American Culture, Tradition and Customs
English Language and American Culture
There are tons of on-line resources for learning languages, but here are a few sites that are free or have a minimal cost. If you come across other resources you'd recommend, please contact us, so we can add them to this page!
http://www.learnenglish.de/basicspage.htm
http://www.englishclub.com/learn-english.htm
A short introduction to American culture will be good preparation before traveling to Penn State. If you have other recommendations, please let us know, and we will add them to the site for future students!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_the_United_States
http://www.americanhospitals.com/questions/american/amervalues.htm
http://www.legacee.com/Culture/AmericanCulture.html
Local Culture and Customs
Tailgating
Tailgating is very popular outside Beaver Stadium. Alcohol is permitted in all areas around Beaver Stadium on home football games, except inside Beaver Stadium and the Bryce Jordan Center (Alcohol is permitted inside Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, but only alcohol purchased inside the ballpark). Both the Bryce Jordan Center and Medlar Field at Lubrano Park are open for special events before kickoff during home football games.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WD-MWUcNmg0&feature=related
Farmer’s Market
The farmer’s market is open 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Fridays on Locust Lane in downtown of State College. Farmers including some Amish farmers, sell fruit, vegetables, flowers and baked goods.
Bar Tour/ Pub Crawl
A pub crawl, sometimes called a bar tour, bar crawl or bar-hopping, is the act of one or more people drinking in multiple pubs or bars in a single night, normally walking or busing to each one between drinking.
There are dozens of bars in the downtown where Penn State students hang out during the weekend. You can watch sport game, chat with friends and make new friends there. Remember in the United States, you are not allowed to drink and go to the bar under 21. Do not forget to bring your passport with you when you join in a bar tour.Amish People
Almost all of the Amish are from Switzerland and the Palatinate region of southwest Germany. Although they have been in the United States for centuries, they still speak low German, referred to in the States as “Pennsylvania Dutch.” To be sure, virtually all Amish are bilingual and can speak fluent English. But their preferred tongue is Pennsylvania Dutch. This is the language in which they hold their church services and the language they speak among themselves.
http://amishpeople.org/amish-people-who-are-they/
http://amishpeople.org/amish-shun-modern-inventions/
