Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsuo
Are there any specific things you shouldn't say in Spain, South America or do? Something the may hurt feelings? Like e.g. for example in the Netherlands you shouldn't joke about Germany and Netherlands in world war 2. Like in "how big are the Netherlands" - answer would be "half an hour with a tank" (answer by a German). A really bad idea.
Most travel guides do say: Don't discuss politics or don't criticize decision made bby politicians, royals etc.
|
1. Don't use profanity/bad words in Spanish in polite company or around strangers. The Spanish profanity words have their place but not with strangers, women, children etc.. We Americans think it's so funny and cute to do this but Spanish speakers take it as an insult.
2. Don't talk against the Catholic Church. While in Mexico especially don't talk bad or against the Virgin of Guadalupe. This is a real no-no. Many American Protestants tend to be anti-Catholic but don't show it in Spanish speaking countries. Leave it for when you're in the U.S.
3. Don't talk against their class society which is obvious to Americans when we go down there. (If you watch novelas in Spanish you'll find that most of them have this as a theme about the difference of class society.) We have a class society in the U.S. but it is more obvious in Spanish speaking countries.
4. Don't just walk into a house without saying con permiso no matter how well you know the people. We would never walk into a house without knocking in the U.S. for example even when we know the people.
5. Don't walk away from a conversation without saying con permiso. Just walking way from a conversation
without excusing yourself is a no-no.
6. Don't talk against their governments. Let them do it. jajajaja=hahahaha...
We Americans for example like to talk against our government but generally
speaking do not like to hear foreigners talk against our government. Same thing
in other countries including the Spanish speaking countries.
7. Don't talk about how easy Spanish speaking girls are to have sex with.
Ironically this is not true and they think American girls are more liberal
in this sense. Sure there are places where you can go for this but the
general population is very prudish about this. Spanish speaking men in
general are very protective of their sisters/daughters for example and
you can get into trouble if you don't respect this. If your are staying in
a house in Mexico for example never walk into the daughter's/sister's bedroom.
I learned this one time while staying with a Mexican family in Guadalajara.
The one brother told me he went looking for some guys with a gun
who were bothering his sister. It's a matter of honor. Respect it.