“Kissing In Public”: 32 People Around The World Share The Biggest No-No’s Tourists Should Avoid
There are some universal rules we all try to follow when traveling: be polite, don’t litter, respect the local culture, and maybe keep the noise down a bit.
But every country also has its own unspoken customs—things you’d never know were off-limits unless someone pointed them out.
That’s where locals on Reddit stepped in, sharing the biggest cultural “no-no”s that tourists often get wrong. Scroll down to see what not to do around the world, some of these might genuinely surprise you.
This post may include affiliate links.
Canada
Saying that our country should be the 51st state of the USA. Even as a joke, it's really insulting.
True. The USA is falling apart, you should be begging to be part of Canada, not the other way around
OK - but I live in New England. Any chance we can change over to a new province?
We should start referring to the US as either Southern Canada or Northern Mexico.
It’s media hype and no American believes this will ever seriously happen. Come. On.
It's not just media hype when it was repeatedly brought up by the president, who is a jerk that enjoys deliberately pi**ing people off.
Load More Replies...If Canada was admitted as a single state, it would have at least as many electoral votes as California (54) and would go Democratic every time. It's two senators would usually be Democrats, as would the vast majority of its 52 members of the House of Representatives. Has the GOP done the math?
Germany
The N**i salute. Seriously people, you will get arrested. It's not funny. It just makes you look like an edgelord 14 year old.
And h o l o c a u S t. They keep doing this and it drives me up the wall! I've complained many times but no one takes any notice.
Load More Replies...BTW, on behalf of Scotland, thank you so much for the penguin Sir Nils Olav! ♥ (For the rest: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nils_Olav , the article fails to mention that he was given as a token of friendship due to the cooperation between Norway and Scotland during WWII )
Load More Replies...Seriously. In China, racism is a neglected issue. My chinese friends (not friends anymore, they kept getting me into trouble) did the hitler salute in front of my friend from Israel (she had family members that died in the h*******t). My Jewish friend pointed the middle finger at my Chinese friends and my Chinese friends got mad and started complaining to me.
As a frequent flyer around the world, I can confirm that those little chinese are worse than bloody Karen's! They tend to create chaos on flights, demanding this and that (even if they flight on 'cattle class', I can hear them in business class) but when they're confronted, the ridiculous, pathetic individuals demand "respect"...HA!
Load More Replies...Turkey
Don’t disrespect the cats. Don’t shoo them. Give them a pet or some food and get on. Those little dudes may be the only redeeming quality of our society these days.
THE_Ryan:
It's also like that in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Not sure if it's the same reason in Greece, but in Croatia they brought in cats to combat the bubonic plague. So now there's just tons of stray cats everywhere and the locals feed them and kinda take care of them. They're considered the countries oldest citizens.
I call them Demi gods, they’ve had whole religions based on them as gods but they also die 😂 so obviously they are Demi gods
Load More Replies...Would be better if local vets neutered and spayed the cats. Poor female cats can die from a horris form of cancer that is caused by constantly being pregnant and giving birth - learned this from a vet in Amman when I would resuce sick street cats
Cats pose a significant threat to bird populations and overall biodiversity. Domestic cats, even when well-fed, are instinctive hunters that k**l birds and other wildlife. They have contributed to the extinction of 63 species and continue to impact vulnerable species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists domestic cats as one of the world’s worst non-native invasive species. Key points: * Outdoor cats k**l approximately 2.4 billion birds annually in the United States alone. * Predation by domestic cats is the number-one direct, human-caused threat to birds in the United States and Canada. * The presence of cats near nesting birds reduces chick health and nest success. * Even well-fed cats hunt and k**l, driven by predatory instincts.
The plague still exists and still kills a handful of people every year.
Load More Replies...Canada
Do not feed the wildlife. Do not touch the wildlife. If you must observe the wildlife do it from a safe distance. Bears look big a fluffy but will k**l you without thinking about it, and everyone will be mad at you for getting the bear put down.
BCGesus:
I drove past a herd of wood bison on my way to Fairbanks. One walked past my Tacoma and his shoulder height was the top of my truck. I had 0 inclination to get out and pet him. Let alone roll the windows down.
The people without respect to nature or wildlife really are Darwinning and the creatures shouldn't suffer.
And keep an eye on your bratty kid if he says he's going to jump in to the gorilla enclosure! 😢
If he's that bratty, let him go.........................the gorillas will probably treat him better than his parents!
Load More Replies...Pretty much a rule of every country. You might think that the fallow deer or stripy badger in the UK are cute, but approaching them will get you gored or mauled. Dealt with way too many people who want to "meet the animals" i the zoo and think that the enclosure not having a roof is an open invitation (and the six to eight foot walls around it is not telling you to not climb over?). The badger will tear your face off, stop that!
You know, any farmer will tell you that even cows, sheep, and especially goats, can be vicious animals when in pain, or when their protective mode kicks in. Not to mention roosters, turkeys, or geese.
Prey animals are much more dangerous than predators. Predators are more likely to back away and not confront, prey are more likely to fight to defend the herd. Any passable animal knowledge will get this, they don't have to be in pain, just feel threatened in some way (your presence can be enough).
Load More Replies...Actually, I'd say the biggest no-no in our country right now is to suggest that we become part of the US. F that noise, we kicked your asses in two wars and you can aller te faire fourrer ak une cuillère rouillée!
A friend of mine accidentally hit a moose with his car on a dark, misty night. The moose won.
