There are more than 200 countries in the world and the residents of each region have their own customs and traditions, as well as simple everyday habits that differ them from other nationalities. It’s always interesting to study these differences and find out about the ordinary things that can perplex the inhabitants of all other countries.
We read a Reddit thread where people talk about things that are considered normal in their motherlands but that can totally confuse foreigners. And we decided to show you the most interesting ones.
Sudan
There are tea ladies on all the streets in Sudan. This is a literal translation, and I guess the best interpretation in English would be a tea saleswoman? Wherever you go, wherever you turn, whatever time of day it is, there’s a woman selling tea (and other hot drinks) nearby.
China
In China, you’ll notice that a lot of bathrooms don’t have toilet paper, probably because they’re worried about it being taken. So, it’s a good idea to always carry your own!
Venezuela
We scream when we cut the birthday cake in Venezuela. It is expected to be a blood-curdling scream, and people laugh at you and ridicule you if it wasn’t loud or scary enough. Also, our birthday song is like 2 minutes long.
Italy
Kissing cheeks as a way to say hello between men in Italy. It’s pretty common here, but when I’ve done it in America while visiting a friend of mine, some people were confused.
France
In France, the number of kisses and which cheek you begin with all depend on which part of the country you are living in. It’s so awkward when you meet someone and you don’t do it the same…
Brazil
I found out that brushing my teeth in a public bathroom was strange outside of Brazil.
Czech
Wearing socks with sandals is a pretty common sight for me. If you guessed that I’m Czech, you’re absolutely right! It’s almost like a national trademark.
Germany
Throwing porcelain, ceramic pots, and other things in front of the bride-to-be’s house a day or 2 before the wedding in order to break them into shards. It is said that these shards bring luck. Anything that breaks can be thrown, except for mirrors, since breaking a mirror brings 7 years of bad luck according to superstition.
Netherland
In the Netherlands, when you go to a birthday you don’t just congratulate the person who’s having their birthday, but you congratulate everyone at the party on that person’s birthday. It can take a while to congratulate everyone.
UK
I reside in the United Kingdom, and I find it quite unusual that a significant majority, approximately 80%, of the homes here have carpeting on the floors of their bathrooms. It’s something that strikes me as particularly odd.
South Africa
In South Africa, it’s common for us to refer to a traffic light as a ‘robot.’ To be honest, I have no idea where this term originated or why we use it.
India
Touching the feet of our elders is very common in India, I doubt if it’s practiced anywhere else.
Mexico
In Mexico, it is more offensive to say no when you are invited to hang out and you don’t want to do so, than saying that you will try and just not showing up.
South Korea
South Koreans are always older than you. We grow one year older when the year passes. And we also consider a baby 1-year-old when they are born.
Great Britain
I live in Great Britain. Recently a woman from New Zealand started to work with our company. Everyone is horrified because she walks into the office without shoes, barefoot, which is considered normal in her motherland.
