ETIQUETTE ABROAD: HOW TO AVOID CULTURAL FAUX PAS

A guide to cultural etiquette around the world.

The China National Tourism Administration has published an etiquette guide for Chinese travellers, who are advised, among other things, not to urinate in public swimming pools, click their fingers (unless they’re summoning a dog) or pick their nose in public.

It's all too easy to cause offence to other nationalities while travelling, so here is a guide of the top cultural ‘faux pas' to avoid when abroad.

Etiquette abroad: Muslim countries
Avoid eating anything with your left hand in Muslim countries. This is because the left hand is traditionally used to remove dirt – whether it's blowing a nose or, without going into details, holding the toilet paper during calls of nature.

Etiquette abroad: China
In China, business cards and money should always be presented with both hands. 'The general consensus is that two hands indicate respect to the other person,' explains Professor Leo Ching, the chair of Duke University's Asian and Middle Eastern Studies department. 'I believe that this practice started in Japan and spread from there.'

Etiquette abroad: Philippines
If you find yourself in a Filipino market hunting for souvenirs, be careful when it comes to getting the attention of the stallholder. In the Philippines, summoning with a finger is regarded as a gesture suitable only for directing at dogs; summoning a person in such a manner is even punishable by arrest.

Etiquette abroad: Japan
In Japan, sticking both chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice will cause serious offence. Why? 'That’s what is done at a funeral,' explains Professor Haruo Shirane, an expert in Japanese culture based at New York's Columbia University.

Etiquette abroad: Arab countries
In Arab countries, the feet are seen as the lowliest and dirtiest part of the body. While it’s fine to display your designer pedicure in a pair of flip-flops, avoid showing the soles of your feet or pointing your feet at people.

Etiquette abroad: Russia
If you ever order takeaway in Russia, when the delivery person arrives make sure you step outside to hand over the cash. In Russia shaking hands or exchanging cash across a threshold is considered unlucky.
'It is believed that people once buried ashes of the first owner of the house under the threshold, so by doing something on the doorstep, residents risk disturbing the peace of the dead,' says Professor Evgeny Dobrenko, head of Russian and Slavonic studies at the University of Sheffield.

Etiquette abroad: South Korea
Keeping your shoes on when entering a house is considered especially rude in South Korea. This is because the ancient Koreans used an underfloor heating system to heat their homes, and family life revolved around the floor.
Another tip for anyone heading to South Korea: never write anyone's name in red ink. 'It's bad luck for the person whose name is written in red,' explains Jong Hwang, secretary of Harvard University's Korea club.
'Legend states that only the emperor was allowed to write their name in red. Anyone else using red to write their name would be accused of committing treason and sentenced to death.'

Etiquette abroad: North Korea
If you ever find yourself in North Korea photographing one of the many statues of the Kims, make sure you capture the whole statue. Cutting the feet or head off is considered highly offensive and officials will often approach individuals to check their photos.

Etiquette abroad: the OK sign
In Greece and Turkey, beware of making the “OK” symbol with your thumb and forefinger. In both countries the symbol is highly offensive – you’re basically indicating to someone that they resemble a similarly-shaped part of the human body. In some Middle Eastern countries, the OK sign is equally offensive because it represents the evil eye.

Etiquette abroad: flowers
Think twice before giving flowers while abroad. In Germany, yellow flowers are never given because they’re used for funerals, and in Mexico, yellow flowers represent grief or separation. It’s also unlucky to give an odd number of blooms in China and Indonesia.

Etiquette abroad: taking pictures
In certain countries, including Peru and Ghana, be careful when taking pictures of locals, because many people in these countries believe that by taking a picture of them, you're stealing a part of their soul.

Etiquette abroad: Buddhist temples
When visiting Buddhist temples in Japan and other Asian countries, avoid pointing at anything, and if you sit down, never point your feet in the direction of a person or image of a Buddha. When leaving a temple, back away from the Buddha before turning your back.