PowerPoint PresentationAvoid
Overview
At the best of times, travel can be thrilling and life-changing. But at its worst, it is awkward and gut-
wrenching. Most of the time it’s due to cultural differences, some so subtle you might not be aware of
them. We’ve gathered a few of the common – and unique – travel taboos to help you avoid any
confusion or disrespect on your next trip.
Dining in transit and pouring your own drink in Japan
There are definitely more than a few potential
faux pas that travelers to Japan can unwittingly
make.The first major social sin she highlights is
eating or drinking on the train, and the second is
opening your own taxi door. Do not try to open
or close a taxi door. The driver will remotely open
the left rear door for you to enter and then will
close it after you depart. And speaking of dining
etiquette. It's taboo to pour one’s own drink, and
party-goers make sure to fill the cups of elders
first. The same respectful custom is appropriate in
Japan where the gesture shows generosity and
companionship among drinking buddies.
Blowing your nose in public and sporting shoes in homes and sacred places
in China
considered very rude to take out a tissue and
blow your nose in public, especially while
sitting down for a meal. But the major cultural
sin to steer clear of is neglecting to take off
your shoes.Your feet can cause you trouble
in China. Remove your shoes before you
enter anyone's home (or a temple), and when
sitting, be sure not to deliberately show the
bottom of your feet to others.
Neglecting to follow standard meal and language etiquette practices in
France
main course, it's considered a better practice to pair it
with different entrees, especially cheeses. Your bread
should also be placed directly on the table, rather
than a separate plate. Also resist sharing your final tab
with your travel companions – it's considered to be
an unrefined practice in at French establishments,
where the norm is for one person to take care of the
bill. And apart from practicing the proper form while
dining, it's also essential to be polite by speaking the
local language. Always say, 'Bonjour' (to shopkeepers,
strangers, restaurant hosts), avoid speaking too loudly
and never, we repeat, never ask for your steak well
done.
of affection in the United Arab Emirates
Dubai can be a place of mixed messages, and
messing up can mean deportation. While you're
allowed to drink in hotels, keep in mind "drunk
driving and public drunkenness are strictly
forbidden. Unlike the U.S., consuming alcohol
or being under the influence of alcohol in
public is a punishable offense and can result in
being charged for drinking without a license in
Dubai. You should also never offer your hand
to an Arab woman unless she offers it first.
Paying with pennies in Canada
Next time you plan a trip to the Great White
North, you may want to refrain from collecting
or using pennies. As the copper coin's value
continues to diminish and the Royal Canadian
Mint halted distributing pennies to financial
centers after February 2013, some retailers will
not accept the currency or will require that you
round up the final cost to the closest 5-cent
increment. Beyond limiting your penny
payments, it's also important to stay courteous
to blend in.
Never order a cappuccino after 10:30 [a.m.] (milk
is considered filling and should only be consumed
at breakfast).To avoid drinking coffee over a meal.
You can also be charged different prices depending
on how you want to consume your drink – most
expensive to sit at a table, cheaper to stand at the
counter, cheapest to take it to go.
Catholic cathedrals and basilicas throughout Italy
and Vatican City strictly enforce a strict dress code
for all visitors. To ensure you're able to visit sacred
sights, he advises sporting clothing that shields the
shoulders, skirts and dresses that go past the knee
and, for women, a shawl to wrap around sleeveless
blouses in the summertime.
Making offensive hand gestures in Brazil and the U.K
Tame your hand gestures in Brazil. Pointing out that seemingly innocuous
gestures such as raising your fist can signal to
a man that his wife is cheating on him.
Another offensive practice is putting your
fist to your forehead, which signals that you
believe someone is stupid. While this
universal sign represents "peace out" in the
U.S., Try the same with your chaps in the
U.K., and you could find yourself in a street
fight. Americans don't realize extending the
pointer finger into a reversed peace sign has
the same meaning across the pond as a
middle finger on its own.
