When in doubt, ask!

If you are new to this country, you may not know this: The United States is a country where information flows to those who ask for it. It is not considered rude for you to ask for more information or clarification when you don't know something. For example, if you go to the bank and speak to an account representative about opening an account, he or she will begin to tell you about all of the account choices you have. After explaining the different types of accounts, you may still feel that you have some questions. (Most people do.) This is because, although the representative probably gave you the basic information about each type of account, it would take quite a while to explain everything to you. So, there is an opportunity, then for you to speak up and ask any questions you may have. You might not feel comfortable doing this in a formal situation such as at a bank, so you may have to start with informal situations. If you meet someone new, who has told you where he or she is from, you may ask further questions about his or her hometown. When you go into a grocery store, and you see a store clerk, you may ask, "Could you tell me where the ......is?" Call up a local store and ask, "What are your hours?" Become familiar with the way people respond to your questions. Each time you will be more comfortable.