While you are traveling abroad, cultural mistakes are more serious than language mistakes, which can lead to serious misunderstanding and even ill-feeling between people. Look out for the following cultural mistakes and try to avoid them.

Touching Someone

Personal space varies as you travel around the globe. In Mediterranean countries, if you don't touch someone's arm when talking to them or if you don't greet them with kisses or a warm hug, you'll be considered cold. But backslap(拍背)someone who isn't a family member or a good friend in Korea, and you'll make them uncomfortable. In Thailand, the head is considered sacred(神圣的)-never even pat a child on the head.

Talking Over Dinner

In some countries, like China, Japan and some African nations, the food's the thing, so don't start chatting about your day's adventures while everyone else is digging into dinner. You'll be likely to meet with silence. It's not because your group is unfriendly, but because meal times are for eating, not talking.

 Removing Your Shoes or Not

Take off your shoes when arriving at the door of a London dinner party and the hostess will find you rude, but fail to remove your shoes before entering a home in Asia, Hawaii, or the Pacific Islands and you'll be considered disrespectful. So, if you see a row of shoes at the door, start undoing your laces(解开鞋带). If not, keep the shoes on.

Once you are on the ground of a different country, remain highly sensitive to native behavior. Never be completely surprised by anything. And don't feel hurt or upset if something seems offensive(冒犯的)-like queue jumping. After all, this is a global village, and we are all very different.

Most Americans take pride in inviting guests with open arms. What should you do if an American friend has invited you to visit his family? You've never been to an American home before, and you're not sure what to do. Should you take a gift? What time should you arrive or leave? How long should you stay? Take it easy. I’ll tell you all about it.

The question of whether or not to bring a gift often worries guests. Giving your host a gift is not just a social custom in some cultures—it's expected. But in American culture, a guest does not have to bring a gift. Of course, some people do bring a small gift for their host. Proper gifts might usually be flowers, candy or—if the family has small children—toys. If you choose not to bring a gift, don't worry. No one will even notice.

Plan to arrive on time, or call to tell your host that you will be late. When you've finished the meal, the host may invite everyone to move to the living room for dessert with tea or coffee. After an hour or so, it's about time to head for the door.

Americans usually like to invite guests ahead of time. Only very close friends visit the host unexpectedly without being invited. This is especially true if the guests want to stay for a few days. Here's one golden rule for house guests: short stays are best. Even relatives don’t usually stay for several weeks at a time. Your host family will appreciate our consideration (体贴), and they may even invite you back!

Have you heard an old saying “The grass looks greener on the other side of the fence”? It means other places often look better, more interesting than the place where you live. “Let’s go to KFC for dinner and then watch some Japanese cartoons!” We all know it: more and more Chinese kids love American and Japanese food and movies. Some people worry that young Chinese are beginning to feel that way. They see young Chinese ignoring（忽视）Chinese culture and, instead, buying Japanese cartoon books, watching Korean soap operas and even celebrating western holidays.

Foreign books and soap operas are good, but Chinese writers and actors are just as good. As for holidays, Christmas is nice, but it can never have the meaning for Chinese that Spring Festival has, and the West has nothing to compare with the Mid-Autumn Festival. China has lots of cool things in its culture: calligraphy, Beijing Opera, quick meals on the streets, and even Jay Chou! And let’s not forget the part of Chinese culture I like best: its friendliness. Not all countries are as warm as China.

It’s good to enjoy other cultures and learn from them, but they can never replace your own culture. It’s good to look on the other side of the fence, but make sure you take a good long look. You will find that the grass isn’t always greener.

Although some people become worried about that, I don’t think they should. Will we get more powerful without learning from other countries? Will Chinese people live more happily without American fast food? Besides, it’s fun to learn about different cultures. Chinese kids can learn about other cultures and have fun, but they also need to learn more about their own culture. Be proud of Chinese culture and of being Chinese!

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Yours truly,

Li Hua