Hi everybody,
Here is our first post for this blog that I hope will help you practice the topics we study in class. This time around I found a very interesting site that will help you learn a little more about etiquette in different countries around the world in terms of tipping, dinning, gestures and things you should and should not do when visiting these countries.
I want you to visit the site and pick a couple of countries, read the information given and post a comment about a manner or custom you learned about and didn't know before.
Here is the link to site: Worldwide Etiquette
Good luck!
I´ll like to share with you a lot of things that I have learned with this cultural activity.
ReplyDelete• THE MIDDLE EAST: Saudi Arabia: "Fisehatak!" = Cheers: I think that is an interesting and beautiful place in all the world. Their culture is very different to us, because they considered that exist big differences between men and women, and for this reasons the women can´t do some things, for example: they can´t stay alone, they can´t drive a car, they can´t travel, they can´t practice a sport, they can´t have a bank account. Male-Female physical contact is a taboo. For greeting they will give you a lingering handshake. You will have to remove shoes when entering homes, you can´t cross legs at knee and you can´t show the bottom of your feet because is considered impolite. In dinning you have to eat with right hand, because is considered “pure” and you will have to drink water or tea.
• OCEANA: Australia: "Cheers!" = Cheers: They have some things that are similar to our culture: For greeting, they will give you a handshake, middle finger is considered an obscene gesture, in dinning elbows off table and utensils on plate mean “i'm full”. In Australia is common to bring your own beer to restaurants, but doesn´t in Colombia. You can´t put your thumbs up because is considered an obscene gesture or do "v" (peace sign) with palm facing inward because you will be considered rude.
Is important to know these things before a trip, and you have to remember: "When in Rome, do as the Romans do"!!!
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ReplyDeleteI had the pleasure of read about the manners and etiquette of two different and interesting countries, Italy and India. Notice some differences in both cultures, the Italians touch while conversing, especially in casual situations, whereas in India respect the personal space. As well, in India is inappropriate the display affection, but in Italy it is considered correct.
ReplyDeleteItaly. I think that in this country, the people use a lot the hands to express something. For example: Tap temple to say “he’s crazy”, chin flick to say “I don't care” and extending pinky and index finger from fist is an insult.
“Salute = Cheers”. I’ve heard that the moments with the family are important, perhaps that’s way it’s considered rude to leave table during meal, as well it is bad manners. Before eating, wish one another “Buen appetite”; I think that it’s elegant and wonderful, as well as put the cutlery on right side of plate to say “I’m finished”. Maybe is a stretch say “elegant and wonderful”, but let us not forget that “simplicity is beautiful and beauty in the simple things”!
If you’re going to Italy, you have to know that is very common that always use formal address with strangers, “signora” (women) and “signor” (men).
India. I think this culture is very interesting, I really admire the Indian music and its vegetarian food.
“Namaste” for hello, goodbye and thank you. If you’re going to India, you have to know that you can’t winking or whistling when you greet someone for first time. As well, don’t point at or touch anyone with feet and avoid touching another’s ears. In my opinion it is very curious, since they considered a lack of respect to touch the ears of someone, though it’s pretty unusual.
“Cheers!” = Cheers. It’s very common that in India eat with hands, but just with right hand because they considered that the left hand is “impure”. As well, they think that for them the left hand it is reserved to clean the most intimate parts of the body. Wash hands before sitting and after eating, don’t clear plate. And finally, if you’re going to a meeting, you have to know that you should say goodbye to everyone individually.
DON’T FORGET: “Tolerance, inter-cultural dialogue and respect for diversity are more essential than ever in a world where people are becoming more and more closely interconnected.”
I have read about Spain and Turkey because I was interested in their customs.
ReplyDeleteIn Spain, for example, when somebody wants to show an insult, they extend their pinky and index finger.
Spanish people greet each other with a kiss on their cheeks.
On the other side, while western people raise their chin to express or mean a "yes" signal, in Turkey they say "tut" and raise their chin as a "No" signal, as well, turkish say "sheridfeh" meaning "cheers".
Latin American put their hand on the heart when the national anthem sounds, while in Turkey, people put their hand on their heart as a respect sign.
As I can see, now day youth are forgetting their roots and are losing their cultural value. So continue teaching our children what does be polite means.
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ReplyDeleteHello...
ReplyDeleteBy reading this information I could analyze the Etiquette varies from country to country, but there are certain general principles, comprising the rules of courtesy and good manners are essential to maintain good relations.
The protocol in Asian countries is quite different than you're used to seeing in most countries of the world.
So I found it interesting to choose Japan and China for its cultural variety.
The Japanese are very respectful of their ancestral traditions; strictly follow the protocol and good manners.