I lost a friend to a collision with a moose 5 years ago. No one wins in collisions like that, even if someone survives.
Load More Replies...Read a couple of stories about a parent smearing honey on a kid's hand so the bear would lick it off. Kid spends the rest of their life with only one hand, because the bears didn't lick.
Finland
Please respect the nature and don't litter. Sincerely, the Finns.
(No seriously, you will make the news if your tourist group trashes).
Funny-Horror-3930:
I had to go to court for something, didn't have my license on me or something. So when I was in court, I heard domestic violent pleas, driving while intoxicated pleas, property damage pleas it was a hum drum boring way to spend the morning until a plea was called for littering. Literally everyone in the courtroom turned around, gasped and side-eyed the litterer.
There are public trash cans everywhere. Of course, everyone is gonna see you as a major AH if you throw your candy wrapper on the ground instead of holding onto it for 5 seconds! (You should always leave your empty cans/bottles out of the trash cans, though: there's a deposit on them, it's nice to ensure people who need the money don't have to dig through the trash to get them.)
We Finns are a people of nature and we respect nature, so if you don't respect nature and litter, you'll be forever hated. I can rent a stick from my local library that is designed to collect litter and a more satisfying way to take a long walk in nature than leaving it in better condition. I'm also the hateful creature who reports your photo on Instagram as inappropriate if it was taken outside the marked path in certain places in nature. You're destroying irreparably important and sensitive nature for your aesthetics and likes. Rot in hell. Oops, a bit passionate for a Finn, isn't it?
I'm in the US. It's illegal to litter here, but nobody is ever fined unless they're blatantly doing it in front of cops. I hate it and will confront people, even for cigarette butts. One time, I was in a restaurant drive-thru, and the driver of the car ahead of me threw his old drink cup out of his window before pulling up to get his food. I got out, grabbed his trash, walked up to his window, and said, "Here. You dropped this." He was so stunned that he just accepted it. My wife was pissed at me for doing that.
I wish we had this attitude in the UK. It embrasses me how much litter we have and how so many people don't care. Even our national parks get littered.
Mexico
Mexican. No MAGA attire. Saw a couple of gringos in a mexican beach with a "Gulf of America" t-shirt. If you stand with those ideas, you don't get to enjoy our country, right?
AmericanScream:
A few years back I was on a cruise with a shore excursion in Mexico. There was an American couple on the ferry complaining they couldn't find a seat. The wife said, "Trump's gonna take care of you guys" and the boat captain spun the boat around at cruising speed and dumped them back off at the dock. They were crying. It was hilarious.
I will say though, that I've seen MAGA merchandise in shops in Mexico. I think they're happy to sell tourists that cr*p.
The presidunce of the US stepping out of Air Farce One in foreign countries, wearing its MAGA hat. Absolutely classless.
Canadian here. With what’s happening from our “neighbours” from the south? We have been your true and trusted neighbours. We are afraid of you now. It really sucks.
That just shows you how f*****g stupid and clueless MAGA morons are. Jesus Christ. Next time just go on vacation to Myrtle Beach or Daytona.
I imagine that going to Mexico in MAGA merch is more or less an equivalent of what John McClane did at the beginning of Die Hard 3
I am honestly embarrassed of my country right now. Our president is the biggest d*******g going. I do not know why people love him, he isabsolutely classless and disgusting. Ugh.
We are going to Greece soon on vacation. My daughter got herself a "don't look at me, I didn't vote for him" T-shirt.
I say the same about Iceland. The first ambassador of USA when Trump was first oin office was here he was a laughing stock in the news all the time for being stupid and no one felt sorry for him. It was hilarous! He thaught we were all out to get him among other weird things 😅😅😅 mind you not even our Police wear Guns and we are thaught to be one of the safest countries in the world 😅😅😅
United Kingdom
Mess around with the King's guards. Tourists do it all the time. They're highly trained soldiers in the armed forces and the rifles they carry are not props.
Beserked2:
I saw one where a woman called the horse a naughty boy for bopping her on the shoulder or something, then he did it again and clearly annoyed, she went to do something with the reins and the soldier yelled at her so loud not to touch the horse, she jumped. You can see the freaking BEWARE signs right next to them. So dumb.
I love the video where one of the horses grabs an annoying lady with its teeth and throws her to the ground. There's literally a sign that says the horses may bite! So if you just HAVE to get a selfie with one you'd better watch how close you get.
Just like the rifles aren't props, neither are the horses. They're trained for crowd control and will defend themselves and their rider when they consider people as a threat.
Load More Replies...And then I am remembering the video where a guest in a wheelchair stopped a respective distance for a photo, and the guard directed the horse to come over to them.
The Guards are working and have strict rules to follow - but they'll bend them at times. https://www.tiktok.com/@thesun/video/7258223151157497115
Load More Replies...They are not only soldiers but ELITE soldiers, highly trained. There are telling videos of people who tried to jokingly block a formation of the Kings Guard, only to notice that they do not stop for a misguided tourist and will walk all over you. The guns, though, are another thing: Accoring to former guard members, those usually are not loaded while on guard duty, to prevent accidents, as there is already enough other armed security on site.
The Scout: they're not special forces. They're just normally trained British infantry from one or other of the guards regiments. Although that does mean they do have specific training in "how to deal with annoying civilians when doing official guard duty" - including shoving people out the way when they try to impede your progress.
Load More Replies...I think a lot of tourists think they are just actors, props almost. They are not! They can shoot you (although, highly unlikely) and they will shove you out the way with force if you get in front of them. You then get booted out!
