At Down Under

I have to mention first that I don’t want to hurt anybody and this post is just about personal experiences that show cultural differences…

I confess that I did not know the meaning of these gestures before I lived in these countries.

During my university year in Thessaloníki, Greece, I was invited by friends to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s eve in Athens. After long hours of bus, I got a taxi to drive me until my friends house. At the time of paying I held a bill out (it was still in Drachma) to the driver. I remember noise of horns, traffic jam, polluted atmosphere…I was probably too tired after all these hours of uncomfortable travel. But this day, I was not the only one irritated. The taxi driver took my bill and started to complain loudly -in Greek, of course ! After a while I understood that he didn’t have enough change. Awkwardly, I tried to make him understand that I do not have smaller bill. When anyone would have try to make some change anywhere around, the taxi driver just started to shout more and more and in a last provocation torn into two my bill and gave me back one half ! I was completely shocked. At the end, I managed to make some change with my friends and paid the taxi driver, no tips, of course ! To this provocative behaviour I could show him the palm of my hand – like if you had said wait a moment or give me five. I guess the taxi driver would have pull me out of his taxi or punched my face and kept the whole bill ! Cause in fact, this gesture is an insult in Greece !

I had the occasion to participate to formal events when I was in the Middle East. Mondanités are not my cup of tea, but I did not have choice. To pay attention to your look and your manner every single second while you discuss, make me ill at ease. When you seat down, you will cross your legs. No matter if you do not find this position comfortable, but be careful that you will not lift up the sole of your foot. In the case that there is no table in front of you that could protect it from viewing, to show the sole of your foot-bare footed or not- in an Arabic country is really impolite !

I suppose my strong French accent and bad pronunciation are the main reason why people sometimes ask me twice or make me repeat.

Instinctively I use my hands to make me understand better. Luckily, Paprika told me last time that I should not go to the butcher and ask for 2 pieces beef scotch fillet showing my two fingers like this (see picture on left side) . I would be able to do it in France and nobody would feel offended, but not here. It’s an insult in New Zealand !- and in others like England, Ireland, Australia and South Africa.

I guess there are much more gestures all over the world ! I’m not that much interested in insults, but more in cultural differences that they imply.

La suite en français

View full article »