Thread: Customs in the USA that are offensive elsewhere.

Is #3 true?


25 Normal American Customs That Are OFFENSIVE In Other Countries

Thank you,

Scott

Not in Russia. In Russia thumb-up has the same meaning as in USA.

Is #3 true?

See no reason why it can't be. Actually any finger may represent penis and things related to sex. See no reason why it can't be thumb in certain cultures.

Those 25 according to Russia:

1. Tipping. Same as in USA. Tipping (usually 10%) is considered polite and represent good manners.
2. Back seat. Can't say actually. Don't think there any strong bias towards any variant.
3. Tumps up. Same meaning as in USA
4. Laughting with mouth open. It's OK in Russia.
5. Calling USA "America". When you say "America" 99% of russians would think about USA.
6. Being fashionably late. Girls usually are late for a date to make boys wait for them a bit. Buisiness people prefer to be on-time or a bit earlier. Being late isn't considered fashionable.
7. Being on time on parties. If you're invited on a big party, hosts usually expect you to be 30 min - 1 hour late.
8. Having hand in pocket. Bit impolite. Not a big deal usually.
9. Using left hand. Noone cares.
10. Opening present immediately. People usually expect you to do so. It shows enjoyment, not greediness.
11. Wearing... on public. Noone cares.
12. Altering your meal. Noone cares.
13. Showing soles of your feet. Not a big deal. A bit arrogant though.
14. Keeping shoes on. When 3 months a year streets are covered with mixture of snow, water and dirt, keeping your shoes on in the house is very impolite. Usually there're carpets in russian houses that are hard to clean.
15. Drinking someone else's alcohol. Noone cares.
16. Men showing skin. Noone cares.
17. Eating in places that don't serve food. Noone cares.
18. Telling people to help themselves. Not a big deal.
19. Touching. Not a big deal.
20. Keeping your clothes on in saunas. If it's a public sauna where men and women bath together you're expected to have swimwear on you. Especially when showers and/or pool are also for both genders. Most russians refuse to visit european saunas because of this no-swimwear rule. Especially women - they find it creepy.
21. Asking certain questions. Not a big deal.
22. Refusing food. Not a big deal.
23. Not declining gifts. You're expected to accept your gifts.
24. Polishing off meal. If you're eagerly cleaning your plate - that's not a clear signal for hosts that you enjoy your meal. If you do - ask for more)
25. Blowind your nose. Not a big deal.

Nope, as well as #24 (it's even opposite).

But 14 is totally true for Russia (not mentioned there). Homes are "shoes-free zones".
And again, 24 is false about Russia.

Originally Posted by Alex80

And again, 24 is false about Russia.

If you're eagerly polishing chicken's bones, hostess will usually think that you're still hungry.

Originally Posted by Suobig

If you're eagerly polishing chicken's bones, hostess will usually think that you're still hungry.

But it is not "offensive". She may ask if you want more and you can reject or accept it.

Originally Posted by Alex80

But it is not "offensive". She may ask if you want more and you can reject or accept it.

Yes, it's represented wrong in the article. But the difference still exists.

23. Don't expect the gift would be offered twice.
10. It used to be true. Nowdays most people open a present immediatly.

The shoes thing was a bit different for me when I lived in St. Pete, and also living here in Norway. They advised me to bring slippers to Russia (so I wasn't walking around barefoot or only in socks, as it was more polite as well). And I guess it is because of the snow (at least partly). At home in the southern US, we always left our shoes on. But now when I visit home, more and more families seem to be adopting the shoe-less policy. I think its nice.

Oh yeah, something else. During my month-stay in St. Petersburg, it was often expected of me to have a few shots of vodka when visiting. For example, I would go over to a friend's apartment (we were all staying with host families), in the middle of the day, and if the hosts were home, we would sit in the kitchen with some cheese and crackers and have straight shots of vodka. It wasn't a question, they just went and got all the materials and sat it down in front of us. I'm not sure how normal this is, but it it happened at a few different places!

Haha, good times

This is not normal, still the custom was quite widespread.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjF0BJ0QNys

Deleted. L.