There are many things that may be impolite in some countries, but considered normal in other parts of the world at the same time, from burping after a meal to farting in public with people around you. However, you already know that societies are made up of different communities and each group of people has its own customs and traditions that may seem strange in other regions of the world.

Of course, even those customs that seem strange to you and me are still normal and socially accepted in some countries as long as they are not illegal or immoral. There are formal and informal norms in every community – formal norms refer to written ones, such as laws, and informal norms are those that are instilled by values ​​and behaviors from generation to generation, but both have sanctions if they are not followed.

Example of an informal norm: there is no law that says you shouldn’t be late for a date, but if you do, you will be considered rude and risk not getting a second date (this is the sanction). Example of formal norms: if you spit on the street, you will be fined by the police (this is the sanction).

That being said, in general, these informal social norms differ from country to country and you will discover them in this article! So, read on if you want to find out what manners Americans see as rude, but they are totally acceptable in other regions.

Burping and slurping when you are eating out

Burping and slurping are not only annoying, but it is also a disgusting act for some people. In general, when you decide to eat at a restaurant or when you have dinner being surrounded by other people (such as eating with your friends or colleagues at home), you tend to be as decent and polite as possible, because you don’t want to look ridiculous or annoy others with your eating noises. However, it seems that this habit is actually normal in other countries, such as China and Taiwan.

According to Patricia Napier Fitzpatrick, founder and president of the Etiquette School of New York, in China and Taiwan, if you burp and slurp at the dinner table, the host (or chef) will feel flattered, being a compliment. They will think that you liked the food they prepared for you and that it was tasty. “The host considers the noise a compliment,” Napier Fitzpatrick said. So, the next time when you want to visit these countries, don’t be afraid to slurp your noodles.

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Being late for a dinner date

I guess almost everyone in this world hates going on a date with someone who is always late, except for people in India who find this habit normal. According to Napier Fitzpatrick, in India, people don’t mind if you arrive late to dinner, with 15 or 30 minutes behind the meeting schedule. “They’re a little more relaxed about time than we are,” she added.

Nevertheless, for the people of India, the relationship with the person they are going to see matters more, so they emphasize the quality time they will spend together, even if someone is late.

The truth is that being late for your first dinner date can be seen as a rude thing in the United States (among other countries where people share the same values), especially when you don’t know that person well unless you are late because something serious happened. If you are going to see a person face to face for the first time, then arriving late will make that person think you are uninterested and rude.

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Drinking a glass of wine in one shot

When we go to eat at a restaurant and we are surrounded by many people at the table, it is important to behave politely and, according to experts, alcohol consumption should be moderate, so as not to look ridiculous or to make people see you as an alcoholic.

In addition, experts say that when you drink wine at a restaurant, it should rather be enjoyed gradually, because it is important to feel its aroma and enjoy the company of the people you went out with. That being said, drinking a glass of wine in one shot can make you look ridiculous in the United States, except in Georgia, where people find this normal.

For people who don’t know, Georgia is a country in Eastern Europe and the people there have a special tradition when it comes to giving a toast and dinners, namely that it seems normal for them to down your entire glass of wine in one go after a toast. You would probably say that this habit will adversely affect your liver, which is true if you consume large amounts, but thankfully, they don’t put too much wine in those glasses, so they are safe.

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Splitting the bill

In some countries, not offering to split the bill can be considered a rude act, especially if you are on your first date. In some countries, people try to normalize this habit, whether you are a woman or a man. According to a survey, women usually feel uncomfortable if they let someone else pay the bill, but in certain countries like France, it is normal to offer to pay the entire bill or let someone else pay for them.

However, experts say that if you want to avoid feeling uncomfortable, you should talk to the person you are going to see beforehand and determine who will pay the bill. If they offer to pay for it, then tell them that you will do this the next time. It’s perfectly normal to talk about this in advance.

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Feeding someone food with your hands

The truth is that we are in the midst of a pandemic so we must protect ourselves as much as we can. Hence, we have to follow some social rules, such as keeping our distance, washing our hands often for at least 20 seconds, wearing a surgical face mask and so on. However, feeding someone food with your hands may be a big ‘no no’ these days, because you risk contracting the novel coronavirus, SARS COV 2.

Unfortunately, the things and activities that we considered normal a few years ago and that involved interaction with other people, can no longer be promoted today because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Nonetheless, before lockdown, in Ethiopia, feeding each other with your hands was considered a normal tradition. It was actually a gesture of hospitality – the tradition is well known as gursha. They say that this custom is intended to create strong social bonds between people.

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Not thanking the host for inviting you

Many people feel weird when someone doesn’t thank them for inviting them over for a dinner. They want to hear a “thank you” from you as a sign of appreciation for their efforts. So, in the United States, for example, if you don’t thank your host for inviting you, you may be considered rude.

In addition, in India, if you thank your host for this, they will consider it a form of payment and a rude act. So, you should avoid doing this, but instead, you can return the favor by inviting them to your house next time. It means that you enjoy their company.

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Eating food off of the ground

It seems that the fear of germs is not found in every society, so there are communities where eating food off of the ground is considered normal. For example, in the Middle East, people who drop bread on the ground have to pick it up, kiss and then raise it to their forehead, then they can put it on the table and eat it.

The explanation is that this tradition is a sign of respect and appreciation for your food and for the people who worked for it. If you leave food on the ground or throw it away, you will be considered rude.

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Not finishing your plate

Many people use to finish their plate, whether they are hungry or not. In many countries in the United States, many hosts get mad when their guests don’t finish everything on their plate. In general, they consider that you didn’t like their food.

However, in some Asian countries, if you eat everything on your plate, your host will think that they have not fed you enough, so they will refill your plate until they run out of food. Experts say that if you are full, tell them or leave a small portion of food on the plate.

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Not using the knife to cut your food

When it comes to dinner manners, we all know that some American manners involve using a knife and fork when eating out or at someone else’s home, right?

That being said, you need to have the dexterity and be skilled at this, so that you can eat well and impress others at the table. For example, when you have a business meeting and dine with them, you tend to show off your eating skills to look well mannered.

However, in other parts of the world, if you use your knife to cut your food, you will be considered rude. For instance, in Germany, using a knife to cut your potatoes makes your host believe that you think it is not cooked properly. So, if you want to avoid insulting your host, it is recommended to use a fork to smash your potatoes.

Don’t forget that if you visit a country, but you refuse their food, you will automatically reject their culture and traditions as well. Hence, when you do this, they will think that you don’t like them. Experts say that you should try the food if you can, and if it is not good, then tell them that you are not hungry or that you want to eat something else.

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Swearing at the dinner table

We all know that we should never swear in church, at work or school, at your family or anyone else, or at the dinner table. In almost every country, this habit that involves swearing is considered rude.

According to experts, it is been said that in medieval France, diners would swear at a chicken before it was carved. This tradition is no longer found today.

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Discussing your personal problems at the dinner table

Well, it is very important to talk about your personal problems with your family, because they can help you with advice, and they will probably make it easier for you to get over an unpleasant event, but you shouldn’t do this at the dinner table. Dining with your family is a great way to feel good and create a cozy atmosphere.

In some European countries, people gather together for dinner to discuss their personal problems. For them, it is important to talk about this at dinner because it’s like a reunion and they consider dinner a means to spend quality time together and solve problems.

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