Etiquette Differences

Greeting

Even a simple handshake protocol is different.

• For some Muslim ladies any physical contact is improper, including a handshake.
• In entire Asia the Dutch double kiss is very wrong.
• At Sumatra a handshake is quite common, but should be followed by a brief touch of the hart. It shows that the other person is close to your heart. A 'bare' handshake will raise some questions.

Eat

• Westerners eat with knife & fork, using two hands. Eating with one hand shows a lack of good manners.
• Chinese and Japanese use the right hand only. Knife and fork are not the right tools for Chinese food (...chinesefood...). Two chopsticks (.../~k_tok/...) do the job.
• In Indonesia most people eat barehanded, the right hand that is. The left one is reserved for paperless toilets. Eating with two hands shows a lack of good manners.

Pointing

In Dutch culture it is inappropriate to point with the index finger. In Asia it's rude. A civilised Asian points with the thumb on top of a fist.

Ask the Bill

In Asia you should write a imaginary bill in the air to ask for the bill. It is a bit similar to the Dutch gesture of counting money.

Give & Receive

A civilised Asian will use both hands when receiving. In Holland two hands stretched out show improper greediness.