14 Normal American Gestures That Will Get You Into Trouble Abroad

Hugging #1

When youre greeting someone in a foreign country, its better to be safe than
sorry. A handshake is usually the safest bet, but if youre a serial hugger, make sure
to especially refrain from doing so in China (including Hong Kong), India and
Japan.

Putting Your Hands in Your Pockets #2

You may think putting your hands in your pockets is just a comfortable way to
stand, but many cultures find it rude. These countries include:
Austria
Belgium
Mexico
Netherlands
Poland
Ukraine
Russia
South Africa
Switzerland
Thailand

PDA #3

If youre traveling with a significant other, save the PDA forsomewhere out of
the public eye. In some countries, contact between opposite genders is very taboo.
Even something as innocent as hand-holding can be considered crossing the line.
PDA is generally offensive in the UK, Egypt, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Nigeria,
Singapore, Thailand, Uganda, Qatar and Indonesia. Touching other people in
general is to be avoided in China, Austria, Denmark, Japan, South Africa, South
Korea and Indonesia.
Eye Contact #4

Direct eye contact. A basic instinct, right? Not in every culture. In America,
making eye contact with someone is a sign of respect and mutual understanding; in
South Korea, Japan and Indonesia, its considered rudeespecially towards those
older or in a superior position to you.

Peace Sign #5

You may be thinking that a peace sign is the international sign for goodwill around
the worldafter all, people in some East Asian countries flash peace signs in
pictures. But if you haphazardly do a peace sign backwards (palm facing you) in
the UK, Australia or New Zealand, its comparable to flicking someone off.

Touching Someone Elses Head #6

When interacting with children, you might instinctively want to pat them on the
head. Its an affectionate gesture in America. In countries where people are
predominantly Buddhist though, it can be extremely inappropriate. The head is
considered to be a sacred place (where the spirit lives), so having someone invade
that private space is too personal. Countries where the head is off limits include
Singapore, Thailand and Cambodia.

O.K. Sign #7

In Turkey and Greece, flashing someone the O.K. sign means that you believe
that person to be homosexual. In Brazil and Argentina, its akin to telling someone
to shove off.

Credit: Shutterstock

Pointing With Your Index#8

Pointing at someone you know in America is usually not a big deal (though usually
pointing at strangers is not considered polite). Its considered especially insulting,
though, in:
Iran
China
Chile
Hong Kong
Hungary
Italy
Kuwait
Lebanon
The Netherlands
Russia
Singapore
Korea
Thailand
Indonesia

In many African countriesBotswana in particularpointing with your index is

usually reserved for inanimate objects.

Showing the Bottom of Your Feet #9

Former President George W. Bush was famously hit with a shoe by a Iraqi man at a
press conference, which is a grave insult in Arab culture. This is because feet and
shoes are often dirty, so this gesture would mean that the person is lower than low.
Other cultures also share this view, and its therefore considered offensive to show
someone else the bottoms of your feet. These include Russia, Singapore and many
Southeast Asian countries (Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia).

Sitting With Your Legs Crossed #10

Attention, ladies: Though you may find sitting with your legs crossed quite
comfortable, its a rude gesture in Egypt, Ghana, Korea, Thailand and Indonesia.

Thumbs Up #11
Another taboo in Arab culture is giving a thumbs up, as is in Germany, Argentina
and Nigeria. To you its a positive gestureoverseas, its the equivalent to giving
someone the middle finger.

Yawning #12

Its usually a good measure to always cover your mouth when you yawn, but when
in France or Belgium, make especially sure to hide your yawn from others in
public if you can help it.

Using Your Left Hand #13

Sorry, lefties. In many African and Middle Eastern countries, giving someone
something, especially a gift, is usually only done with the right hand. In many
countries the left hand is consisdered unclean, and in the Quran, Satan was
supposedly left-landed.

Smiling #14

American tourists have a reputation of being friendly and constantly positive, and
in Russia, this is seen by some as a fault . This isnt to say that you cannot smile at
all when youre there, but avoid smiling unless you truly mean it, and not just as a
courtesy. In Russia, smiling too much may be regarded as insincere.
Etiquette of the Americans

Language
Language English

Please Please

Thank You Thank you

Hello Hello

Goodbye Goodbye

Body Language
Greetings Handshake

Hug

Inquire about health and family

Maintain eye contact

Pat on back

Smile

Personal Space 2-3 Feet

Acceptable Firm handshake

Gestures
Eye contact

Hug

OK sign

Thumbs up

Whistling

Unacceptable Snap fingers

Gestures

Attire
Attire Casual dress

Jeans
 Shorts

Age Restrictions
Drinking Age 21

Smoking Age 18

Purchasing Age 21

Social Norms

Dining
Dining Expect second (or third!)
helpings

Napkin on lap

Wait for host to tell you when to

eat

Wash hands before meal

When finished, place knife and

fork together on plate

Tipping
Tip (Restaurant) 15%

20%

Tip (Taxi) 10%

15%
Tip (Hotel Porter) Cash only

Business
Business Attire Conservative dress

Dark colors

Formal dress

Jewelry

Suit and tie

Ties

White shirt

Business Be on time

Get straight to the point

Make small talk

Use professional titles

Communication Direct
Style
Direct Eye Contact During
Conversations

Friendly

Informal

Visiting
Visitor Etiquette Arrive on time

Avoid sensitive topics like business or politics

 Dress casually

Give hosts a written thank you note

If host does not wear shoes inside, do likewise

Offer to help with preparation and clean up

Open gift immediately

Gift to Host? Yes

Acceptable Gifts Chocolates

Flowers

Gift from your country

Wine

Unacceptable Gifts Cheap wine

Expensive gifts

Conversation Topics to Avoid Abortion

Homosexuality

Politics

Racism

Religion

The American Style of Eating

Americans and Canadians are probably the only people in the world who use this
style, sometimes known as the zigzag method. Its done by holding the knife in
the right hand (unless youre a leftie like me, in which case the opposite is done)
and the fork in the left hand. After the knife is used to cut the food while the food
is held by the fork, the knife is placed near the top of the plate, blade facing in.
The fork is then switched to the right hand and used to pick up the piece of food,
tines up. When you pause during eating but have not finished, the utensils are
placed in the resting position with the knife placed on the right side of the plate
in the 4 oclock position, blade in, and the fork placed on the left side in the 8
oclock position, tines up. This alerts your waiter that youre not finished. When
youve finished eating, the knife and fork are placed side by side on the right side
of the plate in the 4 oclock position, with the fork on the inside, tines up, and the
knife on the outside, blade in. This I am finished position non-verbally alerts the
wait staff to clear your plate. Even though its obvious you are finished eating, a
well-trained waiter may ask, Are you finished? Smile and say yes, thank you.

Getting ready for a trip takes a lot of preparation. From buying supplies to
obtaining a visa, its important to get all of your affairs in order before you leave so
you can thoroughly enjoy your trip.
But between all of the packing and sightseeing plans that many wade through
before leaving, they forget one of the most important parts of traveling: becoming
familiar with a countrys customs. Reading up about the country youre going to
doesnt just mean memorizing how to say hello or goodbyeit also means
you need to know what topics and gestures are acceptable. You may, for example,
do something that is commonplace in America, but its extremely offensive
elsewhere. After all, when you visit a new country, half of the experience is
learning and adapting to foreign customs.