I hear a lot of people around me say the f-word. Is it an American culture that I have to get used to?

The f-word is used so often nowadays and a lot of the times it is meant offensively but just as many times it is used by accident to express anger. For some people it just becomes second nature and they can't help saying it. With these people they usually don't mean it to be insulting. As long as it isn't directed towards you, you shouldn't be too worried