The Respectful Traveler: The Do’s and Don’ts of Navigating a New Culture

Watch your gestures

A simple wave or a thumbs up are pretty standard gestures in America. They’re positive and well-understood. However, what you may think is a friendly hello or sign of agreement could very well be perceived as disrespectful in a foreign land.

In some parts of the world including Bangladesh and parts of the Middle East, giving someone a thumbs up isn’t a sign of affirmation, it’s actually quite rude (think middle finger in America). In South Africa, a two-finger peace sign with the back of your hand exposed to the recipient is something you want to avoid as well.

Even something as simple as a head nod can be misconstrued. A nod in Greece or Bulgaria, for instance, mean no. Not only can this lead to some serious confusion between you and whoever you’re conversing with, but some inadvertent rudeness as well.

Texas Longhorns might want to avoid signing the school’s signature horns with the index finger and pinky, as in some Mediterranean cultures, the sign of the bull horns implies that a man’s wife is being promiscuous.

It’s not easy to be conscious of what you’re doing with your body language and gestures as they are often a large part of how we subconsciously express ourselves. As most experienced travelers will tell you, it’s clear to the locals that you aren’t from around there and if you offend, most are quick to forgive. Avoiding confrontation starts with being mindful of your surroundings and observing what others are doing for the best results.

Leaving a tip? Think twice

In America, leaving a restaurant without tipping your wait staff is unheard of. Barring terrible service, tipping 20 or so percent is an expected cultural norm. Venture off to some other countries, however, and tipping can be a difficult practice to navigate. In Korea and Japan, tipping is actually considered insulting. They feel the wages they receive from their employer warrant offering guests the best possible service, so there’s no extra incentive necessary. Giving extra could be perceived as a sign that the waiter needs to improve their service.

Always check your bill before you leave a tip, anyway. If you’re in a touristy part of any country, a gratuity may be included in the bill to avoid the very tip/don’t tip predicament we’re discussing now.

Another note when it comes to food; altering a dish should be avoided. Something like a side of ketchup or salt and pepper here in America wouldn’t bat an eye with anyone, but it could be seen as insulting to a chef somewhere else. Look at the people and tables around you. If you see condiments or others asking for them, then go right ahead. If not, it may be better to just eat your meal as is.

Time

Punctuality is another aspect of a culture which often doesn’t translate to another. It might seem obvious to avoid being late, but there are plenty of countries where being on time isn’t a point of emphasis. For the most part, a traveler is going to want to be on time no matter what the situation, but understand that your local counterparts may not be.

Italians for example, have a very laid back attitude when it comes to punctuality. Meals last hours and Italians have a very “get there when I get there” air about them. It’s not rude, it’s just their custom.

Germany, on the other hand, looks at time in a very different way. When people say they will be somewhere at a certain time, you can rest assured they will be there. Lateness is a sign that the person simply doesn’t care about whatever plans you may have. Thanks to its reputation as a leader of the industry, most Germans are early to engagements of all kinds, especially Oktoberfest!

Dress code: Conservative is better

Packing for a vacation is a vitally important part of any trip. Making sure you’re bringing appropriate clothing for your vacation is essential for how your experience plays out. The general rule of thumb when dressing for a new country is that modesty is never rude. Dressing conservatively will be the best practice to ensure you don’t offend anyone no matter where you are.

In places where religion is a large part of the culture like the Middle East or the Vatican, exposing too much skin is not acceptable. Women in particular need to be careful as revealing attire is seen as disrespectful to not just the people, but their deity as well.

It’s also smart to leave overly expensive jewelry at home. It’s okay to bring a few fun things but the problems which could arise from flaunting wealth are not worth it, at all. You can still look nice without the gold, diamonds, and pearls you may be accustomed to wearing at home.

Another thing to avoid is clothing with any kind of symbols; religious, political or otherwise. Even if you’re not using it to send a message, others may view your choices differently. Especially if you picked up a souvenir in another language and you may not know exactly what it says or what the symbols mean. Chinese symbols, for example, may look cool on a shirt, but if you don’t know what they say, it’s a real risk wearing them in a place where everyone does.

No matter where you roam, things are going to be different than you’re used to. When navigating a new culture, the best thing you can do is be observant. Look at what the people around you are doing and if you’re not sure about something, just ask! If you’re looking to learn more about cruising to a new port of call and you’d like to learn more about the culture there, Porthole Cruise Magazine has some of the top travel influencers offering advice and tips.

This guest post was written by the team over at Porthole Cruise Magazine– Go check them out!