Customs and Etiquette
Blog Post #6 by Shae-Lin
Travelling to new places comes with a great deal of new experiences and knowledge. From religious practices, traditions, food, music and more, immersing oneself into an entirely new culture also brings with it expected customs and etiquette. While not all cultural values and formalities may align with those of your home country, respecting the etiquette of the locals is essential to being courteous of their lifestyle, as you are a foreigner who has the privilege of entering their world and not the other way around. As ASB’s two 2019 teams make their way to India and Honduras, here are a few key practices they will have to keep in mind while interacting with the native citizens.
India, known widely for its strong religious and familial values, is jam packed with unique customs generally not practiced in western society. Most notably, there is zero tolerance for any public displays of affection, including actions as simple as holding hands or hugging. It is also essential that women of all ages wear loose and conservative clothing, that covers their knees, shoulders, and chest. Women should also never shake or initialize a handshake with a man unless prompted by a man to do so. Furthermore, one must never eat, touch, point or pass along anything using their left hand, as the left hand is considered unsanitary and the right hand performs all tasks. Other parts of the body are also a part of a hierarchy, where the head is in the ‘right’ and the feet are in the ‘wrong’. As such, one should never point or gesture at anything using their feet/toes, shoes should always be removed before entering a household or temple and feet should never be excessively visible (ex. One leg elevated and crossed over the other leg when seated). With that said, it is wise to always keep a pair of spare socks in your day bag or purse to slide on when it is necessary to remove your shoes. As well as, try to avoid wearing expensive shoes that you would be upset about getting stolen when they are left unattended. Moreover, if need be make sure to always take the path around someone and never step over someone’s feet or legs, as it is a sign of disrespect. Finally, don’t be offended if asked very personal or intrusive questions, as the locals are very inquisitive and tend to lack the same sense of privacy as people in more western societies are accustomed too. It is also alright to ask them similar questions in return, as long as topics such as caste, poverty, healthcare, religion, politics and the Kashmir tensions are avoided. That is to say, family, marriage, sports, food, and music are excellent topics are pretty safe to discuss.
In contrast, Honduras, besides being not nearly as strict or numerous in terms of expected customs and etiquette as India, surprisingly also has select formalities that are completely opposite to those in India. An example of this is when a man and woman are greeting one another in Honduras, it is best for the man to wait until the woman extends her hand first, to ensure she is comfortable with shaking hands. It is also common for men to catcall woman in the streets. Although seen as rude or tasteless to western foreigners, it is a way of vocalizing affection or complimenting a woman, which for the most part is considered harmless. Furthermore, it is essential that you directly hand an object to someone and never toss it, as this is an action reserved for animals. In Honduras, time is also prioritized differently than at fast pace and punctual western societies, where delays and estimates are a regular part of the lifestyle. Additionally, although as foreigners you will not be expected to be up to date with the social status of every family in the country, it is important to be aware and potentially observe how people in poorer classes tend to avoid eye contact with those of a higher status. Whereas people from the upper class are very self-asserted and direct. Finally, try to avoid topics such as politics and religion, and focus more on family, football, food or even the weather.