Cultural etiquette varies greatly around the world. What is perfectly acceptable in one country may be considered rude or offensive in another. When traveling abroad, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the cultural etiquette of your destination to avoid making embarrassing mistakes.

Bowing is an important greeting in many Asian countries, including Japan, China, and South Korea. The depth and duration of the bow depends on the status of the person you are greeting. Make sure to bow when meeting someone for the first time. Failure to bow may be seen as rude.

In the Middle East, eating and passing food with your left hand is considered unclean. Only use your right hand when eating or shaking hands. Pointing the bottom of your feet towards someone, touching someone with your feet, or showing the soles of your shoes is also considered rude.

Many Latin Americans greet each other with a kiss on the cheek. The number of kisses varies between countries and regions, so observe how locals greet each other. Going in for a kiss when a handshake is more appropriate can make for an awkward cultural blunder.

In Thailand, patting someone on the head or touching a monk is disrespectful. Feet are considered unclean in Thailand, so avoid pointing the bottom of your feet at someone or touching them with your feet.

Italians are affectionate and emotive communicators. They tend to stand close when talking and touch each other frequently. Don’t be surprised if an Italian you just met gives you a friendly slap on the back or grabs your arm during conversation. This is meant to convey warmth, not aggression.

In India, public displays of affection between couples are frowned upon. Avoid touching, hugging, or kissing in public. Clothing that exposes shoulders, chest, or legs is also considered inappropriate, especially for women.

Maintaining eye contact is important when communicating in Western cultures like the United States, Canada, and most European countries. Lack of eye contact may be interpreted as a sign of dishonesty or lack of confidence. However, in many Asian, African and Latino cultures, direct or prolonged eye contact can be seen as rude, disrespectful or confrontational.