include politics, religion, toes when expressing their common in urban environments

homosexuality, racism, abortion, opinions. However, in the north versus rural.

and criticism of the government. of , people tend to be more direct Brazilians communicate easily
It's best to have a strong and say exactly what they think even with strangers and try to be
relationship in place before without worrying about The appropriate amount of nice and will help strangers if
speaking about sensitive topics. offending. personal space is usually approached on the street.
Directions: Americans
Using culturecrossing.net, fill in theHumility
do not usually divulge blanks below tends to to discovers
be highly a varietydependent
of differences between cultures in
on the relationship. A Brazilians differentspeak countries
theirinminds
the regions
freely liste
TYPE NAME HERE how much money
North Americathey make or valued throughout
Western Euro the country. subordinate would
Eastern Euro stay at arms and it is normal to
Latin Americabe interrupted.
how much they paid for certain Talking about ones length when initiating a Interrupting others during
Countries: things like a houses,USA car, etc.). It accomplishments Norway and conversationHungary with a superior; discussions is considered
Brazil a sign of
tends to be considered rude to achievements tends to be looked Hungarians tend to
however, the superior may wellbe quite enthusiasm. If they say little it is
ask and is even more down upon. directthe
close andspace
even to confrontational
respond. likely because they are not
uncomfortable to discuss. Periods of silence are common in Those when speaking in Hungarian.such Light
in closer relationships interested
touching in the and subject
close or
Americans tend to offer more conversation, it is best to not try When speaking in English, it is uncomfortable. However,aspeople
generous compliments than Drinking
and fill in starts
the extremely early, different. They tend to be more in southern cities are more signs
gaps.
as friends or family do not tend proximity are construed
closed
Communication
Europeans. Use of the words often around the
It is considered ageto
rude 13 or 14. to
ofinterrupt adhere to any personal space of general friendship (as opposed
passive, which requires asking andromantic
formal, as in the countries
Often times whenconversation
there is restrictions. Much less than an to intimacy). There is of
"great" andvalue
Americans "awesome" sound
their personal someone during more questions
arm's length is for clarification also
common. Europe,
a fairwhich
amount hadof great
touching
exaggerated
space and tend in foreign languages, nothing
to be comfortable and it is to
Personal
do, especially
important
space isdrinkingto really
highly
during
show of
respected what they
Strangers too,really think or
will usually speak influence
between man on the and colonization
women andin
but are entirely natural in the US. the long
interest winter,
in what they are is an
saying. want. the southern part of Brazil.
with 2-3 feet of personal space in Norway; aactivity.
acceptable little more than an right in your face. women and women while
during conversations. arms length is common.
At the age of 18, one can buy Even Unless you are family or on a very conversing. This
The inverted American OK includes hand on
sign
For most Americans there is little when amongst
Interrupting
alcohol with someonefamily
less than 22% and
duringfriends,
a
ABV. familiar level with a friend, it is shoulders, hand
is an obscene gesture. on arms, and
to no touching during individual
conversation
One must be spaceis is maintained.
20very
to rude.
purchase uncommon to touch any part of Making hand onahands. fist with one hand and
Personal Space conversations. This may be Touching
Waiving ais not
pointed very
stronger alcohol, however, a common
index finger or someones body when speaking Brazilians
slapping tend
the toptoofstand
it with much
the
different between good friends during pointing
minor isconversations.
at someone
almost If you
neverisheld to them regardless of the sex. closer
other onceto each other means
or twice than their screw
and family. know
considered
criminallysomeone rude.well,
responsible It isthen
for atoslight
best use Female friends will sometimes North
you and American counterparts.
"I got screwed" or "I
Hugging
Race is reserved
is a sensitive for close
subject touch
the whole
attempting to accent
hand.
to buy a point
alcohol.would be hold hands or lock arms, but this screwed Usually one up".to two feet apart is
family members
throughout and friends.
the country. accepted.
To avoid Giving someone the
Beer, cider and "alcopops" can be finger (raised is at a deeper friendship level. normal.
At weddings, the rule is to avoid
offending anyone refer to middle finger)
bought is an obscene
in any store, while Showing
The legal someone
drinking and the smoking
middle getting
The legal dressed
drinking in age
white, thisbut it
is 18,
Americans of different ethnicities beverages gesture. above 4.7% must be age finger is an
is 18 offensive
years gesture,laws
old. Drinking as is is
color
not isheavily
used only for the bride.
enforced.
as such: African American, Italian The bought Hook-em horns sign, (the
at Vinmonopolet spitting,
are enforced.men wearing a hat Purple
The legal lipstick
smoking colorageis avoided
is 18 but it
Taboos American, Asian American, etc. extending
state owned the pinky
alcohol and index
store). indoors,
Younger or putting
people your
smoke, hands
but in because
is not it
enforced is related
at all.to funerals.
