Etiquette

Sophisticated people, familiar with your country and fluent in its language, may think very differently from you and will sometimes react with instinctive amusement or, at worst, distaste to something you do or say. However, the position is not hopelessly complicated.

First, aim to distinguish  what is important (etiquette of substance) from what is not (etiquette of form) and seek guidance as necessary. Food offers a prime example. Grave offence may be taken if you refuse to taste at least a little of whatever a host offers you.  Rejecting the food may be seen as rejecting the culture, and that is substantive. On the other hand, it matters less how you eat what is given to you (provided you do not pick it up in your left hand in a Muslim country) and this is therefore simply a matter of  form. It is not of grave importance whether you handle a knife and fork in  the European manner (one in each hand all the time) or in American style (cut food with the knife, put it down and eat with the fork).

Secondly, there is a high level of consensus, across all cultural boundaries, about the main principles  of polite behavior , i.e. etiquette of substance. Wherever you may be, take care to observe the general rules discussed in the links  below. Not all of them will apply in every country, but nowhere will their observance give offence, so it is best to follow them all the time.

If these links inspire further questions, Web Diplomat will be glad to provide specialist advice.  Use our telephone support line in urgent cases,  or let us know your requirements by on-line form,  or through  the e-mail link below.