• One of the most characteristic features of their culture is the greeting. The bow (inclination) they doing to say hello, the longer the bow, the greater the importance of the person that greets.
• Physical contact with another person is frowned upon, so do not kiss when greeting and do not shake hands, courtesy the woman must be very discreet.
• Hands should be in sight, never in pockets or placed on the hip, the same way you should not cross your arms
•Do not point with an open hand and fingers together.
• On the table as more noise does when eating noodles or soup, more you liked the food of the chef. Normally the soup it be slurp directly from the cup, as they rarely serve spoons. One of the golden rules in many Asian countries is not cross sticks or lick them.
• Tipping is not usual, it is considered an insult.
•It keeps the tradition of not entering the House with shoes.
The population in China is very ceremonious but not as much as might be the Japanese, are very hospitable people and very polite.
• Arrive on time for any appointment or meeting. Tardiness is rude.
• Gratuities are given only in Hong Kong.
• They do not show their emotions in public.
• Whistling is an impolite gesture.
• Make noise on the table is well seen, even burp.
• Gifts are given and received with both hands.
•Like many other countries of the world, a rude gesture is point the finger. We can speak of someone or something without noting or do so with the palm of the hand open.
• Clothing should be subtle with neutral colors for both men and women. The Chinese did not like women very exposed.
We should consider when we visit a country, respect and tolerance for cultural differences we find in them.
Learning a language is much more, it is to learn the culture of the country or countries in which spoken, their differences, their customs, etc.
I picked Nigeria and Switzerland because these two caught my attention and I found out things that I didn't know before:
ReplyDelete-Nigeria: in this country is considered impolite or rude to greet with thumbs up, unlike in other countries this means "okay",you have to bow when you greet elder people and maintain a prolonged eye contact.In dining, you never skip the tea time and always eat with your right hand.
-Switzerland: you kiss your friends three times which is something quite odd and interesting. Unlike Nigeria you make eye contact while you're talking. I didn't know that you can't use salt or pepper because is considered an insult to the chef, on the other side here in our culture we put spices and a lot of salty things in our foods.
I selected France because i have always loved French culture .
ReplyDeleteI dind't know that "Sante!" means "cheers! . French people is always polite on the table they keep both hands above the table and their elbows off , they always use utensils except for bread ,in our culture is very usual to use our hands to eat , in French culture the "ok" sign means 0 (zero) and doing a wipe brow which is touch your forehead with the back of your head means "i've had enough" and finally when a person touch the side of his nose means that you are ingenious .
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ReplyDeleteI decided to talk about the cultural manners of these beautiful countries: USA and Turkey. Although, they’re really different places, I found them so interesting. So, let’s talk about!
ReplyDeleteUSA.
USA is characterized for being a global country, because people around the world go there to start a new life. Although this, Americans have some etiquette rules that have to be respected.
Talking about greetings, in formal situations, a shake hands is good for them, in informal situations, that’s not really necessary. Kiss greetings are not practiced.
In USA, there’s a lot of sensibility about race themes, as I said, USA is global place, therefore, there’re a lot of types of people there and you have to difference them correctly, so being racist is something unforgivable. Also, in that country is indispensable to respect everybody’s space, if you cross the line, people could demand you due to the harassment.
Also, there’re some things that disturb them a lot like: smoking, talk really low or really high, they hate when people don’t have personal hygiene and when people are irresponsible with animals, environment, and obviously, human beings.
Oh, and this is indispensable: If you’re going to meet with someone, you have to bring a gift, because if you don't carry anything, it could be seen impolite.
Turkey
Although Turkey is a country majorly influenced by the Islam culture, the globalization has played an important role to connect this country with the occident culture.
The most used greeting is the shaking hands: it has to be firm and brief. In bussiness, women have to greet and being greeted, on the social field they tend to be more relegated.
Talking about family, they usually use the kiss greeting, but when there’s an old person in the meeting, you must to kiss his or her right hand and put your hands on his or her hand. Always, young people have to do this, if you don’t do this, they could consider it as a big disrespectful act.
As I said before, Turkey is a country with strong Islamic beliefs, for that you have to use this terms:
"Asalamu alaykum": it means something like “Peace upon you”
"Nasilsiniz": It’s used to say “How are you?” in a polite way.
Also, you have to remember that if you just meet someone, you have to keep some space, because Turkish people don’t give confidence easily.
As we can see, if you’re going to visit Turkey, you have to be really formal and polite, because the smallest thing could be taken as something very disrespectful.
Hello i read about mexico and italy cultural manners because there two cultural are different and i like it.
