In many traditional cultures, family plays a far more important role in people's lives than it does in the United States. Many people have small families and are estranged from cousins, aunts, uncles, and siblings. When children grow up and leave home for college, they begin new lives in cities far from home. In some cases, the child who attends college in another state does not return home after graduation but rather makes a new life in a new city. Families are therefore not as close as they were in the past, and in the United States, families are not as unified as they are in more traditional cultures. However, most people in America do try to retain family values as best they can, by arranging large holiday gatherings, talking on the phone or on the Internet frequently, or by making a point to maintain a sense of intimacy in spite of geographic barriers. I would also agree with the poster that it is important to have fun as a family; family gatherings should not be stressful. Also, family means something different to different people.
Response to second thread agree, but I would also add that the differences in food shopping are evident also in people who live in the suburbs vs. people who live in urban communities. In the United States, people who live in cities are highly likely to shop frequently, by purchasing fresh vegetables, fruits, and...
In cities like New York, small corner stores are common and popular. In cities that have "urban sprawl," such as Los Angeles, the reverse is true. People do tend to shop less often and stock up on bulk items. The proliferation of stores like Costco is a modern American phenomenon that reflects suburban lifestyles. In traditional cultures and also in Europe, shopping tends to be done daily, by purchasing fresh foods from local vendors. Food is important to all people in all cultures, but food shopping differs widely from place to place. Also, the significance of family meals varies from culture to culture. In most cultures, though, meals are often social activities.
Response to third thread
Names can tell a lot about a person's ancestry and family background. In some cases, the person's family name totally gives away his or her ethnicity. For example, a person whose last name is Cohen is probably Jewish, and a person whose last name is Chan is probably Chinese. It is true that most cultures today are patrilineal: that is, the woman surrenders her family name when she marries and acquires the surname of her husband. However, in the United States and in some European countries it is becoming more common for women to retain their family name in order to preserve their identities and the integrity of their family name.
