Podcast – Part 2

Personal space
In Mediterranean countries like Greece, Italy and Spain, conversations are often loud and animated. The concept of personal space is something that varies from culture to culture as well. Closeness and even touching is quite normal in Spain but this is not the case in Japan or even in the UK, where people tend not to stand so close together, don't touch and keep to themselves when out and about, which is not the case in Australia, where it's quite normal for strangers to strike up conversation while in transit and in public places.

Behaviour in public
As a rule, there are some things that are best avoided in public out of respect for the people around you; for example, being excessively rowdy or loud, or even speaking loudly on a mobile. Obviously, everyone has their own standards of what is or is not acceptable, but a good test is to ask yourself, "would I like someone to be doing this to me?"

What about other types of culturally sensitive behaviour in public? Well, in Japan, it is regarded as rude to pour your own drink when you are with a group of people, and one thing that Japanese people never do is to eat while in transit; for example, on a train or while walking in the street. The use of handkerchiefs is also culturally sensitive. In Japan, China and Saudi Arabia, the use of handkerchiefs in public is mostly avoided. Sniffing is preferable to blowing your nose in public.

In Turkey, the "Okay" sign made by connecting your thumb and index finger is an obscene gesture and should definitely be avoided. Pointing at people is also considered rude in Turkey. Also, when seated you should never show the bottoms of your shoes or feet, as this is considered rude, and of course, putting feet up on seats, like on trains or buses, is disrespectful in any country. Another gesture to be avoided is that of pointing an open palm at someone in Greece, as this is considered to be an insult.

Dress
In Japan, it is important to remember that footwear is always removed when entering a house, many restaurants and even offices. In general, if a building has a genkan, a sunken foyer, you must exchange your shoes for house slippers before stepping into the interior. You will know when this is the case when you see perfect rows of footwear lined up by the entrance.

In Turkey, as in just about anywhere, beachwear should only be worn on the beach and not when walking the city streets or going into shops. Turkey is a Muslim culture, and particularly when visiting religious sites, women should wear long-sleeved tops and long skirts or trousers and cover their heads with a scarf or hat.