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18 Things You Shouldn’t Do Abroad
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Having traveled to many countries around the world, I’ve noticed some of the most common mistakes travelers make whilst abroad. Some are so used to tipping in cafes that they do it everywhere,although in Japan such act would be treated as an offence. Others sincerely present their Ukrainian friends with even flowers without counting them while the even number of flowers can be brought only to the cemetery.
That’s why I decided to collect 18 travel mistakes I noticed people doing abroad to warn others. Keep on reading and always remember to research your travel destination before leaving.
More info: globelink.co.uk
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I'm pretty sure it's rude to ask about people finances in any country, especially as a visitor.
Try Netherlands.
But the Dutch have great German jokes!!
Uhm, it's definitely considered rude here as well.
What happens there? :o
I have found that Asian people (eg.Vietnamese) talk quite freely about their finances, and are likely to ask you how much you are paying for something such as house rental.
This is true. It's a rude habit I picked up from my mother.
Well... Here in Argentina it's very common to talk about earnings and expenses. The problem comes when you know your wage is rather superior to average, it gets uncomfortable when being asked...
But still, in USA most people ask. My name is, what do you do for a living?, oh, that's like this much a year, right!?!
Nobody I know in US has said something like that. And that's over a lifetime of meeting people.
Well i live in México and i go to San Diego once a week every single time They ask me how much i make? how much I pay for rent? and they say wow!! I make this much I should move there and I will save this much money, who do they think I am? Their accountant? So rude!!!
Not in Turkey
Well, here in Argentina it is very common to talk about that. The problem comes when you have a good wage, rather superior than average, it's uncomfortable to answer when being asked.
In China you can ask about finances, weight, marital status, race - They don't have an off button xD But at the same time, it's also considered not offensive either not to reply, or too answer evasively.
Totally agree
Well, it's actually very normal to ask about how much you earn in China, South Korea and other Asian Countries.
That's not true in South Korea.
they do ask in Italy
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Well if you have any class it's rude to even discuss money
I am from Poland and don't agree that it is so common asking about someones salary. It's quite ok between friends, but absolutelly not between strange people...
In Russia (and in other Slavic Countries), asking someone about his/her salary is as normal as asking about the weather. It doesn't mean they don't have class... it's just not taboo in their society.
Perhaps by the norms of your culture, but it's not universal. It's not considered rude in some cultures, such as China, to ask about someone's salary.
Why? Why do you consider it a secret?
In Italy, it's fine to order a cappuccino in a restaurant as long as it's before noon. You can still order one after noon, but the server might look at you funny. They're not offended by it, they just think it's weird.
Ehm... nope. You can do it in a bar, caffetteria ecc. In a restaurant is weird and is one of the things that generally only tourists do.
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And you don't want their money for some reason?
I get weird looks ordering the largest coffee available (caffeinated PLEASE) at cafes in the evening here in the good ole USA....
What's weird about having a coffee, be it a cappuccino, at any time really? Why would they think it's weird?! This one I really don't get..
Anyway, no offense. :-)
Why ordering cappucino is weird?
It's just something that we have for breakfast. :-)
Italians believe that having milk after eating any meat or poultry will upset the stomach. After noon, you're supposed to order an espresso to drink after your meal.
You are right. Cappucchino is drunken only before noon or eleven a.m.. Otherwise it wouldn't be offered at all!
Everybody clinks glasses in Hungaty
We do and don't get offended by that at all. It's just an old story & habit to not clink with beer (only), related to the executions in 1849. Possibly spread by the wine traders that time to be more patriotic and stuff.
the rule is don't clink with beer, any other drink is ok :)
And now its magicianed itself to a different photo. Weird
Why do you and Susanne Cirillo have the same profile pic? :/
it's true
Hungary.... i heard dont have sex with lights on afetr 21 or 22 pm....
Urban legend...
That's it? No explanations? Boooo! (I hope my boo-ing wasn't impolite.)
It is, in Burkina Faso...
The even number of flowers is not to be given also in Bulgaria and in every other orthodox country, as far as I know, because it is the number we carry to the cemetery when we go visit the graves of our beloved.
The same in Romania
The same in the Czech Republic.
Also Slovakia..
