It is often the case that when visiting a new country, people do not make an effort to learn about the local customs and way of life. However, this can be a mistake because things that are considered normal in our own culture may be viewed as unusual or even offensive in other countries. By gaining this knowledge, travelers can avoid awkward or humorous situations and make their trip smoother.
1. In Brazil, women prefer hair lightening to hair removal.
While women around the world try to get rid of all the hair on their bodies, Brazilians, on the contrary, consider blonde peach fuzz a sign of beauty. Instead of removing their hair, they lighten it with a special mixture that can be found in any local store. By the way, Brazilian women often perform this procedure right on the beach, applying the lightening agent to their skin like sunscreen.
2. Many Dutch people don’t close their curtains.
In some European countries, like the Netherlands, you will rarely see curtains on the windows. It’s not common to windows with curtains there. And people who are passing by can easily see everything that happens in an apartment if they want to.
But you might wonder why the locals don’t worry about having some privacy. The thing is that in these countries, people have a different concept of privacy. Locals respect each other’s personal space and no one would even think of peering into a stranger’s window.
3. In Japan, many streets don’t have names.
Instead of using names for streets, block and section numbers are commonly used in Japan. For instance, it is common to hear someone say “I work at block 6” or “I live in section 3.” While there are exceptions to this rule for main streets and highways, it may appear perplexing at first.
However, with a map, it is relatively easy to locate the necessary block in just a few seconds. This system can be faster than searching for street names on a map, which can be problematic for tourists in large Western cities.
4. In Singapore, locals dry their laundry on bamboo poles.
Singapore is famous for its numerous unusual tourist attractions, but there is one thing that probably won’t leave any tourist indifferent: the way that locals dry their laundry there. In Singapore, people use bamboo poles for this instead of the usual ropes.
Today, bamboo poles often get replaced with plastic sticks, but initially, bamboo poles were used for this purpose. We must agree that this approach looks pretty colorful.
5. In Turkey, there’s a dessert that is made from chicken breasts.
It turns out that chicken breasts are not only perfect for making meatballs and Caesar salads, but you can actually make a real dessert from them. And the Turkish pudding called tavuk göğsü proves that. This dish is made of chopped chicken breasts, milk, rice, sugar, and cinnamon. This is a signature Turkish dish and a favorite meal of many gourmets.
6. Italy has different toilet standards for elderly and disabled people.
When it comes to the elderly and disabled toilets, Italy has its own agreed standard. The objective of a toilet for elderly and disabled individuals is to provide them with maximum comfort while using the toilet. Hence, it is a crucial aspect in the design of an assisted bathroom.
To comply with Italian regulations, a disabled toilet in Italy must adhere to specific guidelines. The toilet bowl should be positioned at a minimum distance of 140 cm from the left wall and 40 cm from the right wall. Additionally, it must have a seat height ranging between 45 and 50 cm from the floor and should protrude 75 to 80 cm from the wall.
7. The Netherlands has the steepest stairs in the world.
The extremely steep stairs is a signature trait of Dutch homes. They’re an essential part of canal houses that were built very tall and skinny because of possible flooding. And the stairs had to match the house, so they were built to be narrow and steep too.
8. Japanese ofuro baths.
Another wonder from Japan is the ofuro bath, which is traditionally made of wood. However, today, you’re likely to come across bathtubs made of plastic and stainless steel. You can find ofuro baths in every Japanese apartment, and taking a bath is a whole ritual there. A person plunges into the water, so it covers their body up to the shoulders, and then the bath gets closed with a wooden lid, which helps to keep the water warm.
According to traditions, all family members take ofuro bath in turns without changing the water, so they always shower before they get to enjoy the bath.
9. Red ink is a taboo in South Korea.
In South Korea, writing a person’s name using red ink traditionally means that this person has passed away. That’s why tourists should be very careful when choosing a pen to sign a greeting card.
10. In Colombia, hot chocolate is served with slices of salted cheese in it.
People have a special attitude toward chocolate in Colombia. It’s common to drink hot chocolate with cheese. According to the tourists’ reviews, it’s not only pretty unusual, but also insanely delicious.
11. In France, milk is stored at room temperature.
You can find different kinds of milk at the supermarkets from sterilized to ultra-pasteurized. But most French stores only sell ultra-pasteurized milk. For this reason, it’s unusual to keep milk in the fridge in France, and many people complain that it doesn’t turn sour and tastes different from ordinary pasteurized milk.
12. Tipping isn’t common practice in Indonesia.
In Indonesia, it is not customary to tip in restaurants or other service industries. While tipping is not expected, it is still considered polite to round up the bill or leave small changes as a gesture of appreciation.
