"When the European community began to increase in size, several guide books appeared giving advice on international etiquette. At first many people thought this was a joke, especially the British, who seemed to assume that the widespread understanding of their language meant a corresponding understanding of English customs. Very soon they had to change their ideas..."
(N. Ramshaw "AWorld Guide to Good Manners", you'll get a pdf if giggled)
Well, books are books (and probably written before the total PC era) - what's real life? Anything you have noticed that is really advisable to do or absolutely unacceptable (When in Rome, do as the Romans do...)? Or just a little weird or funny?
Many years ago I was as far south in Italy as it is possible to go.
I didn't speak any Italian, and I don't exactly recall the reason why, but I wanted to express my thanks to a waitress in a quayside café.
After much unintelligible conversation I gave her the 'thumbs up' (one hand only) which sent her into a fit of rage and we were chased out of the café.
It seems (so I was informed) that I was intimating 'up yours' rather than 'OK' . . .
yep. In the article it says: "In Pakistan you mustn’t wink. It is offensive."
and I realised no-one has winked to me for a long time (or at least I haven't noticed?) - must be getting old...
and that's kinda offensive!
Slash - why not? (pat on the head)
And NO WAY can farting be acceptable anywhere ! Can't they smell with their noses?
Thais regard the head as the most noble part of the body and must never be touched Probes. To do this is as insulting as a bloke walking up and patting your bum.
I can pat the missus's head (and bum) so long as its never in public.
I did say RURAL Mongolia - where the grains produce a lot of gas. The habit is slowly disappearing in Ula'an Bator (due to Western cuisine slinking into the works and producing some very horrid farts).
Grace, modesty, smiling, politeness and shows of respect are universally acceptable, and will almost always overcome the inadvertant cultural faux pas. Having been just about everywhere, I've found this to be true.
I've been going to Mexico City monthly for about 5 years. It's my favorite layover. The van driver who takes me from the airport to the hotel and back has become an acquaintance, maybe even a friend. I always bring a pack of American little cigars, which he likes, to give to him if he shows up. Because of that, I think he would lay down his life to protect me, and he shows his devotion at every opportunity. It's not so much that I'm giving him something, I think, but that I'm thoughtful enough to think of him when I come to Mexico.
He tells me now of his children, his hopes and ambitions, etc. I've invited him to visit the US as my guest. It's a good relationship based on friendliness and respect.
In Czechoslovakia (OK, it was a while ago) you are sitting in a bar, with a near-empty glass in front of you. A local buys you another beer. You must never, ever, tip the new beer into the glass containing the remnants of the old beer. The consequences of doing so could be very bad.
I have followed this rule precisely ever since I heard of it, and I have always got out of Prague alive.
well, but that's just it - people do not understand these things in the same way. When we're invited to a birthday, my spouse wants to be at the door 2 minutes early, I'd prefer to give the hostess 15 min extra time (and we're the same nationality). The waiter my friend from the States really liked was intolerably talkative and boring for me. It was a bit weird for me when we first met and she said: "I'm separated." and asked me if I'm involved with someone; quite as the guy who got really angry when I was reading a book in a park and he wanted to start a conversation and I wasn't enthusiastic about it (not that he wasn't handsome and quite polite and all, but still - one needs privacy sometimes). Or like when you go to Sweden with a group, you'll get a strict schedule, even if it's quite an informal visit. Meaning, things one takes for granted and need not necessarily be so.
International Good Manners
! Can't they smell with their noses?
Maybe a book on the etiquette of beer drinking world wide is called for?
