Image: whitehouse.gov

Expat is a shortened version or a nickname for an expatriate – a person living outside their native country or who has settled themselves abroad for a time. As a cross-cultural consultant, I conduct ongoing virtual training for expats who live and work here in the U.S. Many times, I am asked about our government and the history of our presidents. 

It is important for all of us to know about the nation’s holidays, not just our visiting colleagues. Presidents’ Day was initially known as Washington Day and celebrated on February 22 to honor the birthday of the nation’s first president, George Washington. After Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865, the U.S started celebrating his birthday on February 12.

In 1971, both holidays were combined, celebrated the third Monday in February, and named Presidents’ Day. As of 1971, Presidents’ Day honors all U.S. presidents, not just George Washington, who served as the country’s first leader and Abraham Lincoln, who helped abolish slavery.

In U.S. culture, this Monday in February creates a popular 3-day weekend because many government offices close. People use this weekend to enjoy the nation’s historic landmarks, parks, and waters. Whether you are an expat or a longtime U.S. resident, we hope that you enjoy this U.S. quiz with your family and friends this weekend:

  1. Teddy bears were named after which US President?
    • Theodore Roosevelt
    • Abraham Lincoln
    • John Adams
    • Franklin D. Roosevelt
  2. Who is the oldest U.S. president elected?
    • William McKinley
    • Calvin Coolidge
    • Donald J. Trump
    • Joseph R. Biden
  3.  Who was the first U.S. President elected under the Constitution created in 1787?
    • John Quincy Adams
    • John Adams
    • George Washington
    • James Madison
  4.  How many Presidents have served under the United States of America?
    • 48
    • 46
    • 44
    • 45
  5. Which U.S. President was his high school’s head cheerleader?
    • Barack Obama
    • Ronald Reagan
    • George W. Bush
    • Jimmy Carter
  6.  Which U.S. President holds a patent?
    • Abraham Lincoln
    • Barack Obama
    • James Madison
    • John F. Kennedy
  7. Which U.S. president was unanimously elected?  
    • Thomas Jefferson
    • Barack Obama
    • George Bush
    • George Washington
  8. Which U.S. president was the youngest to be elected?
    • John F. Kennedy
    • Franklin Roosevelt
    • Abraham Lincoln
    • Barack Obama
  9. Which U.S. president won a Grammy Award?
    •  John F. Kennedy
    • George H. W. Bush
    • Barack Obama
    • Richard Nixon
  10. Which U.S. president died 32 days after being elected from a cold he got from standing in the rain giving his inauguration speech? 
    • John Tyler
    • William Henry Harrison
    • Franklin D. Roosevelt
    • Harry S. Truman

Answer key:

  1. Theodore Roosevelt
  2. Joseph R. Biden
  3. George Washington
  4. 46
  5. George W. Bush
  6. Abraham Lincoln
  7. George Washington
  8. John F. Kennedy
  9. Barack Obama
  10. William Henry Harrison

Sharon Schweitzer, J.D., is a diversity and inclusion consultant, cross-cultural trainer, etiquette expert, and the founder of Access to Culture. In addition to her accreditation in intercultural management from the HOFSTEDE Centre, she is an attorney and mediator. Her Amazon #1 Best Selling book in International Business, Access to Asia, won a coveted Kirkus Star, and was named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books. She’s a winner of the British Airways International Trade Award at the Greater Austin Business Awards.

#SharonSchweitzer, #AccesstoAsia, #AccesstoCulture, #Cross-CulturalTrainer, #PresidentsDay2021 #PresidentsDay #InterculturalCommunication, #InternationalCommunication, #Interculturalist  #expat #expatriate #modernmanners #February2021 #PresidentsDayQuiz