It's the same in Serbia :)
That's strange...In Greece we are Orthodox too but I've never heard of the even numbered flowers rule.
same in Greece,heard it from my grandmother
Not only orthodox country.Dont give even number of flowers also in Latvia, they bring even numbers to funeral.
the same in Estonia and believe me it has nothing to do with religion
Exactly what I thought! Still, as far as I know, even numbers are fine if it's more than 10 or 20 flowers. At least that's what I heard here in Ukraine
In Hungary the only rude thing is when clinking glasses is not looking into the other person's eye. Your eyes should meet, it's just a sign of respect. Clinking is totally fine.
in germany it's said, that you'll have 7 years of bad sex if you clink with someone without eye-contact. The desperate people don't look and say 'better bad sex than none' ^^
It's the same in France
We don't clink with beer, that's the rule. The story goes back to the Austrian-Hungarian Monarchy but I don't remember it.
In Brazil we don't get offended with anything. Look at our politicians...
I am from Chile and we have plenty of food that you normally eat with your hands. This is BS.
como se supone que comeríamos completos, empanadas, milcaos... pizza DDD:
As a Mexican i can say that if locals are making jokes about you or you country they are being assholes. any other joke is just so you lose up and relax so you can have a good time and maybe drink and eat a little with your hosts.
Hungary: Don't give knife as a present.
I like getting knives as present... :)
Same in Ukraine. It is believed you cut the friendship :). To avoid this, a person should pay back a small symbolic amount of money, let's say $1.
That's never a good present, anywhere, ever.
In Switzerland we often give our famous "swiss army knife" as a present.
Yes, the Swiss Army Knife is a good present, also, why not an Opinel? It can be useful, it lasts forever and some are really beautiful. As long as they are not used as weapons of course.
Chile, not Chili
This article would do with a little more detail on why.
Who did this article don't really know nothing about chilean sopaipillas :p
I think one is: Don't make lists about what not to do without actually knowing what you are talking about.
Speaking as someone living in Ireland, *why* do people go around doing the accent? xD There's even a slur for an American who goes around pretending to be Irish when visiting, they'd call you a "Plastic Paddy".
An Irish accent is one of my favorite accents in the world. Perhaps people try to emulate it to seem more cool even though they are just making fools of themselves.
Here in Brazil: please do never ever even mention the number 7. It still hurts... =(
One, two, three, four, five, six, "...", eight.
Sorry, but why?
It has to do with Germany and a certain match in the World Championship in 2014 ;)
Hahaha
In Poland you shoudn't give an even number of flowers either, as in Ukraine. :)
It goes for any Slavic country - even number of flowers is for the dead, odd for the living
In Poland you shouldnt leave your gift unopen. It's rude. You have to open and show how happy you are, even if you're not. :P
Why?
Because you bring an even number of flowers only to cemetery for dead people.
in Serbia as well.. even number of flowers you only bring to cemetery
Also in Moldova and Russia. I guess in every post soviet country people bring an even number of flowers only to the cemmetery.
In France you can talk about money, but like UK don't ask about how much people earn :)
Disagreed. In France, you just don't discuss money if you can avoid it. It's just bad manners.
In Holland you get all information on peoples sex lives, but when you ask how much they earn they clam up. Snap! Like a clam. And when you tell how much you make (which people only do if they make a lot) you're considered to be a showoff. Even among friends.
I'm french, of course I don't discuss money with strangers but I never had problem to talk about it with friends and even acquaintances.
Also in Italy is bad manner to discuss about money .
Et d'ailleurs, je trouve ça complètement c**!
i was given an umbrella as a gift in China.....I was very grateful as it was raining....Should I have been offended?
ARGENTINA : don't ask about politic opinion
In Italy it s not a problemi if you order a cappuccino in a restaurant! It's not offensive!
Wait, in other countries, it's *not* rude to honk???
In Denmark, friends and family can give a brief honk while driving past you as a greeting, a brief honk to say "hi, your ride is here" or as a goodbye after departing from good company
Clinking glasses is acceptable in Hungary... I don't know why the author could have said that. Beer used to be an exception, when toasting with beer, there was a rule for one hundred years not to clink glasses due to the oppression suffered at the hands of the Austrian Empire in the latter half of the 19th century but that time frame is officially over so Hungarians freely hit their beer mugs or glasses after toasting these days. I live in Hungary BTW.
