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 you find help is not available, take a few minutes to discreetly look at other eaters. It can be helpful to follow what others are doing.

Getting drunk: 

While getting drunk may be socially acceptable in your own country, remember that not all cultures share your enthusiasm for excess. In some cultures, religious or social norms prohibit excessive drinking. In other cultures there is no specific prohibition, but excessive drinking is considered a sign of foolishness and immaturity.

Either way, getting drunk is a bad idea while traveling. You risk deceiving yourself, embarrassing your homeland and losing the respect of those around you.

Dressing inappropriately:

 Be sure to research proper dress codes in the countries you visit and dress appropriately. For women, this often means not wearing clothes that are considered revealing in the country you are visiting. The definition of reveal may seem exaggerated to your ears; In some cultures, even showing your wrists or ankles may sound inappropriate, but it's a good idea to accommodate anyway. If you don't respect the local cultures, you risk being considered rude and you could get into trouble during your trip.