Manners from Around the World

In much of the Far East, belching after you have eaten a meal is considered as a compliment to the chef. It is a sign that you have enjoyed your meal a lot.

In most cultures in the Middle and Far East, you should not point your feet or the soles of your feet at another person, since this is considered as an insult.

It is very common in the UK and the US to squeeze the hand of the person you are shaking hands with. However, in some countries in the East, it is considered aggressive to do so. You need to be as gentle with the hand of the person you’re shaking hands with as you would be with any other part of their body.

In western cultures, it is considered polite to clear your plate. It is a sign of avoiding wastefulness. However, in China, it might be considered impolite because leaving some of your food on the plate is considered to be an acknowledgement of your host’s generosity.

While it is very common in America and Canada to leave a generous tip for the waiter, in Korea and Japan, it is considered an insult to the waiter, since it implies that he or she is begging you for money.

In many countries around the world, it is essential to remove your shoes when you enter someone’s home. In some countries in Europe, it is considered polite to ask your host if you should remove your shoes or not.