Haven't been, but I'm guessing the Swiss Guard at the Vatican, even with their bright uniforms, are not soldiers to be messed with.
Load More Replies...Side note...you can also add the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington DC...cross the rope and they DO NOT mess around.
I came across a lone guard at a British tourist place. I could have messed with him but one glance told me this was a hard, hard man and that that would be a really bad idea. I nodded respectfully, took a picture, and left.
United Kingdom
Don't come to the UK and complain about the weather. WE do that, you don't.
Nice try, UK, but it's not possible to suppress inane comments about the weather. It appears to be hardwired in the species.
This one is nuanced. It's okay for visitors to whinge about British weather if they come from somewhere the weather's often worse - I mean, you wouldn't begrudge an Icelander going on about how they were hoping it'd be dryer and/or warmer, would you? Another time it's okay is if they do it with self-deprecating humour. A third category of "allowed to whinge about our weather" applies to the Irish and Aussies because 1) the Irish get a free pass on whinging about Britain (only, Irish weather is actually wetter than here) and 2) the Aussies know how to do it and can take a ribbing back (probably Kiwis too).
Honestly, if you want warm and dry guaranteed, please don't come to us. Go to Spain or whatever. Read about the country you are about to visit.
Load More Replies...No problem. So long as you don't complain about the heat and daily thunderstorms in Florida.
Egypt
Climb the pyramids.
nurgole:
You could be Egyptian or Mexican based on just that comment.
Just don't climb any ancient ruins or architecture. That should cover most of the world.
I second that. Why people have to be told this… 🧐
Load More Replies...I have seen photos of people picnicking at the top of one of Egyptian pyramids. Just makes me shudder. And yes, the photos were 100 years old.
I'm gonna hold your hand when I say this, but you still can bribe the guard to climb to the top, unfortunately
Load More Replies...United Kingdom
Queue jumping. Very rude.
I don't think there's a group of people more experienced in queuing than the people of the UK. I saw the queue for Elizabeth II's lying in state and it was impressive, to say the least.
As a Brit I'm always surprised to find that it's thought of like that. I mean, it's obvious, how could anyone even think about not Queuing up in civilised fashion?
Load More Replies...Queue jumping is a worse crime than murder! 🤣 You will hear tut tut quite a lot if you do 🤣
You'll encounter more tuts than all the tombs in Egypt.
Load More Replies...Nobody knows what the queue is for, they join it for "Fear Of Missing Out".
Load More Replies...Sweden
Swedish person here. To walk inside with your shoes on are a big no no. Even if you’re only going to fetch something quickly you take them off (at least in someone else’s home).
Laughing_Orange:
Norwegian here. I have a hard time going 2 steps indoors in my own home with my shoes on when I forget my keys. I wouldn't dream of doing it in someone else's home. Most businesses however, I won't take my shoes off inside unless there is a sign or clearly defined area for taking off my shoes.
Same in Danmark. We live in rainy countries,, and walk a lot, so take your shoes off at the door!
Same in Finland. I've never been in anyone's hone with shoes on, and only people in mine have been the two gentleman who brought my new fridge (they get a pass because they have to use the steel-tipped safety shoes for work safety).
Load More Replies...I think this is a rule in whole Europe. Here in Czechia, it's also considered very rude to walk into someone's house with your shoes on.
Certainly keeps a home clean by not tracking in dirt. Also helps those with pollen and grass allergies.
Same in Finland. Even maintenance workers take their shoes off when they enter a place. (Unless they need to be wearing shoes for safety reasons, but in that case, you're notified at least a week in advance.)
Here the maintenance workers let them on but cover them with plastic wraps ...
Load More Replies...When I realize I forgot something when I go out and I have winter boots on, I just take the other one off and hop on one foot to get it after assessing whether it's worth the effort. Once I renewed the library books on my phone because I didn't feel like hopping to get a forgotten bag in a hot winter jacket.
Same in most of Canada. You are not welcome if you want to wear your shoes in our house
Not quite sure why you got downvoted on this one 🤷 take an up to counter 👍
Load More Replies...Washington, D.C., USA
Disrespecting our memorials. The WW2 memorial in DC has signs posted around the reflecting pool saying no wading but people go in there to cool off or take the coins which shouldn’t have been thrown in there in the first place. Same disrespect at our 9/11 memorial where people put their cups on the wall or take selfies - and as if that’s not bad enough - they’re smiling. Kids running around on the memorial stepping on names and flowers. It’s disgraceful.
The water in the Reflecting Pool is like 35% Goose Poop. You may as well be dipping your feet in Port-a-John to "cool off'. Have fun going home with giardia.
Don't get me started on the tomb of the unknown soilders. It's not a place to take pictures or mess with the guards.
As I posted elsewhere...DO NOT cross the rope or in any way act like a tool, to say you'll get called out is a vast understatement.
Load More Replies...Nothing pisses me off more than seeing tourists at the memorials acting like clowns. Shut up, be respectful or don't come. I have been to Soviet Memorials for WW2 and I treated them with the same respect that I want US memorials treated with.
We should auction them all off and give the proceeds to the Veteran's Administration, so that they can provide for the needs of our vets, not some unrealistic low-ball budget.
The VA is supposed to be federally funded. But evidently the money is better spent on tax breaks for billionaires.
Load More Replies...Memorials should be treated with the utmost respect, anywhere. Same with the Holocäust sites. I have seen people taking selfies at the gates of Auschwitz...
