Cultural blunders

Be prepared: The travel mistakes you don’t see coming

Cultural clashes can often be surprising. The rules of the game are not always the same across countries. Each place has its own customs, everyday gestures, and ways of interacting that can sound unfamiliar to a first-time tourist. Here are a few points that can lead to laughs or awkward moments; better to be prepared.

In the US, an Irish Car Bomb is a beer cocktail made with Guinness Stout, Irish Cream liqueur, and Jameson Irish Whiskey, typically consumed in St. Patrick's celebrations. But if you are in a pub in Ireland, you'd better check out the menu before ordering the classic "Irish Car Bomb." You might find it as "Irish Slammer" or "Dublin Drop." The reason? The "Irish Car Bomb" is a nod to a violent period in Northern Ireland referred to as The Troubles, which lasted from the late 60s to 1998.

The fight consisted of two groups, Unionists and Nationalists, disputing whether Northern Ireland might be part of the United Kingdom or join Ireland. During that time, bombings, shootings, and riots were frequent until an agreement was reached. So, asking for the drink by that name can feel offensive for good reasons; it’s better to be warned off.

In the 1950’s, Vice-President Richard Nixon emerged from a plane in Brazil, gesturing to the crowd the "OK" sign with both hands. While he was trying to express goodwill to San Pablo’s people, they didn’t take it as a good sign. Why was that?

In Brazil, forming a circle with the thumb and the index finger is considered extremely vulgar.

A gesture that signals "OK" to Americans has a meaning in Brazil more akin to the middle finger.

In the land of flamenco and paella, meal times are not the same as in the US. Spaniards usually have snacks between lunch and dinner, called merienda. It’s similar to the five o’clock tea in the United Kingdom.

Therefore, dinner doesn’t start until around 8:00 or 8:30 pm. So, if an American tourist looks for a restaurant to have dinner at their usual time, around 6 pm, it will likely be closed or serving only snacks. Could you adapt to a later dining routine while traveling?

Imagine you’re walking the streets of Tokyo and stop some locals to ask where the subway station is. The first thing you ask is, "Do you understand English?" and they keep answering "hi." Confused, you pull out your phone’s translator and discover that in Japanese, "hai" means "yes" or "I see," and it sounds very similar in both languages.

This is one of the most common misunderstandings between the two languages. The good news is that even if they don’t answer in English, they will still try to help you.

In the United Kingdom, the peace sign with the palm facing inward can come across as rude because it carries a long-standing meaning of defiance rather than peacefulness. One popular explanation traces it back to English archers, who supposedly used the gesture to mock their enemies after battle, turning it into a symbol of insult over time.

Now you know that when asking a local for a photo, the peace symbol is no option… Unless you do it with your palm facing outward.

If it’s your first time in South Korea and you’re grateful for the service you received at a hotel or restaurant, you might feel inclined to leave a tip. Spoiler: don’t. In many cases, tipping can be perceived as inappropriate or even disruptive to the wage system, as it may suggest that the worker needs extra money from customers.

The good news is that service staff are already paid fair wages, and since this is a widely shared cultural norm, it’s best to respect it. A simple "thank you," or other polite gestures, are the preferred way to show appreciation.

In Turkey, things can get a little confusing when it comes to gestures. Someone might raise their eyebrows or give a quick upward nod, and you’ll think they’re saying "yes" or just acknowledging you. But they’re actually saying "no."

If you’re not a local, you might find yourself waiting for an answer that has already happened. Once you catch on, though, it all starts to make a lot more sense, but at first it can be very confusing.

In France, small talk plays an important role in everyday interactions. If you don’t begin a conversation with "bonjour," it can come across as impolite or abrupt.

This simple greeting sets the tone, and skipping it may lead to awkward exchanges or limited responses. Although adapting to a foreign language can be difficult for tourists with many things on their minds, this is one of the most important details not to forget.

In Japan, stepping onto public transport feels like entering a shared quiet zone. Trains and buses are often so silent that even a phone vibration could stand out, and conversations are kept to a minimum or avoided altogether. For many excited tourists, this level of quiet can feel unusual, and they may stand out among locals, sometimes receiving uncomfortable looks. Could you stand the silence?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), visitors to Mexico should avoid drinking tap water to prevent waterborne illnesses. They would risk catching some bacteria, viruses, and parasites. So, if you are planning to visit the country, make sure to have bottled water on hand; otherwise, you might not enjoy your trip as much.