K'La's blog in Hong Kong

I spent my winter break in Hong Kong visiting my pen pal Xiu Juan in Wong Tai Sin District.We went sight seeing with her family we saw the Wong Cho Ping it's like the Washington Monument in America. But oh was it cold it was ice cold so cold my nose was dripping and I thought it was going to become snot sickels,it was colder than Ohio on Christmas morn. Than we went to go eat at some place called Yung Kee Restaurant in Wellington Street Central. Xiu had Poon Choi and I had Cha Chaan Teng wow...I didn't pay attention to no one elses food beacuase it was so great it had my mouth savoring every taste of the food like i didnt have another chance to eat it. If you smelled that food yummy yummy in your tummy. But the down side was the smell of the streets ew it smelled like grass and sewear bad combination. I was tring to have some peaceful time...some time to myself but all I heared was people screaming into there cell phones, other people pounding on the pavement,cars yelling at one another wow when you want some peaceful time to yourselves its impossible. Finally we got to go home I was spending the night at Xiu's house (yay) and as soon as I walked into her house they stared at me like I had some beared upon my face Xiu motioned me back to the door and talked to me and told me that its rude to walk into a home without taking off your shoes at the door and greeting the oldest of the house. I felt so embarressed my face turned cherry red I took off my shoes and I said "hello" to her father. They all laughed while they showed me around the house and went to bed.

My Bali Booboo

As I went on my daily shopping trip in Tenganan Village, I smelled fruit as fresh as a new morning, and heard the day to day chatter in the marketplace. I picked up a few things, and not knowing the shopkeepers name, I pointed at him and then at my merchandise, curious of the price. He looked at me with disgust and clear signs of horror. I decided to move on, not knowing that I had just made my first horrible mistake of the morning. Walking along the busy market street, I looked at all the different fruits and vegetables on display in small carts. As I continued browsing, I saw a small child to my left fall down. Concerned for his saftey, I went over to help him up. Once I saw that he was alright, I patted him on the head, gently feeling his head for a bump. As a young woman rushed forward, i heard a loud gasp, and as abruptly as a train crash, the whole street was staring. I could feel their eyes on me, and hear their rude whispers. After I was able to make out what they were saying, I realized that it was a great insult to pat anyone, especially a child on the head. I felt so ashamed that I quickly left my items and went back to my hotel. Still feeling their eyes on my back.

A Whoopsies in Bangkok Thailand

I was out and about look for a newly found snack i approached a little rattly street cat that was quite sketchy and as I beckoned for attention i was stared down upon by many. I forgot In Bangkok you must wait to be noticed or clear your thought to be asked or to have attention brought to you. I was soo embarrassed and ashamed of my self i briskly walked many blocks down the street to find what i was looking for. This time as i walked up to a better well placed cart that seemed to have a more booming business and more of an appealing apatite i waited my turn and waited to be noticed so i would not feel the shame i did once feel just a few moments ago. I did enjoy the amazing new snack.That was my Egregious experience in Bangkok.

Not in South Korea!

My friend and I were on a trip in Seoul South Korea and my friend made the mistake of keeping a tatoo exposed. In South Korea it is not frowned upon to have a tatoo only if you show it is found strange within the locals. We were walking the park surrounding the N Seoul Tower and my friend was wearing a short sleeve T-shirt. We were on our way back to our home and wanted to get something to eat at a Korean BBQ restaraunt. As we entered the sweet and spicy aromas quickly crawled into our nostrils, the wrinkled server quickly came to ask what it was we wanted to eat. I made an attempt to order but as soon as the server looked at my friend's tattoo we were quickly asked to leave.

