spitting culture & gay handshakes

The other day I read an article in mX about a Chinese woman who was air-drying her bra and panties in an airport. Maybe in Malaysia. Possibly Thailand. I don't know. Doesn't matter. It was a super-short article, but it tickled my funny bone hard. Especially when I put myself in the shoes of the airport staff who had to handle the situation...

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I work for a company that attracts a lot of tourism and am fortunate enough to not remember all of my unsavory interactions. However, the ones that have left a bit of a stench will probably stay with me until Alzheimer's kicks in. Many of my interactions at work with the international visitors from Asian countries, particularly China, stretch the limits of my comfort zone: from absurd requests for personal exclusions of house rules, to inappropriate physical contact (though not the type HR cares about). There are countless safety regulations to consider, so its impossible to accommodate certain demands and hard to get that message across with a language barrier. But it's even harder to stay professional as the situation unfolds. Especially when you're a victim of hair-caressing and "gay handshakes" (...but I'm a girl?).

Gay Handshake: A social faux pas in which you stroke the other party's palm with your index finger during a normal handshake. 

This isn't a rant. Not really. It's an observation of certain cultural customs that are clearly not universal. Except the gay handshake. Its arrogant to expect people from other cultures to hold the same values or understandings as you. Its also incredibly frustrating when little to no research is done on their behalf. Australia has one of the worst tolerance levels for a thick mix of cultures, so misunderstandings stick out like a sore thumb:

Queuing seems to be an absurd concept to people from overly-populated countries. Controlling and managing queues are part of my job description, which sounds ridiculous considering how many social psych theories emphasise the magnetism of conformity. Skipping queues and playing dumb can be infuriating to deal with, but you gain the backup of others in the line. Giving strict directions to a tourist, one-on-one, now that is a bind fibre won't fix. 

Smoking trends in Australia are on the decline since the introduction of several government-funded campaigns. There are seriously strict laws on who can smoke where. You can still find locals illegally squeezing in a puff or ten across from a restaurant, but they're usually compliant when told to relocate. This amenable attitude isn't commonly shared by the smokers on tour, and causes much conflict during confrontations. Its interesting how many forget how to speak English when they disagree with your direction. 

"I literally just heard you speak English."  

"No, no, no, no, no, no."

Spitting, blowing out snot onto non-tissue areas, and the liberation of any other bodily fluids in any public setting are either illegal or frowned upon for a reason: because its f***ing disgusting. And probably super unsafe. Too many times I've seen children relieve themselves in public - prompted by what I hope are their parents. It's like a reenactment of that scene from The Lion King...

Prohibition signs decorate tourist areas like propaganda material, and yet I've still seen countless launches of mucus. What's even worse is hearing those guttural attempts at raising some slimy demon from the depths of their soul. 

I'm grossing myself out. I have to stop. 

The point I'm trying to make is that yes, a little tolerance will go a long way. But a little education can get you a decent way, too. If you're planning on exploring the lands of a foreign country, be considerate. Do your research. Don't be an ass. Don't piss people off. 

I guess this was a rant.