Texas and American etiquette, two different worlds.

Etiquette, what all human beings should be conscience of and practice daily. But, people from different places may have a different perspective and idea on what etiquette is to them. For example, Texas, Texas likes to be known for being their own little country inside a country. Texas is a very unique place, with a very different way of thinking and being in general. And as to what I mean by being a little country inside another is that even though Texas is a very prideful and American place, it differs from the American ways, specifically in etiquette, well according to Kinky Friedman.

Texas etiquette is unique and one and only. I have experienced this myself, having moved from California, it was like if I had entered another world. According to Friedman, “to the 6.1 billion people on this planet who are not Texans, the very idea of Texas etiquette may seem like a contradiction” (704). Like Friedman says, Texas etiquette consists of the way of the people, and what is socially correct in Texas. Urinating outside is seen as a way of the people, and is acceptable in mostly all places in Texas, which as many people know, it is usually socially incorrect in the U.S. Women in Texas have a traditional way of greeting each other, “look at yeeewww!” (705) would be the most correct response anyone could get. According to kwintessential.co.uk, In the U.S it is more acceptable to greet someone with a simple, firm hand shake and a “hello,” greetings are more casual and always smile. Even the way of table etiquette is different in Texas, a big juicy steak and its respective sides are like the traditional and best dinner plate that anyone can have, but not without saying grace first. In the U.S. table etiquette is very important and has to be very proper. Also mentioned in the website, food is often served family-style, which means that it is in large serving dishes and passed around the table for everyone to serve themselves, and it is acceptable and a must to never rest your elbows on the table, place your napkin on your lap and to leave a small amount of food on your plate when you are finished eating (kwintessential.co.uk). Also unique to Texas is the way they communicate. Ya’ll is the most common way to address a group of people. Saying Sir and Ma’am to elders and people of authority is a must! It is also the best way to show respect to others. While in the U.S, you will probably be considered a little uneducated if you say ya’ll or ain’t, in the U.S  they “expect people to speak clearly and in a straightforward manner” (kwintessential.co.uk).

What I have seen and experienced while in Texas, which is the best etiquette anyone can have, is kind and friendly manners to new comers in the state. It is a very welcoming place and also a place with a lot of unity, even when you’re not in Texas, you are able to tell when someone is a Texan just by the way of knowing each other’s etiquette. Texans are best at unity, sticking together and standing up for each other. In my opinion Texas is a very wonderful and more relaxed place to live, even though it is in the U.S, Texas is a very unique place with its own form of traditions and etiquette. To sum up Texas etiquette and according to Friedman, ““Courtesy is owed. Respect is earned. Love is given.” That may be as close to Texas etiquette as any of us will ever get” (707). In the U.S, people like to say that it is a very united country and it is always kind and welcoming to new comers, but it is not always true, and I can confidently say that many people agree with the same thing. Even though the U.S. has its flaws, it is a wonderful country to live in and visit because it has many great qualities to it.

Works Cited

Friedman, Kinky. Social Studies. 2001. Print.

Handshake. 2012. smallbusiness.chron.com. Web. 25 Apr. 2012.

Kinky Friedman. 14 Apr. 2011. houstonpettalk.com. Web. 20 Apr. 2012.

Kwintessential. 2010. Web. 25 Apr. 2012. www.kwintessential.co.uk.

Texas Etiquette.  12 Mar. 2010. openlibrary.org. Web. 20 Apr. 2012.

Texas welcome sign. 20 Sep. 2006. eye-ride.com. Web. 20 Apr. 2012.

United States Welcome Sign. 2010. Travelpod.com. Web. 25 Apr. 2012.