As the American people's concept of being polite is different from that held here, I'd like to discuss with you the use of "please", "excuse me" and "thank you". I have noticed that the Chinese people use "please" as often as we do on most occasions. But on some occasions they don't use this word. For instance, Chinese teachers rarely say "please sit down" when their students have answered their questions and the traffic police here are also not accustomed to using "please" when they are on duty.
We say "please pass me the salt" instead of stretching out our arms to reach for it. So don't forget to say "please" whenever the situation requires it if you are in the United States.
I believe we say "excuse me" more often and on more occasions than the Chinese people. We say "Excuse me" when we need to pass in front of someone, to leave a party or the dinner table or when we want to excuse ourselves from company or find ourselves late for an appointment and so on.
"Thank you" means that you appreciate what someone has done for you, very often very small and most ordinary things. So we in the West thank people all day long.
