How not to embarrass yourself while traveling: 15 honest tips that will save you
It's one thing to look like a complete idiot while traveling to another country, but it's quite another to offend local residents. So, to avoid this, try to follow the tips from this issue. They were written by Reddit users in response to the question: "What should tourists NEVER do in your country?" As it turned out, the answers turned out to be much more interesting than a standard guide to the country. They will definitely help you stay out of trouble.
1. Australia
Tip # 2: Don't go to the beach without sunscreen. Come in clothes and polarizing glasses. We have the highest level of skin cancer due to the strongest UV radiation in the summer.
Tip # 3: Don't think that since you can swim, you can swim in the ocean, even if other people do it. Learn to evaluate the waves, read any signs and signs nearby, and if there are rescuers nearby, listen to their instructions and swim between the flags.
2. Canada
Tip # 2: Don't get out of the car to look at the bears. Don't feed the bears. Don't stop in the middle of the road to look at the bears.
Tip # 3: The same thing about moose. You can cause an accident on the road or even suffer from the animals themselves.
Tip # 4: Do not add ketchup to your putin (national dish, emphasis on "and").
3. England and the United Kingdom
Tip # 2: Don't call every country in the United Kingdom "England". The United Kingdom consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. If you think that all this is "England", it is not so, and it makes us terribly angry when you talk about all Britons as English.
Tip # 3: Never, ever criticize the BBC or the NHS (National Health System). These are our national treasures; we can complain about them as much as we want, because they exist thanks to our taxes. And by the way, we like to complain about them. This is such a British folk fun. And you are just a guest, if you have had to face the BBC or the NHS, do not try to complain about them!
Tip # 4: We call French fries " chips "(chips), and chips — "crisps".
4. France
Tip # 2: Do not treat people in stores as servants. Yes, the client is the king and is always right, but in France, kings were beheaded.
5. Iceland
Tip # 2: It's usually quite strange to suddenly talk to a stranger, say, in a museum. A stranger who comes up and says "Hi, how are you?" is the strangest thing that can happen to any Icelander.
6. India
Tip # 2: Do not be offended if people ask you personal questions about work, family, etc.In India, a polite conversation usually begins with questions about how much money the interlocutor earns, or how he got married.
Tip # 3: Never say that cricket is boring.
7. Ireland
Tip # 2: Never use the supposedly native Irish greeting "Top of the morning to you" ("Good morning"). It is unlikely that the Irish will perceive this phrase without irritation. And keep in mind that if they are offended or annoyed at you, then, most likely, they begin to like you.
Tip # 3: Don't talk about the Irish Republican Army and don't ask people if they are Catholic or Protestant. Please dig deeper into this issue. This will help you avoid stupid questions like " Well, is Ireland part of the UK?"
Tip # 4: Do not ask for an Irish Car Bomb or a Black and Tan beer cocktail in bars. In some bars, this is considered very offensive. If you want Black and Tan (a mixture of dark beer and light), ask for Half and Half. The terms Irish Car Bomb and Black and Tan are considered offensive, since their roots go back to the Irish War of Independence.
Tip # 5: Don't stay only in Dublin. It is always amazing when people come to Ireland and do not show their nose outside the capital.
8. Japan
Tip # 2: This tradition is slowly dying out, but nevertheless try not to eat outside. Baby with ice cream? Cute. A man with a kebab and a disgusting face with a hangover? Awful.
Tip # 3: Do not dip the kushikatsu in hot sauce twice. In Osaka (depending on the institution), you can get a reprimand for this or even be expelled from the restaurant.
Tip # 4: Do not take drugs. In Japan, weed is a drug, and drugs are bad, and the penalties for their use are very severe. You should not even talk about drugs with Japanese friends: young Japanese are more understanding, but such conversations will still bring you a bad reputation among most locals.
9. The Netherlands
Tip # 2: Do not walk on bike paths, and if you do, do not be surprised that you will be yelled at.
Tip # 3: Don't rent a bike just because you want to taste the Dutch culture. If you are not used to cycling, then keep in mind that sometimes it can be dangerous even in small cities. It is better to walk around the city on foot and find yourself a pleasant and simple bicycle route in advance.
10. New Zealand
Tip # 2: If you are visiting the geyser region and saw the sign "Risk of death after passing this point", then you should take what is written seriously and it is better not to go there.
Tip # 3: During a visit to New Zealand, do not compare it with Australia, especially if the comparison is not in favor of New Zealand. We don't care if something was better in Australia.
11. Norway
Tip # 2: Do not go on a hike to the Svalbard archipelago with your bare hands. It is better to take a firearm with you, in order to protect yourself from polar bears if you have left the trodden path.
12. Portugal
Tip # 2: Never say "gracias"! Say "obrigado" or in English "thanks". Everyone here speaks English, but many tourists think that talking to us in the language of our sworn enemies is not so offensive.
13. Scotland
Tip # 2: Do not drink in a pub without windows, because this may be a sign that a dubious audience is hanging around here. There are no windows, because they were so often thrown with stones and broken that the owners simply decided to lay them with bricks.
Tip # 3: Don't talk about London or the Tories.
Tip # 4: Don't ask why we don't all wear kilts and eat haggis. We only wear kilts for weddings, official events or Scottish games.
Tip # 5: Don't be afraid to approach the locals. They may look a little harsh, but Glasgow is a place where some of the most good-natured people live. Scots love to laugh and have fun, so do not be afraid if a stranger on the street suddenly talks to you. But Edinburgh is not so friendly.
14. SOUTH AFRICA
Tip # 2: Do not dress in khaki from head to toe, even if you are going to go on safari. Ordinary clothes will do quite well, there are few people who wear khaki, so you will look very strange.
15. USA
Tip # 2: Don't think that our country is the same everywhere, and don't say that you didn't like American food just because you ate it in some restaurant in Minnesota.
Tip # 3: Do not try to imitate the stretching of words peculiar to southern residents. Those who do this look like idiots. And don't think that all Southerners say this way, because it's not true.
Tip # 4: Don't stand too close to people in the queue. You must stand so that you can stretch out your arm and not reach the person in front.
Tip # 5: Americans usually don't like to stare, so if they stare at you, then you are doing something really strange.
Keywords: Travel guide | Tips