When in Rome...

Anyone who has ever travelled to another city, let alone another country, is probably well aware that the concept of "normal" or "acceptable" behaviour is always shifting. To get the most fun out of your travels, you should probably keep this in mind. After all, as the old adage goes, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."

This doesn't mean that you should necessarily do anything that you don't want to, but I always find that approaching a new country with a fresh, open attitude allows me to have the most rewarding and enriching experiences. Just being aware of the main purpose of your visit can help you in this regard. Most likely, your reason for travelling is to enjoy a new country, not to evaluate its customs or practices.

For example, in North America, we're always told that making eye contact is one of the most important and effective tools in building confidence and strong communication skills. Last year, when I was touring East Asia, I noticed that in some cities, quite a few of the residents avoided looking into my eyes when speaking to me. Initially, I was a little hurt by this, as it dawned on me that maybe I just wasn't as interesting or funny as all my friends in Toronto had made me think I was. Thankfully, I made a few friends during my travels and they informed me that several cultures do not consider making eye contact an essential, or even polite, form of communication. Realizing this made my interactions much easier, as I stopped earnestly trying to make eye contact with the people I met and they felt more comfortable and relaxed when communicating me.

I'm sure we've all heard stories of when cultural norms clash, resulting in awkward or even embarrassing situations. A couple friends of mine who were visiting the UK were asked to pose for a picture and did what came natural to them: the peace sign. A woman who was walking by with her child scolded my friends and told them that they should be a little more respectful in front of children. My friends were bewildered until the photographer explained that the peace sign, when done with the palms facing inward, can actually have a very not-so-peaceful meaning in the UK. How has travelling broadened your understanding of what's normal or acceptable?