4 . Cultural differences do exist, and we can really use them to tighten our relationship as human beings. Because there is strength in diversity. So, we are going to expose some interesting cultural differences around the world in this article. Read some interesting cultures around the world to help you travel out of your homeland!

In Greece spitting (吐痰) at weddings is believed to drive away devil (恶魔). Funny as it sounds, this cultural tradition is an important practice. To make it even more shocking, this spitting is focused on the bride. It is seen as good luck to bless the couple. However, Things have been changed in some parts of Greece these days. Wedding guests just face the bride and make sounds and impressions that show they are spitting on her—without actually spitting.

Everybody knows the Thai people are so friendly, but their culture demands that you never point your feet at anyone of any statue, especially that of the Buddha. In addition, they also consider the head to be more important than other parts of the body. This is why it is disrespectful to touch another person’s head in Thailand. Statues are not left out. If you see the Buddha statue, avoid touching its head as well.

Russians are very hospitable (好客的) people. In their culture food is serious business. Lunch is the most important and heaviest meal. If you get invited by your Russian friend for a meal, don’t ever refuse it-they find it impolite. You might want to skip your own meals to leave space in your stomach for the food you will eat in Russian gatherings. This is very interesting cultural difference between Russian people and other nations.

Since there is limited knowledge about cultures outside your own, you won’t be able to really flow with a foreigner. Now, you know some about the cultural differences around the world, so we hope it will make your life easier.

5 . Traveling to China is the dream of many people but it is important to be aware that the Chinese culture is different from Western cultures. So before arriving in China, make sure that you understand the Chinese traditions.

The eldest comes first

In China, it is a big deal to respect the eldest one in the family. The Chinese have a great respect for their parents and grandparents. So if you are introduced to someone in a place full of people, always address the oldest person first, and do the same when you are leaving.

The host pays the bill

If you are invited to a restaurant by your Chinese friends, be prepared to eat and drink for free. And if you invite them, also be ready to pay all the bill on your own. And it is not polite if you don’t offer to pay it in full if you are the host.

Be aware of the chopsticks rules

Believe it or not, there are several traditions and rules involving chopsticks in China. So never stick them straight up to your rice, never drum (敲打) them, or have them in your hands while making a gesture.

Check if your gift isn’t on the bad-luck list

If you are offering a gift to a Chinese friend, be aware that there are many items considered to bring bad luck to them, such as clocks, umbrellas, scissors and knives. Presents should be given with both hands and never be wrapped in white.

6 . One thing that sets humans apart from other members of the animal kingdom is our tendency to develop customs and traditions. Here are some astonishing customs from around the world.

An odd custom associated with the United States is its complicated tipping culture. Unlike many other countries that don’t tip at all or that only tip in small amounts when the food is particularly good, tipping is actually mandatory at most restaurants in the US. To put it another way, customers have a duty to leave between 10-20 percent of the bill in tips. Wait staff rely on these tips for a living because legal wages for waiters are low. Furthermore, there are rules for tipping bartenders, delivery people and other service personnel. While some criticize this practice as irrational, there’s no doubt that tipping culture in the US gives an incentive for waiters and waitresses to provide better service.

Some countries find the act of pointing with the index finger to be rude. While members of most cultures would probably agree that pointing fingers, both literally and figuratively, isn’t exactly the nicest thing in the world, in countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, this gesture can be seen as incredibly offensive. Instead, it is customary to gesture towards things with the thumb as this is seen as a more polite option. In many countries in Africa, pointing is reserved for inanimate objects only, not people.

Most societies around the world have rules about table manners. For western cultures, noisily consuming food is considered rude. In Japan, however, making slurping(啧啧响的)sounds while eating has an entirely different meaning. This might have something to do with the fact that in western countries, noodles are properly consumed by twirling(缠绕)them on a spoon before putting them in the mouth. Meanwhile, the Japanese simply slurp up their noodles without contorting them first, an act that is naturally noisier than the former. Making slurping sounds when eating noodles in Japan is a way of indicating that you’re rely enjoying them. Some scientists even argue slurping invites air into the mouth and actually enhances the noodles’ flavor.

