"Yo, come here!"
I hear you shouldn't do this in Korea. That is how they would call a dog.
underhanded would be okay though.
*shrug*
Posted on 08/05/2015 9:27:56 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
There are a number of customs and gestures that Americans use without thinking twice. But when traveling abroad, they will not only out you as a tourist, but could get you in hot water in other countries.
Inspired by this Quora thread, we've rounded up some of the most common American customs that are seen as offensive elsewhere.
1. Tipping
A contentious issue even here, both over- and under-tipping can quickly make you the least popular person at the table. But in Japan and South Korea tipping is seen as an insult. In those countries, workers feel they are getting paid to do their job, and take pride in doing it well; they don't need an added incentive.
2. Sitting in the back of a cab
While it's customary for Americans to hop into the back of a cab, in Australia, New Zealand, parts of Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands, it's considered rude not to ride shotgun. Whereas cabbies in the US will sigh and reluctantly move their newspapers and lunches from the front seat, in other countries it's a matter of egality.
3. Throwing a thumbs up
In a lot of countries, especially in the Middle East, Latin America, Western Africa, Russia and Greece, a thumbs up basically has the same meaning as holding up a middle finger does for Americans.
4. Laughing with your mouth open
In Japan, laughter that exposes your pearly whites is considered horse-like and impolite — sort of like noisy, open-mouthed eating is considered rude to Americans.
5. Calling the USA "America"
In South America, claiming you're from America, rather than the United States, is seen as being politically incorrect, as it implies that only the US should be considered America, and that South America is unworthy of the title.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
American punctuality runs more or less like a Swiss watch. That is why we can have lots of little meetings and it actually works.
On the Hispanic standard... might as well make it an all afternoon affair, high on the sociability.
Rushing and bumping into people, shoving ahead on lines.Well placed elbows usually halt that.
If I could afford to travel, I would too!
no oranges. lol
Depends on where you are when you meet these people too. For example #9, I work in an office of H1Bs from India, there are no hangups about left hand use, but we have modern bathrooms with modern supplies too, being smack dab in the middle of the continental USA.
If in contradistinction it was in the middle of Calcutta, some squeamishness might be understood.
Obviously established stores aren’t going to barter with you, but the sidewalk vendors and outdoor markets probably would
Yesterday as I was leaving a Walgreens with my purchase, some urban characters barged in the exit door to take advantage of its opening. Bumped right into the jug of cat litter I was carrying. I thought excuse you, said nothing. Eventually things push back to the gratuitously rude.
Depends on the kind of business too. Even in the USA it is often the custom for a manager of a vendor of large, high priced goods to be able to haggle some.
When one of my younger brothers and his wife visited China, they were shocked to find that when they were purchasing items, people i.e.locals would shove them aside to get to the counter ahead of them. My bro's wife almost came to blows with one Chinese lady who shoved her aside to get to the counter. I've since read that's the way they do things in China. No forming polite lines and waiting your turn.
My bro and his wife also had other issues with the Chinese who they considered to be very rude. On the other hand, they loved Japan and S. Korea when they visited those places.
I hear you shouldn't do this in Korea. That is how they would call a dog.
underhanded would be okay though.
*shrug*
Maybe.
I guess if we were trapped in the middle of a desert for a while, we might adopt a similar custom eventually too.
lol
In the eighties at least, even many of the regular (indoor) stores would haggle to a point, heck, even Korean stores in the US will if you are Korean. They didn’t really have chain stores or supermarkets or anything like that then, it was all mom & pop stores, with a handful of exceptions in and around Seoul.
I suppose now you're going to tell me using the shower curtain is wrong.
I guess you got to be domineering when you shop in China, huh.
I suppose I would be like (sigh) okay ma’am if you are in such a tearing hurry.
“Probably because we are so big”...
( ; )shebe”rong”intwoaspectsinonepict( ; )
Use the shower on it afterwards to minimize the smell
Ah. Good point.
Chain stores and restaurants have a death grip there now, from what I hear on some Korean blogs and forums.
I bow to your superior knowledge and numbers of times to Crete. I only went twice, was the junior officer the first time so I caught the short straw for duty. The second time was Thanksgiving week so no beach time for comparative ta-ta observations.
Are you from Arkansas? ;/
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