Incorrectly greeting locals and wearing the wrong shoes to ancient sites in
Greece
more physical contact than standard greetings
in the U.S. Hugging and kissing go together. If
you greet someone with a hug, be prepared to
also kiss on the cheek. Apart from mastering
proper greetings, make sure to dress correctly
before making the pilgrimage to famed
attractions. In fact, some ancient sites, such as
the Acropolis, have restricted visitors from
wearing high heels to keep cherished treasures
intact.
carrying bubblegum in Singapore – think
again. Bubblegum was outlawed in Singapore
in 1992 after vandals caused repeated
maintenance issues throughout the country
by trashing sidewalks, sealing keyholes and
even disrupting the public transit by jamming
subway doors with wads of the adhesive
treat. By law, visitors are banned from
carrying gum into the country, even by
accident.The crime is punishable by a fine of
up to $3,000, and pharmacists caught selling
the illicit snack face up to two years in jail.
Chopsticks Etiquette
set your sticks to the side or lay them flat
on top of your bowl when pausing between
bites. Most western travelers will leave the
sticks in the food, but this is an omen of bad
luck in Japan. In China and other countries,
it is also impolite to point to other people
with chopsticks.
Visiting Mosques
and sunglasses when entering a mosque. And
don’t worry about walking around in your
socks; some mosques provide slip ons for
visitors. For the rest of your attire, modest
dress is required, covering as much skin as
possible. For me, long sleeves and long pants
are the best option, and you should not wear
any logos. For women, it’s best to cover all skin
and wear ankle-length skirts, long sleeves, and a
headscarf to cover your hair. The restrictions
may very by location, but following the above
rules can help avoid any awkward or
disrespectful situations.
Ukraine
small gift when invited over for dinner.
Flowers are a common option, but
remember two simple rules: always choose
an odd number of flowers and avoid yellow
at all costs. Even number of flowers are used
for funeral and yellow is considered an
impolite color.
allowed to loiter, intimately talk or kiss at the
Warrington Bank Quay railway station. If you
desperately need to finish a conversation or
want to kiss, you can move to “Kissing Zone,”
a nearby car park, but only for up to 20
minutes! While we might think this practice is
too conservative, the actual reason for the
restriction is because couples kissing goodbye
in front of the train doors was cause traffic
congestion. Most travelers don’t have a
problem with it either and find it quite
humorous.
When you travel to Egypt, don’t add salt to
your meal, because that would be regarded as
an insult to the chef. Fortunately, Egyptians
always use garlic, onion and other spices, so
Egyptian food are delicious.
summer, make sure to pack long sleeves and
pants. The general rule is to cover your
shoulders, knees, and feet, so no flip-flops! It’s
common for tourists to flock to churches
when visiting Europe, due to their historic and
cultural importance, but you should always be
mindful of your attire and respect the local
customs.
should always be off the table and you should
never insult the country’s leaders or Royal
Families. But in Thailand, it has been a federal
offence since 1908, so whatever your opinion on
royalty, it’s best to keep it to yourself while
perusing a Bangkok bar.
make sure to remember one simple rule: don’t
shout “Cheers!” and clank your mugs together
in a Hungarian bar. This taboo dates back to
1848 when Austraia celebrated the execution
of Hungarian rebels by clanking their beer
glasses together. As a result, no Hungarian
cheers during a toast.
Cambodia
considered rude to eat all the food on a plate,
as it suggests that the host did not prepare
enough food. It may very depending on the
country, however, but as a general practice you
should avoid eating too much.
Other Taboos
• Korea – it is customary to obey and do small tasks for people older than yourself even if by only a
year.
• South East Asia – it is common to agree to a direct correction, you must phrase questions in an
open manner rather than yes/no to get an accurate answer.
• Russia – turning down a drink of vodka can be offensive.
• Asia – don’t point at someone with your finger, if you have to gesture use your elbow.
• Albania – locals nod to indicate no and shake their heads to indicate yes.
• Asia – in many Asian and Middle Eastern country the sole of the foot is considered unclean and
pointing them at people or throwing shoes is a grave offence.
• South Asia – in many places profusely thanking your hosts for meals and hospitality is considered
offensive. It is considered an honor to host people in your home.
Conclusion
The other benefit (apart from not looking like a wally or getting randomly arrested) in respecting
cultural taboos is that your experience with the locals can change entirely, people open up when they
see you making an effort and are more likely to share their time and stories with you. If travel is about
having new experiences and exploring new cultures then avoiding cultural taboos is an easy way to
meet more local people and have genuine experiences, that and you represent your own culture with