There is no question that afternoon tea is popular in Britain. And it has     1     (certain) changed a lot over the last two hundred years. These days afternoon tea     2     (enjoy) by many, but most of all it’s a way for chefs (厨师) to express their creativity and add some new     3     (change) to the British tradition.

The custom of afternoon tea     4     (begin) with Anna Maria, the 7th Duchess of Bedford around 1840. At the time,     5     was usual for people to take only two main meals a day: breakfast and dinner (around 8 pm) and Maria is said to have complained (抱怨) of     6     (get) hungry during the late afternoon. So, the solution for the Duchess was a pot of tea and a light snack taken privately in her bedroom during the afternoon. She then started to invite friends     7     (join) her in her rooms at Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire and the tradition became popular within fashionable society.

Basic afternoon tea includes finger sandwiches, scones (司康饼) and cakes on a plate, all washed down by a pot of tea set in either a lovely garden     8     a good hotel. But nowadays, it has become     9     artistic experience.

“In recent years, we have seen chefs getting more adventurous with their afternoon tea menus. Most still stick to the     10     (tradition) afternoon tea of sandwiches, scones and cakes but let their cooking skills go to town with delicious new sandwich fillings and flavoured (有添加味道的) breads,” said Afternoon Tea. co.uk managing director Keith Newton.

The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides a year into 24 solar terms. The Spring Equinox(春分), as the fourth term of the year starts on March 20     1     ends on April this year.

The Spring Equinox signals the equal     2     (long) of the day and night time. The day of the Spring Equinox is     3     the sun is directly above the equator. After the equinox, the sun moves northwards, resulting in     4     (gradual) longer day time in the Northern Hemisphere and longer night in the Southern Hemisphere.

Standing an egg upright is a popular game across the country during the Spring Equinox. It is an old custom that       5     (date) back to 4,000 years ago. People practice this tradition to celebrate the coming of spring. It     6     (believe) that if someone can make the egg stand, he will have good luck in the future.

The Spring Equinox is     7     good time to fly kites. In ancient times, people did not have good medical resources. So     8     (pray) for good health, they wrote their medical issues on paper kite. When the kite was     9     the air, people would cut off the stringy let the paper kite float away,     10     (symbolize) the flying away of diseases.

10 . On a summer day in the remote Transylvanian village of Micasasa, Romanian architect Eugen Vaida is busy organizing a team of volunteers to help breathe new life into a centuries-old castle on the edge of ruin. "It's in a state of damage and it's a symbol of national importance," said Vaida, who launched the Ambulance for Monuments project.

The Ambulance for Monuments has a simple task: to race around the country, giving care to as many historical buildings as possible that are in a state of damage before it's too late. Since it was launched, Ambulance for Monuments has rescued 55 historical structures, including ancient churches,historic walls and ancient UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Situated in a broad valley at the foot of the Carpathian Mountain, the 16th-century Brukenthal Castle is one such endangered building being rescued by the project. The old castle remained unnoticed for more than two decades. Its roof is leaking and its wood is rotting（腐烂）. It is in serious need of attention. "It probably would have reached a stage where it could barely be saved. It would have become a ruin you cannot build again," Vaida said, "heritage is not renewable."

The project is supported by dozen of volunteer who are playing an important role in preserving Romania's past. Young people are starting to get more aware of their cultural identity. One person directly involved in the efforts to save the endangered building from ruin is 30-year-old Timotei Pacurar. For him, saving the Brukenthal Castle holds a great significance. "When I started school, I was here in this room, in the first class—we have a lot of good memories here," Pacurar said, "I was disappointed to see that the building almost fell down. The future is in our hands, and we can change things. We can make this building look good again—like a treasure for our community."

Rescuing as much of Romania's architectural heritage is Vaida's chief aim. "Over the next five years, the plan is to expand over the whole country," he said, "every Romanian should at some point come to put a brick or a nail on a roof to save their own endangered buildings."