ReplyDeleteMEXICO: Titles are important and should be included on business cards. You may directly speak to someone by only using his or her title only, without including the last name.
-You may directly speak to someone by only using his or her title only, without including the last name The traditional toast in Mexico is Salud .
-Mexicans refer to people from the United States as North Americans.
Good conversational topics are Mexican culture, history, art, and museum Never discuss the Mexican-American war, poverty, illegal aliens, or earthquakes.
this way is traditional in mexico.
ITALY: The family is the centre of the social structure and provides a stabilizing influence for its members.
-In the north, generally only the nuclear family lives together while in the south, the extended family often resides together in one house.
-The family provides both emotional and financial support to its members.
MEETING ETIQUETTE:
-Greetings are enthusiastic yet rather formal.
-The usual handshake with direct eye contact and a smile suffices between strangers.
-Once a relationship develops, air-kissing on both cheeks, starting with the left is often added as well as a pat on the back between men.
This way is friendly.
Hello, The Countries that I selected for learn are: Germany and Egypt, because I want in a future travel to this amazing countries.
ReplyDeleteEGYPT:
For me, Egypt is the cradle of human history and for this reason I want to learn of this culture, a place full of stories, and place of dreams.
1) When I read the Etiquette of this country, I found that It is so diferent to our culture. For example, while in Colombia we prefer attend our own necessities in Egypt the people attend the necessities of the neighbors how Refill glass of other´s never own.
2) In the Dining this culture always say "FE SAHETEK!" for cheers, while that in our country the habit is say "Salud!".
3) In Egypt the people doesn't drink alcohol, eat with right hand and they doesn't clear plate; totally different of our country because in our country, usually the people make the things that in egypt is bad, the hand with you eat don't import and clear plate is the most important activity to the moment eat because is polite in my country.
4) If I travel to Egypt I should know that always accept coffe/tea is a action polite and I ask for a second helping, while that in my country the people go out regardless that activity go to do or go to eat, also in my country people put salt to food if they consider it necessary and it is not an insult to chef as it is in Egypt.
5) Finally the people of Egypt have gestures how: skake hands for greeting, the same form it is in my country. In Egypt Pointing with feet considered rude, Hand over heart is polite refusal and open palm outstreched is an insult, all it is so different to the Gestures that I use constantly.
GERMANY:
For me, Germany was a problematic place in the past, because this place had a belligerent thought and many people died in these lands.
1) Let me begin by punctuality as the most important in Germany so different from my country. For us Colombians arrive is the most important regardless the time of delay.
2) In Germany the people say "Prost! or Zum Wohl" for cheers, while that in our country the habit is say "Salud!", also, the people put Napkin in lap, Elbows off table and Polite to clear plate completely this is the same form how we do in my country and it isn't different to Germany.
3) The people of Germany have gestures how: skake hands for greeting, the same form it is in my country. also this people Knock knuckles on table for applause and Beckon with palm up, finger curling.
Learn of this countries, make me think in the different customs that the people have around the world.
Thanks for attention.
KELLY DANIELLA MARIN MONTEALEGRE
I selected UK, because I think that culture is very interesting .
ReplyDeleteI didt known that:
Another is greeted with shock hands, but I see many gestures did not know.
For example: v make the hand victory is considered obscene.
Touching your nose is confidentiality.
And I did not understand very well that means Beckon with palm up, fingers curling, which translates sign with curled fingers palms up.
And Do s donts. There are very important practical for peaceful coexistence and Give, and expect, personal space and say "please," "thank you" and "sorry" frequently are
In tipping Round up taxi fares I think a healthy practice for passengers and drivers.
Usually I should be a rule also in Colombia.
Hi.
ReplyDeleteI read about France, you have to consider that people commonly greet shaking hands, and as is customary in many countries or places of Europe, if them have more confidence can greet giving three kisses, even among men. They don't have marked to greet Signs. It is a culture of manners, they prefer to mealtime keep your hands on the table and elbows out of this. They can touch your body while talking and while holding a talk prefer to keep eye contact. They are people who value the interest in their culture, so if you're traveling to his country tries before learning greetings and words in French.
Hi!
ReplyDeleteI've found very interesting that web page, and immediately i looked the information about Singapoure because in other ocations i had heard about the strict laws they have, an of course their etiquette is not an exception. This are some of the interest things i found out:
1. You NEVER NEVER NEVER touch anyone head becouse is disrespectful
2. You can´t show affect to anyone in public, like kiss you boyfriend or girlfriend or even give a hug to your mom
3. Chewing gum is forbidden, and if you do it can cause you trouble with the police
This is why is very important to know this things before we travel to any place in the world, and avoid any problem.