Comments on: Etiquette around the world http://www.vagablogging.net/etiquette-around-the-world.html Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:14:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Eric Lorentzen http://www.vagablogging.net/etiquette-around-the-world.html/comment-page-1#comment-25333 Eric Lorentzen Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:58:11 +0000 http://qs1937.pair.com/users/bootlabs/vagablogging.net/_wp/etiquette-around-the-world.html#comment-25333 or is it "without setting down the knife"? I think so. or is it “without setting down the knife”? I think so.

]]> By: Eric Lorentzen http://www.vagablogging.net/etiquette-around-the-world.html/comment-page-1#comment-25332 Eric Lorentzen Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:56:46 +0000 http://qs1937.pair.com/users/bootlabs/vagablogging.net/_wp/etiquette-around-the-world.html#comment-25332 I am so upset. My Book of Etiquette says while in the U.S. it is acceptable to use one's fork left-handed, tines down without setting the knife down! I am so upset. My Book of Etiquette says while in the U.S. it is acceptable to use one’s fork left-handed, tines down without setting the knife down!

]]> By: Shanel http://www.vagablogging.net/etiquette-around-the-world.html/comment-page-1#comment-1342 Shanel Fri, 04 Apr 2008 11:59:36 +0000 http://qs1937.pair.com/users/bootlabs/vagablogging.net/_wp/etiquette-around-the-world.html#comment-1342 Hi, This is a great post. When I was in East Africa a few months ago, I struggled because I am left handed. If I had known prior to going what a big deal the distinction between left and right hand tasks were, I would have practiced. After a few months, I kind of got used to doing things with my right hand, but there were times when not being able to use my left hand to eat made me want to break down in tears. In addition, when people noticed that I was left handed, it instantly became village news!!! I was considered some sort of Anomaly. SM Hi,

This is a great post. When I was in East Africa a few months ago, I struggled because I am left handed.

If I had known prior to going what a big deal the distinction between left and right hand tasks were, I would have practiced.

After a few months, I kind of got used to doing things with my right hand, but there were times when not being able to use my left hand to eat made me want to break down in tears.

In addition, when people noticed that I was left handed, it instantly became village news!!!
I was considered some sort of Anomaly.

SM

]]> By: BlueDog http://www.vagablogging.net/etiquette-around-the-world.html/comment-page-1#comment-1341 BlueDog Mon, 10 Sep 2007 02:43:38 +0000 http://qs1937.pair.com/users/bootlabs/vagablogging.net/_wp/etiquette-around-the-world.html#comment-1341 I almost forgot. About South Americans being offended that U.S. citizens refer to themselves as American..."America" refers to someone who never even traveled to the region, so doesn't that nullfiy the whole thing? Just some food for thought. I almost forgot. About South Americans being offended that U.S. citizens refer to themselves as American…”America” refers to someone who never even traveled to the region, so doesn’t that nullfiy the whole thing? Just some food for thought.

]]> By: BlueDog http://www.vagablogging.net/etiquette-around-the-world.html/comment-page-1#comment-1340 BlueDog Mon, 10 Sep 2007 02:39:42 +0000 http://qs1937.pair.com/users/bootlabs/vagablogging.net/_wp/etiquette-around-the-world.html#comment-1340 Very interesting facts in your article. I've been to six countries outside the U.S., where I grew up. The "ugly American" term typically originates from the behavior of U.S. military personnel--who tend to be from less cultured regions of America--er, the U.S. When meeting locals abroad, U.S. citizens often spend much time in an apologetic mode--explaining that the U.S. president, uhhh, and the U.S. government does not always represent the will or values of everyday citizens--all of the time. A short time after Busb Jr. got "elected," while I was abroad, a Canadian asked me what I thought about George W. Bush. I told him straight up, "He's an a$$hole." Also, I'm fairly open-minded about local customs, except for the fashionably-late syndrome. In some countries, the "local" times are actually an hour later than sated times. That's simply unacceptable. The U.S. is the most powerful country in the world, in part due to the nuances of social Darwinism. 9:00 is 9:00 is 9:00. Very interesting facts in your article. I’ve been to six countries outside the U.S., where I grew up. The “ugly American” term typically originates from the behavior of U.S. military personnel–who tend to be from less cultured regions of America–er, the U.S. When meeting locals abroad, U.S. citizens often spend much time in an apologetic mode–explaining that the U.S. president, uhhh, and the U.S. government does not always represent the will or values of everyday citizens–all of the time. A short time after Busb Jr. got “elected,” while I was abroad, a Canadian asked me what I thought about George W. Bush. I told him straight up, “He’s an a$$hole.” Also, I’m fairly open-minded about local customs, except for the fashionably-late syndrome. In some countries, the “local” times are actually an hour later than sated times. That’s simply unacceptable. The U.S. is the most powerful country in the world, in part due to the nuances of social Darwinism. 9:00 is 9:00 is 9:00.

