When traveling, it’s easy to find yourself confused by some of the cultural differences you encounter along the way. Not knowing how to react can put a damper on your vacation, so it’s important to be prepared. 9 Cultural Differences to Keep in Mind When Traveling
In this travel guide, we’ll go over nine cultural differences to keep in mind when traveling abroad and what actions you should take (or avoid) based on each one.
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1) Who pays first?
In Latin America, it’s common for restaurant guests to bring a small gift with them when visiting friends or clients. This is called la propina, which literally translates as the tip. As a result, people there tend not to look at meals as transactional experiences.
And that means they don’t think twice about picking up the check every now and then—even if they know you can afford it.
2) Who stands closer?
There’s one cultural difference that can trip up even the most worldly of travelers: who stands closest to a doorway. In many Western countries, it’s polite for people to line up according to status and age—the person of highest rank or oldest usually takes precedence.
In Russia, however, only women are allowed to stand closest—as a sign of respect—and even then, only if they’re escorting someone through.
3) Is it okay to ask personal questions?
Asking personal questions (even with good intentions) can be viewed as rude. You may not know that you’re prying, so before asking something like How much do you make? try to put yourself in your counterpart’s shoes and consider if it is appropriate or not.
Also, keep your questions general and broad; don’t ask for a specific figure unless it is absolutely essential. Instead of asking how much someone makes, ask how salary is determined at their company.
4) How do you greet each other?
The greeting is a very important part of any conversation. So when meeting someone new, it’s nice to shake hands or do a double-cheek kiss depending on where you are. With our family members, we usually hug, kiss or touch each other’s shoulders when greeting and saying goodbye.
For close friends and relatives, we may hold each other for a few seconds after saying hello and goodbye.
5) Do you hug? Or shake hands?
There’s a natural tendency for westerners to talk directly at each other, maintaining steady eye contact. The Japanese, however, tend to avoid eye contact when speaking and instead look down or away from their conversational partner. This doesn’t mean they aren’t paying attention; it just means that direct eye contact can be taken as rude or threatening here.
Likewise, looking away from someone is seen as a sign of respect—and not wanting to inconvenience your conversational partner.
So don’t worry if your Japanese friend isn’t staring you down while talking! Be respectful back by trying not hold full conversations while walking past or working on things around them—or at least keep your voice down out of consideration.
6) Do you stare at each other when talking?
If you’re traveling abroad, remember that we do things differently here. In our culture, when people talk they don’t stare at each other—unless they’re having a fight.
If someone is staring at you while you’re talking, it usually means they think you’re being confrontational and rude.
So keep an eye out; if you feel like someone is staring at you during a conversation, consider adjusting your body language or simply ending your rant.
7) Are there any taboo topics of conversation?
In Western culture, it is acceptable to talk about someone’s health or appearance. It is not, however, acceptable to comment on physical characteristics of people from other cultures. Respect local customs by talking about topics that are safe and appropriate for locals.
Questions like How much do you earn? or Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend? will put locals off guard, so be aware and adjust your conversation accordingly.
8) What are the preferred ways of saying no?
If you’re looking for a simple no, thank you, one common approach is saying thank you followed by an excuse of some sort. You can also say simply no, but be aware that in many cases, it will be seen as impolite or even rude. And if you want to go with something more direct, just tell them what you are going to do instead. For example: No thanks, I’m not interested in joining your club right now; I have other plans tonight. But perhaps another time!
The best way to ask someone out on a date: This varies from culture to culture and country to country, so pay attention when traveling abroad and avoid any faux pas by asking around first before trying anything new.
9) Who gives what present, and when?
In Germany, it’s common for women to give men flowers on March 14. This tradition is so widespread that there’s even a German word for it—vase day.
But that doesn’t mean Germans don’t exchange gifts on other holidays as well! While Valentine’s Day is celebrated more out of obligation than enthusiasm, Germans celebrate all sorts of holidays with festivities and presents.