When traveling to foreign countries, you should be aware of the cultural etiquette to avoid insulting locals and becoming embarrassed.
You don’t want to be put in the category of the “Ugly American” who acts and thinks that everything is the same around the world as it is in America. That’s certainly not the case, and the more you travel abroad, the more you’ll learn that things are much different in other countries. In order to avoid some cultural mistakes, here are a few tips that will help save you from embarrassment.
What is cultural etiquette?
This is a term used to refer to social norms, customs, and behaviors that are polite and appropriate in society. Each culture has its own version of these norms, and you need to understand them. Even if you simply travel to the UK, you’ll be faced with some cultural differences from what you experience or expect in America. Some of these are:
- Being on time
- Politely behaving in line
- Responding to greetings and friendly gestures
- Saying “please” and “thank you”
- Apologizing for no reason
Many of these are expected of Americans as well, but some cultures may have a different way of doing things.
Don’t tip in Japan
In America, we tip for nearly everything, but if you do this in Japan, you’ll be insulting your server or taxi driver, not rewarding them for good service. Japanese people take pride in offering excellent service as the norm, which means no tipping in this country. This could take some getting used to, but unlike America, Japanese businesses pay their staff living wages, and they don’t need to make up the difference with tips.
Eat in the right places in Italy
There are many great places to eat in Italy, but you should avoid eating around monuments and churches. This is part of the cultural etiquette expected in this country. This is a practice that isn’t recommended and can be offensive in some cities, but in Rome and Florence, its banned. You could end up with a fine just for snacking around churches and monuments. If you take the family to Italy, make sure you’re not in a forbidden area when you bring out the snacks for the kids.
No thumbs up in Türkiye
The thumbs-up signal is friendly and positive in our culture, but it’s equal to giving the middle finger to the Turkish people. Another insulting hand gesture is making a circle with your thumb and forefinger to signal “OK.” Instead, stick to words and not gestures;, a simple head nod or wave is fine, but other than that, it’s probably a good idea to keep your hands out of your communication when you’re visiting Türkiye.
No left-handed eating in India
It’s an old custom, but it’s still part of the cultural etiquette in India to avoid using your left hand while eating. It doesn’t matter where or what you’re eating; you should only use your right hand, and your left hand can only be used to hold a dish or cup. Otherwise, everything you eat should be taken to your mouth using your right hand. This might be a challenge if you happen to be left-handed, but it’s worth making the change to avoid insulting the Indian culture.
No PDA in Egypt
If you think you and your new spouse are going to be extremely romantic in public during an Egyptian honeymoon, think again. You need to save your displays of affection for your hotel room and try to keep a little space between each other while in public. Public displays of affection can make the locals feel uncomfortable as it goes against their cultural emphasis on modesty. Its also a good idea to wear full sleeves with trousers or a long skirt to cover up as much skin as possible.
Don’t be on time in Mexico
In a strange turn of events, it’s seen as being too formal and a bit rude to be on time in Mexico. The cultural norm is to arrive 15-30 minutes late for most things, and even later is acceptable. This gives the host of a meeting or gathering a little extra prep time and makes it easy for them to ease into the event. It might feel strange, but it allows for a more laid-back approach to life, which means you could take your time and enjoy the sights even more.
These and other cultural etiquette items are important to understand. You want to be a good guest when visiting foreign countries and you can do this by understanding some of the customs and practices of specific countries.
