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Traditional
Manners and Changing Manners
International
students reflect on traditional good manners for
varied situations and discuss how manners are
changing.
Brazilian
Do's and Don'ts
Renate
Pauperio from Brazil
I
believe some people have the wrong idea of what
Brazil is really like or what the people are like.
Of course, there are big problems there, but people
are not partying all the time or living in an
underdeveloped country. If you ever go to Brazil on
vacation or on a business trip, there are some
things you should know.
Punctuality
Punctuality
is important. It is important to be on time, but a
fifteen-minute delay in arrival is acceptable. Of
course, if it is a very formal occasion, it is
better to be on time.
Littering
Nowadays,
littering is still a problem, but if you throw
garbage out in the road or streets, you might
receive a ticket. Fortunately, people are more
conscious about that and the cites are cleaner now
than before.
Changing
Manners in Italy
Alessandra
Federici from Italy
In
our society, what we call good manners, or good
etiquette, are changing. New generations are
becoming more and more impolite.
Behavior
of children
When
I was a child and I went out with my parents, I
always stayed close to them and behaved in an
educated way; but kids nowadays make a lot of
noise, go everywhere, and are less respectful
toward adults.
Using
language
In
my language, we have two different ways to address
people. One is the intimate second form that is
generally used with family members, friends, and
people of the same age; one is more formal, using
the third person. I always use the formal way when
I address elderly people or people I don't know,
but young generations are now using the intimate
second form everywhere and with everybody.
I
think that this behavior is due to the
globalization of the world and to the use of the
English language that has only one form, but I
don't consider it polite.
Good
Manners are Important in Chile
Karina
Lacayo from Chile
Good
manners are important in my country, so if you are
going to visit Chile, here are some of the rules of
etiquette, or good manners that you need to know
about.
When
to Arrive at and Leave
Parties
In
Chile, people aren't punctual. So, if you go to a
party, you should arrive anywhere from fifteen to
forty-five minutes late, but no more than 45
minutes late. Also, you mustn't forget that it's
very badly seen if you stay until the end of the
party and you are the last ones to
leave.
How
to Greet People
If
you meet people you know and you want to speak to
them, you should kiss those people on their right
cheeks. Also, if those people are with friends, you
have to greet them with a kiss, too.
It's
Important to Be Polite on the
Bus
If
you are taking a bus, you have to give your
seat—just if you are young and healthy—to
elderly or disabled people.
Politeness
in Opening Doors
If
a couple is going to enter a door, the man has to
open it and let the woman go first. Also, some men
like to open the passenger car door if women are
going to go with them in the car.
Korean
Etiquette
Kate Suh
from Korea
Value
of Group Relationships
Korea is an oriental society, which means that
Koreans highly value relationships with others. The
value of individualism is of lesser importance than
the value of group relationships. Although Korea is
becoming internationalized, Some traditional
etiquette is honored.
Greeting
an Older Person
PeopleFor example, when you meet and greet an older
person—usually the head of a family, you
should bow your head as a sign of respect. If you
shake hands or hold your hand out, it is generally
considered very rude. Therefore, care must be taken
when greeting or meeting elders.
Most
Koreans follow and honor traditional etiquette;
however, some young people don't know how to behave
politely and do not follow traditionally accepted
manners.
Driving
Manners in Turkey
Ayzin
Barista from Turkey
An
unwritten driving rule
I am from Turkey, and I would like to tell you a
bit about
driving or traffic manners in Turkey—let's
say in
Ankara. As in every country, we have some
laws
for traffic, but we also have some unwritten
rules
that everybody already knows. For example, in my
country, if you are a woman, you have the
right
of way. Generally, women don't need to yield to men
drivers. When a woman
finds a place to park and is waiting for a parking
place, no other driver
can take her place.
More:
on Manners: Mind
your table manners internationally!
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