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: 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. Master chopstick etiquette
If even thinking about using chopsticks makes you nervous, don’t worry—you are more than welcome to ask for a fork or a spoon. But if you’re adept at using chopsticks, don’t let your hard work go to waste by sticking your chopsticks upright in your rice. In China and Japan, this is considered very bad luck. Prevailing traveler superstition is that upright chopsticks resemble funeral incense and therefore symbolizes death. More traditionally, the connection comes from a part of the funeral services: