30 People Share “Unwritten” Rules In Their Countries That Foreigners Might Not Know About

And for the love of God, don’t try to talk in an “Irish accent”, ya just sound offensive. In fact, don’t even say you love the “Irish accent,” because every county has a noticeably different one! It’s like saying your favourite animal is a mammal. (Source: I’m Irish myself, born and raised)

This is SO F*CKED UP, I...I can't even imagine anyone from the U.S. being so insulting to Canada..... please accept my apologies for this nonsense

I think it's so rude when people are late (unless it's really out of their hands). I have a friend that wears a watch and will give you a time and rock up 2/3 hours late and either thinks its funny or pretends nothing is wrong!!!! Do you know what all I could've done while waiting for you???

Yes. The lifeguards put them there for a reason. Rip currents can be fatal

Like the queing,just simple good manners.

I feel like this should be all over the world

Guess I'll be avoiding southern Italy... I don't like being touched and I don't like talking to random people.... but the rules around food and coffee are appealing....

I lived in southern italy ten years and this is phrased very poorly. Yes, Italians greet friends with cheek kisses but this make it sounds like they pounce on strangers.

Okay, but what if you don't like coffee?

This is the same for most of South America

So you are not allowed to have boundaries ? 'kay good to know

Signs of respecting other peoples ways

So a sicilian here. We don't shake hands together, we france kiss each other. Kiss on a cheek, but only with relatives, not strangers.

Good riddance, this comment section has got anxiety! Everyone's panicking because they could get touched. I'd say feel hugged people, but obviously that's more of a threat, so feel lovingly ignored.

Well no, it's not like that. Yes, they will put something to eat on the table, but if you don't want it, don't eat it. They will offer you coffee when visiting them, but you can always say a glass of water will do. If you're not thirsty, just leave it there. They will probably greet you with a hug or kisses if they know you, but after that just take a footstep backwards so you let them know your boundaries. And no-one wil force you to talk if they don't know you, but they will probably talk to you, too, if you do. It is courtesy though to offer an espresso or something else at a bar, when it occurs, especially when they did you some kind of a favour, like showing you the city or opening their home to you.

I respect this attitude. Cool country.

This is also true of many parts of South America. But Argentina and Brazil have enormous Italian populations, so maybe it's something they brought to us. You kiss to say hello, we hug, you talk on the bus, everybody is your friend.

All the “aaahhhh, don’t touch me”, in the comments 🤣

ohh i remember how I did not know about first plates and stuffed my self with it before the second plate...some 20 yrs ago...

I’m American, and kind of do these, or a variation of them, already. #1: This is just basic politeness, even if you just take a dab of everything, at least you tried all of it. #2: I like coffee, so wouldn’t mind this very much. #3: As long as the touching, hugging, and kissing stays appropriate and doesn’t turn into groping, tentative OK. #4: Hey, if someone buys me coffee, like in #1, I have no problem paying the favor forward. #5: I already do this. Good weather or bad weather, you can always make some kind of polite small talk, that everyone can relate to, just to pass the time.

You should not have to pretend it's ok for people to touch you if it actually makes you feel uncomfortable.

The touching and talking are fine with me... but I don't drink coffee so I guess I'll avoid southern Italy.

I was a little kid when I was told that men pinch ones butt on the street over there and so knew never to go.

And if you have food allergies?

OK, So I get you. If you hate being hugged and kissed, never go to Italy. I CAN and DO do talking :-)

I don't think any of these would work in Scandinavia or Germany.

#3 has this changed after covid at all?

Covid has changed a lot of that. I'm not touching unknown people

Ok. I love this.

1-4 all true if you are long-time friends or relatives. "Always talk to people" it means acknowledging that people around you exist so that you won't look like a narcissistic snob. You usually do that if you make eye contact with that person. The talk could also be just a simply "good morning" or a nod of your head. This is usually a more bon ton stuff in smaller towns. In bigger cities, no one gives a heck about you.

For the coffee, does decaf count? If so, then I'm okay with that, but I like to limit my caffeine intake. Also, I'm a vegetarian. Finally, I may have to pop pills in order to digest what they're serving (my body has issues with certain types of carbohydrate chains). But if that's all okay, then I'm good with it!

That would be hard because I'm allergic to tomatoes so I probably wouldn't be able to try a lot of their food

I loved my time in Italy. The nicest people.

Introvert here... Sorry, can't do it...

I'm a very social person, so this is awesome for me. I strike up a conversation whenever I can.

And don’t ask for ketchup.

6. Leave the "e" off the end of coffe.

So Finland and Italy are far apart for a reason ;o)

Is decaf okay?

Italy sounds like hell

1. No. I have a food intolerance that I need to make sure I don't consume. However, I will be very polite and express this to them so as not to hurt their feelings or think they are a bad host. 2. No, I do not like coffee and I don't want people wasting their money. Though, I would accept tea. 3. I'm not scared but not a fan of people I don't know hugging or kissing me. Consent is kind if a big deal. 4. I can totally do this if I have funds. I will also offer to buy tea in case some don't like coffee. 5. No. Sometimes I don't want to talk but won't be rude if someone else initiates. Maybe me going to southern Italy would not be a good idea?

The food expectations are exactly why i wouldn't choose to visit. I would absolutely be happy to accept food offered if wheat didn't destroy my digestive system. And while I adore coffee and espresso caffeine makes me incredibly ill. The rest I wouldn't have a problem with. But food limitations are part of why my bucket list vacations are in Central America, certain Asian destinations, and the Caribbean. Though it's been a dream to see Pompeii for a long time.

An introverts nightmare

But I don't drink coffee...

guess I'm not going to southern italy, I'm too introverted for that. Lake Garda and Lake Como in northern Italy are beautiful though. xP

I'm never going there then. I'm not eating if I don't want to, I hate coffee and do not f*****g touch me. Ever. Also, don't talk to me, I don't know you.