The Reflecting Pool is only 30 inches deep at the middle. It's basically a gigantic Mall Water Feature. Unless you're thinking of the Tidal Basin, this story doesn't hold up.
Load More Replies...The Netherlands
Dutchman here. Don't walk in the bike lane and pay the f**k attention to where you're walking.
MissAcedia:
My city is "trying" to be better at bike lanes (most are just painted lines on a narrow road that drivers ignore). Of the few protected bike lanes that we have I get so frustrated when people are walking in them right next to the completely open sidewalk. I use my bell and if they dont ignore it I get a p**sed or completely perplexed look when I tell them they're in a bike lane.
My other favourite is clueless people who park on the side of the road and let their dogs walk across the bike lane and sidewalk all the way up to the buildings while they do s**t in their car and I almost clothesline myself on the nearly invisible flexilead string.
I was in the Netherlands last year and my wife walked in the bike lane without looking so many times. Mostly the people didn't say anything but this one young dutchman was pissed off and yelled at her. You really have to pay attention to the bike there.
Pedestrians are the worst. No one is looking where tf they are going. Put your d**n phones away people.
I've stopped being polite. Now if someone comes towards me and has their eyes glued to their phone, I don't side-step anymore: we just bump. Sometimes, people only learn the hard way.
Load More Replies...The sidewalk with red, square tiles is not a sidewalk. It's a bike lane.
People who don't keep their dogs with them in general (except for when you're in a doggy-freeroam area, ofc)
Ireland
Refer to the Republic of Ireland as part of the UK.
PhreedomPhighter:
I remember when I visited Ireland. I was in a more touristy bar in Dublin and an American almost got his a*s kicked by a drunk Irishman who he called "English".
I disapprove of random violence for petty nationalistic reasons. But I think - and I"m English - that in this case, if I'd seen it, I might just have sat there slightly stunned with my jaw hanging open. How can *anyone* be that, erm? - I need a word which covers "stupid, ignorant, and culturally insensitive" all in one. It might be excusable if you're from Mongolia, but not if you're from an English speaking part of the world. Mind you, a Mongolian in Dublin would probably just be politely corrected the first time they made such a mistake. Probably, assuming a certain minimum level of sobriety. 😉
Stupid + ignorant + culturally insensitive = tone-deaf on a good day, bigoted otherwise.
Load More Replies...Australia
Not my country but advised when visiting Australia - DO NOT walk in the long grass 🐍🐍🐍🐍.
Too late - I already Australiad so hard I live here now!
Load More Replies...We got taught in the rainforest as kids, always walk with a stick and stamp loudly giving the snakes time to clear, I also used to throw a rock a few metres ahead too, never had an issue. Just sometimes really cold and tired carpet pythons but that’s not scary, they are just big
DON'T go into drop bear areas. No one will ever find what little remains are left of you.
What are the markings for drop bear areas ? Apart from the skeletons of previous tourists, that is ?
Load More Replies...I live in western Washington, on the west coast of the US, and we don't have venomous Snakes in this area. You can go barefoot across most grass in yards and parks, just watching for dog p*o or rocks. I traveled across the state, which is bisected by a mountain range, to a small town that has very different climate than here. You cannot go barefoot out in somebody's backyard, even though the ground vegetation looks soft. It's not. Its full of stickers and burrs, and might actually contain a western rattlesnake. You don't walk across somebody's yard without boots and they'd better be Hightower, because the burrs attach to your skin and hair, and it hurts to pull them off. Also black widow spiders live there
Here in Spain they created lanes for bikes and electric scooters. Well,... Do you know who uses them? NOBODY.
I don't think Canada has many poisonous snakes, but you probably mean the US.
Load More Replies...Portugal
Please don’t try to speak Spanish to us lol it’s not the same language. We’re very nice people so we’ll still talk to you while internally rolling our eyes.
I speak Spanish and for the most part I can read Portuguese. A lot of it is very similar. But I would never assume that the people who speak one of the languages automatically speak the other. Are there any other 2 languages that are so similar? Just curious - I'm too lazy to look it up.
French, Spanish and Italian are very similar. Especially in written form. If you speak one of those, you'll be able to understand most of an article written in one other. When I lived in Portugal, I was glad everything was also labelled in Spanish because I could understand the most important part of the product's instructions/ingredients. And people at the stores where I was a regular told me they preferred me speaking French rather than English because they spoke fluent Spanish: French sounded similar enough that it required less effort to understand than English.
Load More Replies...Lol. But don't try to speak English in Portugal either. My experience is it's not a tourist friendly place. Be fluent in Portuguese or don't visit is the vibe I got. I'm fluent in Spanish. But mix up a Portuguese and Spanish word and you might not get your food or taxi.
Must be something else you did that made the locals unfriendly, I've been to Portugal several times and people there are the friendliest I've met in Southern Europe. I don't speak much Portuguese, but my mix of French and Spanish works just fine as long as I apologise for my ineptitude.
Load More Replies...I assume it's something like Czech and Polish? Like, it sounds the same to untrained ears, we can mostly communicate with each other, but the languages are rather different and definitely not interchangeable
United States
American - standing too close to people while in a line. It’s not moving faster just because you’re as close to the person in front of you as possible. We value personal space here. Back up.
This applies to many countries. It's a human thing, to want to have some personal space between you and the next person. I also think that since COVID people tend automatically to leave just a little bit more room between two bodies in a queue.
