Category "cultural-awareness"

Why are wheelie bins half-buried in parts of Luxembourg?

Walking around a residential area in Luxembourg, I noticed that each home had their wheelie bin for general rubbish in the front yard strangely placed in a neat

When traveling in Ukraine, when is it appropriate to wear the traditional Vyshyvanka?

Vyshyvanka (Ukrainian: ″Вишиванка″) is the colloquial name for the embroidered shirt in U

Dos and don'ts at a Vietnamese wedding

I'm invited to a wedding in Ho Chi Minh City. I know virtually nothing about Vietnam, I'll be there for the first time in my life. I know a little about Asian

Parenting in the USA [closed]

My company wants me to temporally do some project in the USA (6months). I want to take my family with me. We raise our children quite independ

Barefoot World-trip [closed]

I am an avid barefoot walker. In fact did not wear any shoes since 2 years. Did already barefoot travel in parts the western world without an

Would it be ok to eat rice using a spoon in front of Westerners?

It seems to me that Westerners are willing to learn to use chopsticks in Asian restaurants. However, when spoons are the way the dish is normally eaten within t

What etiquette, if any, is there for where the knot goes when wearing a yukata or kimono?

When wearing either a yukata or a kimono, what etiquette, if any, is there about where the knot goes? Do only sex workers (whose work is illegal nowadays in Jap

Can I expect to be welcome in Pakistan if I'm an Indian? [closed]

I'm an Indian researching The Harappan Civilization of India as my personal interest. Unfortunately after Partition the area is located in Pak

What does this symbol on a door mean? (福) [closed]

I live in the Czech Republic in an area where many nationalities live. This year I noticed this strange symbol on multiple doors, although I

Asian ladies and older man grabbing cheeks and slapping butts for children

Ok so my kids are 'suffering' (not really, lol) from elderly people in South East Asian countries (Thailand and Cambodia). Their cheeks seem to work like magne

What major difficulties are faced while planning an international trip? [closed]

In order to help the clients (travelers) better, we'd like to understand the problems based on the general perceptions as well as personal exp

What kind of behaviours must we avoid while staying in Singapore?

This is my first month in Singapore to start working here. I have heard that this country is very strict with their citizens and even tourists to keep the count

Are non-Muslims allowed to enter mosques in Malaysia?

When I was in Morocco, I was disappointed to find out non-Muslims, in general, aren't permitted in mosques in the country, but I heard this isn't the case in so

In what scenarios is it beneficial to BYO yukata? [closed]

I'm thinking about whether to pack a yukata for my next trip to Japan, and I'm thinking of scenarios where it's appropriate to wear a yukata,

Are there any laws in Italy about head coverings I should be aware of?

I'm visiting Rome in September with my wife who wears a head scarf. Are there any rules or customs we should be aware of?

Whispering in other cultures

In America, many people will find it rude if you are talking to others in a whisper within a distance at which they would hear conversation at a normal volume.

Does wearing imperial beard in the UK attract any ire of general public?

I love Imperial beard, which is also known as Friendly Mutton Chops. Take this for an example: Source: Maria Ly, via Wikimedia Commons Here is a another gen

How to deal with other tourists taking pictures of my children?

Recently, my family and I (two parents, two daughters below 3) were in Spain. We had a great time in Barcelona and then in Andalusia. However, I found myself se

Can person take a toothpick from a restaurant in Japan?

It's kind of strange question but let's give it a try. Several times after paying a bill in a restaurant in Japan, my friend was going to take a toothpick to ca

Which language is preferable for speaking with Palestinians: Hebrew or English?

Obviously, the best language to use to speak to Palestinians in Palestine is their own language, Arabic. If Arabic is not an option, which would generally be pr