Mind Your Manners
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Following the laws of your jurisdiction and minding your manners are essential for a good travel experience. For me, these are the two areas where lack of mindfulness contributes most to people being ugly visitors.
Anytime I travel, I am representing the United States and my home state of Texas. I want my behavior to reflect well on both, and I always aspire to be a great ambassador. When people interact with me, my goal is to provide the people I visit a good experience of interacting with an American and Texan.
While following the law and minding manners could be a website itself, I just want to provide some high-level thoughts and a reminder to keep this top-of-mind as you do travel planning.
Always Follow the Law
You are subject to the laws of the jurisdiction you are in. Ignorance is not a defense if you break the law, and penalties can differ depending on the jurisdiction. In the United States, you are subject to federal, state, and local laws, and each jurisdiction may differ.
Researching ahead of time or getting this information from locals will help you avoid anything from a short-term hassle or prolonged, expensive legal headache. Travelers should research traffic, drug, alcohol, weapons, immigration/visa, and social laws especially.
For international destinations, make sure you know about entry and exit requirements before you go. The U.S. State Department’s Learn About Your Destination is a great place for those inside or outside the United States to start and offers in-depth information including, but not limited to:
Entry and exit requirements
Local laws
Safety and security
Health
Women and LGBTQ+ travelers
Mind Your Manners
Cultural etiquette literacy is a must when traveling. Things that are considered taboo or appropriate where you live may be the opposite in the destination you are visiting, and a manners faux pas can ruin your trip. For example, the “OK” sign commonly used in the United States and other Western cultures is a vulgar gesture in places such as Brazil and the Middle East.
Researching before your trip will help you create a wonderful travel experience. Here are some resources to start with:
Commisceo Global provides country and culture guides for over 80 countries. Each guide provides more information about language, religion and beliefs, culture, etiquette and business culture.
eDiplomat has comprehensive etiquette information for 44 commonly traveled countries.
Fork Union Military Academy offers information on five common hand gestures that do not translate well across the world.
Women on the Road provides a high-level overview on cultural etiquette mistakes not to make when traveling.
While only a high-level graphic overview, Remitly has an entertaining page on global cultural etiquette.
Business.com has information on business etiquette for select countries.
Pennsylvania State–Harrisburg offers An International Student’s Guide to American Culture and Etiquette for general information about etiquette in the United States.
Minding your manners also includes not doing anything to insult your hosts. While it’s OK and even encouraged to share information about your home with locals, comparing their food and customs unfavorably to what you have at home is not acceptable. You travel to experience and enjoy the differences between home and your destination. If you can’t do that, perhaps stick closer to home.
Absolutely refrain from commenting about current events or political situations in your destination, especially if they are controversial or divisive. You don’t live there and are not privy to local views of the situation.
Instead, research current events in your destination before you go by using local news resources. If it’s safe to do so, learn from the locals on all sides of an issue to get their perspective. Listen without judgment. This will enhance your understanding of the local culture and events, create bonds with locals, and maybe give you boasting rights that “you were there when it happened.”
Understanding each other contributes to a closer global community. Following the law and minding your manners help forge those bonds. This research is an essential part of my travel planning and ensuring I represent my home country and state well.