Travelling to foreign destinations should always be a pleasurable and again with a little research you will have a trip to remember for all the RIGHT reasons !
Search out on Google for sites on Customs in “Country / Countries you are thinking of visiting”
Hear are a few interesting thoughts....
When planning a trip in Australia Outback, “Remember that the term ‘highway’ in Australia might not refer to a high-speed, high-capacity road. It can mean anything from a freeway to a two-lane road with crumbling edges that cuts through extremely remote territory. Always carry extra fuel, water and spare tires.”
On a trip to Mexico, a young woman was reprimanded for putting change onto the counter for a purchase. A Mexican colleague told her that it was considered disrespectful to mindlessly “pay the countertop” instead of putting the change into the person's hand and making eye contact.
“By giving the money more intentionally, you are acknowledging the person while making a transaction.”
Heading to Nepal? It’s a sign of respect to take off your shoes when you enter a temple or someone’s home. “Also, blowing your nose in public is not approved of”.
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Direct hand gestures and individual fingers have vastly different meanings all over the world and can even be construed as offensive. The OK sign of circling the thumb and index finger doesn’t always mean ‘OK.’ It’s considered vulgar in Brazil and Germany and means ‘worthless’ in France.
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Don‘t pull your hand away if an Arab businessman walking with you takes your hand and holds it as you go. It’s a sign of friendship.
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In Asia, When taking stuff from others, use both of your hands. And when sitting, sit still. Don’t shake your feet or rest your feet on the chair.
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When eating in Europe, remember that it’s very rude to put a piece of bread on your plate. Leave it on the table beside the plate. Also remember to break the bread with your hands and not with a knife.
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In Russia, it’s taboo to give an even number of flowers. Always buy odd numbers. Bunches of even-numbered flowers are for funerals.
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In Spanish, ‘embarazada’ does not mean ‘embarrassed,’ it means ‘pregnant’ and ‘constipado’ means ‘stuffy nose.’
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