![]() She looked at me with some kind of look that I'd never seen before. Instead she violently jerked away, her lithe body escaping my gasp. But apparently first base wouldn't be reached tonight. In the lands of café culture, cappuccinos are practically banned after 11.Unintentional Faux Pas: During "Brighter Than Sunshine" -our last slow dance song- I went to kiss Miranda full on the lips. If you are in Italy or Spain and need an afternoon pick-me-up, it’s best to opt for an espresso. In Thailand, the head is sacred and should never be touched – so don’t even think about patting all those cute little kids on their cute little noggins. Try this in parts of Asia or the Middle East, however, and you risk committing a major faux-pas. In much of Europe, it’s polite to greet acquaintances with kisses on the cheek (the number depends on where you are!). Sorry lefties, but when it comes to chowing down the right hand reigns supreme! Touching The left is reserved for everything that, well, happens in the bathroom. Just remember to dig in with your right hand. It’s not only acceptable to eat with your hands, it can be insulting if you don’t. If you’re travelling to parts of Asia, Africa or the Middle East, you can leave your fork at home. ![]() If you don’t, you’re in for trouble – seven years of bad luck to be exact! And, just to add to the pressure, remember to avoid crossing arms as you toast around the table. As you clink, be sure to make eye contact. When raising your glass in Germany or Switzerland, it’s customary to toast everyone at the table. Instead, your well-meaning gesture will be interpreted as derogatory, much like the middle finger in many Western countries. Flash a thumbs-up in parts of West Africa, Russia, Iran, Greece or Sardinia, and you won’t be telling your friends that it’s all good in the neighborhood. While we often think of a thumbs-up as representing approval – or these days a Facebook like – not everybody in the world shares this interpretation. Luckily, many hosts provide their guests with slippers because no one wants a pair of cold tootsies. So if you’ve been invited to a private abode, be prepared to leave those cute booties at the door. In many parts of the world, including Germany, Switzerland, Scandinavia, Japan, Korea and Turkey, removing your shoes before you enter a home not only shows your host respect, it also keeps the floors clean. In case you are planning a trip abroad, here’s a quick list of the most common cultural faux pas and a few tips on how to avoid committing them. While none of these infringements landed me in serious trouble, I certainly wasn’t earning any gold stars for excellent expat behavior. I vacuumed on Sundays (not allowed!), ate without wishing my fellow diners a good meal (rude!), and addressed my elderly neighbors by their first names (it’s always Herr or Frau!). As a new comer in Switzerland, I committed many a social crime. Now that we’re all grown up it’s easy to assume that we have a handle on all those social rules that keep the world running on a civilized note.īut if you’ve ever found yourself in a foreign county, you probably noticed that customs don’t always translate. As children we learned to say please, thank you and to keep our elbows off the table.
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