W07 Blog: Differences in Manners (2/06/22)

There is a famous saying in my country that goes, “A donde fueres haz los que vieres.” Translated it would be "Wherever you go, do what you see people do". However, we can also find other variants such as "When in Rome, Do as the Romans Do".

But what do these sayings want to tell us? What is their meaning? Well, they advise us about the adaptation we must have. Adaptation to what? To other cultures, customs and manners.

Because manners are not the same all over the world. Even, what for you may be an act of being polite, for others may be strange and even offensive. Some cultures won't mind so much if you break or don't follow certain etiquette, either because they understand that you're a foreigner or it's just not a big deal. In other countries, however, they may take drastic measures.

It is important to keep in mind that the vast majority of people, and that includes students within a classroom, bring ingrained customs and habits that have their meaning and may not necessarily be the same as the meaning you give them. So, what can we do to avoid misunderstandings Professor Ivers gave excellent advice, "familiarize yourself with some of the differences around the world so you're not offended and that you understand where they're coming from."

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