Politeness rules and « strange » usages around the world

What do you know about good manners and usages abroad ?

In which country is it very impolite to reveal the soles of your feat to other people ?

Answer : In India, several others Asian countries and many parts of the Muslim world

Why : feet are considered as an impure part of the body

In which country put hands on hips is very provocative ?

Answer : In Indonesia

In which country can you see that ?

FRANCE ???UNITED KINGDOM

In which country is it very rude to blow your nose in public ?

Answer : In Japan

In Italy do you know what people touch instead of wood for good luck ?

Answer : Metal

Why : the metal was considered as a precious material with « magical » properties

In which country this gesture is an insult ?

Answer : Greece

In which country nod from top to bottom means NO and nod from right to left means YES ?

Answer : Bulgaria

Video : What do Americans think of the British ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=D4eC0_OXOPc

• Fun witty humor

• Royal highness Queen Elisabeth the Second

• Tee

• Big teeth

• Shakespeare

• Accent

• People talking like the Queen and the King

• They have a good time

• Very charismatic

• Crumpets

• Really annoying guys who thinks that just because they have a cute accent they’re automatically out of the game

• They’re always saying « come to mine » or « come to yours », which is really annoying

• People being sort of upper class

• Have a tee, eating scones

• They’re great people

Questions for debate

• During your travels abroad have you been surprised by some customs, usages …?

• Do you think cultural differences can be a barrier to communication, for exemple in the world of business ?

• Do you think it’s easy to go against prejudicies that foreigners have about you ?

• According to you by what a stranger could be surprised or shocked in France ?