Have you ever felt out of place while traveling, like you keep saying and doing the wrong thing despite your best efforts? If so, you’re not alone. Whenever any of us are in a foreign country that’s unfamiliar, there’s only so much you can come prepared for when first arriving. The term has been coined to culture shock, but can also lead to many faux pas’ from the visitors who are unaware when they’re breaching the social rules. If you’re planning a trip or just curious about the world, fortunately, some folk of Reddit gathered to offer their wisdom on various things considered offensive in various countries.
1. Respect the Buddha
The bit about being careful with money is a good thing to know; there’s nothing that would put a damper on your vacation more than accidentally insulting the king and getting thrown in jail for it. Not everywhere has free speech in the same way as other places.
Generally, it’s good practice not to make obnoxious jokes anyway, so this is a good opportunity for those of us with a bad habit of occasionally running our mouths a little too much. Overall, these norms don’t seem too out of place.