Mar
18
Watch your soles in Islamic countries, dress sharply in Brazil and avoid naughty hand gestures to prevent cultural faux pas around the world.
I once had a traveling friend who, through no conscious effort of his own, created a handful of international incidents. He was the quintessential culturally challenged, ugly American.
In Jordan, he sat in a chair with his legs crossed, the soles of his shoes pointed directly at his host’s head. That’s a cultural no-no.
In India and in Thailand, he repeatedly patted the heads of children he met.
And in Brazil, he unwittingly made the “A-OK” sign with his right hand (circling his index finger to meet his thumb with his other three fingers pointing skyward). In most other parts of the world, it’s a positive sign; in Brazil, it’s as if you are giving someone the finger. Fortunately, I was able to pull him out of that bar before things got ugly.
My friend never learned his lesson, which is why he no longer travels with me. Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, it’s essential to pay attention to local customs and social cues to avoid embarrassment, or worse.
My friend never learned his lesson, which is why he no longer travels with me. Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, it’s essential to pay attention to local customs and social cues to avoid embarrassment, or worse.
In my 20-plus years of being on the road constantly, I’ve watched the world grow astonishingly smaller. Increased connectivity with the Internet, cell phones and now social media have all encouraged cross-cultural awareness. An American traveler may no longer find it strange when a Japanese host offers slippers at the front door, or be offended when a dinner party in Argentina starts two hours late.
But for those visitors who aren’t aware of cultural mores, these and other differences may lead them to unwittingly offend their hosts.
Here are just a few of my red flags of cultural caution:
1. Watch your soles
Remember the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoe at then-President George W. Bush? The angry reporter didn’t simply choose the closest weapon. In Islamic culture, throwing a shoe is an enormous insult.
As a traveler, you certainly have no plans to hurl a boot at your host. But even crossing your legs so the bottom of your shoe is facing him can be viewed as an offensive gesture.
In Thailand, it’s considered rude to cross your legs and point your toes at another person. (And, as you may have guessed, under no circumstances should you ever touch a Thai person on the head. Thais consider the head the most sacred part of the body, and to touch it is a sign of great disrespect. If it happens accidentally, offer an apology immediately.)
Many Asian and Middle Eastern countries require guests to remove their shoes when entering a home or a religious site. If the idea of trodding barefoot or wearing someone else’s slippers makes you uncomfortable, always carry a clean pair of socks.
Many Asian and Middle Eastern countries require guests to remove their shoes when entering a home or a religious site. If the idea of trodding barefoot or wearing someone else’s slippers makes you uncomfortable, always carry a clean pair of socks.
2. Dress to impress, or at least not offend
While countries such as Jordan tend to have more relaxed attitudes toward how foreigners dress and behave, watch out if you travel to Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi or other Middle Eastern locales with more restrictive rules. Women should always err on the safe side by dressing conservatively with loose-fitting clothes. When entering a mosque, both men and women should keep their extremities completely covered, including wrists and ankles.
How about places where the locals dress to impress? In Brazil, for example, it’s wise to wear business attire in corporate settings. That means a three-piece suit for men, and ladies, I’m sorry if this offends, but a feminine, form-fitting suit or dress is considered the cultural norm.
3. Mark your calendar
If visiting any Islamic country during Ramadan — whether it’s Egypt, Indonesia or Turkey — don’t expect the locals to join you for lunch. During that month, Muslims don’t eat, drink or smoke during daylight hours. The rules don’t necessarily extend to visiting foreigners, but out of respect, it’s wise to abstain from food when in public.
4. Eat right
Here’s a common scenario in several south Asian and Middle Eastern countries. When visiting a home or a casual eatery (less so in hotels and upscale restaurants), don’t be surprised to see locals eating with their hands. But pay attention: What you won’t see are people eating with their left hands. Many cultures consider the left hand to be unclean.
5. Follow the law
Over the years, Singapore has gotten somewhat of a bad reputation for being a fine-happy nanny state. Misdemeanors such as spitting and not flushing a toilet, as dictated by the government, could result in hefty penalties.
In 1992, the government banned the import and sale of chewing gum based on concerns that improperly disposed gum was soiling sidewalks and other public spaces. The act of chewing — or even possessing — gum was akin to littering. In 2004, however, Singapore partially lifted that ban and began to allow the sale of chewing gum considered to have health benefits. (In fact, that repeal was part of a U.S.-Singapore free trade agreement, which allowed American companies to sell nicotine and tooth-whitening gums with a prescription.) In 2010, the law was upheld. Still, I wouldn’t advise breaking out your pack of Wrigley’s while wandering through Singapore.
6. Give the gift of respect
Bringing a host a token of appreciation is rarely a bad thing, but watch out for the tricky rules of gift-giving. In many countries, including Hungary, China and several parts of Latin America, giving a knife is considered a symbol of severing the friendship. However, there is a way around it; the recipient can offer you a coin in return, which neutralizes the bad luck. If you want to be on the safe side, tape a penny to the blade that can be returned to you.
Or, avoid complication and bring a nice bottle of wine instead, unless you’re visiting a strict Islamic or Mormon household. In that case, a plant is a nice touch.
7. Have fun, within reason
Markets and bazaars in countries such as Morocco, Egypt and India are prime places to practice your haggling skills. In fact, it may be considered rude not to bargain. But don’t haggle just for the fun of it. Be assertive but not aggressive, be realistic with your price point, and be prepared to make the purchase if you reach an agreeable price.
8. Above all, respect yourself and others
When in doubt, follow the rules of common courtesy and most importantly, common sense.
Pay attention to social cues. If you’re with a group of Asians and the elders are doing all the talking, don’t interrupt. If you’re dining with the French and everyone is speaking over one another, feel free to join the fray. And if you’re a smoker, look around to see who is doing what — in south Asian countries, it’s considered impolite to smoke in front of your elders.
In many cases, finding out the rules of etiquette is as simple as asking a local, whether it’s your hotel concierge, a cab driver or a waiter. Common sense, above all, is how to go about making friends and influencing people — globally.
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