CULTURE SHOCK

I was looking at a bunch of old pictures tonight - actually searching for some graduation party pictures of our youngest daughter, who turns the tassels in a couple of months. And in the process I came across pictures of some of my late 2008 trips to Hong Kong, China, The Philippines, Palm Springs and Washington, D.C. Joelene was in Thailand as well. It was a big travel time for us the last half of '08 and early '09. And I started thinking how often we take for granted certain cultural things here in America that are not acceptable in other countries.

For instance, here in America, touching people is fairly common. But in THAILAND, you should never even pat a child on the head beause the head is considered sacred. You don't backslap someone even in a friendly way in KOREA. That will likely make them extremely uncomfortable.

In America, you can indiscriminately use either left or right hand for just about any activity. There is no rule. But many cultures still prefer to eat using their hands. In these cases in places like INDIA and parts of the MIDDLE EAST and AFRICA, food is often offered communally, which is why it’s important to wash your hands before eating and observe the right-hand-is-for-eating and the left-hand-is-for-other-duties rule. If you eat with your left hand, expect your fellow diners to be mortified. Even children who are left-handed in these cultures are taught to eat with their right hand — or at least explain yourself to your fellow diners before plunging in.

I've never been to Hawaii; I'm dying to get there some day when I can afford it, but evidently it's highly disrespectful and offensive to refuse or immediately remove your lei. Leis in the Hawaiian Islands aren’t just pretty floral necklaces that you get when you check into your hotel or show up at a luau. They're a centuries-old cultural symbol of welcome, friendship, and appreciation.

Here in America, we concentrate when having conversations with people by looking them straight in the eye when we communicate. To NOT do so here is considered, if not rude, at best indifferent or weak. But in KOREA and JAPAN, be careful how long you hold someone’s gaze. Prolonged eye contact will make a local uncomfortable. The word in GERMANY, however, is that you should look them directly in the eye when you speak with them. I will confess I did not notice that when we were in Munich a few years ago.

Even blowing your nose, something we routinely do here in public is considered disguting in other cultures, especially when done at the table. The JAPENESE and CHINESE are also repelled by the idea of a handkerchief. In FRANCE, as well as in EASTERN countries, if you’re dining and need to clear your nasal passages, excuse yourself and head to the restroom.

The very first thing I do when I come inside my house is take my shoes off. But in LONDON, if you take off your shoes when arriving at the door of a home, the hostess will find you uncivilized. But if you fail to remove your shoes before entering a home in ASIA, HAWAII or the PACIFIC ISLANDS, you’ll be considered extremely disrespectful. Not only does shoe removal practically keep sand and dirt out of the house, it’s a sign of leaving the outside world behind.

We were at a restaurant last night for almost 3 hours with friends, talking over dinner fairly late into the night. But in CHINA, JAPAN and some AFRICAN nations, the food is the thing. So don't start chatting about your day’s adventures while everyone else is digging into dinner. You’ll likely be met with silence — not because your group is unfriendly, but because mealtimes are for eating, not talking.

I try to use the horn on my car rather sparingly. But today as I was out driving, I was honked at. I wasn't going too fast - I wasn't stopped at a light too long - I wasn't driving erratically or getting in anyone's way - but in ITALY, where we were a few years ago, honking horns is part of the landscape. A 'flash' of the lights and a 'beep' of the horn means, 'I'm coming down the road behind you at over 100 mph, so move over right now --- PLEASE.'

So - there you go. Now, next time you leave the country, you'll be set.

And be blessed.