Culturally sensitize yourself

The most important thing to remember while travelling is that part of the reason you are going to this strange and wonderful destination is to experience a culture that is different from your own. Behaviour that may not jive in your home country may be the norm in your destination, or vice versa. Did you know that in Argentina, it is considered rude to sit down before your host sits down, or that in Afghanistan it is punishable by beatings and imprisonment to fly a kite? And in Singapore, never give a gift of a clock, handkerchief or umbrella. Recognize and embrace the differences, both good and bad, as part of your worldly experience. Before arriving in your first port of call, familiarize yourself with the dos and don'ts of the culture and try to lean a few key phrases in the local language.

Your guidebook will likely be the first place you look for information on how you should behave in the foreign cultures you will be visiting. Another good source is a series of books called "Culture Shock" which give the reader a thorough understanding of the things they need to know.

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