There can be a big difference in what is considered 'too close'. It tends to be that the more densely populated a place is the more comfortable people are being in close proximity. The optimal distance between two unrelated people in the Prairies of Canada is going to be quite different from the optimal distance for strangers in Tokyo. Trial and error is required.
Load More Replies...I am somewhat disabled and use a cane. I find it quite handy on a few toes if someone crowds me. “Oh dear! Didn’t know you were standing so close.”
I remember the first time I visited Sweden, they are quite fond of personal space. I noticed immediately and followed along.
The Netherlands
In the Netherlands we do not talk about our salaries. That is reserved for the most closest of friends/ family. I remember my Moroccan aunt being quite surprised about this.
CMDR_Kassandra:
It's also quite common here in Switzerland, but I do think that you should talk about your salary with your coworkers, because it could be that your coworker who does the same amount of work, with the same skillset, gets paid way less or way more then you, and that should be corrected.
Many many moons ago employers tried to force the "don't talk about your salary" upon employees via the contract, but it was deemed illegal. Guess why they don't want you to talk about it ;)
In China, relatives like to ask the most annoying and personal questions. They feel it’s perfectly fine to ask about your weight, salary, relationship status (if you are married, are you dating someone, information about your partner, etc), and other things. They also comment on your weight, appearance, occupation, salary, and other stuff and if you get mad, they say “we are asking this because it’s for your own good”. However, family is extremely important in China and it’s considered extremely bad to go nc or lc with a family member
This got me thinking about the UK, where I'm from. In my experience it would be considered quite crass to mention your salary explicitly. However, you could alude to it. "Six figure income," or, "just a minimum wage job," or, "it leaves enough for an annual holiday, we do ok."
I've only ever been asked my salary once (UK) and that was by my sister's boyfriend at the time. I was a tad surprised but didn't think it was any of his business. So I doubled it... 😁
Load More Replies...Same here in Iceland. I have no idea what my family earns. I can guess but I don't ask. Same with our votes. I have no idea what even my daughter voted for. It's extremly personall
IME of working in Switzerland salary difference can be huge, but there's often a good reason for it. When I first came to work here, as a UK national, my starting salary was based on an equivalence of CHF to GBP, which at that point had an exchange rate of around 2.4 francs to the pound. Some years later colleagues being recruited at the same level in similar circumstances at a time when it had changed to around 1.5 francs/pound were clearly not going t be offered nearly twice as much compared to their current UK salaries. The disparities would remain throughout one's career unless moving to a different employer.
Croatia
In Croatia, tourists often go to mountains only in their slippers or sandals. Each summer, our rescue teams have missions of saving tourists to the point where they made a joking campaign about it.
People do this with the fells in Cumbria too, though I am not sure if it's being stupid about mountains or not realising that the fells are mountains in the first place. But the amount of tourists rescued from them who are in sandals and think that a mobile phone is sufficient is, according to family in the area, not an insignificant number.
Also see it happen on table mountain in Cape Town, South Africa. Far too many people trying to hike up a mountain with no water and improper footwear and no warm clothes.
They do this stuff in the Appalachians. I used to help with rescue when I was younger. Many times I've wondered how exactly they got to where they were.
Cambodia
In Cambodian culture, the head is considered the most sacred part of the body, while the feet are seen as the lowest. Touching someone's head, even if it's a child, is a big no-no. Similarly, avoid pointing your feet at people or sacred objects.
JiovanniTheGREAT:
Damn, my barber is Cambodian, does this mean he's doing some sort of divine work? His fades are good enough for me to describe as divine so I'm not mad at it.
Thank you, I didn't know this. I was unlikely to be touching a random head, but the feet part could happen.
This is more true for thailand, though. I lived in both countries and thais are usually very strict about the foot thing. Not touching somebodies head goes for most buddists, really, do not... It depends a bit what you look like, if you are white as snow or black as ... something black, you get away with much more. If you are asian people are a bit less tolerant. Do not ever point with your foot at something, do not step over people lieing somewhere on do absolutley not step on coins on thailand. It has the kings picture on it and that could be considered as insult to the king wich is in fact illegal and could send you if you are extremely unlucky to prison. Cambodians are far more relaxed on all this, touching somebodies head is not nice there, too but people will not go mad at you. The foot thing even if considered a bit rude is also not something to make people jump at you. Cambodians in general are a bit more traditional in buddhist values wich means they just forget it and go on
Thai people, sadly, take it sometimes as an excuse to start a fight. Given enough alcohol or other substances, your chances of getting in trouble for doing something that is seen as wrong in buddhism are much higher in thailand than in cambodia. Cambodians had enough fights not so long ago that they usually have no desire to start an argument
Load More Replies...United States
This is not a thing in my country, but every time I travel to Europe, I have to mentally check myself when I smile at strangers or say hello while passing by people because it’s not normal outside where I live 😂.
Pretty normal where I live (Netherlands), depending a little bit on the situation. If it's early morning and I'm passing by a person walking their dog whle on my way to the busstop, I smile and greet. If I'm in Amsterdam on a saturday afternoon, I obviously don't :')
Smiling is completely normal around the world. However, the pasted on, over the top, never ending smile the US has is not.
I think you hit the nail on the head and that that forced smile is nit what people here in the comments picture.
Load More Replies...Is this about the United States or Europe? Very normal to smile in the United States.
I think this is a good part of American culture but I get that not every country is like this. My wife's country sure as hell isnt.
France
Enter a shop / restaurant without saying "hello"/ acknowledging the cashier / staff.
