Across the globe lies a world of different cultures – each one carrying out their own traditions and values, as important and unique to each region as the soil they stand on.
When it comes to travel, either for business or pleasure, many new cultures are learned. One of the most sacred traditions celebrated across the world is to sit and enjoy food. Breaking bread in local places is often one of the most valued parts of the trip.
Here is an etiquette guide to help while traveling as one country’s compliment can be another’s criticism. This advice can help to ensure that you don’t offend any new friends or colleagues met while traveling the globe.
FRANCE
1~ Enjoy Each Meal. Rushing through food is not an option and can be considered offensive. Even lunch is thought of as a leisurely affair.
2~ Don’t Cut Your Lettuce with a Knife. In France it is believed that cutting lettuce will bruise the salad leaves. Instead, try folding the lettuce into a small bundle with your fork.
INDIA
1~ Most Indian food is eaten by hand, so leave all the cutlery on the table while dining in this country. Use your fingers, on your right hand only, to pick up your food and place it in your mouth.
2~ Never use your left hand for eating purposes, as in this land the left hand is considered unclean.
JAPAN
1~ Never Leave a Tip at a Restaurant. Doing this implies to your server that they do not make enough money.
2~ Don’t Overuse Soy Sauce. Only dip your sushi on the fish side into the soy sauce.
3~ Never Stand Chopsticks Upright. Always place chopsticks down on the table between bites or keep them in your hands. Verticle stick-like objects resemble burning incense to the Japanese, which commemorates family members that have passed away and is only done is temples or churches. This act can create bad karma at the dinner table, possibly offending your companions without intention.
4~ Slurp Your Noodles. Although making sounds at the table may be frowned upon in America, slurping your noodles in Japan shows your host that you are greatly enjoying what they have prepared.
CHINA
1~ Don’t Finish the Entire Plate. Cleaning off your entire plate of food may seem like a compliment to the chef, but in China, it signals to the host that they did not feed you enough. Simply leave a few bites in your bowl to show that the meal was enjoyed and that you had your fill.
2~ Never Eat the Last Bite. Even if the food was amazing and you are dying to devour the last piece of meat, that is considered greedy to the Chinese. Instead of helping yourself, wait until you are encouraged to enjoy the last serving available.
3~ Don’t Pick Up Food Directly From the Serving Plate. When reaching for food off of the serving plate, proper etiquette in this land is shown by using the reverse end of your chopsticks to place the food onto your plate.
4~ Both Hands Should be Used for Toasting. Be sure to use both of your hands while toasting at the table. Toasts are usually performed several times during each meal, and using both hands is a sign of respect, as is the act of never raising your glass higher than the eldest person at the table.
UNITED KINGDOM
1~ In a formal dining setting, never dunk your biscuit into your tea.
2~ While enjoying tea, there are two important things to remember: Never touch the sides of your cup with the teaspoon, and never leave the spoon in the teacup.
Although these tips may sound unusual or petty to us, traditions are a very important part in many countries and cultures. Following these guidelines will help you to show respect to the country and help you fit in, and not offend, your new friends around the world.
