Men are now expected to help with the housework and childcare, and women may play important roles in the workplace. However, people may use their hands and or touch your arm to emphasize a point. They also like to have eye contact to indicate their sincerity. Americans generally do not bow or keep their eyes down in the presence of an elder or employer. Although Americans tend to be informal, they generally value punctuality.
Time is seen as a commodity, and waiting is often viewed as a waste of time.
In general, Americans try to be as prompt as possible, especially when interacting with professional offices, and therefore, you should too. To ensure that you will be able to talk with someone, it's best to set an appointment and be on time. In general, arriving 30 minutes or later to any arranged meeting is considered to be rude and may result in a canceled appointment. You should tell them immediately whether or not you can attend, you should never accept an invitation out of politeness, if you have no intention of going. When accepting an invitation for a meal, be sure to explain to your host if there is anything you are not supposed to eat.