Cultural Sensitivity and Your Travel

Every traveler should consider cultural sensitivity when planning a vacation. If you don't know the customs of the country you are visiting, you risk seriously offending the inhabitants. Don't be the proverbial "ignorant tourist" who is rude because he is too ignorant to know better or just too rude to care. This can be avoided if you spend some time researching your destination before arriving. Share what you learn with everyone in your group so everyone knows how to behave. Every culture has its own requirements, but here are some common pitfalls to avoid: Not knowing how to eat: Eating is a basic human activity, but eating unfamiliar foods in a new cultural environment can be daunting. When you're presented with a plate of food that you don't know what to do with on vacation, this can be a tricky situation. If you're lucky, the restaurant servers will recognize your discomfort and explain how to eat your food. However, this does not always happen. If yo