If Chinese visit America, what should they know?

If Chinese visit America, what should they know? I mean *really* know? Practical knowledge? What are the things they're not taught, that they won't get from books or movies, and that their teachers won't tell them?

They're college students. They're going to stay in North Dakota for 5 months starting January 5th, then Florida for another 5 months after that. I'm going to tell them about all the things in American culture that they're not told in books, by teachers, or even by foreign teachers. All the things that aren't brought up because people simply don't think about them or because they make one side or the other side lose face.

I feel responsible for them because frankly, they do know stuff, but there are also a lot of things that they're just simply not aware of and that no one will tell them until they're face to face with it (race issues, religion issues, politics, etc etc). Often they think "Americans are more open" but it's not true, we're just more open than them about certain things, not others.

Basic things we're going to talk about :

• How to dress warmly and what stores to visit for warm clothes (I'm from Minnesota, so I got this... ;-) ).

• What stereotypes do many people in the US have about Chinese people versus the Chinese government (and how they're not viewed as the same thing).

• The basics of Christianity and how to respectfully deal with/talk about religion when you are confronted with it.

• There are drugs on college campuses, how do you deal with that?

• What is culture shock? How do you recognize when it's happening to you and fix it?

• What mistakes do Chinese people often make when they travel abroad?

• What topics are American generally open about? What topics do Americans find uncomfortable to talk about?

• The size of personal space.

• How should you deal with a topic that you are uncomfortable talking about when an American inevitably asks you about it?

• Table manners.

• Garbage versus recycling. Picking up after yourself.

• How do Americans view themselves?

• What responsibilities and maturity level will Americans expect you to have because of your age?

• How do Americans view the idea of flattery and "face"?

• How do Americans interact with you when they are angry or upset?

• How should you interact with Americans when you are angry or upset?

• What is plagiarism? What is the view on in it in the US? What happens if you plagiarize? How to make sure you are not plagiarizing.

• Is the US actually as violent as it looks from movies and TV?

• How and who do you tip? What do you do with the tip?

• No spitting, hawking, or belching.

Anyone know of anything I've missed? I've run all these ideas past my boss, he's okay with it. I'm asking to teach in a small space like a tiny classroom. I think it will make it feel more intimate, more like a private talk or conversation than a big lecture. I think that should make them feel more comfortable talking or hearing about some of these topics.