Cultural Differences Around the World That Will Surprise You

_Elsa_

Yet comes up with one more article and this one mentions cultural differences. He shares it with the group.

‘Culture is beautiful but without the help of travel, we really would be one-dimensional. The greatest challenge today is accepting that there are differences among us. Although most people would doubt they experience culture shock, it happens to all of us. When they visit a new destination they come across cultural rules that they find hard to understand. 

Here is a list of some of our memorable cultural rules and differences that we have come across on our travels:

Thailand – Not with the Feet - in Thailand, the head is considered to be the most sacred part of the body (NEVER touch a Thai person on their head), and the feet are considered to be the dirtiest.

Vietnam – Why Are You Calling Her A Dog? - How do you signal someone to come over? Are your fingers pointing up or down? Well in Vietnam (and some other parts of Asia) it matters. When you call a person, you signal with your fingers pointing down, brushing it towards you.  In North America and Europe, it is reversed with fingers pointing up. If you did that in Vietnam you would get a slap on the wrist as it means you are calling them over like a dog.

Africa and the Middle East – Yes, They Are Holding Hands - It is normal for people to hold hands but when two men do it, it may give off the wrong signal. In many parts of the Middle East and Africa, men hold hands as a sign of friendship and trust. In North America in Europe not so much.

United Kingdom – Did You Want Two Or Did You Just Flip Him Off? - In the UK, be cautious of how you order two beers. If you show two fingers with your nails pointing away from you, you better start running.

Taiwan – The Louder The Better - Burping in most cultures is a common thing.  In Taiwan and China, it is a sign of politeness in public. When you belch out loudly you are actually complimenting the chef.  This fits in the same box as slurping in Japan. If you slurp loudly when eating noodles, you are sending good vibes to the chef. However, in European countries, especially places like England, eating loudly is frowned upon.’ (Source) 

Although Elsa is still having difficulty understanding the definition of culture, this article is very helpful and will fit in perfect with the story! 

Let’s continue - Elsa has all that she needs for the story! 

Start at the beginning - Is there a difference between culture, tradition and customs?