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There are many cultural and systematic differences between the lifestyles of Sri Lanka and USA. Below are some of the differences in contrast to how we do it in our ways. This is a collection of points from a research done using international students here in United States.

• At most of the American airports, luggage carrier trolley's are not free of charge. You will have to pay a nominal charge of 25 cents to 1 dollar.
• Unlike Sri Lanka in America, one has to keep to the right hand side of the road. And the drivers seat is on the left side of the car.
• For crossing roads there will be buttons provided on the signal post, which have to be pressed inorder to get the "Walk signal".
• You will be fined heavily, if found walking on the highways.
  For all nature calls, you are suppose to take the closest exit, and use public rest rooms.
• Make sure you cross a busy street at the pedestrian crossing, otherwise you could be fined if caught.
• In public local transport buses, there is no ticket conductor. Also in some places you won't get any formal tickets for travelling, unless you want a day pass.
  You need to make a stop request to the driver, by pulling the bell string.
• In local public bus, you need to drop the fare into a cash-box by the driver's side. (Don't give it to the driver). Dollar bills will go in the machine, and coins into the drop box. Always carry the exact fare, since there is no provision to get back the change.
  ** Remember: Whatever you put in the cash box, if extra, is gone. Maximum driver can do is, to give you that much worth tickets, but not the money.
• In local trains/bus, there are two types of travel tickets, a "Day pass", which allows you to take as many trips as required for the whole day. Or a "one way ticket", which is good for a single ride. There is a standard fixed charge for singal ride ticket, whether its for the next stop or the last one.
• You won't find any taxi/cab waiting in a queue on the road sides. You will have to call them up (at the numbers given in the yellow pages). Although there are taxi stands at the Airports and Railway Stations.
• Most of the Gas Stations (Petrol Pumps) are self serviced, i.e. you need to fill it up yourself. And all machines are equipped to pay by credit cards.
• Some of the traffic signals are equipped with video cameras. Don't wonder if you get a traffic violation ticket in your mail box.
• You can be fined for driving above the posted speed limit. Make sure you know the speed limit and drive within it.
• Your license can be seized, if caught drunk, while driving.
• If a cop (police officer) asks you to stop while you are driving, just stop the car at the right side of the road, and wait inside. Never get out of the car. Cop may consider it as an offense, and might shoot you for self defense.
• Never throw any kind of paper or any other waste out of your car windows. If caught, you might be fined for littering.
• Try to avoid using car horns, unless required.
• Normally, apartments provide basic kitchen appliances like cooking burners, oven, refrigerator.
• Mostly all the apartments are equipped with centralized heating system. And some are equipped with A.C. too.
• You would find both "Hot" and "Cold" water in the tap at all places, viz. Apartments, offices as well as in all public rest rooms.
• At the restaurants, you won't get finger bowl. One can use paper napkins.
• At fast food joints, you would be asked if the food is for "Here" or "To Go"? "Here" means to have there itself, and "To Go" means packed/ parceled.
• At most American restaurants, it is a custom to tip the server (not waiter). Normally a sum of minimum 10% of the check (not bill).
• In most of the restaurants you will find buffet. At buffets, it is a custom to use a fresh plate for each next serving. Leave the earlier one at the table itself, server will clear it up.
• At any Dine-in place, don't go and occupy any empty table yourself. Wait at the front desk, as someone would assist you to get seated.
• Are you a Vegetarian? No Problem. Just be careful while ordering to specify "no meat" and don't say anything else like "without meat", "meat-less" etc., as they don't understand these terms.
• When you want a drink without ice, specify "No Ice", and not "Without Ice".
• You would be fined heavily, if caught shop lifting, and might be handed over to the Police.
• In US, Beer and Wine is available in the super markets. At some stores you might also find hard drinks like, Whiskey and Rum.
• Don't forget to carry your ID's having your age proof, if you are walking down in a bar, to have some drinks.
• Electric switches are operated in the opposite direction, i.e. upside-ON and downside-OFF.
• Unlike Sri lanka, in US the T.V. channels can't be tuned according to your wish. For e.g. ESPN will come on channel 39 for everybody, you can't change it. This is applied according to your area and the cable company.
• Never ever ask for a rubber when you need an eraser. Here a rubber means "condom" !!
• The date is written as, MM/ DD/ YY i.e. Month/ Date/ Year.
• When you are going to smoke, don't say, "I am going out for a fag". "Fag" in British English means, "to smoke", whereas in American English, it means a "Gay".
• Use water filters for drinking water, as there may be some lead content in it.
• Generally, there are no ON-OFF switch next to every plug points. They are always ON. Just connect the plug whenever necessary.
• Here pink color shirt is normally taken as the sign of being a "Gay".
• US is divided into 4 time zones. Depending on the zone, your time will differ from any other zone state.
• All watches are reset twice every year (viz. April and October), in order to make the maximum use of the day light.
• At work or elsewhere while talking, if you want to say Yes, just say "YES". Don't nod your head up and down. Moving your head side to side is very confusing, and its mostly taken as NO.
• Never, ever talk in your native language in presence of Americans during a gathering. They don't like it.
• There is no such thing as "Eve teasing" in the USA. It is called "sexual harassment", and one can land in jail, if caught.
• If you don't find public toilets anywhere around, the best option is to go to any fast food joint like Mc. Donald's etc.
• Don't say, "Phone was engaged", as here engaged means getting engaged. Instead say "There was a busy tone".
• Don't say, "I'll ring you back." or "I'll give you a ring later". Here ring is the engagement ring, rather say "I'll call you, or buzz you".
• Don't offer chewing gum, or a breath freshener to others. It gives them a message that they have a bad breath. Your intention may not be that, but it is easily mistaken.
• Don't call a black person a "Negro" or "Black", it is always polite to call them "African Americans". Also never call an "American Indian" as a "Red Indian", they get very offended.
• Don't walk/sit with arms around the shoulders of anybody of same sex, as you might be mistaken for "a Gay" or "a Lesbian".
• In cars, kids under 12 years of age should always be seated at the back with a seat belt. Additional car seat must be used for infants and toddlers.
• When standing in a line make sure there is enough space between you and the person standing in front of you. If you stand too close to strangers, they feel you are invading their personal space....Watch Out!!!
• In supermarkets, if the cashier asks for paper or plastic? It means what would you like to carry your stuff in, paper bags or plastic bags.
• During your conversation, Don't say, "I have a doubt", rather say "I have question/query"
• Usually, all ATMs will only give $20 bills and you may only withdraw in multiples of $20.
• FREE is a buzz word here. You may get hundreds of ads with FREE in bigger fonts. Make sure that you read and understand all terms and conditions. Look for any hidden costs (Generally referred as Catch) before accepting such offers. Note : Generally, the Catch is written in almost unreadable font size.