Trivia - International Customs

Trivia

INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMS

Every country and culture has its own way of doing things. In some countries talking about death is acceptable; in others, it’s taboo. In some countries touching the person who you’re talking to is permitted; in others it’s not. Of course, no country has a “monopoly” on what is, or is not, correct; and the fact that we all do things differently is part of the rich variety of life and humanity. Here are a few customs which are all examples of those international differences that exist between us. This is the second part of a mini-series.

In ancient times, any Japanese person who tried to leave the country was executed.

In Norway, it is common for guests to take their shoes off when entering someone’s house.

In Britain it is customary to say “please” and “thank you” for absolutely everything, even if you aren’t particularly pleased or grateful; in the rest of the world people communicate more directly and less superficially.

Until just a few years ago, the penalty for medical malpractice in some Asian countries was to cut off the doctor’s hands. In the western world, doctors get sued, pay enormous fines and lose their jobs… but not their hands.

In Thailand, touching someone’s head is considered very offensive.

In some Arabic countries it is acceptable to burp after a meal as a sign of appreciation for the food.

In Japan people bow when they are introduced to another person; in Britain, the Queen is the only person to receive this privilege. In Britain, it is seen as a sign of weakness and morally wrong to show your emotions in public, especially if you are a man. In most other countries in the world this is acceptable.

In some Arabic countries it is common to see men walking down the road holding hands as a sign of friendship.

In many countries, two fingers in a “V” sign are used to communicate the word “victory”. However, in Britain, if you show someone two fingers, with the back of your hand towards that person, it is an insult.

In many Asian countries the left hand is considered unclean, so you should not eat with it.

In Paraguay duelling is legal as long as both people are registered blood donors.

Standing in a bar with your trousers down would be considered a sign of insanity in most countries around the world. However, this is perfectly normal for rugby players who do it for fun after games.

In Britain, you have to do ten days community service if you are caught writing graffiti on public property; in Singapore they give you 30 strokes of the cane.

In Sweden, when leaving someone’s home, you must wait until you are outside before putting on your coat. To do so earlier suggests you are eager to leave and is considered rude.

Pointing with one finger is offensive in many Asian countries and is only done to animals or your enemies.

In many countries around the world the press would never dare write critical articles about the royal family; in Britain it is perfectly acceptable to write about the sex life of the royal family, including as many details as possible.

In Britain and America sweet corn is commonly used in salads; in South Korea, it is advertised as a topping for ice cream. threw a plate with a piece of the wedding cake out of the window. If the plate broke, the bride would enjoy a happy future with her husband. If the plate remained intact, there would be problems.

In Britain it is still legal to hunt and kill foxes for fun; but it is a criminal offence to physically abuse any other animal.

In Britain, horses are regarded as noble beasts and are generally loved and adored; in France, they eat horses.

In Britain urinating in the street is generally ignored; in some Asian countries this is a criminal offence.

In India, holding your ear is a sign that you feel sorry about something.

In Britain, the general attitude towards children is that they should be “seen and not heard”. In other countries people have a more “benign” attitude towards the “little people”.

In ancient Scotland, during a leap year, a woman could ask a man to be her husband. If he refused, and didn’t have a good excuse, he had to pay one pound (which was a lot of money in those days). France had a similar law.

More next month!

G L O S S A R Y

medical malpractice n a situation when a doctor does an operation badly or does things that are morally wrong for a doctor to cut off phr vb if you “cut off” a hand, you cut the hand so it separates from the arm to sue vb to start a legal process against someone in order to get compen-sation a fine n money you have to pay because you have committed a crime to burp vb to force air out of your mouth making a loud and rude noise to bow vb to move your body down and forwards as a sign of respect duelling n fighting with swords (long metal objects with sharp points) a blood donor n a person who gives blood to hospitals a stroke of the cane n the cane is a stick that teachers use to hit students. One “stroke” is one hit eager adj if you are “eager” to do something, you really want to do that thing to dare vb if you “dare” do something, you have the courage to do it even though it is dangerous sweet corn n food that is small, round and yellow a topping n food that you put on top of pizza a wedding cake n a cake that is made especially for a wedding a bride n the woman who is getting married in a wedding to hunt vb to find and kill something a fox n an animal that looks like a dog but has red fur (hair) a leap year n a year with 366 days to refuse vb if you “refuse” to do something, you do not do that thing