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Each country has its own rules – this is what you need to know when you are going to travel. Some people go to travel, forgetting before that to get to know the country they are unfamiliar with, but in vain! You can find yourself in a ridiculous situation in front of the inhabitants of another country, because what is considered politeness for us may seem like an insult to others. For example, in Russia, if a young person does not give way to an elderly person in public transport, it is considered a bad deed, and in the USA, an elderly person may consider an offer to give way to him as an insult! Therefore, it is very important to familiarize yourself with the rules of etiquette of other countries.
10 Compliments
We believe that in order to impress a person or win him over, we should say something like: “You have beautiful hair!” “How much I like your jacket, it is chosen with taste,” etc. When we praise, we hope that the interlocutor will become closer to us. But the following happens – the person becomes uncomfortable, and he shyly says in response: “Thank you.” But, for example, in Nigeria and Senegal, praise is inappropriate. In these states, compliments are regarded as a desire to take it for yourself, and even if a person does not want to part with his jacket, he will have to give it away out of politeness.
9. arrive on time
Remember how teachers and parents told us: “Get out earlier, otherwise you will be late again”? This is really sound advice. Employers and people with whom you agreed to meet will definitely appreciate your punctuality. But in some parts of the world, such a gesture is a sign of bad manners. For example, in Tanzania, if you arrive on time, you will be perceived as an ill-mannered person. All normal people arrive late, at least 20 minutes late. Not every resident has a car, and not everyone can get on public transport on time, so you should not ask a person to come exactly at the appointed time. This is considered rude. In Mexico, it is also better to show up late for a meeting.
8. Food with hands
Since childhood, we know that eating with our hands at the table is wrong, both teachers and parents told us about this, so we never do it. But in some countries this is the only true way to eat. For example, in Mexico, eating some dishes should not be accompanied by a knife, in Germany it is also undesirable to use a knife to cut potatoes (cooks will perceive such a gesture as a poorly cooked product – not cooked enough), in India, eating food without kitchen utensils is considered the only right way.
7. Tip
We don’t like to appear poor, and when we tip our staff, we feel more confident. Therefore, if a person is not going to tip the waiter when he comes to a restaurant, then, as a rule, next time he will go to another one in order to avoid suspicious looks. In Japan, residents do not tip waiters, and if this happens, there will be confusion, the waiter will try to return the money back. Sometimes such a gesture seems insulting to the Japanese, it looks like charity, and no Japanese will tolerate pity. If you really want to thank the waiter, it is better to express words of gratitude or give a gift.
6. Doggy-bég
“Doggy bag” – this is how a visitor used to call a waiter from the Japanese. He immediately understands what it is about – this means that the visitor wants to take half-eaten food with him, and the waiter must pack it. But nowadays it means poverty, no one does that anymore. The waiter may feel humiliated because he will have to abandon other customers and run around the restaurant to pack food in a box. But in ancient Rome, for example, the “doggie bag” was a way of life. Each time, seeing off the guests, the owner of the house had to offer them to take any fruit with them, and if this did not happen, then the guests remained offended.
5. Leftovers in a bowl
The food on the plate must be eaten completely, and we have been trying to do this since childhood. But in some countries, if you completely empty the plate, it may offend the owners of the house. For example, in North Africa, Southeast Asia, and parts of China, if you empty your plate, the host will have to put food on it. In Africa, if you say no, the landlord will insist, and after a few more nos, you are forced to agree. Only if there is a little food left on the plate – this means for the owners of the house that his guest is full. If this rule is not followed, the host will be offended and will perceive the signal as if the guest did not like the food.
4. Flowers
Flowers are wonderful, we give them for birthdays and other holidays. But in France and Germany, white flowers are considered a symbol of mourning, they are used in the cemetery. If you decide to give flowers to someone in these countries, then choose them in a different color, otherwise you will be mistaken for a “messenger of death.” In Russia, it is undesirable to give yellow flowers – they personify hatred. In Brazil and Italy, you should refrain from buying purple – they are a failure. For example, in France and Armenia, an even number of flowers means a joyful event, while odd ones mean sorrow. But in China and Thailand, odd numbers, on the contrary, are fortunate, and even numbers are considered a bad symbol.
3. Tongue display
In our country, if you show your tongue, it is accepted as a playful behavior, but in some countries it is better to refrain from such a gesture – it means teasing. In Italy, sticking out your tongue, you risk being fined. In India, such a gesture is considered a huge anger. But there is one area in New Caledonia where the tongue sticking out represents wisdom. Show your tongue in Tibet – and this sign will be perceived as respect for an adult. According to the Tibetans, such a sign comes from a belief: the evil king had a black tongue, so such a gesture proves that we are not like him.
2. slurping
If you decide to visit a Chinese or Japanese restaurant, be aware that you will have to sip the soup! In the countries of the rising sun, such a gesture means that you are very pleased with the food, although in our country this is considered bad manners. In China and Japan, if you sip the soup, it means that it is so delicious that you could not wait for it to cool. If you do not take a sip of soup, this shows your discontent. In Japan, the same applies to tea. When finishing your tea, you need to sip loudly, then the owner of the house will know that the tea was prepared “at the highest level!”
1. Spit
Spitting is a disapproving and condemning gesture in our country, in America they can even be shot for it! Because spitting means attack. However, members of the Maasai tribe in eastern Central Africa perceive spitting differently. The inhabitants of Africa every time they shake hands, they spit in their own hands, and then again after the handshake. Children who greet the elders endure a big spit in the back from them – it means that the old people from the bottom of their hearts wish the children to live happily and long. Friends and relatives go a long way to come to a newborn and spit on him. But that’s not all! Masai, going to give a gift, should spit on him, in general, they should spit on everything that is new to them, they believe that in this way they protect their eyesight.