What not to do in intercultural encounters

 Is loud, obnoxious, boorish  Is too casually dressed  Is ignorant of, or oblivious to, local customs  Is constantly in a hurry or on a schedule

 Talk Loud  Speak in a loud voice in a restaurant, a church, or museum.  Discuss sensitive issues at a high volume when using public transportation.  Use profanity too.

 Eat only at American food franchises  Don’t try local dishes or foods If you do, ask for catsup, mustard, or mayonnaise Always ask for ice in your drink  Mention (loudly) that the food might be contaminated or “dirty”  Whip out Purell, sanitary wipes or bottled water at every opportunity

 Dress like a slob  Wear flip flops, tank tops, and shorts to a monastery or mosque.  If you must dress up, wear an oversized sport jersey (U.S.A. teams only) and sneakers.

 Assume everyone speaks English  If people don’t understand you, talk louder and slower  Corollary: Assume no one speaks English

 Remain ignorant of, or oblivious to, local customs Don’t learn anything about the local currency Talk about how “cheap” everything is.

 Always be on Western time Ignore the social rhythm of the culture you are in. Hurry through everything you do. Assume everyone else is on your schedule For example, don’t expect restaurants to be closed in the afternoon. Do expect restuarants to be open at 5 pm for dinner.

 Mention how much better everything is in America “You call that a burger?” “That’s not a toilet, that’s a hole in the ground.”

 Get drunk or high in public.  Then act out inappropriately

 Complain about everything  Ask why the streets are so dirty  Tell people not to smoke in bars and restaurants  Criticize menus for not offering low-fat, vegetarian, gluten free, organic foods.

 Can you spot the American tourists in this picture?