Cultural differences

[rarsa]

I live in Canada where we are always aware to the fact that different cultures may interpret the same action differently.

For example:
In Mexico it is considered extremely rude to say "no thank you" when someone offers some food they prepared? It feels like a personal rejection. "Is this not good enough for you?". This is something that has been ingrained in the psyche for generations.

Now I know that other cultures find particularly annoying when you insist that they should "try it".

So, when you put those people together, unaware of the differences, both think that the other one is rude, when in fact both are trying to be nice.

Based on your own personal experiences, what other differences have you found between your native culture and other cultures?

[Aitch]

Hi Rarsa

My favourite cultural 'hot potato' is the English 'Sorry' often trotted out unthinkingly, and I remember holidaying in Spain and being amused by the waiter's use of 'sorry' when they really needed to be saying 'excuse me'
- read, 'move!.......coming through with a plate of hot food...'

Another is the American 'Have a nice day' or 'Break a leg' - why say something you don't mean?

not quite 'in the same vein' as yours, but 'hope you get my drift'.....

Don't you just love the 'french...dooble entendres' too

Aitch

[linuxbear]

Languages and expressions are definitely one of my passions. After about 10 wonderful years in Europe, I was exposed to 4 different languages and can butcher 3 of them with relative ease! Anyway, back to the subject; the words "pissed" and "paralytic" have completely different meanings to my English mother and my American father. Another interesting expression used in Britain by the WW2 generation was "clapped out" "Clapped out in the US does not mean you are tired. If you tell people in North America that you are a victim of this condition, they will not sleep with you.

...Glen

[Lobster]

I wish I could be more like Dr Hu
timeless and placeless
Culture after all is an accident of birth and
socialization.
Plus I would get a Tardis.

As Netizens a new culture is emerging
Clan Penguin. The rise of the geeks etc
The open society of social networking.

The difference in culture for me is
belonging to anything that is flexible
enough to change and ignoring the
persistent and righteous aspects
of my cultural heritage.

[Aitch]

The difference in culture for me is
belonging to anything that is flexible
enough to change and ignoring the
persistent and righteous aspects
of my cultural heritage.

Are you due another moult, or something?

Aitch

[PaulBx1]

In a theater, when sliding down the rows of occupied chairs, in the US you do it with your back end toward the people you are sliding by. In Europe, you turn around and face the people you are sliding by. This difference always seemed amusing to me.

[rarsa]

Another is the American 'Have a nice day' or 'Break a leg' - why say something you don't mean?

Talking about expressions.

Here in my neck of the woods (Canada), to the question "how are you?" people respond "Not bad".

As a new commer I always found that amusing as it sounds very pesimistic to me. Sounds like "It coud be worst".

Conversely in Mexico we respond "Very good" or something to that effect. Here people looks startled at that response as if you just told them that you won the lottery.