What is the most difficult thing to do when travelling to a foreign country? Well, as for me at the first glance it’s the fact of having difficulties with adjusting to the country’s culture. But when having a careful look we find that it’s quite interesting and easy to learn the etiquette of the visiting country. You just need to keep in mind that those might be ridiculous and in some places even funny, but those are the result of the historical events and various cultural events. Thus we do offer you to have a look at the some of the most fascinating etiquette tips.
To make everything more compact we do offer to have a look at the topics separately.
1.Drinking
Japan: In case if you are in a café do avoid filling your own glass, you might give an impression of a alcoholic. Instead here it’s more usual to fill the glass of the person sitting next to you, while the person most often do turn the favor back.
Armenia: Here if you end up the bottle liquid in somebody else’s glass, it means that you make the person, to pay for the second bottle. In case if this is not what you wish, you better end up the bottle liquid in your own glass.
Australia: In this interesting country, the drinks are being bought each time by another person. This goes as long as it gets to the last person sitting at the table. Thus it’s quite impolite to leave, unless it’s your turn to get the drink.
Russia: Russians use vodka mainly for the toasts and not just for drinking. Aftet the toast, the men need to empty the glasses while for the female it’s not a requirement. And just another tip- do not place the empty bottles of vodka on the table, those need to be put on the floor.
Sweden: In Sweden it’s quite impolite to drink aside, you just need to go with the flow of the toasts.
Italy: It might sound to be funny, but in Italy you’re forbidden to order cappuccino after noon. Well, it’s not a typical crime, but something called culinary crime leading to the evil eye. In case if you want to order espresso and that’s too strong you can replace it with macchiato, which has a portion of milk in it.
2. Table Manners
Japan: Here if you order noodles, it’s quite polite to make various kinds of noises. Thus you do not need to fill uncomfortable using even your lips to get the noodles into the mouth.
Various Asian Countries: In case if you are serving rice, do never stick the chopsticks into the plate upright- this is the most typical case for serving rice to dead. The idea is the same with passing the food with the chopsticks, as it’s another traditional Buddhist funeral custom- this way the family of the dead person is being passed the remains of the cremated deceased.
Russia: In Russia it’s quite impolite to put the elbows on the table, you need to put your hands half part to the elbows while eating or holding something. As for the table supplies you need to keep your fork in your left hand and knife in your right.
Nepal: In Nepal self-serving is not a typical case. You need to wait until you get served. And it’s also polite to wait until everyone’s seated. And this needs to be done unless everybody finished eating. In case if you need to leave early, you need to make a special excuse by saying bistaii khaanus which means ‘please eat slowly.’”
Portugal: In case if you’re visiting a Portugese restaurant and you see that there are no salt and pepper, it’s actually impolite for asking them. This might be viewed as a offense to the cook- doubting at the professionalism of the cook. The thing is that cooks are highly appreciated in this country.
France: In France one of the main topics to be avoided while at the table is money. And this means that the presence of the money bill is the best thing.
Mexico: In case if you see somebody’ eathing even if it’s a stranger you need to reply ‘Provecho’, which is the same as ‘Bon Appetite’. It’s just a custom that makes the people to get touched.
3. Tipping and Bargaining
Japan: The idea of tips is not that popular in this country. Here you need to avoid giving tips to everyone. In case if your tip is in the form of the cash, you need to place it in an envelope. For the other cases you might choose to give gifts instead of the tips.
Russia: Russians in most of the cases include 10% tips in cheaper restaurants in cafes, as for the better restaurants, you might try giving the same 10% as a tip and no more.
Mexico: Here the prices in stores are never firm. Almost for all kind of goods and souvenirs you can get the price much lower than the one offered at the first glance.
Brazil: Tipping here is the same way as in Russia- around $10. As for the hotels, this is not the case. Nobody’s paying money to the hotel employees and it’s not even expected from them. The case is the same with the taxi drivers.
4. Body Language
UK: Do not use your index and middle fingers up in the way opposite you palm. Here it’s equivalent to the middle finger. Anyways if you want to order something like two bottles of beer you better stick up with the symbol similar to the peace sign- the same move only showing your palm.
Greece: In Greece the move popular in US as waving- showing your palm has another meaning. In this country, this means to reject someone, more generally it has a meaning of the suffix “diss” and not a friendly gesture.
Asia: In Asia the lowest part of the body- foot is forbidden to be used as a direction marker. In case if you accidently touch somebody by feet, you need to put your hand on their shoulder or arm and apologize. And the case is similar to the highest part of the body- head. You should avoid touching somebody’s hair. And just another thing- never sit on pillow- it’s a taboo.
Thailand: While in Thailand do not get surprised if somebody picks their nose while talking, this is considered to be a marker of good hygiene.
Nepal: In Nepal, one of the bad manners is to cross over somebody’s outstretched legs, thus you better ask them to give you some space. And do the same in return.
Japan: In Japanese baths, called osen, people always wash before entering the water. The water is considered fouled if someone does not act the appropriate way. And it’s always a requirement to cover your intimate parts of the body. For a good choice of hotels with discount prices, visit Tokyo Accommodation for more information.
Russia: Shaking hands as a sign of hello or goodbye across a threshold is considered to be an unlucky manner. Thus you either have to go out to the house/room or invite the corresponding person inside the door.
