Another thing that surprised me was how people made themselves available to talk to us. We got quite a few meetings on relatively short notice, and it made it p

Another thing that surprised me was how people made themselves available to talk to us. We got quite a few meetings on relatively short notice, and it made it possible to learn a lot in a short amount of time. ... It may also be that they're investing some of their time to discover, before every one else, new stuff that may be useful to them. Or it may be that they're just happy to help out! No doubt a little of all of these things. But Americans in general try to be helpful. If anything, people in the Bay area are a little more stand-offish, although this is not taken to an extreme. The helpfulness only extends so far for strangers (and even close friends) -- there often comes a point where people start to get a little impatient. This helpfulness is to be contrasted with the superb hospitality shown in some parts of the world. Americans are helpful but not very hospitable. Be prepared to fend for yourself here for anything beyond the basics.