Things You Should Never Do in Other Countries

Don’t tip in...

• USA

• Italy

• Japan

• Mexico

Answer explanation

Service at restaurants and hotels will likely be exceptional in Japan, but tipping isn’t done and it could be seen as degrading.

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.3

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.3

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

Don’t smile at strangers in...

• Laos

• Indonesia

• Austrlia

• Russia

Answer explanation

They’ll see it as an intimate gesture, indicating a genuine affinity toward another person. If you don’t know them, they might consider you insincere.

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.3

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.3

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

CCSS.RI.8.3

Don’t use your left hand in...

• India

• Malaysia

• Qatar

• Singapore

Answer explanation

The left hand is thought of as unclean in Indian culture, so always use your right hand to greet someone, exchange money, or pick up merchandise.

Don’t eat everything on your plate in...

• Dubai

• China

• Germany

• Pakistan

Answer explanation

That shows your host didn’t provide enough food or a filling meal. Along with leaving a little, it’s fine to burp after eating, as a compliment to the chef.

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.3

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.3

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

Don’t honk in ....

• Norway

• Spain

• Vietnam

• Cambodia

Answer explanation

It’s only used in an emergency—so your unnecessary beeping could cause drivers to panic.

Don’t talk with your hands in your pockets in ...

• Brazil

• Mexico

• Germany

• Netherland

Answer explanation

It’s considered rude. It’s also customary to keep your hands on the table while eating, rather than resting them in your lap.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.6

CCSS.L.3.6

CCSS.L.K.5A

Chewing gum is banned in ...

• Denmark

• Singapore

• Switzerland

• Japan

Answer explanation

One of the objectives of the ban was to prevent vandals from using spent chewing gums to disrupt Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) services. Before the ban was enforced, there had been many instances in which vandals stuck chewing gum on door sensors of MRT trains, which prevented the doors from functioning properly and causing disruptions in train services.

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.3

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.3

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

CCSS.RI.8.3

You can’t wear high heels at ancient sites in ...

• Philipines

• Dubai

• Portugal

• Greece

Answer explanation

In Greece, it's illegal to wear high heels when you're touring ancient monuments like the Parthenon and the Acropolis in Athens, or any other historic site. The law was created because of concerns that heels would scratch and damage the stones.

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.3

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.3

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

CCSS.RI.8.5