Perceptive protocol: top 10 cultural faux pas

Airman, Spring, 2006 by Seth Frail

If you've ever traveled outside the United States, you know there is more to be concerned about then just speaking a different language. When brushing up on the local lingo, you also need to investigate the interworkings of the culture. After all, different cultures often attach different meanings to what we may consider normal interactions--gestures or otherwise. With Airmen stationed all over the world, you might want to pay attention to some things you should avoid to ensure those interactions aren't offensive.

Though not an all inclusive list, the Airman staff teamed up with the experts at the Defense Language Institute to provide a list of common faux pas that Airmen should be aware of.

1. PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION ... PDA

As teenagers you may have kidded each other, sneering "PDA!" on long bus trips or in school assemblies. The issue of PDA is a norm in American society. In fact, it's considered peculiar if you don't show a certain amount of emotion toward loved ones. However, in many Arab and Afghani cultures it is not proper to do so. Furthermore, it's not even right to inquire about a female member of the family. This behavior is considered unacceptable and disrespectful.

2 NOT SO OK

Making the OK symbol with your hand is often considered a symbol of "got it" or "things are good" in American culture. However, this means "zero" or "worthless" in France, "money" in Japan, and is the symbol For a certain body part in Brazil, Russia and Germany. Not so OK!

3 PLENTIFUL GIVING

Giving gifts is a time-honored tradition. Going to dinner at a friend's house? Bring a bottle of wine. New family in the neighborhood? A plate of food. But did the number of gifts ever cross your mind as an issue? In Chinese cultures, it is very important to give gifts in pairs. Single or odd numbers imply loneliness or separation.

4 STARING CONTEST

In American culture, direct eye contact during a conversation shows respect and intensive listening; avoiding it is a sign of nervousness or lying. But for Koreans, avoiding direct eye contact is the only acceptable way to hold a conversation. Koreans may think you're bold, impolite or even aggressive if you are looking right at them when speaking.

5 DOUBLE FISTED

Merely using a utensil puts you in good graces amongst Americans, whose diets consist of so many non-utensil needed foods. But what about which hand you eat with? Throughout most of the Middle East the left hand is reserved for bodily hygiene. Thus, the right hand should be used for eating.

6 TWO THUMBS ... DOWN

Thumbs up, like the OK symbol, is a positive symbol in American culture, but this same gesture is an offensive Iraqi insult, equivalent to using the middle finger in the Western world. Some media savvy Iraqis may understand the Western meaning of an upturned thumb as "all is OK," but other Iraqis may see the gesture in its traditional sense.

7 GREY-HAIRED GODS

Though Americans say "respect the elderly," it is not an act that all follow, often falling into numerous stereotypes and jokes about them. However, in some Korean and Arabic cultures, dismissing the elderly in such a fashion is not right. Not only should you greet them first, but they should also eat first and be served first in social gatherings. You should also stand up when elders enter a room and when speaking to them.

8 STICK A FORK IN ME

We've all heard this saying, but don't practice this in Korean and Chinese cultures. The practice of sticking chopsticks or spoons in a bowl of rice during the meal is a no, no. This is done only during memorial services. The action reflects "death" or bad luck.

9 KICK BACK AND RELAX

Whether on desks, coffee tables or just lounging on the couch, the act of putting one's feet up may be a sign of relaxation in our culture. However, this action, especially showing the sole of the shoe to someone, is considered unclean and one of the greatest of insults in Arabic cultures.

10 BLOWN AWAY

Blowing your nose in public is considered by many cultures as vulgar. If heavily spiced Korean food makes your nose run, turn aside and blow it quietly. It would be even better to get up and move away from the table before blowing your nose.