Even mexicans get offended with our jokes, our humor is weird; the only think you can't do in Mexico and I think at any other country is being arrogant or racist, nobody likes that.
I'm from Hungary and we do clink glasses, but never with beer. That's because a colonel from Austria named Haynau killed 13 innocent Hungarian leaders and he clinked his beer glass with his partners to "celebrate" the murders. So you can clink, we do that all the time with pálinka and wine. But not with beer cause then you disrespect the memonry of those dead leaders.
I'm from Chile and ... don't eat with you hands? That's not entirely true. Well, uhm, it depends on the situation and the food. If you are eating at home with family or your closest friends, then it's perfectly okay. However, in any other situation it is weird and shows little correctness or education (eating out, business meetings, etc). Of course if the food you're eating requires to be eaten with you hands (empanadas, spring rolls, tacos, etc) nobody would think or say anything, because it would be the right way to do it.
Hungary: False. You can clink, no problems. NEVER cheer with beer, because austrian generals cheered with beer on every hungarian rebellion leaders' execution back in 1849 when they won in the hungarian revolution with russian help.... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_13_Martyrs_of_Arad
We have good that we have to eat with our hands, like "completos" or "sopaillas" from street stands.
In Chile. I forgot to say that. xD
India - Do not touch the opposite sex in public. But raping is fine...
I got "unwelcome contact" from the opposite sex while posted in India....by the locals. Seems they practice this taboo on the foreigners.
I got "touched' by the opposite sex multiples times in India while working there...by the locals!!!
"Don't call people by name first." WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Chile, dont eat with your hands?? NOPEEE what about pizza, sopaipillas, etc? who wrote this?
You can clink glasses in Hungary no problem - as a matter of fact, us Hungarians often do it . (Opinions vary however whether you are allowed to clink with beer or not due to historical events)
I'm from Norway, and it's more rude to walk with shoes inside a house than asking about going to church. And in Hungary it's rude to clink glasses if it contains beer, i've heard from lokals
Yeah, walking with shoes in the house is the worst you can do in many countries including Austria and Indonesia.
You can touch the opposite sex in public in India. Just avoid PDA
What rubbish! What century you living in?
In Italy you can order cpuccino in any restaurant whenever you want. They just think it is funny that you order it st the end of a meal. Italians are serious about food and taste. They think an espresso complement your meal at the end of lunch or dinner but thst a cappuccino overwhelms your taste buds with milk foam. There is no secret voodoo tradition in it :D
I´m a Chilean person and we have a lot of tipical foods that eats with the hands LIKE EMPANADAS O COMPLETOS... THIS IS FAKE!!
And sopaipas ;)
I'm a Turk and I would not offended or anything if you do that to me. But I'd ask that if you mean that I'm gay and if you say that it was OK sign, you'd save yourself from a lengthy explanation of how perfectly hetero I am.
Being also a Turk and a gay person, many of the gay people here are not offended by this stupid hand gesture - we just feel sorry for them because of the way how they are delusional when they think they can hurt us and think they are superior to us when we are just equal whether you believe in it or not. Also, those people can make sure, we, gay people, have pretty good gestures for hetero people who think they can make fun of us and which one cannot find out unless they meet a gay person, only to feel sorry for themselves for how they would look stupid when they used gestures like the "ok" sign.
Which Irish accent are you not allowed imitate??? We have many :P
It can be annoying for people to try any of our accents, especially when they assume that all of us sound like we're from Dublin
chili??
Yeah, I agree with many on here, the person who made this really didn't know what they were talking about since many of these are false.
I'm still confused by the Kenyan name tip
I've been to Norway and there are lots if Christians and churches if that's what they mean by, "Don't ask about going to church."
I'm from New Zealand and you can honk. We honk to say thanks for letting us pass, or we honk to show our support of something. I guess the person who wrote this was around a lot of people with road rage at the time?
The flower thing in Ukraine is same for Serbia. Even number of flowers is tataken to the graveyards
prettty stupid
You forgot the Netherlands .
Wrong info ! In turkey we do not get offended ok gesture because we know the meaning. But if your hand is upside down ( fingers down) it makes people angry. You mean you are gay.
