When you go into a store in Switzerland, you are expected to say hello to everyone in the store—the customers and the employees—before you start shopping.

In Singapore, you can be charged $1,000 of their currency if you forget to flush the toilet.

If you eat a meal in Saudi Arabia and “clean your plate” (eat all the food on your plate), you may have insulted your host.

In the Netherlands, you should use a knife and fork to eat everything, even fruit, pizza, and sandwiches.

 If you give a gift to someone in Japan, you are supposed to tell them that it’s a boring gift and nothing special.

In Italy, you never cut up lettuce when you’re eating it. Instead, you fold it into small parcels with your knife and fork and eat it that way.

In India, if your foot touches someone else’s foot, you should apologize. That is considered to be very rude behavior in India. You shouldn’t even let your feet point at someone else.

In Hungary, it is rude to clink your glasses together when having a toast.

 In Hong Kong, burping and making slurping noises while eating are encouraged—it is seen as a complement to the chef.

 In Greece, you don’t flush toilet paper down the toilet. You put it in a special bin because it can block the pipes.

 In France, you are not supposed to browse through magazines or newspapers at a newsstand or in a shop. If you want to read the magazine, you need to buy it.

Many people use cell phones in Finland, but if your cell phone rings in a restaurant, you may be asked to leave.

When visiting someone’s house in Egypt, you should knock on the door and then step to one side. It is rude to look directly into the house when the door is first opened.

If you eat at a restaurant in the Czech Republic, they will charge you for the basket of bread served with your meal.

In China, never leave your chopsticks sticking out of a bowl of rice. This is associated with death.

In Brazil, if you give someone a sharp gift (like a letter opener, scissors, or a knife), it means that you want to end the relationship.

Some people shake their heads for “yes” in Bulgaria and nod their heads for “no.”

In Austria, you should cut your food with your fork or risk insulting your host. Cutting food with a knife suggests the food is tough or cooked badly.

 In Australia, the “thumbs up” sign means the same thing as the middle finger in the United States.