When Traveling, Beware Taboos

By: Jasmine King

Traveling is a thing that many people do in their lifetime. When traveling to another country, it is always important to inform yourself about your destination. A taboo is an activity or object that is forbidden or sacred based on a culture’s religion or morals. Countries all over the world have different taboos; an act may be considered “normal” in one country, but highly offensive in another. Here are some travel taboos that can benefit foreigners traveling to another country.

In India, if you are visiting a place of worship, always remember to remove your shoes as a sign of respect. Women should wear clothing that is not revealing, such as long, loose skirts, and men should not wear shorts. Do not step on any type of paper, such as books or newspapers, because they represent learning, which is very important to Indian culture.

When traveling to China, it is rude to bang your chopsticks on your bowl because it looks as though you are begging for your food. It shows respect to take your shoes off when entering anyone’s home. When receiving gifts, do not open them in front of person that gave the gift to you; wait until he or she is not in your presence.

In Singapore, if you bring food onto the transportation system, you will be fined. Chewing gum is banned and if you disobey this law, you may end up spending jail time in Singapore.

The people of Chile, Chileans, do not eat any type of food with their hands. Everything is eaten with silverware, even French fries.

If you love cheese, Italy may not be the place to eat. Asking for extra cheese while eating dinner is seen as rude and people may think that you are questioning to chef’s cooking abilities.

In Cambodia, finishing all of the food on your plate is considered rude because it makes the host believe that they did not provide you with enough food. If you are hungry, eat most of it and leave a little on the plate.

There are many other travel taboos for different countries, but these are just a few examples. It is always beneficial to stay informed about the social and cultural norms of the country you live in as well as countries to which you wish to travel.