Local etiquette

Ruslan · Post by **Ruslan** » Tue, 13 Mar 2007 9:44 pm

Have read on this forum:

can get into trouble until you learn that using your finger to point is very rude, staring at people is provocative, etc.

I feel lucky to have found that, because both those things are fine in my country. Are there other similar rules?

chixchix · Post by **chixchix** » Wed, 14 Mar 2007 12:49 pm

hahahaha not in Singapore,,sometimes when you smile at others who dont know you....you get branded " Siow" which is crazy for Chinese ...but the Malays and Indians are pretty friendly though

audiojunky · Post by **audiojunky** » Wed, 14 Mar 2007 3:53 pm

So, if you meet strangers on an elevator, do you greet them or not?

chixchix · Post by **chixchix** » Wed, 14 Mar 2007 5:15 pm

nope.. unless they smile at me hehehe then I give a big grin

.. but i find that expats are more friendly.

audiojunky · Post by **audiojunky** » Wed, 14 Mar 2007 6:06 pm

Oh well.. I've been smiling at everyone I see, especially in the building complex.

I thought I should atleast greet my building neighbors.

chixchix · Post by **chixchix** » Wed, 14 Mar 2007 6:09 pm

hahahah thats nice of you but they are smiling back at u then its fine.... but not if its a 1 sided smile

ksl · Post by **ksl** » Thu, 15 Mar 2007 1:56 am

audiojunky wrote:Oh well.. I've been smiling at everyone I see, especially in the building complex.

I thought I should atleast greet my building neighbors.

Nice one!

Just put a sign on your back saying crazy! Only joking, I only smile at the women, don't want to give the guys the wrong impression

do we?

Jeppo · Post by **Jeppo** » Thu, 15 Mar 2007 11:34 am

I find that as a bule, it's far more acceptable for me to smile at strangers than it is for my wife (Indonesian).

Ruslan · Post by **Ruslan** » Thu, 15 Mar 2007 1:41 pm

Well, that sounds ok. So if you want to point to something, what do you do, if not point with a finger?

Jeppo · Post by **Jeppo** » Thu, 15 Mar 2007 2:38 pm

There are two options I learnt in Indonesia, assume they're the same here

. First is to just use your whole hand like you would when introducing someone, the other is to form a fist and use the direction of the thumb, don't extend the thumb like a hitchhiker, just let it rest on top of the fist.

lost_canuck · Post by **lost_canuck** » Thu, 15 Mar 2007 4:10 pm

Ruslan wrote:Have read on this forum:

can get into trouble until you learn that using your finger to point is very rude, staring at people is provocative, etc.
I feel lucky to have found that, because both those things are fine in my country. Are there other similar rules?

If staring at people is provocative, why do people stare at me?

chixchix · Post by **chixchix** » Thu, 15 Mar 2007 5:20 pm

hahha maybe either you are having a weirod hairdo ..or just look handsome or pretty ..what else >>>.

sourisso · Post by **sourisso** » Thu, 15 Mar 2007 6:19 pm

lost_canuck wrote:
Ruslan wrote:Have read on this forum:

can get into trouble until you learn that using your finger to point is very rude, staring at people is provocative, etc.
I feel lucky to have found that, because both those things are fine in my country. Are there other similar rules?
If staring at people is provocative, why do people stare at me?

yeah that was my reaction too reading this.. maybe lot of people wanna fight

huggybear · Post by **huggybear** » Thu, 15 Mar 2007 11:07 pm

well people stare at me here because:
(1) i'm about 8x bigger then the locals
(2) my eyelashes touch my nose
(3) i have a big nose

and they stare at me in the states because:
(1) i'm not white.
(2) they're "people watching"

they stare at me in london because:
(1) i'm not really welcome

they stare at me in paris because:
(1) aahhhhhh stupeed americanz!

so i guess i'm kinda used to it by now.

lost_canuck · Post by **lost_canuck** » Fri, 16 Mar 2007 9:37 am

well I do need a haircut *l* but wouldn't say really good lookin, anyway,

sourisso: I don't think they want to fight, I think it is a case of do as I say not as I do

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