European Union Forums

[Terry]

Going abroad it is important to know the laws and traditions of the country you are going to. Not everybody likes extremal tourism, by spending the time at the police station. Each state has its laws, which must be observed, regardless of your status - local or tourist. This is why before leaving to oversea try to acquire some information at your travel agency, so that you could know what you have can and what you are not allowed to do.

For example, in Russia has laws against drinking alcohol in public places, however it is not forbidden to walk and sip a little beer or something else. The police usually doesn't pay attention to such infringements.

What can you say about the traditions and specific laws in some countries? Give us advice in order that we could travel safely.

[Faw_Peter]

Denmark: It is used to put a flag outside the window so that everybody knew there is a birthday in that house. Also presents are placed around the hero's of the occasion bad;

China: children receive at their birthdays money. It's normal;

Ecuador: when a girl turns 15, her father gives her the first high-heeled shoes and they dance the waltz;

Argentina: the birthday persons are pulled by the ear one time for each year.

[Faw_Peter]

A comparison between two countries Italy and the United Arab Emirates:

Entertaining
Italy - Hospitality Plays a key role in Italian business culture. Regarless of how you fell, refusing an invitation of any kind may give offence. The business breakfast is almost unheard of. Rare exceptions - in major cities. Lunch is the main meal of the day almost allover the country. It is used to be served after noon.
UAE - People get know each other during the meal. They use to entertain at home, but they can accept an invitation to a hotel. It is considered bad manners to eat or offer something with the left hand.

Conversation
Italy - Lively conversation is common. Welcome topics of conversation include Italian architecture, art and films, sports (especially football, opera and praising the hospitality of the country. It is best to avoid criticising Italian culture, even if your Italian counterparts are doing so.
UAE - The hosts are those who set the subject of conversation. Naturally they begin with polite questions like "how are you?" "how are you enjoying your staying?". If you got late at a dinner, the hosts will tell you the discussion subject.

Gift-giving
Italy - First you must receive a business gift give one. The gift must be a famous brand. A picture, holden key rings or calculators are also good gifts. Do not give gifts with your company logo.
UAE - It's more complex to give gifts in this country then in other countries. A manner of respect from the host's part is to open your gift in front of you and carefully examine it. The gift must be the best you can afford.

[M.Helen]

There are organizations which offer business culture training. It's a little bit expensive, but it worths your success. One of the companies is Communicaid.
The company's mission:
"Communicaid is a culture and communication skills consultancy. We enable our clients to create profitable international relationships by building cultural bridges that enhance understanding and establish trust.

With over 15 years' experience of assisting the world's leading corporate and public sector organisations to work successfully across borders and cultures, Communicaid is a global communication skills company operating across all 5 continents through offices in London, Paris, Frankfurt and New York as well as a network of affiliates and like-minded partner organisations worldwide. Our areas of expertise include:

* Cross-cultural awareness
* Communication skills
* Foreign language training
* Specialist English language training
* Offshore call centre training
* People & organisational development
* Recruitment testing

Working across all business and government sectors, Communicaid excels by providing our clients with outstanding culture and communication skills solutions through product innovation, client management and an unrivalled team of training professionals.

Through understanding our clients’ needs and pre-empting their future business requirements, we enable our clients to communicate more efficiently and effectively across borders and cultures – helping to build stronger working relations with their colleagues, clients and suppliers."

Its webpage: http://www.communicaid.com/

[Steven]

For ladies to know:

In the Northern Europe, if you had a romatic dinner with a man, he will show you the check by the end of your staying in a restaurant/bar. It is not that you should pay it, but you have to show your readiness to do that.

[Benn]

In the UAE public alcohol drinking can end by locking you up. The emirate Shardzhe doesn't allow drinking alcohol in public places at all: at best - you will be fined and deported home, at worst - you will be beaten with clubs. And it doesn't matter for them whether you are a tourist or not, nobody cares.

[M.Helen]

You must never ask an Australian about his ancestors. Never tackle this topic. Why? Because in a country where a big part of the populations are descendants of exile state convicts such topics are simply improper.

[Benn]

If you are in Italy or other European countries you should know that it is not used to give flowers. In this country flowers are usually given at funerals.

[Terry]

Even the most gallant Italian will never help a girl with her coat and won't even understand what you want from him. Instead, he can tell you many things about his digestive problems and difficult compatibilities with a certain food.

[Benn]

I heard a story about a visit of an African ambassador to Germany. Having eaten everything in his plate, he called his servant. The latter came right away with a vessel and the ambassador "sent" all his meal into that vessel. That meant that the meal was so tasty that he was ready to eat that again.

[M.Helen]

If you are a guest at an Italian's house, never try to take your shoes off and ask for slippers.

[Faw_Peter]

Greece: in restaurants, cafes, it is used to leave tips of about 5-10% of the whole amount. So make sure your pocket is full before going out with a Greek girl

[Terry]

You should know people that it is not quite normal to leave tips in Japan. These people are very exact.

[M.Helen]

In UK, good habbits are very important, especially this refers to habits during having meals, that's why there are certain etiquette acts that should be observed. One of them is never putting your hands on the table and holding them on the knees.

[Hakan G]

For Turkish people going that area going to visit Russia:
(For everybody: in Turkish: "durak" means bus stop) In Russian, "durak" means stupid, so be careful using this word, misunderstandings may occur

[Benn]

For Turkish people going that area going to visit Russia:
(For everybody: in Turkish: "durak" means bus stop) In Russian, "durak" means stupid, so be careful using this word, misunderstandings may occur

I can imagine what will happen if we ask a Russia to tell us where the closest"durak" is

[Karl.in.eu]

You should know people that it is not quite normal to leave tips in Japan. These people are very exact.

This is more likely to be referred to Swiss people, because of their watch mechanisms

[Terry]

Swiss don't leave tips?

[Karl.in.eu]

Swiss don't leave tips?

Maybe they do, i just supposed that they could.ve not. You said that people in Japan don't leave tip because they are EXACT, but the most exact watches are the Swiss watches, so it should've been logically to name the Swiss people being EXACT.

[M.Helen]

in this case which is the "most inexact" country, where, according to your logic guys, it is used to leave much tip?

[Nicholas]

Well I think those would be the most expensive places, like Monaco for example..

[Steven]

sure, in Monaco the price for 1 square meter of real estate reaches 40,000 euros!

[Hakan G]

Why would someone want to live in Monaco? It is full of immigrants, I mean people from all over the world. There are always people coming and going, and it didn't look to me as a very clean place also.

[Benn]

Monaco is the best place for rich tourists. This country is like a heaven, even the F1 track is something which attracts tourists indeed.

[Faw_Peter]

Monaco is simply having all the necessary conditions for becoming a place for tourists - they have access to seashore, the climate is great, it is near the most developed countries in the world. It is small and only the elite can afford a true rest in Monaco.