Seriously? One of the most eaten foods in Chile is hot dog. :D
In Chile one of the most common foods is hot dog. Everybody eats them as they should be eaten: with hands. And they love it! :D
Uh... New Zealand and honking.... We use honking to say hello and goodbye when leaving a friend or family members place so that isn't rude, however if you go to pick someone up and honk instead of going to knock on the door that is rude, or if you are being an impatient jerk in traffic then that is rude, so it depends on how you honk really!
I get the impression that the person who wrote this had no idea what they were talking about considering how very wrong they are about some things as well as their inability to form proper sentences.
traditions or not traditions...of course there are things you should do or should avoid when travelling abroad...but then i also think that people should be open-minded enough and overcome superstition when meeting people from other countries. not everyone can know everything and things are done unintentionally. only the narrow-minded will be offended.
in Poland: "You shouldn't refuse if asked to drink vodka with me" hahaha
Italy´s cappuccino in a resto? Italy has many curious traditions and culture regardind do and don´t like: not to give yellow flowers, not say good look but "in bocca al lupo", don't use purple in a wedding, don't ask women's age, and so on...
In Dubai, do not show the soles of your shoes. It is extremely insulting.
India: Dont touch opposite sex in public...lol....who the hell have made this.
DOnt touch opposite sex in public:India....lol....who the hell have made this.
Except it is not true for Hungary. Hungarians do clink glasses when toasting. Some people, however, do not clink with beer. But it has some historic/legendary reason related to the 1848 revolution.
Except, it is not true for Hungary. We DO clink glasses when toasting. Some people, however, don't clink with beer. But that has got a historic/legendary reason related to the 1848 revolution.
india? really? how irony ...
Well that's new to me , I'm Norwegian and I have never heard of not asking about going to church!!!!
Should print that before getting in a plane lol
A hungarian never clink with BEER, that's true, because when we have lost the two-thirds of our country in the Treaty of Trianon, they toasted and clinked with it. Otherwise we are usually doing it with other drinks, but necessary to make EYE CONTACT!!!! :) Because it brings huge bad luck if u miss it...as the superstition says... :)
Do not say any stereotypes about polish people in Poland. Truth is, that only we can offend our country (and we do it all the time)
what is an OK gesture????
We do clink our glasses in Hungary when toasting, the only exception used to be with beer but that started to fade away nowadays too!
I don't know about all of Chile, but at least in Santiago (where I live) and everywhere I've been it's not rude to eat with one's hands, acutally fast food is almost always eaten this way. I've never known anyone who finds this offensive, maybe in certain cities?
dont take a risk. dont make mistakes dont get to know anyone dont get the chance to say sorry and ask why. stay at home and watch a travel program
Dont eat with your hands?? There must be no Indians in Chile .. :P
I'm not sure about the one on Kenyans.... I've live in kenya for years and never anything of that sort...
In Turkey it's meaning you are gay!
it was nice
I am Hungarian and clinking is not at all offensive. Some people get offended if you try to clink with beer for some historical reasons but clinking with any other drinks (especially the Hungarian shot, Pálinka) is more than welcome.
And those historical reasons are outdated anyways. :)
Malaysia - Dont go strippin naked whenever/wherever you wants. Respect others culture for yours to be respected!
In some instances explanations as to why not to do things would have been helpful.
Patrick Fansler That.s very untrue about Russia or other slavic countries. Although Russia is not all slavic and in some eastern, muslim or other areas it might be ok but in slavuc parts as well as Ukraine, Belorus, Poland etc. it.s rude and embarrasing to ask such questions, people avoid talking about money altogether.
It's definitely annoying to ask anyone how much they earn
What rubbish! I think they may have the countries mixed up! In India, you can touch the opposite sex - of course, not inappropriately. But then again, who would want to see that.. get a room man
Hey - you can touch the opposite sex in public -- in India. What rubbish! what you probably can't do is.. touch inappropriately.. but then again.. who would want to see thatt.. get a room! =P
in Argentina don t ever say anything bad about futbol heroes, asado and mate. jajjaj cause you ll never hear the end of it!
Actually in Turkey you can show ok gesture, but not like this http://galeri7.uluda...mesi_366349.jpg It means you are gay (And in Turkey ppl called gay like whell, soft, etc)
I'm Norwegian and German and no one cares if you ask people if they go to church or not. And it's not true that you can't congratulate people before their birthday, they will just joke by saying, it's unlucky. Everyone, in all countries would prefer it on their day.
I think is not ok to honk in any country hehe, and why is wrong ask about going to church in Norway?
