There are a number of behaviours and gestures Australians do without thinking twice. But when travelling abroad, they will not only out you as a tourist, in some countries you could actually get into hot water for them. KAYAK.com.au have rounded up some of the most common Australian behaviours that are seen as offensive elsewhere.
Men showing skin – South Korea
During summer, it’s not uncommon for Australian men to be walking around town without their shirts on. In South Korea, men tend not to show their skin in public and some don’t even go shirtless at the beach. This can be considered quite a bold move so please, no one call for shirts off!
Tipping – Japan and South Korea
Both over and under tipping can quickly cause a bit of confusion at your table when visiting a bar or restaurant in Japan or South Korea. In these countries, workers feel that they are getting paid to do their job, and take pride in doing it well; they don’t need an added incentive, so in most cases they will politely refuse. Don’t try to force it, you may find yourself being chased out of the restaurant by the waiter just so he can give you back some change.
Firm handshake – Philippines
Giving a firm handshake is accepted behaviour in Australia. Hey, we might even go in for a hug! But in the Philippines, a firm handshake is considered aggressive ,and in some instances disrespectful. Despite the fact that you might not be a fan of it, a relaxed handshake is the thing to do.
Chewing gum in public – Singapore
Chewing gum in public is common in Australia. In Singapore people think chewing gum in public is not only unattractive or rude, it’s actually been banned and you can receive a $500 fine for spitting it out in public.
Giving a thumbs-up – Countries in the Middle East
In many countries in the Middle East, giving a thumbs up basically has the same meaning as holding up a middle finger. So next time you want to show your appreciation for something, maybe just give them a nod and smile.
Adding condiments to your meal – Italy, Spain and Japan
In foodie cultures like Italy, Spain and Japan, asking for tomato sauce, hot sauce or soy sauce to alter your meal may raise some eyebrows. Before you ask for a condiment at a fancy restaurant, see if there are any on the tables – if not, maybe it’s time to broaden your palate.
Eating anywhere that doesn’t serve food – Rwanda
In Rwanda it is considered rude to eat anywhere that isn’t a restaurant, bar or hotel. Eating a banana on the bus? Ice cream outside? All no-nos. Eating on the run is one of the biggest offences, so sit down and enjoy your surroundings – that’s what holidays are for!
Being fashionably late – Germany
Australians often make appointments for “around 9” or “9ish.” Being a few minutes late, or as we call it “fashionably” late, is standard in Australia. It might not be a surprise to some, but in countries like highly efficient Germany, leaving people waiting is taken as you thinking your is time more valuable than everyone else’s. We don’t want that!
Finish all your food – Thailand and China
Wasting food is not a good habit in many countries. In fact, in Australia, many remember being told not to leave the table until they had finished everything on their plate. But in Thailand and China, if you are invited to somebody’s house and you do finish all the food on your plate – it may accidentally imply that the host hasn’t prepared enough food. It’s a good excuse to save room for ice cream!
At the end of the day, there will always be little things lost in translation that might seem rude when travelling. The best thing to do is to try your hardest to just be respectful.
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