European Union Forums

[Faw_Peter]

Romantic Germans
If your German boyfriend gives you unwrapped flowers it obviously doesn't men he picked them up near your house. It's just that in Germany it is used to unwrap the flowers before giving them to somebody.

Impudent Canadians
In a restaurant with your Canadian boyfriend, he will pay you a lot of attention and you'll be happy with that. However it's enough that the waiter brings the cheque and he'll will be staring at you with huge eyes. Is he waiting for you to pay the dinner? What greediness, you may think. Oh but no! What he actually is afraid of is that after he'll pay the dinner, you may think he wants to buy you!

Happy Englishmen
Your English man will invite you to have a drink and will ask you whether you took with you the "French Letter". Why is that? He wants to teach you French? Actually this is how Englishmen call a... condom.

Confused Greeks
If you ask your Greek boyfriend whether he likes you, he will droop his head. You may think "What happened? Aren't my nails perfect?". Relax. In Greece when one droops his head this is a sign meaning "yes". If he looks up, this means no.

Brave Americans
It's normal for American guys to ask your common friend your phone number, home address. So, don't be scared if you receive one day a letter with his invitation for a date.

Barefooted Thailenders
Your Thai guy will invite you for a dinner with his family. You wanna look beautiful and, certainly, will take the best dress, high-heeled shoes... But no! Wait! In Thailand, it's considered to be a great offense if you don't take off your shoes before you enter a house.

[M.Helen]

Can somebody explain me why Americans use to say "Ring my bells" when this means "remind me". I couldn't understand E. Iglesia's song "Ring my bells" until an American friend of mine explained me this phrase.

[Terry]

Helen, you were not the one that was confused by this phrase. After Enrique Iglesias' song "Ring my bells" appeared, everybody put this question. But not many know the explanation. It's an archaic expression.

[Big_Becka]

Americans are a mystery... I have never heard this phrase.

However, In [proper] English , if somebody says something that sounds familiar, you would say "That rings a bell." It is a way of saying that you have heard the same thing, but you do not know for sure if it is true or not. http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/bell?view=uk

[Steven]

If European cultures are strange cultures, then what should we say about Brazil: no hotel in Brazil shall be responsible if something disappears from your number

[Terry]

If European cultures are strange cultures, then what should we say about Brazil: no hotel in Brazil shall be responsible if something disappears from your number

yes, in Mexico it's the same. I am not sure why they do that. Maybe it's due to high level of robberies in these countries, and if the owners were responsible for stolen things, they would simply went bankrupt.

[Faw_Peter]

Did you know that Chinese and American people see things differently. While
Americans focus on central objects in images, pictures, the Chinese pay more
attention to the background.

[Benn]

In Latin America, it is considered impolite to toss things to each other. When you'll want to give something to a local, make sure you do it hand-to-hand, so that he doesn't bother

[Faw_Peter]

In certain African tribes, a boy is not considered to be a human, before circumcision is made to him

[Peach]

In certain African tribes, a boy is not considered to be a human, before circumcision is made to him

Damn that's cruel
I heard that most of Jews make circumcision, however this is only due to religious matters. As for African tribes, it could be religion + hygiene reasons as well

[Laurentine]

In the Middle Ages, people living in Europe used to make baths no more than twice per year - in May and in October! It was a sort of tradition, and even the richest families followed it. So this is the reason why men used to shave their heads and wear wigs.

[Big_Becka]

There are still people who think circumcision is hygenic - some parents were having it done to their sons as late as the 1950s for hygeine.

More frightening is the african tribes that circumcise girls. I think it is illegal is most countries now. I heard it is to prevent women enjoying sex, and therefore making them faithful wives

[Nathan]

In Tahiti, people greet each other by making small cuts on their hands with a sharktooth. Don't worry, it's absolutely natural.

[M.Helen]

In Tibet people greet each other by showing the thumb on the right hand at the same time sticking the tongue out.

[Benn]

In Thailand it is considered absolutely normal that a belch after the meal. Iy is considered impolite there to point with the leg to something to touch somebody's head.

[Terry]

Because during the Christmas temperatures in Australia reach 40 degrees Celsius, people celebrate it usually on the beach, surfing, eating barbecue and sometimes accompanied by dangerous sharks.

[Laurentine]

Spain:
The Running of the Bulls
It is an annual event in Europe. Many people get injured during this unique experience every year and unfortunately some have even died.

[samuel5028]

Most of the people will say tribal people has strange culture since they hunt people, animals and eat.





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