Turkey.. :) absolutely right
I'm from Chile, and we use our hands to eat a lot of traditional foods: empanadas, completos (our version of hot dogs), etc. This article is wrong.
In Hungary you only should not clink with beer, but Hungarians clink with any other drinks. However most of Hungarians clink with beer since 1999. Austrians clink beer at one point of history when we were enemies, so we theoretically don't clink beer to avoid to show sympathy with the enemy. But according to some versions of this tradition we should not clink with beer only for 150 years, so most of us does now. The others does the movement of clinking but with their hands holding the glasses and/or knock the glass to the table.
I'm afraid Hungarians DO clink glasses when they toast. Could the person be thinking of Honduras or Heligoland?
Turkey one is wrong. That is no bad thing, the thumb between the index and thumb is a bad one, or the plain simple middle finger would do.
Avoid mention of Japan with many other elder Asians!! Many still remember! !
No way true for Hungary. You may clink glasses with any kind of drink. There is (or was) a little problem with BEER only. There was a custom not to clink with beer glasses as the oppressors of the 1848 revolution did so. But most of people think this custom is out of operation after 150 years. And the others you can appease by clinking your beer glass while saying "death to Haynau" (Haynau being the Habsburg general killing off our revolutionary military leaders).
Nonsense. We in Hungary do always clink with glasses when drinking wine or brandy. There is or was a custom to not clink with BEER glasses, because the oppressors defeating the 1848 revolution did so. Many think this custom is alive yet and many others think it was only relevant for 150 years and already over. But with any Hungarian people you clink glasses with any drink at any time, and you can clink beer glasses too, if you say "death to Haynau" while doing it. (Haynau being the Habsburg general to kill off our brave revolutionary military leaders.)
each to their own!!
who knew?
What? I live in Italy and all the time I see people asking capuccino in restaurants and caffe.
I'm hungarian and I don't understand what's the problem with clinking while toasting... :D There is a tradition: you can't toast with beer. But that is not so serious nowasays. :)
I mean you can't clink with beer.
It's not that big a deal to call people by name first in Kenya..
It's not that big a deal if you call someone by name first in Kenya. Starting your statement with a greeting would be nicer, but isn't that expected everywhere?
I'm Hungarian, but never heard why I shouldn't clink glasses when we toast..
im from hungary and i can say this is pretty much bullshit
im from hungary and i can say that this is pretty much bullshit
It's rude to give even number of flowers also in the Czech republic - we say, even number of flowers if for funerals.
I don't know about the New Zealand one... I'm a native New Zealander and have never heard of it
you may clink glasses in Hungary, just don't do it with beer (no matter if in glass or bottle) in Italy, don't order capuccino after noon (like after your lunch) - you _can_ do it and you'll _get_ it, no matter - just locals never do it
Bulgaria : Don't give a sh*t
Never heard of the kenya one.
in Malaysia. Dont go naked wherever or whenever you want. Respect peoples culture in order for yours to be respected!
Do not eat with your hands? we have pizza, we have hotdogs, we have sandwiches (some of them are too big to eat with hands though), we have empanadas and a lot of food we eat with our hands. Who gave you this tip?
No food and drinks allowed in public transport, in Singapore.
Don't give an even number of flowers in Germany, also.
I am a New Zealander and I honk at idiots on the road all the time.
"It's more fun in the Philippines." ^_^
what a load of shit in nz we don't find it offensive to beep horn we beep to gather our friends or family to hurry up and we beep horn in tunnels the thing most new Zealanders find offensive is waring shoes inside sitting on a pillow putting your elbows at the table waring hat at the table leaving the grave yard without washing your hands and also not eating what is on your plate
Do you know more about the leaving a graveyard without washing their hands? I'd be interested in knowing the history behind that one.
what a load of shit in nz we beep the horn to hurry our relies up or they stay inside doing there make up for ages and we beep in tunnels as well the thing we find offensive in nz is waring shoes in our house putting elbows on the table sitting on your pillow and waring your hat at the table and also when entering a grave site always wash your hands when you leave the graveyard gate
Brazil do anithing you want
en argentina no hablar de politica jajajja
Well the make sure to tip in usa, if they suck, no tips, when they are good, I tip 15%.
