10.27.21 Week 7: Difference In Manners

 

Difference in Manners

    This last week, I spent some time in Mexico with my husband who had never been outside the country before. We met up with friends and made new friends. We rode public transportation and ate a lot of yummy food. This experience brought back memories from my first time going to Mexico and my first time experiences the cultural differences in manners. 

    One example I wish to include is "to tip or not to tip". In Mexico, it is always appreciated if you tip, if not almost always expected. We paid for our bus ride to our hotel from the airport and we were expected to tip. We ate at restaurants and we were also expected to tip. In contrast, places like China or Japan actually view tipping as rude or condescending. Receiving is almost similar to begging in their culture. 

    

    Another example of a difference in manners would be greeting a friend or someone new. In Mexico, it is normal to wave and embrace. In places like Greece, waving with your palm facing the person is considered rude. The best way to wave properly is with your palm facing yourself, like the contestants in a beauty pageant tend to wave. 

    

    When traveling to a new place or country, I would suggest taking a couple minutes to review the cultural norms and manners in that country on the internet. It will save you uncomfortable situations or misunderstandings. This will also help you to best show your respect for the people you are visiting and help you to grow as a person. 

References: 
13 Examples of Good and Bad Manners Around the World
https://people.howstuffworks.com/13-examples-of-good-and-bad-manners-around-the-world.htm#page=0