In the United States, friendships can be close, constant, intense, generous, and real, yet fade away in a short time if things change. Neither side feels hurt by this. Both may exchange Christmas greeting for a year or two, perhaps a few letters for a while--- then no more. If the same two people meet again by chance, even years later, they pick up the friendship where it’s left off and are delighted.
In the States, you can feel free to visit people’s homes, share their holidays, enjoy their children and their lives without fear that you are taking on a lasting obligation (义务). Do not hesitate to accept hospitality (款待) because you cannot give it in return. No one will expect you to do so for they know you are far from home. Americans will enjoy welcoming you and be pleased if you accept their hospitality easily.
Once you arrive there, the welcome will be full and warm and real. Most visitors find themselves easily invited into many homes there. In some countries it is considered inhospitable to entertain at home, offering what is felt as “merely” home cooked food, not “doing something” for your guest. It is felt that restaurant entertaining shows more respect and welcome. Or for various other reasons, such as crowded space, language difficulties, or family custom, outsiders are not invited into homes.
In the United States, both methods are used, but it is often considered more friendly to invite a person to one’s home than to go to a public place, except in pure business relationships. So, if your host or hostess brings you home, do not feel that you are being shown inferior (差的) treatment.
Don’t feel neglected if you do not find flowers awaiting you in your hotel room either. Flowers are very expensive there, hotel delivery is uncertain, arrival times are delayed, changed, or canceled –so flowers are not customarily sent as a welcoming touch. Please do not feel unwanted! Outward signs vary in different lands ; the inward welcome is what matters ,and this will be real.

在美国，人们可以有亲密，持续，强烈，慷慨和真实的友谊。但是随着情况变化，这个友谊可以很快淡化消失。双方都不会觉得被伤害。他们可能会有一两年交换圣诞卡，或者过一阵写几封信，然后就没有下文了。如果这两个人以后有机会再见面，即使过了很多年，他们又会很高兴地重续旧情。
在美国，你尽可以去别人家，共渡假日，享受他们的孩子和生活，而不用担心将来的义务。不要因为不知如何回报而不敢接收别人的款待。没有人指望回报，因为他们知道你远离家乡。美国人会很高兴接待你，而且 很高兴你爽快接收邀请。你到他们那里时，你会受到全心全意的欢迎。大多数来访者很容易受到许多家庭的邀请。在有些国家，如果在家里接待客人，“只”提供家常食品而没有其他娱乐节目，会被认为不够热情。人们会认为在饭店招待更能表达尊重和欢迎。也许他们不邀请外人到家里，因为家里太挤，语言不通，或者家里的传统使然。
在美国，两者皆可。但是通常除了纯粹生意上的来往外，邀请别人到家里比去公共场合更显得友好。所以，如果你的主人带你回家，不要觉得他们给你二等待遇。
如果你的旅馆房间没有预备鲜花，也不要觉得被冷落。鲜花在美国很贵。旅馆投递常常不可靠。客人行程常常改变或取消。所以旅馆通常不以鲜花来欢迎客人。请不要感到不受欢迎！在不同国度，外在的做法可能不同。但是内心的欢迎是更重要的。而在美国，你得到的欢迎会是真诚的。