Best case scenario you get a cold stare , but they might also very well call you publicly on it, tourist or not…
EmmaInFrance:
Also when walking around a shop or supermarket, if you pass by a member of staff, you should say "Bonjour".
If you walk into a doctor's waiting room (or similar), you say "Bonjour" to the other people in the room.
Even after 20 years, I still sometimes struggle to suppress my British impulse, programmed into me from early childhood, to first say: Excusez-moi, then Bonjour, but here that's considered rude!
It's Bonjour, then Excusez-moi, est-ce que vous pouvez m'aider à trouver les choux-fleurs, s'il vous plaît?
It's absolutely always Bonjour first!
I live in Brittany, where people are usually more welcoming and more forgiving of second language French speakers. There's a number of British immigrants here, so they're used to us!
Most of the time, here, people are usually forgiving if you slip up, perhaps because you're tired or distracted.
I have only had a couple of frosty reactions over the years to getting it in the wrong order!
I'm used to it now, and it's usually something I do reflexively these days, but it did take some conscious effort to remember in the early years.
It's not so hard in small boutiques, or at the boulangèrie, it's more when you're walking into a big box store, tired, with kids nagging you, and really you just want to be anonymous and left alone to get in amd out as quickly as possible...
Even when going to the supermarket you greet the security guard. When in France just say bonjour to everyone working at a place you enter, it is common courtesy and a way to acknowledge their existence. Most people that calls the french rude are usually the ones that hasn't learned this.
This is one of the French habits that's also true in Switzerland, although obviously it should be "Gruezi" in German-speaking areas... I got very odd looks for using that greeting on a trip to Berlin one time, and indeed for my ingrained habit of being polite to everybody.
Load More Replies...No, people in Brittany aren't getting "used to" the invasion, they're just legally forced to tolerate all those roastbeefs who buy a house there because it's "so exotic!" Source: I lived there for 20+ years, I promise you people smile at you only because m*rder isn't legal. No one there loves a British immigrant (especially not the ones who go by a username such as "EmmaInFrance" like, yeah, we get it, you love being there because it's sooo exotic and you can now teach the locals how to behave in their own country.) Seriously, who the F needs to be taught to say hello before asking for anything ?! Don't blame the French if you weren't raised right enough to know basic politeness.
Calm down, Rika there are much more people to ki.ll .before the British invaders, our own Nazis for instance.
Load More Replies...New Zealand
Sit on a table, kitchen bench or anywhere food is prepped or served.
its not just rude, its considered tapu, or considered sacred
Load More Replies...I'm a bit short to reach the top of our cabinets. So I will crawl onto the counter tops so I don't brake glass. As I'm getting older and having a hip replacements it's not so easy.
Can’t you ask someone to reach what you need for you?
Load More Replies...Brazil
Don’t assume that “women are easy.” A lot of tourists think all Brazilian women want them. While we might be a bit more open s*xually than some countries, that doesn’t mean everyone is interested in you.
Don’t throw toilet paper in the toilet. In many places, we have older plumbing systems that aren’t designed to handle it, and it will clog. Yes, there's a bin next to the toilet for used paper — it's part of the culture. It doesn’t smell, and we change it daily.
This one depends on the social circle, but with most of my friends, when we're at a bar drinking beer, we usually take turns buying rounds. If you notice this happening, please buy a round when it's your turn — otherwise, we might think you're being rude.
Don’t talk about politics unless you're ready for a heated debate. Politics in Brazil can be very polarizing, and bringing it up casually may cause tension.
Don’t walk around with your phone in your hand in crowded or urban areas. It can be an easy target for theft, especially in big cities.
Don’t assume everyone speaks English. While many people do, especially younger folks, it's respectful to try a few words in Portuguese — even just a “bom dia” or “obrigado” goes a long way.
In general I find it extremely weird to visit a country expecting an entire gender to be 'easy', and then that being the only (or primary) reason for visiting that country.
Recently my boss wanted me to relocate to Brazil. "Not Brazil", I exclaimed, "all there is is soccer and prostitutes!". "MY WIFE IS BRAZILIAN", he screamed, so I quickly answered "Oh, what team is she playing for?"
Gave you an upvote because I was laughing at this too. We put our dirty toilet paper in a bin. But don't worry it doesn't smell. Riiight.
Load More Replies...I found Brazils people to be the nicest people ever, and coming from the Gold Coast where generally speaking being super hot meant you were a bit of a snob, it was my first time as a teenager in the workforce working with them in restaurants where you’d meet supermodels washing dishes as kitchen hands with hearts as big as the moon.
So in re the buying rounds thing... what if you're not drinking?
United States
If someone who isn't a close friend or family member says "Hey, how's it going?" and you answer with anything other than "Good" or an equivalent, people will think you're weird. Even if you're having the shi**iest day imaginable, you have to lie about it.
Fose922:
Thats so crazy to me as a german, brcause its the exact opposite and u will get a full story about his life atm, because well u asked about it and the concept of just asking "how its going" while actually not being interested is soo fuckin rude in my perception. And what i also cant get behind is the classic american "lets do smth together soon" while absolutely not meaning it.
Not in the north. Here, you answer "und selbst" ("and how are you") and that's it
Load More Replies...I'm an American, and I HATE the "how are you doing" greetings. If you ask me a question, I assume you want an answer, but I also don't want to tell every person I pass that my grandmother just died or my butt hurts because I just ate spicy food. Yes, you're supposed to just say "good" or if you really want to indicate that you're not good, you say "getting by" or "could be worse". I hate all of it.
