Friday, 15 May 2009

• What Foreign Tourists Are Warned Of When Visiting The States

  

  I found this article warning foreigners who are planning trips to America what not to do when they get here. Some things that might seem innocent to foreigners can be offensive to American culture.  I never noticed, but some of these things about Americans are true (at least about me), and are actually pretty funny!

  Here are some:

  Personal Distance: Americans are not to be touched beyond the forearm.  Estimated personal space is set at nearly two feet—twice what it common in the Arab world and in Mediterranean countries. The author of the article, Aleksandar Hemon, who emigrated to the U.S. from Bosnia in his late twenties, noticed that people in the U.S. flinched at his touch. It's not that Americans are cold or that Eastern Europeans are pushy, he says. It's just a cultural difference related to notions of personal space and privacy.

  Small Talk: Hemon calls this "the verbal equivalent of smiling." It is a staple worldwide, but it seems Americans do it the most. Take the phrase "How are you?" In many countries where people say this, they really just mean, "How are you?" You are supposed to respond with "fine," or something of the equivalent.  Like the article says, "it's not an invitation to a health report."

  Eating: Americans eat much more quietly than people from some other cultures.  No slurping, loud sipping, or open-mouthed chewing. This seems normal to Americans but unnecessarily uptight to many others.

  "Could you wrap this...": The takeaway bag for the balance of our dinner is an American phenomenon. Ask a French waiter if you can have the rest of your cake to go and you might find him scooping up scraps from everyone's dessert plates, assuming it's actually meant for your dog. Taking food home is tacky to people in many countries outside the U.S. who don't go out as often, and who generally eat smaller portions.

  
  

  Have you ever seen foreigners behaving strangely? Have you ever not known what the proper ettiquette was in another country?
  

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