World cultures interests

[Xalea]

Does anyone have any particular interests in various foreign cultures? In particular, I've have a special interest in Brazilian Culture, which I've been researching for the last 6 years.

 

[GrownupGirl]

I find the the broad and controversial differences about what is and isn't socially acceptable in different cultures both fascinating and frightening. In Canada, for example, we don't have signs in buses reminding people to not show affection in public, not even holding hands. In Japan, you're not supposed to stick chopsticks upright in rice bows because that is normally done at funerals. You lay them across the bowl instead. I even heard that in South Korea total strangers will just pick up and play with someone's baby. If you do that here you'll get arrested pretty fast, lol.

 

[Xalea]

Interesting facts to learn.

 

[Xalea]

I do know Brazil is a country of diversity and multiculturalism . For example,their main language is Portuguese instead of Spanish like other Latin American.

 

[Dagan]

I have moments. It's usually after taking in whatever culture's entertainment (movies / music), and then I get really interested in their mindsets and such per what inspired those projects.

 

[Judge]

One cultural consideration that continues to fascinate me is the difference between Germans and their Austrian neighbor on their southern border. Or Swiss (Schweitzerdeutsch) as well. Similar language, but different people sometimes resulting in a "failure to communicate".

But then I'm certain any number of us could make similar observations of all those nations and cultures with another common language- English.

 

[Captain Jigglypuff]

I’m interested in Japanese culture as well as the culture of Ancient Greece and Rome. I’m also interested in Renaissance Italy and a few parts of Europe during the same time.

 

[VictorR]

In Japan, you're not supposed to stick chopsticks upright in rice bows because that is normally done at funerals. You lay them across the bowl instead.

That's common to East Asia in general, and it's a commonly used example of faux pas, but to be honest, I don't really see someone doing that, aside from a kid playing around with their food.

Sticking chopsticks into a bowl of rice upright and leaving it there makes about as much sense as sticking a fork upright into a steak and leaving it there.