I am American and get pissed if someone says "let's do something soon" and doesn't mean it. Either give me a day or tell me I am too boring to hang out with.
Exactly. Don't ask if you don't want to know. On the other hand, they are very quick to ask about things like what do you work, are you married, do you have kids ... Like, I just MET you. Why do you need my whole CV?
Its a way to say hello. If you cant get that then its a you problem. Don't go to another country and b***h about the way people interact that are different than the way they do in your country. Its rude and as often as people on this site complain about Americans not respecting their culture when visiting well you owe us the same d**n respect when in our country.
Load More Replies..."How's it going" is alternative form of greeting, not meant to be taken literally (though occasionally someone will, which might earn them an uncomfortable look). "How are you doing" is what is asked when someone literally wants to know
I'm American and not true in my part of the country. In fact if it's people who know you (coworkers, employee at your regular whatever etc) and know you've gone through something bad, like a death in the family, if you say good you're going to get questioned on it. Complete stranger good is ok. Anyone with even the most passing of relationship with you it's not unless it's true.
You don't have to lie, but be brief. If you are having a s****y day, say "eh, I've had better days, how about you? " don't just spew out your life story.
United Arab Emirates
Kissing in public, will literally could get arrested for doing “obscene acts” in public.
Same in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Qatar or Yemen. And if you are a same s*x couple, Russia, Turkey or India, among others.
From looking at the OP, they seem to be from South Asia. Most other comments seem to be suggesting this is reference to the Middle East, but this is also a set of laws that exist in parts of South and South East Asia. The OP's comment history strongly suggests that they are from Sri Lanka, where such laws do exist, though are not usually pursued by authorities, especially not against tourists.
Denmark
Strike up a conversation with someone you don’t know - people will become shocked and awkward! (Denmark - or any scandinavian country really).
AvgSizedPotato:
Working with Danes in Greenland, it was always funny to do the typical American "hi, how are you" and see instant awkwardness when they thought I was looking for an actual response.
Ok... but how do you ever meet new people? Or do you only ever speak to those present at your birth?
In Finland, people talk to strangers in public saunas, on nature trails, in hobby groups and in bars. Otherwise, everyone is quiet. If you go to the same places at the same times, you often meet the same people and this is how Finns make acquaintances that can develop into friendships.
Load More Replies...Being a norwegian who often have conversations with strangers (both scandinavians and whomever else I might meet), I find this statement a bit outdated. Have I spoken with ALL scandinavians; no! But many enough to say that I find this to be false in about 99% of the time...
My Danish grandfather was like this too. He'd talk to anyone and if he got a cold response he'd just move on.
Load More Replies...Belgium
Here in Belgium it's a huge NO No to serve a beer in the wrong glass
What’s the fuss about a beer glass? You may ask. A longstanding tradition in Belgium insists – The right glass for the right beer. Each brewery in Belgium produces a signature glass that complements the style and quality of their beer. What is the fun in having beer if you cannot enjoy it in its true spirit and form? The shape and form of this signature glass is meant to enhance the experience and provide proper nose for each session.
Beer in Belgium is more of an experience than it is a beverage. What matters is the fabulous beer in front of you, the food it is served with and the glass it is in – and every beer has its glass! Pubs with 300 beers have 300 different glasses. Why use an authentic and different glass for each of them? The glass shape can greatly influence the aromatic presentation, head formation, and even how well the carbonation will sustain. Since every beer varies in these compositions, then so do its glasses.
Its absolutely important to have the correct glass. It can literally alter the taste if the glass is all wrong. Besides a lot of the beers made in Europe or older than the US so I think they have had time to get it right with the type of glass to use.
It's done in Germany, too, to a certain extend. Around Cologne you get "Kölsch" beer, and it's alway served in a "Stange" (literally "rod") while the pilsener kind of beer is usually served in a "Tulpe" ("tulip"), people in southern Germany and Austria serve their "Helles" and "Märzbier" ("pale/light" and "March beer") in mugs and so on.
Load More Replies...We try this in Australia sometimes and I get excited but then all my d**n glasses are stolen by the end of the month so we give up. That and the really funny old men who won’t drink out of a ‘girls glass’ / ‘fruity glass* 😂
Canada
I'm saying this lovingly, but do not come to Quebec and ask why everything is in French unless you want to be stuck in a history lesson about how the UK/Canada sucks.
Also, never, and I mean NEVER, put ketchup in your poutine. Or do anything posted on r/poutinecrimes.
The meat has just come from the boiling oil you can see in the background, hopefully, and is cooked.
Load More Replies...Why on earth would tomato sauce ever think it could compliment or compete with luscious gravy and cheese 😂
I really must Google catsup. Each time I see the word I get curious of it's origns.
Load More Replies...United States
When a cop pulls you over, do NOT get out of the car.
One very sad case, Philando Castille was shot despite being 100% compliant and telling the officer that he did have a fun (also the right thing to do).
Load More Replies...Racism, exploiting workers, women as second - hell - third class citizens, murder by capitalism, giving up on democracy, ...
Load More Replies...Uh, yes it is! Cops do not appreciate you jumping out of the car. It appears like an aggressive move. They never know who has a weapon and is going to shoot at them. Unless they ASK you to get out of the car you should wait for them to approach. Otherwise you're likely to get a gun drawn on you.
Load More Replies...No, hardly any of that is 'common' sense, that's just your learned response, hopefully from having seen it so much on TV and not from first-hand experience. If you get pulled over anywhere in Europe you really don't need to worry about that sort of thing.
