Avoid Accidentally Insulting Someone
If you make the wonderful decision to travel to other parts of the world, it’s common courtesy to learn and understand common customs that may differ from your own. This is either to avoid looking like a tourist or just for the sake of not making a scene. Even with the rise in Western popular culture making its way around the world, there are some things you should avoid doing in your travels. Check out this list to learn more.
1. Tipping
In countries like Japan and South Korea, tipping can be considered incredibly rude and unnecessary. Employees aim for excellent service as a constant standard to be met, and offering an incentive will come across as insulting or even embarrassing.
2. Keeping Your Shoes On
It’s customary in East Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, Poland, and even parts of Canada to take one's shoes off. This may be done for cleanliness, respect, or for homes with more delicate flooring. If you’re visiting certain public buildings, like Mosques, you will also be required to remove your footwear.
3. Thumbs-Up
The iconic Western hand gesture means “good job,” “good to go,” or even “I’m doing well.” If you visit Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, West Africa, or parts of South America, this seemingly innocent gesture is equivalent to giving someone the middle finger.
4. Talking Loudly In Public
Getting on the phone or having a loud conversation with your friend in places like Japan will come across as disruptive. Public transit and even some restaurants like to prioritize a calm and quiet space, which isn’t going to happen if you’re speaking above a dull roar.
5. Sitting In The Back Of A Cab
It’s considered rude not to ride shotgun in places like Australia, New Zealand, and in some parts of Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands. Sitting in the back seat could come across as an act of arrogance, and is generally a matter of egalitarianism.
6. Laughing With Your Mouth Open
Throwing your head back and exposing your teeth while laughing is considered impolite in Japan, so much so that they call it “horse-like” laughter. You should cover your mouth with your hand while you laugh if you’re in public.
7. Walking and Eating/Drinking
While the Western habit is all about efficiency and multitasking, you will come across as rude and ill-mannered if you do this in places like Italy or Japan. It’s much more common to enjoy your coffee at the establishment where you purchased it, and if you buy something from a vending machine, you should step off the sidewalk to eat.
8. Refusing Food
During a visit or a formal dining invitation, refusing food can be considered incredibly rude and potentially disrespectful to your host. This rings true in Ethiopia, India, Japan, Middle Eastern countries, and parts of China.
9. Big Smiles
We tend to be all smiles when we meet new people in the West, but it’s not a widely common practice in other parts of the world. Russia, for instance, reserves big smiles for friends or amusement, and your pearly whites may come across as insincere.
10. Wearing Sweats In Public
We totally get running out to the grocery store in your home clothes, but in Japan and Europe, looking “sloppy” while going out in public is disrespectful. Skip the athleisure when you’re visiting abroad.
11. PDA
In the Middle East, China, and Thailand, it’s not common and can potentially come across as offensive and downright vulgar to share affectionate gestures in public. This is likely due to a particular country’s cultural, religious, or traditional values that value modesty and privacy.
12. Calling the USA “America”
If you go to South America and say you’re from America, then don’t be shocked if they say the same thing. Anybody who lives between the 20th meridian west and the 160th meridian east lives in the Americas.
13. Eating Fast
The West is always about moving to the next thing, and the idea rings true in restaurant settings. In Europe, it’s much more common to eat at a slower pace, and it can come across as rude to start clearing your plate if other folks haven’t finished their meals.
14. Getting Gifts
Patience is a virtue, especially in China and India. If you’re offered a gift in China, it is customary to refuse the gift a few times before accepting it. Even after you accept it, you should take your time opening it, as tearing into a gift box is considered poor form.
15. Using Your Left Hand
In places like the Middle East, India, and certain parts of Africa, the left hand is considered unclean. Using your left hand to eat, pass money, or hand something to someone will come across as offensive and downright unhygienic.
16. Being Late/Being On Time
Depending on where you are in the world, being late or being right on time is considered rude. In Germany, for instance, lateness is seen as selfish. While in certain Latin American countries, being right on time is considered bad form.
17. Showing The Soles Of Your Feet/Shoes
In places like Thailand, the Middle East, India, and Asia, the soles of your shoes or feet are considered the dirtiest part of your body, and it can come across as insulting to display them to other people.
Konstantin Shmatov on Unsplash
18. The OK Hand Sign
The circle you make with your thumb and forefinger might mean “OK” to us, but it has a variety of negative connotations in other parts of the world. The gesture is considered vulgar in Brazil and Turkey, and in France, it can suggest that something is worthless.
19. Blowing Your Nose
If you have a cold in China, France, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, you’re better off taking a private moment to blow into a tissue. Blowing your nose in public is considered rude, disruptive, and downright revolting.
20. Drinking Someone Else’s Alcohol
Unless previously stated, you should never have booze you didn’t bring yourself. This is especially true in Norway and Japan, where BYOB really does mean BYOB. It’s also considered impolite to serve yourself in certain countries - let someone else pour for you instead.
