When you travel outside of the United States, you need to be aware of various forms of cultural etiquette that are practiced elsewhere.
Don’t be the “Ugly American” as many residents of foreign countries tend to think of us. Instead, learn the meaning of some gestures, what’s culturally acceptable, and what’s expected of you when you visit foreign countries. The more you’re able to assimilate with the local culture, the better off you’ll be and more accepted. In fact, if you make an effort to fit in, some locals might invite you to join them instead of looking at you like the tourist you are.
Hand gestures get confusing
You might be used to giving someone a thumbs up, pointing in a direction, or at someone, or crossing your fingers, but these three gestures can cause problems in many countries. Pointing is considered rude in many countries, and its kind of rude in America, but we accept it. Giving the thumbs up sign is like giving the middle finger in Australia and crossed fingers have a vulgar meaning in Vietnam.
Put on your pants
Some Americans are used to wearing shorts when it’s warm and don’t think anything about it, but this isn’t acceptable in Paris. As a form of cultural etiquette, you should wear pants at all times in Paris unless you’re a child, a skateboarder, or at the beach. Otherwise, put on your pants and get used to wearing them out in public. This is a great way to show a little respect for the Parisian people and their customs. Leave your shorts at home and only take pants when you want to visit this romantic and wonderful city.
Personal space people
Some people touch others without thinking about it, and most of the time, others will accept this and ignore it. The same isn’t true in some foreign countries. If you tend to pat children on the head or touch people’s shoulders, you need to break this habit before traveling to Thailand or Nepal. The head is considered sacred in Buddhist and Hindu religions and shouldn’t be touched. It’s probably a good idea to let the locals take the lead when it comes to physical touch and greetings.
Sweden is a first name country
Most of the time, we address people by the titles they’ve earned, such as Doctor, Mister, or Misses. We often say sir or ma’am as a form of respect. The people of Sweden are much more laid back and informal. They are relaxed and toned down, making it easy to fit in. If you have a doctor’s visit, it is part of cultural etiquette to address your doctor by their first name in Sweden and not their title.
The left is bad
If you’re left-handed, you’ll want to practice using your right hand for many things before heading to other countries. Many countries have cultures that consider the left hand to be unclean, which means it’s not good to use that hand for eating or handing items or money to people. This is especially the case in some Muslim and Hindu communities. Strangely, some countries drive on the left side of the road, which is something you need to be aware of while visiting Nepal, Thailand, and Australia.
Get naked
Iceland has many amazing hot springs that are therapeutic and a wonderful place for you to spend some of your time. Before you get into the swimming pools or hot springs, the cultural etiquette is to shower completely naked, not with your swimsuit on. This is a hygienic policy and everyone does it to keep the pools and hot springs clean. If you’ve got an issue getting naked in front of other people, you might not want to visit these locations in Iceland when you visit.
Should you be on time?
When traveling to Switzerland and Japan, you need to be on time for everything. In fact, in these countries, being a few minutes early is treasured. On the other hand, if you’re in a more laid-back and slower-paced country such as Costa Rica, it doesn’t matter if you’re a little late for dinner or a social gathering. This means you can relax and get there when you want to. Pick the country that fits your personality best when you go because the people there will probably meet your expectations.
These are only a few tips of cultural etiquette that you should follow when you travel to other countries. You might not always consider these practices in your normal life, but you should when you travel.