Load More Replies...Germany
Saying "Happy Birthday" before someone's actual birthday date.
Ventsel:
Same in Russia, it's bad luck to say "happy birthday" or celebrate early, the superstition is that this mean the person won't live to see the actual birthday. Because of that it's seen as generally impolite, too, so people just don't do it, even if it's obvious that no one actually drops dead from premature birthday wishes.
Can you wish them a belated birthday after the fact? Or would that be consider super-early and still bad luck?
I grew up with the same tradition and I will get mad at anyone who wishes me a happy birthday before the date because it's bad luck. But a few days later is completely fine. The bad luck only applies to about a week before your actual birthday, not 360+ days prior.
Load More Replies...I had a coworker tell me that it's bad luck to change the calendar over until it's actually the next month. Bad luck, I can't do it now, even if it's the last day of the month and it's a Friday. Nope. Wait until Monday.
Canada
One thing i do not like in Canada is when in casual conversation, i get asked what i do for a living. Like why do you need to know. Sometimes i make up a job like painting the iris on googly eyes or i break down dog farts to analyze the chemical properties. But it seem that asking that is very common when you meet someone.
I've often thought it strange that what profession I do defines me as a person. Just like appearance doesn't completely tell you who I am. Maybe it's easier in languages other than English.
It doesn't define you. It's just a part of you, and something people will ask if they want to learn more about you.
Load More Replies...It is, as the OP has noticed, a rather standard icebreaker. And some people enjoy talking about their profession. I was a teacher, and if you truly want to hear me discuss integrating inverse hyperbolic trig functions just make yourself nice and comfortable and I'll oblige.
This seems to be a personal preference, I'm just fine when people as what I do and I don't know that I've ever heard anyone complain about it.
Australia: Restaurants who add an automatic gratuity to a bill - big no-no. This was in the news today - https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/eat/turning-into-america-sydney-restaurants-menu-act-outrages/news-story/21f7efb48073070dc6aab288175ffeac
There is a pub in Melbourne I went to where my brother ordered via QR code and it had an automatic compulsory tip added. I ordered at the bar and didn't have to tip!
Load More Replies...Mexico: 1. DO NOT board taxi cabs in the street. Go to an official taxi site. Best case scenario you will be charged an absurd amount for a short ride. 2. Street vendors, waiters and night club bouncers are friendly, but if there is an argument, back off. You will have your a** handed to you. 3. Want to know the best street food stand? Find the shaby place with a lot of locals outside. 4. Learn the street food codes: "no pica nada", "pica" and "pica mucho" (not spicy at all/mildly spicy/very spicy). We Mexicans are proud of it. Mildly spicy is spicy. Very spicy means flames in your mouth. 5. Do not even joke about dr*glords. These people are not funny and you really do not want to meet one. 6.Want to know the place? Befriend a local. We are hospitable and love showing things to foreigners. 7. Do not climb our pyramids or try to photograph native people without consent. Some native people have their own laws, some include physical punishment, and *will* exercise them.
When (or should I say if unfortunately) in Russia, do not, I repeat, do absolutely not crack any 'yo momma' jokes, that'd be like throwing the N word at a black person. Also no outside shoes inside
Specifically, don't jump from your balcony into the pool, you're likely not gonna make it, don't get intoxicated with cheap sandría and puke at your Airbnb's doorway, try not to pass out where l have to actually jump over your nearly lifeless body to go to work, and go to a hotel instead of an apartment. You guys are KILLING our chances of renting anything.
Load More Replies...These were fun, thank you for sharing them! It’s really fun to find out social rules in other places.
Australia: Restaurants who add an automatic gratuity to a bill - big no-no. This was in the news today - https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/eat/turning-into-america-sydney-restaurants-menu-act-outrages/news-story/21f7efb48073070dc6aab288175ffeac
There is a pub in Melbourne I went to where my brother ordered via QR code and it had an automatic compulsory tip added. I ordered at the bar and didn't have to tip!
Load More Replies...Mexico: 1. DO NOT board taxi cabs in the street. Go to an official taxi site. Best case scenario you will be charged an absurd amount for a short ride. 2. Street vendors, waiters and night club bouncers are friendly, but if there is an argument, back off. You will have your a** handed to you. 3. Want to know the best street food stand? Find the shaby place with a lot of locals outside. 4. Learn the street food codes: "no pica nada", "pica" and "pica mucho" (not spicy at all/mildly spicy/very spicy). We Mexicans are proud of it. Mildly spicy is spicy. Very spicy means flames in your mouth. 5. Do not even joke about dr*glords. These people are not funny and you really do not want to meet one. 6.Want to know the place? Befriend a local. We are hospitable and love showing things to foreigners. 7. Do not climb our pyramids or try to photograph native people without consent. Some native people have their own laws, some include physical punishment, and *will* exercise them.
When (or should I say if unfortunately) in Russia, do not, I repeat, do absolutely not crack any 'yo momma' jokes, that'd be like throwing the N word at a black person. Also no outside shoes inside
Specifically, don't jump from your balcony into the pool, you're likely not gonna make it, don't get intoxicated with cheap sandría and puke at your Airbnb's doorway, try not to pass out where l have to actually jump over your nearly lifeless body to go to work, and go to a hotel instead of an apartment. You guys are KILLING our chances of renting anything.
Load More Replies...These were fun, thank you for sharing them! It’s really fun to find out social rules in other places.