]]> By: NIcho http://www.vagablogging.net/etiquette-around-the-world.html/comment-page-1#comment-1339 NIcho Sun, 05 Aug 2007 02:30:40 +0000 http://qs1937.pair.com/users/bootlabs/vagablogging.net/_wp/etiquette-around-the-world.html#comment-1339 kevincure: It's relatively easy to understand, and although you're right about Estados-Unidos de Mexico (not Mejico, you Spaniards), or Colombia. Mexico, and Colombia isn't the name of the whole continent, I tend to say gringo, but I know some people won't like that. kevincure:

It’s relatively easy to understand, and although you’re right about Estados-Unidos de Mexico (not Mejico, you Spaniards), or Colombia.

Mexico, and Colombia isn’t the name of the whole continent,

I tend to say gringo, but I know some people won’t like that.

]]> By: kevincure http://www.vagablogging.net/etiquette-around-the-world.html/comment-page-1#comment-1338 kevincure Fri, 27 Jul 2007 00:20:51 +0000 http://qs1937.pair.com/users/bootlabs/vagablogging.net/_wp/etiquette-around-the-world.html#comment-1338 I'm unconvinced that one shouldn't say American when in Latin America. In Spanish, there's a good word for "United States-ian", but it doesn't exist in standard English. Further, I've never understood why the "don't say American!" crowd is so upset about the use of "American" but doesn't see the same problem with "United States citizen." Estados Unidos de Mexico, anyone? Estados Unidos de Colombia? I’m unconvinced that one shouldn’t say American when in Latin America. In Spanish, there’s a good word for “United States-ian”, but it doesn’t exist in standard English. Further, I’ve never understood why the “don’t say American!” crowd is so upset about the use of “American” but doesn’t see the same problem with “United States citizen.” Estados Unidos de Mexico, anyone? Estados Unidos de Colombia?

]]> By: Colin McAuliffe http://www.vagablogging.net/etiquette-around-the-world.html/comment-page-1#comment-1337 Colin McAuliffe Thu, 26 Jul 2007 21:15:27 +0000 http://qs1937.pair.com/users/bootlabs/vagablogging.net/_wp/etiquette-around-the-world.html#comment-1337 Another good one to note, the OK sign in the US means A**hole in Brazil. Also, in Thailand, it is rude to put your fork in your mouth, the fork is only used for loading up the spoon with food. Another good one to note,

the OK sign in the US means A**hole in Brazil.

Also, in Thailand, it is rude to put your fork in your mouth, the fork is only used for loading up the spoon with food.

]]> By: Brandon Watts http://www.vagablogging.net/etiquette-around-the-world.html/comment-page-1#comment-1336 Brandon Watts Thu, 26 Jul 2007 16:09:59 +0000 http://qs1937.pair.com/users/bootlabs/vagablogging.net/_wp/etiquette-around-the-world.html#comment-1336 This just goes to show that a lot of research goes into traveling the "right" way. Brandon Watts Criteo Evangelist This just goes to show that a lot of research goes into traveling the “right” way.

Brandon Watts
Criteo Evangelist

]]> By: Eva http://www.vagablogging.net/etiquette-around-the-world.html/comment-page-1#comment-1335 Eva Thu, 26 Jul 2007 13:13:48 +0000 http://qs1937.pair.com/users/bootlabs/vagablogging.net/_wp/etiquette-around-the-world.html#comment-1335 As a lefty I always worry about that one... I don't really know what to do about it though since my right hand verges on useless for anything requiring fine motor control. It's nice that these sites exist but there are so many of these customs, we're all bound to miss a few. I think the most important thing is to remember, when we're at home, that tourists have different habits and don't mean to offend... and then hope that we get the same understanding in return when we travel. As a lefty I always worry about that one… I don’t really know what to do about it though since my right hand verges on useless for anything requiring fine motor control.

It’s nice that these sites exist but there are so many of these customs, we’re all bound to miss a few. I think the most important thing is to remember, when we’re at home, that tourists have different habits and don’t mean to offend… and then hope that we get the same understanding in return when we travel.

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