The Vacation and Travel Blog

If you are going to a foreign country, the first difficulty, which you must tackle, is salutation. Do you know how many traps you can fall into?

In many countries such part of the body as head is emphasized. In the countries where the basic religion is Buddhism, and also in many countries of Southern Asia the head is considered to be a receptacle of a soul. Don’t try to pat children on the head in Thailand. If you hear “The head is sacred, do not touch it!” and do not have troubles with child’s parents, it means that you are well out of this situation.

In the Mediterranean region, relatives, friends and even total strangers usually swap kisses on the cheek. Polynesians in Maori (New Zealand) continue tradition of saluting each other with rubbing their noses. This greeting is called hongi.

In Spain, people shake hands more often, than kiss, that’s why it is important for you to know this, if you don’t want to make faux pas. If you go to Russia, we recommend you to follow only one rule: do not shake hands “across the threshold”, because this can entail serious conflict. Many are of the opinion that this can cause a disaster.

In the countries of Middle East and Southern Asia, and also in some parts of Africa, the left hand is assigned for hygienic sanitary procedures. That’s why tourist should not touch goods, products and people with his left hand. In India this veto is put upon all religious actions. Besides, Indians accept gifts only with their right hand. For Moslems eating with the right hand is a rule not only for reasons of cleanliness: in one of the surahs of the Koran it is said that “Satan eats and drinks with the left hand”.

If the tradition of hand shake, as the story goes, arose after situation, when partners wanted to assure each other, that one of them does not hide the weapon in his hand, custom of looking each other in the face during proposing a toast appeared thanks to poisoners. So, if deliberate criminal added some toxic substance in a drink, it is hardly probable, that he would look, how his victim drinks poisoned liquid. Some cultures get further. In many European countries man proves his sincerity, looking into the eyes of everyone, with whom he clinks glasses during drinking toasts. When you sit at a big table in the midst of your friends, this process can take long, but it is obligatory for all.

So, if you don’t want to overstrain your neck, setting your face to every drinking companion, try not to be enthusiastic in proposing long toasts. And remember, that in any risky situation heartfelt smile is your concealed weapon; you are a foreigner and cannot know everything.

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If you are worldly-wise tourist, of course, you know that there are so many preposterous customs in different countries, and if you don’t like it, it’s open to you to lump it. So, as the saying puts it, forewarned is forearmed. We would be more than happy to help you, follow our advices and let’s begin!

Chinese easily allow themselves to cough up phlegm and pick their nose in public places, but transpacific – in South Korea – people keep vigilant watch on their phlegm in their noses and spittle. Even if you have an attack of sneezing at the table, it will transform you into barbarian in the eyes of Koreans. Foreigners can fall into a trap, whose palate can be unadapted for a ubiquitous piquant sauce “gochujang”. However, if you feel approaching of this “shameful” reaction during a dinner, make excuses, and then quickly make off to a bathroom. In Japan, using hanky in public places is also considered as the lack of culture.

For many Chinese and Koreans using chopsticks is simple manipulation “from a plate to a mouth”. Chopsticks are unappropriate, for example, for picking. But however the biggest false step foreigners can take, if stick chopsticks vertically, for example, in a bowl with rice. In this case it looks like incense sticks, which they light, when they want to honour deceaseds and doing like that you “will call death to a dining table”.

No less important is the question of saying “good-bye” to the new friends. In Arab countries and in South Asia thanking to the master of the house is equivalent to an insult. These customs, of course, run counter to western good breeding implant words “thanks” and “please” almost since the day of birth. But in these countries making preparations for visitors and possibility to show hospitality is a big pleasure for local residents and it is considered the privilege. That’s why they should thank you, if you visit them.

We appreciate your difficulty and should say that, there is no necessity to get rid of these words absolutely, simply be more reserved. If you said “thank you”, don’t apologize for what you’ve said, because you’ll make it worse. If you didn’t hear habitual “don’t mention it” and read dissatisfaction in master’s face, don’t stick at small difficulties, but keep detached air.

That tourists who visit Arab countries and countries of Middle East for the first time, are often surprised by close physical contact between members of the stronger sex. Arabians can walk arm in arm with each other. But this is just a sign of blood relationship and does not mean any sexual relations. So, if your Moroccan friend takes your arm on the way to afternoon tea, try to look nonchalant.

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