Ask Rob your travel question!

In the ninth inning of an Olympic baseball playoff game, the batter on the Japanese team cracked a towering fly ball deep into left field. It dropped just short of the low fence but then bounced over. When the runner pulled up at second base, half the crowd rose to its feet, screaming for him to keep going around the bases.

He stopped because he knew that the ground rules limited him to a double. Think how foolish he would have appeared if he had kept running or argued with the umpire. In the same way, it's the job of every traveler to learn the local ground rules. Here are some useful examples:

Gestures

Beckoning someone by crooking your finger at them can be an insult in Asia and the Middle East. In parts of South America and Europe, slapping the back of one fist with the other hand conveys your wish that the other person engage in an improbable activity.

In Greece an upward nod of the head means "No," while tilting the head to one side means "Yes." If you raise an open hand to refuse something offered to you in Greece, your gesture may be understood as "go to hell." In that connection, be warned that a Greek may smile when very angry. In India, emphatic wagging of the head side-to-side might mean "Yes" or any number of other things. What you need to know is that it doesn't mean "No."

In parts of Southeast Asia, standing with hands on hips as you address someone projects hostility. That makes it a good posture to avoid when dealing with an armed official.

Hospitality

Also be cautious about expressing excessive admiration for someone's property, say a piece or jewelry or artwork. The owner may insist that you accept it as a gift. If you refuse, you risk giving offense. If you accept, you may be expected to reciprocate.

Move on to Part II Return to Top

Traveler's Tool Kit by Rob Sangster, offers practical tips on how to travel absolutely anywhere. Click here to order!