[refurb]

This article reminds me of when I landed a job in the US (at the time I was living in Canada).

As a part of the relocation package I was sent a book "Culture Shock: USA".

Quite an entertaining read. The most memorable quote was "In the US, it is usually typical for a husband to accompany his wife to the hospital when she gives birth".

[raverbashing]

Yes

I remember reading one of the guides created by an American University to their foreign student

It goes in such excruciating details to things like dating, etc

I suppose this is for the benefit of students from some forgotten city in southeast asia that may think of getting a goat to impress the ladies

Still, it sounds awfully patronizing sometimes.

[kiiski]

It might be because the things that you find obvious, simply aren't so obvious all around the world.

[raverbashing]

Of course, I just found it funny and as I said patronizing.

They gave the guide to me as part of an interculturality course.

[joshAg]

I take it that's not the case in Canada?

[a-priori]

It is normal here in Canada for a husband to accompany his wife to the hospital, and has been at least since I was born in the 80s. I think refurb's point is that it's strange to include that in something you give a Canadian moving to the US.

[refurb]

That was my point exactly. Canada and the US share 90%+ of their culture, so it was interesting for two reasons:

1. Why send that kind of a book to a Canadian? 2. It's interesting to read what other cultures might find shocking about US culture.

[dalke]

I'm going to guess that was part of their standard "foreigner moving to the US" package?

One of the parts of that book I remember is that you do not talk to other people while at the urinal.

[Cyranix]

The only possible explanation I can think of is that such a statement would be targeting the non-Anglo Canadian residents, who may be able to live in relative isolation from what we'd consider mainstream North American culture. Even that explanation seems a bit far-fetched, but perhaps there are semi-detached Asian immigrant or First Nations groups. Interesting anecdote.

[nandemo]

Well, in that case refurb's comment is as confusing as the statement in the guide book...