Let' have a "party"

Have you ever joined a party in an American style in the USA? I think that one of the most different cultures between the USA and Korea is understading a party. After I came to the USA, I had diverse experienc in American culture of parties.

When I had a my son's birthday party last December, I was very surprised that many parents complained about my different manner to invite friends and their parent to my son's birthday party. As same way as I used to do in Korea, I sent an invitation card which had contents of the place and the time of the party. However, I realized that it was a big mistake to except my email address or my phone call information in the card because it was a necessary process in the USA for the guests to give an answer to the hosts about how many people would go. What a suprising thing it was! In Korea, people who have a party don't care how many people would come, and it is preparing the abundant table for guests that hosts have to do all things for a party. Fortunately, at my son's birthday party, my son's classmates and their parents happily got together and enjoyed foods, drinks, and games which were prepared at the D&B restaurant for kids in Austin.

Most Korean people, including me, enjoy a party sitting their prepared seats, taking their served meals, and talking to each other without hanging around the place. When some people invite to their house in Korea, most guests are expecting some special foods of the party because having a party means having plentiful foods together in Korea. I still feel more comfortable when I can enjoy a party in the Korean way. Just after I came to Austin, I had a chance to join a party which was held for the residents in my apartment office. My children and I didn't have a dinner looking for a big party meal like Korea and we went to the party at 6 pm. However, my children and I was very shocked and disappionted because there were some snacks and drinks. There were no special foods and no chairs! How weird the American party was! Most people in the party were standing and hanging around the place with loud music, they didn't care who and when they were comming. We felt uncomfortable and came back my house. After then I don't expect any special and aboundant food of a party in the USA.