If they suck, it extra sucks for them because in USA, they basically live off their tips because their wage is so little. If they are not good at their jobs, they should try to find somewhere else.
En Chile, "don't eat with your hands"? In the other countries in the list you can go and eat with your hands? I'm from Chile and don't understand why they put that thing that "shouldn`t do" in my country.
Remember to take your shoes off when you enter a home in Finland!
Also when on holiday in Ireland (North or South) don't say you're Irish unless you're born and brought up there, instead say you've Irish connections or are Irish Diaspora. You'll not offend anyone but they'll will think you're a daft tourist.
I think that's goes for anywhere in the UK too
If you try to leave a tip on secret on Japan, they will chase you down the street to give it back. Yup,
The Norwegian "don't ask about going to church" ??? Never heard about it before and will not be offended if anyone asked me about going to church (I live in Norway...). I will probably help them find a church for their faith, but not join them except if they are very close friends or family.
About Ukraine.. you can't bring an even number of flowers because an even number of flowers is only given at funeral ceremonies so..
Hungary isn't correct no more. The rule only lasted 500 years and it's now over.
150
Hungary isn't correct anymore. The rule only lasted 500 years and it's now over.
The Hungary one is inaccurate. Clinking glasses when toasting is fine, but the glasses shouldn't contain beer, because it has historical reasons.
I've the idea that the author repeats aspects of countries he once heard. The other coments already indicate that a lot of aspects aren't true or only partially true. Examples: France: don't talk or ask about money. UK: don't ask how much people earn. These 2 apply to nearly every country, although in some countries people will have more problems with it than in other countries. Germany: don't congratulate on birthday before the day. Might not be 'rude' in other countries, but at least it's kind of weird: you congratulate on the day or afterwards, not beforehand. Chile: don't eat with your hands. Some kind of foods have to be eaten by hand. Apart from these eating food with your hands is not accepted in nearly every country around the world, with the exeption of some 'dry' lunch foods like sandwiches. USA: don't forget to tip. This goes for a lot of countries all over the world. Hungary: don't clink glasses. As already mentioned before: this only goes for beer. A bit more research o
I'm norwegian and Id like to know why u can not ask us about going to church.
Don't clink glasses...? Hm, interesting. We used to clink glasses in Hungary. :)
don't show the bottom of your feet in Thailand (like when you're sitting with crossed legs)
Really? First time i hear about that, and my wife, who is thai say it's no problem.
don't show the bottom of your feet in Thailand
It's true about Japan. but house movers do get tipped in Japan.
any explanation for any of these?
You should NOT do the OK sign here in Brazil either.
It is equivalent as giving the middle finger.
Good to know!!
In Turkey the OK sign is not offensive to do it . if you do it upside down then it just means (not literally but between friends )that the opposite sex is gay that's all...
Don't know about other places, but if you are a male and in India, then the rule completely applies. Not so much if you are a female. True Story !
I found it very hard to not leave tips in Japan.
Where did u get that about Chile? That's not true...
In Hungary you shouldn't clink with beer, but with wine it's ok. http://welovebudapest.com/budapest.and.hungary/crucial.things.you.should.know.when.visiting.a.hungarian.home
I'm sure you should not ask about how much people earn or congratulate on birthday before the day. it's rude anywhere in the world!
So if it's rude to call someone by name first in Kenya, no one ever calls anyone by name? And in New Zealand is it still rude to honk when you're trying to prevent an accident??
You can clink glasses in Hungary, we do it all the time...
Hungary: Don't clink with beer when toasting... ONLY BEER
You shouldn't give an even number of flower to any Christian orthodox because their tradition is to only give it to dead people. Most of the Eastern Europe people have this tradition.
That's it? No explanations? Booooo! (I hope that wasn't impolite.)
Em, you can cling glasses in Hungary, some of the people don't cling with beer- historical reasons, but most of them would say "It's fine"
In India you can touch opposite sex but Kissing and smooching makes people look at you weird
Hungarian ppl don't clink BEER glasses.
It's better: Look at your partners' eyes, when you're clinking in Hungary :) don't clink with beer in Hungary. If you give a purse for a present, take some coins in it in Hungary. If you see a chimney-sweeper, you have to touch a button while you are watching him in Hungary.
Is there a reason as to why? i mean what makes it offensive to them and their country?
