Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/144909
savvytraveller To handshake or air-kiss? Learning the customs and courtesies of foreign lands ''T HERE IS ONE FORM OF human communication that everyone understands: the smile," wrote the late author and etiquette specialist Roger Axtell, widely described as the "Emily Post of international travel." Sure enough, a toothy grin combined with a humble attitude and an eager curiosity are great starting points for Canadians who don't want to come across like the archetypal "ugly American" (i.e., a rude, self-centred person with no interest or respect for other cultures) when travelling abroad. Being a stranger in a strange land can be daunting, yet one of the best reasons for why we travel is to experience the quirks, peculiarities and fascinating everyday normalities of life far from our own comfort zones. Vive la différence, it's said, and the differences can be measured in tastes, language, interpersonal communication, codes of social conduct and simple gestures. Blending seamlessly into a foreign culture is impossible for the short-term traveller, of course. Yet one can make an honest effort to adjust and play the game according to local customs. Either learn through experience, one gentle mistake at a time. Or, perhaps better still, do some homework ahead of departure and endure far fewer embarrassing faux pas. The U.K.-based International Centre for Responsible Tourism has developed a code of ethics for tourists that begins with the suggestion that we "travel in a spirit of humility and with a genuine desire to learn more about the people of your host country." Among other things, it asks travellers to "cultivate the habit of listening and observing" to pick up clues from those we interact with and adjust our behaviour as needed. Gestures can be very different from one country to the next, as Axtell outlined in tremendous detail in his book The Do's and Taboos of Body Language Around the World. In the U.K., offering up an inverted peace sign with your palm facing inward is the equivalent of flipping the bird here at home. Sticking your thumb out (as in hitching a ride) is an equally rude gesture in Nigeria. While 8 WESTWORLD p08-09_SavvyTrvlr.indd 8 >> SUMMER 2012 gross by our standards, nose picking in public is still commonplace in Thailand and a mark of good hygiene. In India and Muslim countries, the long-standing tradition is to always use your right hand for eating and the left when using the toilet. In Japan, people cover their mouths when laughing and greet each other with a short bow, though the western tradition of shaking hands is becoming increasingly more commonplace there and in China. As ever, let local citizens make the first move and then mirror them with awkward good grace (drawing the line at the nose picking, however). Language is a starting point. It's always wise to learn a few key phrases that can be trotted out in everyday situations even if the person you're interacting with has a smattering of English at their command. Saying "per favore" and "grazie" to a gelato clerk in Florence will earn more cultural merit points than "please" and "thank you," even if you mangle the pronunciation. Mistakes are fine. Again, it's the effort that counts, according to Mary Murray Bosrock, author of European Business Customs & Manners. Either carry a pocket-sized glossary of key foreign words while learning the necessary basics or choose from a range of translation apps for your smartphone. Mastering "hello," "goodbye" and a basic list of numbers when exchanging money are essential. Wherever you are destined, there will surely be a book available at Amazon.ca, in the public library or online that provides clear and concise tips on how to bridge the culture gap. The leading travel guides all dispense valuable insights into cultural norms in their "need to know," "before you go" and "survival guide" pages. Fodor's Italy, for instance, notes that strangers traditionally shake hands, though new friends can exchange air kisses – first on the left cheek, then the right. Bare arms and shoulders are not welcome in European churches, so carry a pull-on sweater even in summer when sightseeing. Expect a meal in France to be served at a leisurely pace as per the national custom. Several multi-volume guidebook series are dedicated to easing the cold-bath experience of plunging into a foreign land. The CultureShock! line of books published by Marshall Cavendish features 70 titles that each cover a specific country's language, social life, food, business etiquette and much else. For its part, Kuperard's Culture Smart! line similarly explores attitudes, beliefs and behaviours around the globe. –Jeff Bateman Stephane Denis 4/16/12 2:42:19 PM