Different cultures can be tricky to handle. Sometimes, westerners can seem so ignorant, set in their ways, or even plain rude. Here is a short-list of things never to do, say or gesture whilst travelling abroad:
Extend your hand, palm outward in Greece
– What you think you are saying:
“That food was excellent.”
– What you are actually saying:
“That food was excellent. Now I’m pretending to rub excrement on you.”
– How come?
In Greece, the hand out gesture is known as the moutza. It dates back to the time of the Byzantine Empire, when criminals would be paraded through the streets on horseback, their faces blackened to indicate their shame. If they were lucky, the blackening agent would merely be charcoal. If they were unlucky, it would be a substance much, worse.
Give the thumbs-up in the Middle East
1753 Vaugondy map of Persia, Turkey and Arabia
– What you think you are saying:
“Hello, nice to meet you, we’re just passing – isn’t this a nice day.”
– What you are actually saying:
“Hello, nice to meet you. I am going to have you killed.”
– How come?
It’s not just in the Middle East. This seemingly universal gesture is also hideously offensive in West Africa and South America. The thumbs-up sign has been confusing people for thousands of years. Contrary to the Hollywood legend, Roman gladiators were not spared by a thumbs-up, but by a thumbs-down. A thumbs-up is still linked to the order of killing someone.
Say “Hi” to a member of the opposite sex in Saudi Arabia
– What you think you are saying:
“Hi […]. How are you? Fancy getting a soft drink?”
– What you are actually saying:
“Hi, […]. How are you? Fancy booking a hotel room so that I can do immoral sex acts on you?”
– How come?
According to sharia religious laws, it is deeply immoral for a woman to greet a man in public, or associate with any man other than her husband without an escort.
Though, perhaps this is nitpicking considering women are not allowed to drive, vote, own shops, testify in court or ride bicycles in Saudi Arabia. Bizarrely, it’s perfectly fine for women to fly high-powered jet planes.
Give an even number of flowers in Russia
A field of flowers
– What you think you are saying:
“Darling, you have been so wonderful this week. These are for you.”
– What you are actually saying:
“Darling, my condolences.”
– How Come?
In Russia, even numbers of flowers are only ever given at funerals, and such a gift is seen as inviting death.
Choosing the right gift seems to be a minefield of morbidity everywhere you go. For instance, never give a clock to a Chinese person, as the word “clock” is almost identical to a Chinese word for “death”. Don’t wrap your present in white paper there either, as this suggests funerals. Don’t give white flowers to anyone in Bangladesh for the same reason.
Give a gift with your left hand in China
– What you think you are saying:
“Please accept this gift.”
– What you are actually saying:
“Please accept this rubbish. You are not worth anything more.”
– How come?
Toilet paper may have been around in China since 589 AD, but for much of the world, it remains a prohibitively expensive luxury. In places such as India, Sri Lanka, Africa and the whole of the Middle East, doing anything with your left hand is seen as unclean, as it is – as least symbolically – the hand which is used for wiping. Do not even use your left hand for eating, this is considered vile as well and is awfully bad form.
Of course, this is not the only reason left-handedness is bad. According to the Qur’an, Satan himself was left-handed.
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