If you arrive in Albania and ask the driver take you to a place you want to go and he shakes his had from side to side, do not close the door and look for another driver. It will take you too much time, because in Albania, shaking head from side to side means “yes” and nodding the head up and down means “no”. Imagine an Albanian attendant’s alarm in the airport if he asks you such questions as Did you pack your own bags? Have you left your bags unattended at any time? Did anyone ask you to carry something on board for them? So it’s better to answer the question than nodding or shaking your head.

Reversal of meaning of yes/no head gestures occurs in Bulgaria too.

People from Southern India tit their heads to one side or both to Indicate agreement.

On many South Pacific Islands, they signal yes by raising their eyebrows.

If you visit or host Chinese, do not wear a green hat. Many Chinese believe that when a man wears a green hat, his wife or girlfriend is cheating on him. Generally, for Chinese people green has a positive meaning. It is associated with health, prosperity and harmony. An exception is a hat.

For many Chinese people, green hats are associated with infidelity.

If you at the table and some guests or the host make loud slurping sound they will be displeased if you do not do the same. Sometimes in Japan, as in Hong Kong, slurping is not rude; it is a sign of approval and appreciation for the cooking. Slurping pays a tribute to the chef. And if you do not slurp they may think that you did not like their food. Also lip smacking tells the cook that his food is delicious. Belching is another complimentary sign, as in some parts of the Philippines and in Saudi Arabia.

There are many customs related to whether it is impolite or polite to eat with your mouth open. The Japanese believe that it is rude to show the inside of the mouth. That is why they also cover it when they laugh.

Many Asians and Saudi Arabians make eating noises to show their appreciation of the food. Interpret this as a compliment and not bad manners.

Are you invited for dinner and you want to buy flowers as a present be careful in different cultured there are different meanings of flowers and their colors.

Yellow flowers:

In American culture it means “I miss you”.

In Iranian culture it means “Enemy”, “I hate you” or even that you wish the person’s death.

In Georgia it means that you do not want to see the person any more.

Among Mexicans yellow flowers have a negative connotation, related to funerals.

White flowers

For Chinese and most other Asian people, white is the color of mourning and frequently used in funeral sprays. So if you are not sure to which culture belongs your host do not buy yellow or white flowers.

There are some gift taboos you should know. In Chinese, the sound of the word umbrella is the same as the word for separation. For Chinese, gifts of knives and scissors also symbolize the severance of a relationship.

In the past, Americans had a similar reaction to a gift of a sharp object. The recipient had to give a penny back as if he had bought this object and not gifted.

Another Chinese gift taboo is the clock. The sound of the word “clock” is a homophone for a word that means “attending the dead”. So the recipient of a clock give a coin in return, symbolically buying it instead.

In Georgia gifting soup, shampoo or napkin means tears. Gifting knife means quarrel. They also do not give soup or knife from hand to hand, because it means that you will quarrel with this person.

At last if you are going to visit other country or are invited to the house whose host belongs to the other culture it is better to read some information about that nations and their culture not to feel yourself uncomfortable or even fool.