There is nothing wrong with the clinking in Hungary. I haven't heard this before. You could search something more typical. :) F.E.: Don't talk about politics or religion. Celebrating namedays is important. Don't talk or munch while eating. (But talking is usually accepted) Don't sniff your nose, it's very unpolite and disgusting. :)
Some of these make alot of sense and think the uk should adopt them
Don't talk or ask about money in France? Seriously? They always ask for our money. Even taxi charging tips. Wtf.
We had no problems asking for cappuccinos in Italy.
I think that the Irish one is misleading. Why? because I'm a parrot - an unconscious mimic - I pick up the accent of whomever I'm talking to naturally. I don't overdo it - most people don't even notice, except to say 'you don't have an accent' since of course to them I don't LOL. So - I WENT to Ireland - and of course picked up a slight brogue. Now, I'm a Scot by heritage, actually went to school there & definitely can speak w/a Scots accent - so the Irish that noticed this just asked me if I WAS from Scotland cause they thought we all were American LOL Now if you PARODY an Irish accent (or ANYONE's) that's going to be seen as offensive....
You can "touch" in India. You can't fondle or kiss in public. And you can't touch the opposite sex in any country if they don't know you or haven't permitted you. It's offensive worldwide.
What a ridiculous list.
Thanks, but I'm going to do my thing wherever I go, since idgaf about what other people think.
Maybe you shouldn't travel then. Because you should respect people and their culture around you.
Good luck with that
Some of these tips are used worldiwide. Ex. you should never give even nr of flower anywhere! Not eating with your hands is common sense and very unpolite anywhere, unless may be among some tribes in Africa. Congratulating before birthdays or any other event is considered bad luck, all over the world. Asking how much someone earns ou talking about money, unless you know the person very well is also umpolite everywhere. And I believe no native from any country likes a foreigner imitating their accent, because it´'s silly...
In Mexico we have Tacos, and we have to eat them with our hands, there is no other way to eat them. About the flowers, we don't really count them, is the intention what matters. And we are funny people, so if you try to imitate us... we will just make fun of you. ;)
Here in the USA we frequently give an even number of flowers i.e. a dozen roses (12). It's also common to wish someone a happy birthday or congratulations before the actual event. And it's certainly not offensive for people from other countries to attempt to imitate our accent (unless they are trying to mock us). Some social norms are different from country to country. And some are the same. It's ok. It's nice to know both.
Many cultures eat with their hands. It is common to give a dozen roses to people in North America.
What about chips, burger, pizza, hot-dogs ? Also, the " tribes" in africa certainly includes morocco and algeria!
Almost none of what you say is true. Most countries and cultures have specific meals they eat with their hands, in many Asian cultures eating with the hands is perfectly acceptable and the standard. Asking someone's earnings is indeed impolite in most cases but many, if not most, cultures are fine talking about money as in mortgages, insurances and investments just not the hard numbers. It's common in many situations to congratulate early because it is often preferred early than late which is almost universally disappointing. The only thing true is imitating the local accent, though in countries like the Netherlands and such the locals will often laugh and try to mimick yours in return as long as it's obvious that you're kidding around and not mocking anyone.
I'm pretty sure it's rude to ask about people finances in any country, especially as a visitor.
Try Netherlands.
But the Dutch have great German jokes!!
Uhm, it's definitely considered rude here as well.
What happens there? :o
I have found that Asian people (eg.Vietnamese) talk quite freely about their finances, and are likely to ask you how much you are paying for something such as house rental.
This is true. It's a rude habit I picked up from my mother.
Well... Here in Argentina it's very common to talk about earnings and expenses. The problem comes when you know your wage is rather superior to average, it gets uncomfortable when being asked...
But still, in USA most people ask. My name is, what do you do for a living?, oh, that's like this much a year, right!?!
Nobody I know in US has said something like that. And that's over a lifetime of meeting people.
Well i live in México and i go to San Diego once a week every single time They ask me how much i make? how much I pay for rent? and they say wow!! I make this much I should move there and I will save this much money, who do they think I am? Their accountant? So rude!!!
Not in Turkey
Well, here in Argentina it is very common to talk about that. The problem comes when you have a good wage, rather superior than average, it's uncomfortable to answer when being asked.
In China you can ask about finances, weight, marital status, race - They don't have an off button xD But at the same time, it's also considered not offensive either not to reply, or too answer evasively.
