Trifter

Great article, Louie. I really felt like I learned a lot from it.

Very nice article. It was informative and entertaining at the same time. I lived in Athens, Greece for a year and found out (the hard way) that to show someone the palm of your hand (we call it waving in the U.S.) means you are putting five curses on five generations of someone. It was certainly a strange country to live in….:)

This was a fun and interesting article. I found out many things I never knew or thought about.

I think most of them are probably not true to be honest.

Will have to remember these Louie Great article:) I can’t believe the one about the time pieces though

I enjoyed this article… Very informative and interesting.

oooh very interesting and good to know!

Very interesting. Thanks!

Inna

It was interesting and I learned something new, always a good thing.

very interesting and informative article!! keep up the good work!

Very interesting article!

You’ve done a good job, Louie. The article was enjoyable. Funny thing . . . When my husband and I lived in Paris, we always showed up to dinner with a bottle of wine or a dessert (or both). They always went down well. I suppose times have changed.

There’s a discussion about the French and the wine here:

http://www.qi.com/talk/viewtopic.php?start=15&t=6094

Hi Louie, how are you?
This is a pretty interesting and eye-opening article. Thanks for sharing.

The japanese thing is not true.

Very enjoyable, and interesting. I learn something new from your article too!

You are wrong Tokin.

Historically the colour red was associated in Japan with smallpox. The god that was responsible for this disease was red, so there was a superstition that red was the colour of smallpox and therefore a sign of inevitable death. (Ref: History of Shinto In Japan, Published by Pelican Books, 2000.) There are still people in Japan who follow the old religion of Shinto.

My friend Suki, freaked out once when I gave her a shirt that was red for her birthday. Her parents and relatives were mortified as well. When her mother explained to me why, I sheepishly apologized amongst all the glares, and gave my friend the receipt for an exchange…lol! It wasn’t until years later when I began studying anthropology that I understood why. Interesting facts on cultures from around the world.

I like the helpful information and the pictures choosen were fun to look at. good job

It’s amazing how basic interactions with other people are treated depending on the culture.

very informative about different cultures.

Really nice article Louie. I really enjoyed reading it.

Very useful information if you visit South East Asia. I don’t.

wow there loads i didnt know here! Thanks for the info!

Great, fun article – but with some points to remember on our travels!

The Chinese don’t like clock as present because “giving clock” to someone means “song zhong” in Mandarin, which also means, you are attending someone’s funeral or is sending the corpse to the cemetery. Something along that line.

Nice article. I should really control myself from winking too much.

I’ve been given red gifts while I’ve been in Japan, so I just asked my friend about it.
She said that it’s not insulting or bad or anything,
she was really confused and I actually had to explain the custom to her…

what a wonderful article. I really enjoyed it and it’s set up beautifully. I’m just a newbie and don’t know how to do the fancy stuff yet but i will learn. Thanks for the wonderful info.

It’s like other customs and traditions, they change over time.

Interesting article. Thanks for the info!!!

liked it , i personally wouldn’t go to any of those places but its good to know in case i change my mind.

I always loved sociology class. We would learn so many interesting things about different cultures, but then like anything else we have to be careful of sterotypes. I don’t want to mention any because I don’t believe them. There are some misconceptions – like not all blonds are dumb. Although I’ve had my share of moments. lol

Great article and wonderful pictures to complement it.

Well done, Louie, and a great idea. I have always found differences in cultural etiquette very interesting, especially being a “rude American”. I’m really glad you didn’t go into that little number. Great job!

-M

That was very informative and interesting, thanks!

Great article, it can be pretty easy to unknowingly give offense.

Wow! I had never heard of any of these cultural differences so the information is very much appreciated.

Louie,
I enjoyed your article. Its quite interesting how things from one country can have the opposite meaning in another country. I’m a winker and I like to smile a lot too. Even though I have no plans of traveling overseas, but in case I do, I will read this article again so I’ll know what not to do. Excellent article Louie!!! Have a very Merry Christmas!

Randy

Very interesting stuff,my first read of yours.

Very interesting article. Thanks. I enjoyed reading this. A Happy New Year to you.

Brilliant! I learned something new, thanks

i have read somewhere,in an almanac i guess,that in the Philippines,it is rude to come in a gathering,or whatever social activities, on time..i was like,..what?..im from the phil.it’s not real.i think they’re exaggerating.

oh wow i had to look this stuff up for homework and it really helped!! haha okay thanks bye

This is nice article, but I’m not sure how true the winking one about Indian’s is cos I’m Indian and I have never ever heard of it.

really nice article…. can you share us about some really exotic customs and traditions around the world

hey, red doesn’t mean horror in China, actually red packaging is welcome, especially in Chinese spring festival. Knife and clock might still cause offense if your friends from traditional family. But gift like Swiss knife which is small, practical has good reputation is ok.

Coco: please read the article properly. It does not say that ‘red’ is bad in China, it speaks about ‘red’ in Japan!!!!