedtofindthewelcomematoutforyou.Justdontforgettowipeyourfeet.一位美国朋友邀请你去他家.你以前从未去过美国人的家,你不确定该怎么做.该带一个礼物吗?该怎么穿?该几点到?到了那里该做什么?很高兴你发问.你若是客人,只要使自己感到自在就好了.待客之道就是这样：虽然不是在家里,却使客人有实至如归之感.是否带礼物的问题常使客人不安.在某些文化中,送主人礼物不只是社交礼节——还是必要的.但是在美国文化中,客人并不一定要带礼物.当然,有些人的确会带个表示感谢的小礼物给他们的主人.在一般情况下,带花或是糖果,如果这家人有小孩,玩具应当是恰当的礼物.如果你选择不带礼物,别担心,甚至没有人会注意到的.美国人的待客之道从家里开始——尤其是和食物有关.大多数美国人都同意,无论如何,好的家常菜胜过餐馆的菜.受邀吃饭时,你或许可以问：「我可以带些什么吗?」除非是每人带一道菜的聚餐,否则主人很可能会回答：「不用,你来就可以了.」大多数非正式的聚餐,你应该穿舒适、轻便的衣服.设法准时到,否则打电话告诉主人你会晚点到.用餐时,习惯上,人们会称赞女主人烹调的美食.当然,最大