Totally agree
Well, it's actually very normal to ask about how much you earn in China, South Korea and other Asian Countries.
That's not true in South Korea.
they do ask in Italy
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Well if you have any class it's rude to even discuss money
I am from Poland and don't agree that it is so common asking about someones salary. It's quite ok between friends, but absolutelly not between strange people...
In Russia (and in other Slavic Countries), asking someone about his/her salary is as normal as asking about the weather. It doesn't mean they don't have class... it's just not taboo in their society.
Perhaps by the norms of your culture, but it's not universal. It's not considered rude in some cultures, such as China, to ask about someone's salary.
Why? Why do you consider it a secret?
In Italy, it's fine to order a cappuccino in a restaurant as long as it's before noon. You can still order one after noon, but the server might look at you funny. They're not offended by it, they just think it's weird.
Ehm... nope. You can do it in a bar, caffetteria ecc. In a restaurant is weird and is one of the things that generally only tourists do.
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And you don't want their money for some reason?
I get weird looks ordering the largest coffee available (caffeinated PLEASE) at cafes in the evening here in the good ole USA....
What's weird about having a coffee, be it a cappuccino, at any time really? Why would they think it's weird?! This one I really don't get..
Anyway, no offense. :-)
Why ordering cappucino is weird?
It's just something that we have for breakfast. :-)
Italians believe that having milk after eating any meat or poultry will upset the stomach. After noon, you're supposed to order an espresso to drink after your meal.
You are right. Cappucchino is drunken only before noon or eleven a.m.. Otherwise it wouldn't be offered at all!
Everybody clinks glasses in Hungaty
We do and don't get offended by that at all. It's just an old story & habit to not clink with beer (only), related to the executions in 1849. Possibly spread by the wine traders that time to be more patriotic and stuff.
the rule is don't clink with beer, any other drink is ok :)
And now its magicianed itself to a different photo. Weird
Why do you and Susanne Cirillo have the same profile pic? :/
it's true
Hungary.... i heard dont have sex with lights on afetr 21 or 22 pm....
Urban legend...
That's it? No explanations? Boooo! (I hope my boo-ing wasn't impolite.)
It is, in Burkina Faso...
The even number of flowers is not to be given also in Bulgaria and in every other orthodox country, as far as I know, because it is the number we carry to the cemetery when we go visit the graves of our beloved.
The same in Romania
The same in the Czech Republic.
Also Slovakia..
It's the same in Serbia :)
That's strange...In Greece we are Orthodox too but I've never heard of the even numbered flowers rule.
same in Greece,heard it from my grandmother
Not only orthodox country.Dont give even number of flowers also in Latvia, they bring even numbers to funeral.
the same in Estonia and believe me it has nothing to do with religion
Exactly what I thought! Still, as far as I know, even numbers are fine if it's more than 10 or 20 flowers. At least that's what I heard here in Ukraine
In Hungary the only rude thing is when clinking glasses is not looking into the other person's eye. Your eyes should meet, it's just a sign of respect. Clinking is totally fine.
in germany it's said, that you'll have 7 years of bad sex if you clink with someone without eye-contact. The desperate people don't look and say 'better bad sex than none' ^^
It's the same in France
We don't clink with beer, that's the rule. The story goes back to the Austrian-Hungarian Monarchy but I don't remember it.
In Brazil we don't get offended with anything. Look at our politicians...
I am from Chile and we have plenty of food that you normally eat with your hands. This is BS.
como se supone que comeríamos completos, empanadas, milcaos... pizza DDD:
As a Mexican i can say that if locals are making jokes about you or you country they are being assholes. any other joke is just so you lose up and relax so you can have a good time and maybe drink and eat a little with your hosts.
Hungary: Don't give knife as a present.
I like getting knives as present... :)
Same in Ukraine. It is believed you cut the friendship :). To avoid this, a person should pay back a small symbolic amount of money, let's say $1.
That's never a good present, anywhere, ever.
In Switzerland we often give our famous "swiss army knife" as a present.
Yes, the Swiss Army Knife is a good present, also, why not an Opinel? It can be useful, it lasts forever and some are really beautiful. As long as they are not used as weapons of course.
Chile, not Chili
This article would do with a little more detail on why.
Who did this article don't really know nothing about chilean sopaipillas :p