Cigarettes
Spitting is usually unacceptable in Penalties finger while forbending
possession, the thumb, your pockets
use, or cannot when speaking
buy cigarettes until they to and But the
cigars color
arepurple
readily(not for
available.
public
The settings.
drinking ageIf isyou
21have to spit, trafficking
and heavily the middleinand ringdrugs
illegal fingerinisarea someone.
are 18. flowers)
Being is well accepted
in possession of small and
it's best to use a tissue and then sign
enforced. severe,of the anddevil and will
convicted most
offenders It's best to
Drinking & cover
drivingyour is a mouth
serious common
quantitiesfor of both
drugsclothing and
will be subject
throw it away.
The smoking age is 18 in most likely be very offensive.
can expect long jail sentences when yawning.
offense and heavily enforced. accessories.
to fines and/or alternative
states, 19 in others. It is readily and heavy fines. Penalties for possession, penalties such as community
enforced. Most public spaces are The image around smoking is acquisition, and trafficking of service or drug treatment.
designated non-smoking. changing and it is becoming less drugs are severe and include However, a foreigner could be
Laws Drug laws are strict throughout and less acceptable to smoke. A fines and/or mandatory lengthy deported or sent to jail
the country with penalties big trend in is wet tobacco, which imprisonment in local jails. depending on the situation. If
ranging from heavy fines to is flavored chewing tobacco that Smoking is now banned you are caught trying to take
length prison sentences. comes in little packets with everywhere indoors including drugs in or out of the country, it is
different flavors. restaurants. an automatic jail sentence
 in rural schools, group activities
such as mountain climbing and
boating. Participating in school
clubs and outings is seen as a way
to build friendships, and
demonstrate school pride.
As a student, whether you are
socializing with peers or adults, it
is best to look the speaker in the
Socialization eyes so that they know you are
listening to them. Do not
interrupt the person who is
talking until they are finished.
meet for a drink, a coffee or a
casual meeting.
The average Norwegian tends to
be a bit timid, so it might be
better to have a first date with a
glass of alcohol.
It's a good idea to get to know
the local students, even if they
seem cold at first. Most
Norwegians speak English, but
there is still a bit of language
barrier so you may have to be the
one to seek initial contact.
smoke-free area.
Anything that is done to excess is
considered impolite, whether it is
being drunk or being loud in
public.
When it comes to dating, men
usually ask women out. It is rare,
but a woman can ask a man out.
First dates are usually a coffee at
a caf or a walk. Most students
are on the poor side, so dates
tend to be less lavish. The man
pays.
As in any country, it is highly
advisable to practice safe sex and
use condoms. In 660,000 adults
(.7% of the population) are
estimated to be living with
HIV/AIDS (CIA Factbook, 2003).
In universities, it is usually
forbidden to smoke and drink,
although the students after class
often gather to do both. It is
common to be invited to join
these gatherings even if you are
not yet known well.
 sarcasm
On publicastransportation,
sanctioned itdiscussions,
may not translate such as
Saudis tend to favor a more well,
personal
those ifheld
at space
all.
during is limited
Genocide to non-
indirect communication style. Rwandans
existent. ItWeek
Memorial tend
is commonto be very
every to see
April.
When people are asking for a indirect,
people
Otherwise, talking
crowed suchinto around a bus issues
conversations or taxi
favor or in need of something, instead
with no of discussing
space in
could be perceived as promoting them
between. This
they tend to be indirect. directly.
tends to Conversations
genocide beideology,
the case more are in
which usually
isrural
a
gionsWhereas,
listed below if one making a preceded
areas vs. urban.byoffense.
questions about the
punishable
statement, Middlethey areEast more likely to East Asia family,
When
Almosttwo etc.
every and
people other
Rwandan
Africa of theniceties.
hassamea
be moretend
Saudis direct.
to feel comfortable It's
sex a
aregood idea
talking,
story related to the 1994 to learn
touching some
is
It is always
standing important
aSAUDI
little less
ARABIA to take
than time
an arms China terms in Kinyarwanda.
acceptable.
genocide. The ItRwanda
is common
trauma A simple
was to
so
to include pleasantries;
length apart from one another. asking Mwaramutse
touch the
severe thathands, in the morning
arms, and
it is difficult for many (or
about
This a persons
space is much, family,
muchhealth,
greater Mwiriwe
shoulders as in the
well afternoon)
as
to cope. As a result, it is improper hold hand will
etc., before
between men getting to reason or
and women. make
while people
peoplesmile
to askwalking. Thisand
what open
is seen
happened asupato
motive
There isbehind
a decent theamount
conversation.
