Title: 9 Things That Are Surprisingly Offensive in Asia
Headings: 9 Things That Are Surprisingly Offensive in Asia
9 Things That Are Surprisingly Offensive in Asia
1. Keep your hands below the neck
2. Master chopstick etiquette
3. Eat with your hands
4. Hold your liquor
5. Don’t blow your nose
6. Watch your hands
7. Don’t tip
8. Prioritize showing respect
9. Don’t chew gum
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Content: With your focus on new and different visuals, food, and language, it can be easy to forget that cultural norms are different as well—and vary widely between countries. Try as you might, there are bound to be a few inadvertent blunders. You can always fall back on a friendly smile and apologetic attitude, but here are a few tips that will help you avoid really awkward situations. 1. Keep your hands below the neck
First and foremost, touching a person’s head is considered VERY rude is most parts of Asia. In Buddhist culture the head is the highest part of the body and thought of as sacred. The feet, on the other hand, are the lowest part of the body and considered dirty. So in countries with large Buddhist populations such as China, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia, touching someone’s head is an incredibly invasive gesture. By the same token pointing with your feet, or showing the bottoms of your feet to anyone is equally offensive. 2.