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We found Thomas Swick's traveling-abroad tips in this Sunday's Chronicle both cute and informative. But since we're stricken with a crippling fear of any existence east of (the) 5, we were left starving for a few answers as to why.
Such as:
-- In Japan, don't blow your nose.
-- In Spain, don't pick up your paper napkin if you drop it at the bar.
-- In Vatican City, don't correct the pope. (Impossible.)
-- In India, don't look to your left before crossing the street.
-- And whatever you do, wherever you go, never say you don't like soccer. (What is this soccer we keep hearing about?)
Any help with the above would be greatly appreciated. Also, Swick had some minor but glaring omissions:
-- In every country, Tevas are an affront.
-- If you're visiting abroad from Vanderbilt or ASU, don't feel required to blow every guy at your youth hostel.
-- If you're from the USA, do whatever the hell you want.
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-- In India, don't look to your left before crossing the street.
They drive on the left side of the street.
USA USA USA USA!
damn straight!
In China, pick your nose in public. (At least that's what I've learned riding Muni and walking on Clement.)
okay maybe im a little slow, but why are tevas an affront in every society? i thought they were an affront to certain social situations in almost every society, but not faux pas as a whole
Everyone acts like a dick when they are outside of their own country. I like to give 110%, so I act like a dick when I'm outside of my own house.
Gotta agree with comment #6... I walk through tourist areas of town daily. Never am I overwhelmed with European sophistication.
They seem to get in my way (by taking up the whole sidewalk without a care in the world), walk too slow, ignore normal outdoor courteous behavior, smell, take cheesy photographs, talk on cell phones loudly, smoke, litter... at pretty much the same rates as people from the US.
They even sometimes dress in tacky clothes(for whatever reason Euro-tourists aren't immune from the tourist knee-high sock phenomena)
Brock! So charming to see you making an effort. Cheers to that.
-- In Japan, don't blow your nose.
It's considered impolite, gross, and unhygienic.
Loudly sniffling seems to be OK though, which is good since Sudafed is illegal there.
Dearest Van [4]
You are correct. Also be sure to make loud hacking noises as you hurl sputum on to the sidewalks. Heavily used sidewalks preferred.
Also, be sure to stampede ahead of the people already queued when boarding public transport. Extra points for using your elbows or feet as weapons.
-- In Spain, don't pick up your paper napkin if you drop it at the bar.
It is common to drop your used napkin on the floor at the bar if you are standing at the bar. The floors are swiped regularly. Think of them as the peanut shells in bars with shelled peanuts.
Radar sez:
"In general, manners declined during the [Chinese Communist] revolution and in the post-revolution period. ... There was an erosion of politesse, which was considered an upper-middle class affectation. ... [China] is a poor country with hundreds of millions of peasants for whom spitting is the same as breathing."
More on topic: People in general tend to be stupid and rude in general, no matter the location.
Mariconsoy, glad we agree on something! It gives me a boner (you wish).
Don't forget to take up the entire sidewalk with your cart when looking for used cans and bottles. The smaller the sidewalk, the better.
And, while you're at it, please meander back and fourth from one end to the other on aforementioned sidewalk, to the point where people going to work are forced to take to the street because it's faster.
And Rachel, I like to spit as much as the next red-blooded man, but I refrain from doing so on the bus and, for the most part, in public. Sorry for being polite. Wait, what?
I've been feeling extra grumpy lately about the Chinese that push their way right to the door of the subway train that is puling up, bypassing people who have waited patiently so that they can push their way onto a train that has not yet finished deboarding. Would the city please print some god damned "Welcome to America here are some tips on how to avoid acting like an embarrassing Chinese peasant" pamphlets?
Never sit next to your spouse in a double seat on the bus. Instead, take up two of the single seats and sit one in front of the other and talk loudly back and forth.
Isn't it such fun to pile on older, poor Chinese immigrant women? But really, when is someone going to do something about those loutish, drunken Irishmen? Horrible Papists! And the Spaniards with their hot temper (must be the climate) and poor proportion size. And the Swedes! The Swedes, with their odd language and odder fish dishes. And don't even get me started on the Welsh....