of to
signyou.
them; Rwandans
ofrather,
friendship. onceenjoy Rwandans meeting
Familial and business
touching between members hierarchy of Most
ChineseChinese
tend speak in an indirect foreigners
to be comfortable Whenatwo
build who
people
relationship make ofwithan effort
the opposite to
playssame
the a biggender
role in during
communication manner. There's
standing usually
a little less thanaan deeper learn
arms sex talktheir
therelanguage
is
foreigners (or if they feel very and
little culture,
to no
and its always best
conversations. to defer to
It is common for meaning
length of their
from words and
one another. One both of which
touching.
comfortable Thetalkingare marvelous.
only appropriate
about it),
the
twooldest
men toand walk most handsenior
in hand in sometimes
and a half towhat
two they mean
feet is common.is Learning
touchwill
they even aup.
is usually
open alittle will go a
member
public. This of adoesgroup.not have any quite
Whenopposite
meetingtostrangers
what they thissay. long way with them. People in
handshake/greeting.
Dress appropriately.
implication
Dont point thetheir
on toe or sexual
heel or any distance is farther. One should
Kigali take pride avoidintouching
their elders
preferences; it's
part of the foot at any just a sign
person.of In conversation, there is little to and superiors superfluously.
appearance, and tend to dress up.
friendship
Dont showand thecloseness.
sole of your foot no touching, unless it is with Touchingshould
Visitors on themake arm an is quite
effort to
It also
or use very common
the foot to move for anything
female families, close friends or common,
dress well butin the it should
capitalalso(i.e.beno
friends to link arms
as it is viewed as thewhile walking
lowliest boyfriend/girlfriend relationships. understood
safari wear).that Do not touching
wear shorts
or talking.
body part. It is common
Using your feetfortowomen
move who are someone
shorts are of theonlyopposite
worn bysex can
There is no
Pointing thetouching
middle finger between down friends to hold
something hands ones
or putting or linkfeet
arms Rwandan
easily be misconstrued
schoolboys. as flirting.
men
with and
a handwomenextended in
Alcohol is strictly prohibited public
out, places.
palm
in while
on thewalking.
furniture is considered While it is rare for Rwandan
flat, is Arabia.
Saudi an insulting Drinkinggesture.
is illegal extremely rude. women in rural areas to wear
Tight
for allor revealing
ages. If you clothing
are caught baring
with Avoid sticking your chopsticks pants, it is perfectly acceptable
shoulders,
alcohol, youcalves,can get things,
lashed.etc., is upright in a bowl of rice as it is for foreign women to wear pants
considered
However, there extremely
are stillrude
many and reserved for funerals Avoid in the fieldforand
Penalties theinpossession,
Kigali . When use
can lead to trouble.
underground alcohol sellers and sucking and biting your chopsticks or outside the capital,
trafficking of illegal it isdrugs are
Disrespecting ones family name
buyers. as well. acceptable
severe and to wear more
convicted rugged
offenders
or tribe isfor
Penalties thethe ultimate
import, form of Avoid whistling
The legal age forand finger
purchasing clothing
can expect (withlengthythe exception
prison of
rudeness.
manufacture, possession, and snapping
alcohol is at
18someone.
and is somewhat shorts).
sentences and heavy fines. This is
consumption of alcohol or illegal enforced. an extremely serious offense.
drugs are severe. Convicted The legal smoking age is 18 and is Photographing government
offenders can expect jail not heavily enforced. buildings is prohibited.
sentences, fines, public flogging, Penalties for possession, The legal drinking age is 18, but it
and/or deportation. acquisition, and trafficking of is not enforced, and younger
The penalty for drug trafficking in drugs are extremely severe and people are served. The smoking
is death. Saudi officials make no include mandatory imprisonment age is also 18. It is not enforced,
exceptions. in local jails or worse. either.
time for marriage comes. Students socialize by going to
Drinking is not legal and smoking sporting events, karaoke, group
in public is only acceptable if you dinners, and group events. At
are male. night, karaoke is popular and
Dating is not socially accepted clubs are available.
and can result in serious As for dating, men usually ask
consequences if couples are women out, but neither tend to
caught. People still do it though, be very forward.
just very discreetly. Common first dates include
Displays of anger are a serious no- dinner, a movie, going shopping,
no. If you must show disapproval having coffee, etc.
it is always best to do so in a one- Having sex on a first date is
to-one, quietly, and with tact. generally unacceptable. N/A