About Smooth Sailing Peer

S.S. Peer’s mission is to enrich a smooth sail through American culture by providing international students with informative cultural disparities

 

About Me

Hi, I am the founder of SSPeer.com! I was born in Yorkshire, England under the fireworks of Bonfire Night 1997. I attended primary school, as did my elder sister, Lauren, at Rudston Proprietary School. We grew up in a traditional stone house in a cozy cul-de-sac of only nine homes. Although life in the UK fostered many wonderful memories, my Mum and Dad sought a new life for our family in the United States. In 2003, we said our farewells and so our adventure began! Although research may have made the transition less tumultuous, there were some lessons that only time and personal exposure revealed. At home I am surrounded by British humor, dialect, and cuisine, whilst my social life is quintessentially Floridian. From my experiences among such a disparity, I hope to shed personal light onto some of the culture shocks you may run into. Olivia Campbell

faucet = tap
  • Paul Singh - Bangladesh. said :

    I thought I was prepared for my new life, I never expected there to be so many surprises. The meal portions are huge and the endless free refills on soda's are great!

    Arrived 2014
  • Martin said :

    UNDER CONSTRUCTION 1

    Martin Z., England.
  • Catherine said :

    UNDER CONSTRUCTION 2

    Catherine S., Canada.
  • Philippe said :

    UNDER CONSTRUCTION 3

    Philippe A., France.

YOUR COUNTRIES

 

Come cultural and traditional differences between your country and the USA

More countries coming soon:

  • China


    • Americans are task-oriented while the Chinese are relationship-oriented. Workers in America will often prioritize their goals over personal relations.
    Americans value punctuality, while time serves more as a guideline in China. “If you’re early, you’re on time; if you’re on time, you’re late; and if you’re late, you’re left”
    Americans value individuality over group efforts. Although Americans undoubtedly value teamwork, individuals typically devote their efforts toward personal goals and direct dreams toward their own success.
    Americans are very expressive. Americans are proud to express personal opinions. They are also more willing to display their emotions than are the Chinese. In terms of school or work, Americans are highly encouraged to voice their ideas to demonstrate interest and concern. American students will often balance academics with extracurricular activities. While Chinese students are expected to focus solely on academics, American students are encouraged to pursue interests outside of school while also prioritizing their grades.
    Americans value confidence. Although you may feel as though you are coming off as conceited or bold, a confident demeanor will elicit respect.
    One’s status in the work force is based on qualifications. While seniority plays a prominent role in one’s employment in China, American employers isolate one’s qualifications from their . The instance may arise that the youth can order the elderly.
    Modifications on meals are ok. When ordering a meal, you are more than entitled to ask for modifications or substitutions on your plate. Menus will usually state if modifications are not acceptable if such is the case.
    Less pollution! Although litter laws vary by state, there is little tolerance for pollution in America. For the sake of our global environment, please don’t litter!

  • Russia


    • Philanthropy, directly translated as “love of humanity”, is common in the states. It is based on the simple premise of helping others as a reflection of one’s own values. I encourage you to keep an open mind regarding service and volunteer work.
    Speculating an organization’s true intentions is wise, but don’t let fear of ulterior motives prevent your involvement in our national and global community.
    Cars are a necessity rather than a luxury in America. The nation as a whole has limited public transportation; the pedestrian-friendly culture of European countries did not transcend into US lifestyle.
    High school sports are taken very seriously. In America, students are encouraged to expose themselves to a broad variety of extracurricular activities while also demonstrating commitment to a select few. Student-athletes typically practice everyday, sometimes twice a day.
    Students will often choose to take advanced classes. Although core classes are required, the rigor of these courses is up to the student to decide.
    Free refills! Most restaurants will only charge you for non-alcoholic beverages once. Refills following your initial purchase are usually complimentary.
    It is common and acceptable for high school students to be unsure of what their life will consist of after graduation. As competition in the workforce furthers, students are compelled to go into their first year of university with specific interests in mind.
    Despite this expectation, however, many first-year students take a variety of courses in order to filter their interests toward a career path.

  • Portugal


    • It’s common to see people carrying a bottle of water. Despite the strong prevalence of public water fountains, many students and workers go about their day with their own refillable water bottle.
    Servers often bring the check once you finish a meal. Although considered rude in many cultures, as one may feel rushed or unwelcomed, American servers are trained to be punctual with their service and will not wait for you to ask for the check. Remember to suppress your own cultural implications when dining and realize the servers are only trying to keep you from waiting.

  • India

  • Pakistan

  • Germany

  • Spain

  • Scandinavia

  • Australia

FUNNY STORIES

"True stories from our web visitors"

 

The first story happened to me...

I was invited to a "fancy dress party". In England this is what we would call a "costume party"

I showed up dressed as a duck, whilst my friends showed up in cocktail dresses and gowns. :-(

I ordered a whole pizza pie to eat on my own. Being used to smaller portions, I thought I would be able to eat it all - no problem. I did, but it took me 5 days!!!

It took me while to get used to the term "fanny pack", I had always called it a "bum-bag".

trunk = boot

BLOG *Coming Soon*

Your chance to tell us about your cool experiences

 

America is fun 

Check back soon

Fun facts coming soon

It will be worth the wait

Countdown to launch

Welcome to America

zucchini = courgette

Privacy Policy

 

What happens on sspeer, stays on sspeer

We will not sell your email or contact info, we won't even give it away

We promise!

Jokes

 

Food Jokes
What do you get when you cross a hamburger with a computer? A big mac!

Empathy Jokes
Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

Pet Jokes
I went in to a pet shop. I said, “Can I buy a goldfish?” The guy said, “Do you want an aquarium?” I said, “I don’t care what star sign it is.”

Driving Jokes
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and a flat tire.

History Jokes
What do Alexander the Great and Winnie the Pooh have in common? Same middle name.

Family Jokes
If you want to find out who loves you more, stick your brother and dog in the trunk of your car for an hour. When you open the trunk, who is happy to see you?

Now for something silly
What’s brown and sticky? A stick.

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Contact details

Email :
crew@sspeer.com