Are Americans really outgoing?

There's an image that comes to mind when Koreans think of America.

People meeting for the first time in a club, kissing, hugging in the streets, and expressing emotions freely.

This is the typical formula of "American = outgoing" created by Hollywood movies.

But what happens when you actually come to live in America? Couples passionately kissing in the streets... you really don't see that.

I frequently travel through LAX and SF airports, but I've never seen anyone passionately kiss their partner at the airport like in the movies.

Ultimately, what I've felt after living in America for over 15 years is that Americans' "outgoingness" is different from what Koreans think.

When Americans meet for the first time and say, "Hey, how are you?" with a smile, that's not genuine interest.

It's just the way they start a conversation here. Interpreting that as "Wow, Americans are really outgoing!" is a misunderstanding.

Americans are more like "friendly individualists" than truly outgoing.

They can engage in small talk and greet you with a smile when they first meet, but that doesn't mean they're close.

Moreover, Americans are very sensitive about personal space.

In Korea, close female friends might walk around with their arms linked, but doing that here would make things awkward right away.

The concept of personal space is deeply ingrained in American society.

The American attitude towards PDA, or Public Display of Affection, is quite conservative.

Especially when it comes to passionate kissing in public places like streets or restaurants? That would get you a "get a room" look.

Restraint in public spaces is one of the core values of American culture.

Americans tend to clearly separate public and private spaces, believing that deep expressions of affection are more natural in homes or personal spaces.

Interestingly, Americans who are crazy about Korean dramas often ask, "Why don't Koreans express affection in public like in American dramas?"

Hey, you don't do it either. The difference is that in America, it's more about "it shouldn't be done" while in Korea, it's closer to "it's embarrassing to do it."

So, I think the idea that Americans are outgoing is only half true.

While they may have high surface-level sociability, when it comes to the depth of real emotions, Americans are surprisingly guarded.

Once you understand the reality of a country where it's hard to see a kiss on the street, you realize how simplistic the formula of "America = free-spirited" is.

This is why you shouldn't learn about American culture through movies.