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[mynetdude]

Just read all this, makes me want to think twice about going to some of these places I'd rather just get a large glass window and have them pretend I'm not there and let me observe without being in their realm.

[ScottWoz]

I'd say it's more cultural than generational, at least over here. Over here everyone does it, including the kids..

[mrconfused]

With regards to the spitting, they've been trying to get rid of this in China for at least 25 years, apparently with some success; I met several people who had been been to China in the 80's who told me that, as bad as it seems now, it's a hundred times better than it was then. I would be interested to hear what Beijing was like during the Olympics, since they were supposed to have a whole campaign to clean up people's behaviour - no spitting, no staring at the foreigners, that sort of thing.

The 'pushing in queues' thing really bothers me. I especially hate it when you have a 'line in/line out' system in front of the ticket window. With a long queue, 95% of the people will get in line and wait, but there always seems to be that 5% who feel that the queue doesn't apply to them, and just go in the out line and then get served! I blame the ticket sellers - if they just refused to serve these people, it wouldn't happen.

Still China was nowhere near as bad as India in that respect. Biggest failing of the British Empire, not teaching those people how to queue.

Just read all this, makes me want to think twice about going to some of these places I'd rather just get a large glass window and have them pretend I'm not there and let me observe without being in their realm.

Interesting point. In general, I feel the same - it's hard to really get any feel for a different way of life or an idea of how people truly are when they're very conscious of an outsider begin present. I would much rather people didn't make a fuss and just get on with whatever they were doing instead of trying to create what they consider to be a good impression.

On the other side of the coin, I've had some fantastic experiences of being welcomed into a community and being made to feel like a part of the proceedings; simply observing in these circumstances just wouldn't have been the same, and it's times like these that help keep me travelling.

[raniroo]

What I find more disturbing is the clearing of the nose by holding one nostril closed and blowing out the contents through the other nostril. No use of tissue and hankerchief just straight out onto the pavement or road........this is something else I noticed in Asia.....

I have a real thing about noses and it makes me gag...and on one particular nasty occassion I did throw up!

[travelmonster]

Just read all this, makes me want to think twice about going to some of these places I'd rather just get a large glass window and have them pretend I'm not there and let me observe without being in their realm.

But isn't the whole point of going to places to see things, observe how life goes on somewhere else, experience what it is like to be in a different country/culture? Get immersed in it, feel it, hear it, see it, touch it?

Maybe it's me.

[raniroo]

Just read all this, makes me want to think twice about going to some of these places I'd rather just get a large glass window and have them pretend I'm not there and let me observe without being in their realm.

But isn't the whole point of going to places to see things, observe how life goes on somewhere else, experience what it is like to be in a different country/culture? Get immersed in it, feel it, hear it, see it, touch it?

Maybe it's me.

I totally agree....travelling is all about learning, growing, seeing the world in a different light....experiencing something out of your comfort zone......(but then there are those "tourists" that just want to go to a place to say they have been, staying in fancy hotels or resorts and not interacting with the local's or the culture!).

If you decide not to travel because of one reason or another, you would never travel anywhere and that includes your surroundings in your own country ( just stay at home dressed in cotton wool!)

[starlagurl]

I'd say it's more cultural than generational, at least over here. Over here everyone does it, including the kids..

Yeah, I was just thinking for Kenya, it might be generational. I guess it's about time for some education on the matter in schools maybe?

Still China was nowhere near as bad as India in that respect. Biggest failing of the British Empire, not teaching those people how to queue.

Haha, really?! That's hard to believe...

What I find more disturbing is the clearing of the nose by holding one nostril closed and blowing out the contents through the other nostril. No use of tissue and hankerchief just straight out onto the pavement or road........this is something else I noticed in Asia.....

I have a real thing about noses and it makes me gag...and on one particular nasty occassion I did throw up!

Blech, I'm trying hard not to puke right now just from you TALKING about it.

[mynetdude]

well the quote system went craps on me, my crazy browser.

So I'll try to summarize all the quotes in reponse to my post.

While it is true the whole point is to travel and be immersed into their culture that is far different than ours, their social norms are relatively different, etc.

However, you'd think by now that Japan and China (or at least Japan anyway) seem to be highly sophisticated in technology you'd think they wouldn't have these kinds of kissues (I'd say hygeine but its not that issue necessarily) and I'm not sure what an American would do to you if they saw you blowing your nose onto the street in general or Europe for that matter.

At the same time, its just totally disgusting, even it seems many Europeans agree.

Talking about it rulez, seeing it doesn't! haha... rockon with this thread!

[jerminix]

Filipinos raised their eyebrows when they approve or wanted to say yes with talking. Example when a person ask if he has taken lunch , that person will just look at the person and raised his/her eyebrows to tell that he has already taken lunch meaning yes.

[ScottWoz]

Good point..

[starlagurl]

Hmmm, I don't think I would find myself spitting in any situation...honestly.

It's such a complicated issue. It may be a similar one to smoking here. It takes a major cultural change to get everyone to stop smoking, you can't just fix it by teaching kids not to do it. That helps, but there has to be a shift in the thinking of the general population as well. It's a tough habit to break!

[mynetdude]

Hmmm, I don't think I would find myself spitting in any situation...honestly.

It's such a complicated issue. It may be a similar one to smoking here. It takes a major cultural change to get everyone to stop smoking, you can't just fix it by teaching kids not to do it. That helps, but there has to be a shift in the thinking of the general population as well. It's a tough habit to break!

Telling them not to do it is one thing then they go home and see the world still smoking right in their face doesn't help either. First their parents/elders (the adults in general) need to quit smoking FIRST (remember kids will do what YOU do ).

[starlagurl]

Exactly, there are so many fronts to fight the war on smoking, just like the spitting thing.

[timpaul]

I dont know but Europeans do stare a lot when you talk to them. In Filipino culture its not ok to stare at someone you are talking to but it seems the norm in Europe. Anf they speak so close to you also its quite unnerving for me at least.

[wakingdream]

I'd say it's more cultural than generational, at least over here. Over here everyone does it, including the kids..

Oh yeah, the spitting over there. Holy cow. I once got hoarked on by some older dude out a bus window heading to Udom Xai. Not so cool. Spitting is definitely big time over there.

[mynetdude]

Exactly, there are so many fronts to fight the war on smoking, just like the spitting thing.

Indeed... GMTA

[ak49]

Not to get off of your interesting subject of mucus, but my most awkward moment was over in Hawaii last year. It was my first time there and I was just walking around by myself on the main island on a beach... don't recall the name. When a couple of locals came up to me and said, "go home howlee." Which is slang for leave white kid, so being their culture, I said bye and left. Luckily that was the end of that encounter, but it was one of the few times I've had a race card pulled on me.

[barsie]

I dont know but Europeans do stare a lot when you talk to them. In Filipino culture its not ok to stare at someone you are talking to but it seems the norm in Europe. Anf they speak so close to you also its quite unnerving for me at least.

Well in Europe it's not what I'd call staring but we see when you have a conversation eye contact is sincerity, so shows you aren't lying. It's also a way of showing interest in what the other person is saying.

In Thailand as i'm naturally thin they were always trying to feed me. They thought it was strange a Farang who's not fat and always stuffing himself with food.