Eating out when you are traveling may make you feel like you have to watch every little thing that you do in order to keep from offending everyone. Sure, you might have to do some things a different way in order to show proper etiquette, but it’s really all not that hard to do. Make sure and look up the dos and don’t in whatever area you are visiting so that you are respectful to the culture.
Using Your Own Plate In Ethiopia
Never request your own plate while in Ethiopia. Food is always shared and given on a single plate without any cutlery. Basically everyone just digs in and grabs what they want to eat. Asking for your own plate is considered to be wasteful.
Eating With Your Right Hand In India
It doesn’t matter what hand your write with in Indian when you are eating. When you pick up your food you need to use your right hand. Eating your food with your left hand is thought to be unclean and of not proper etiquette.
Paying The Entire Bill In France
We’ve all been there- out to eat with friends or family members and the bill comes. You probably don’t want to pay a large bill by yourself so you offer to split it with them. Well don’t do this in France as it’s seen as a sign of unsophistication. You either need to pay the bill in it’s entirely or sit their quietly waiting to see if someone else offers to pay it.
Asking For More Cheese In Italy
If you are the type of person that likes extra cheese on your food, you might be unhappy in Italy. It’s considered to be very rude to ask for extra cheese unless it’s offered to you. What this means is that if you don’t want to offend anyone then you will need to just learn to be happy with the amount of cheese that’s put on your food. Sorry.
Eating With A Fork In Thailand
This etiquette rule may seem weird to some, but in Thailand you shouldn’t eat your food with a fork. No, you don’t have to use your hands. Basically you will be given a fork and a spoon and you are supposed to push your food on a spoon with your fork.
Slurping Your Food In Japan
In America we often teach our children to eat quietly and to not slurp their food. In Japan it’s quite different. Slurping your noodles shows that you appreciate the food that was given to you. If you are given a bowl of soup, don’t expect to be given a spoon as they are pretty uncommon. Instead, pick up your bowl and slurp the liquid down.
Not Letting Out A Burp In China
After eating a meal in China, the best way to let the chef know that you were happy with your meal is with a burp. Loud belches are a way to show that you are satisfied. If you just aren’t comfortable burping in public you can also leave some of your food so that you can show that the portions you were given were more than ample.
Using “Thumbs up”
Many cultures including Iran, Italy and Greece find thumbs up offensive – as if you were using the middle finger here in the U.S.
Other blog posts that may interest you.
Hand Gestures Around the World
Places to Go Where You Wont Feel Like a Tourist
Tips for Flying Overseas
Understanding travel etiquette is especially important in Europe. Our advisors’ guide to Common Mistakes to Avoid When Traveling to Europe covers the cultural nuances that make or break a European trip.