Bad mistake in Kolkata,India

As I took my journey to Kolkata India I strolled past through a beautiful elegant vender with colorful flowers. Little did  know, I was not suppose to sniff the flowers which smelt like sweet candy if they were out in display,not only that but I was pointing my fire-truck red sandals towards the seller. Everyone was quiet, I heard a couple of gasps which came from a man with a deep raspy voice. The sun is setting the sky had mixtures of purple , orange and pink .I look around and continue on my way through the dark full of Native Indians in the market everyone walked out of my way and faced towards me with a blank stare on their faces looking towards in my direction.As I walked backed to my 5 STAR hotel I went online to check etiquette in India as I read a couple of post I found out it was disrespectful to point my toes at someone and sniff flowers that are in display. I'm embarrassed,and now I'm informed and will take what  I learn on my new adventure in Kolkata.

-Angelica LaBrake

marla garay

Today I went on a stroll at the Sabah beach and I smelled the salt in the water and felt the soft warm sand going through my toes as I kept walking a big round red ball hit me on my head and as I turned I saw a really cute 5 year old wearing a black cap, he smelled of sweat. I then picked up his ball it felt squishy. I patted his head as a sign of its OK, and he looked at me with a mean look on his face and then ran away. I turned around to ask a guide what i did wrong, and he said that it is very disrespectful to touch anyone on the head especially a young boy. I felt really bad that day.

Singapore by Olivia Cash

Today I went to Singapore for some business with a large company. I went in for an interview and sat normally like you sit in a chair. The interviewer gave me an evil eye like I wrote something down wrong on my paper. I thought maybe she didn't like all the work I had done. I wondered why she kept giving me an evil eye. I thought she didn't like me so I left without warning. Later that evening I got a call from the interviewer to tell me to come back. When I got back to her office, she was wondering why I got up and left. She told me it was impolite to not cross your legs at the knees. Right after she told me that I felt like the stupidest and most idiotic person in the world. After the interview, she gave my boss a call telling her what I did and how I passed the interview.

A disatrous ride through Tokyo

After the most amazing day at Tokyo Disneyland, I decided I would grab a bite to eat on the way out. I stopped by one of the snack stands and bought a soft pretzel with cheese and bacon, a maple churro, and a chocolate tipa torta, which is a chocolate filled pastry similar in size and shape to a churro. I walked out of the park, booming with fire works, and headed for the subway while enjoying my food. I hopped on the bullet train and sat in an orange seat in the back. The combination of the roaring wind caused by the high speeds of the trains and the people rambling everywhere around me were so loud, I had to put on some music. I relaxed into the familial position where my legs formed the number four,  blasted my favorite song on my ipod, and popped my fruit flavored gum that replaced the odd after taste of the churro. I was in such a good mood I started to dance to the beat in my seat and I did not care that people could have been watching. But when I looked up to see what stop we were at, several Asian eyes that were slanted down angrily at me, quickly turned away. They looked at me like I was some kind of disgusting insect that should be squashed immediately. Luckily the next stop was my exit. I scurried off the train as fast as the beat of a hummingbird's wings and was dumbfounded when I realized what a complete imbecile I was. Everyone was giving me accusing glares because I totally forgot about Japanese etiquette. they looked at me weird when I was leaving Disneyland because I was impolitely eating while walking. Then when I boarded the train not only was I chewing gum, but I sat like garish man instead of crossing my legs at the knee. I can only imagine how I came across to them; just another rude American.
~Lauren Fleming  Mrs. Geck

Etiquette in Tokyo, Japan

today, i took a train to the Asakusa Temple in Tokyo, Japan. As I was walking in the gate, i stopped to look at the giant hanging paper lantern. It was magnificent! As i was walking around all the shop's I came across this cute looking one with all these delicious looking snacks! So I bought one and as I opened it, I got a phone call from my sister. So without thinking, I picked up her call and continued walking. After a while my mouth got dry so i took a bite of the snack I bought, and when i looked up, everyone was staring at me! Then I remembered reading something on the internet about eating while walking and answering a phone call in public is really rude! Once i noticed what a big mistake I had made and stopped my sister mid-sentence and hung up. I was so embarrassed I headed for the exit apologizing to everyone who was looking at me.

Vietnam Etiquette, Wyatt Logan

When I went to visit Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam I went to the Ben Thah Market. I was walking around untill I could fine something nice to buy. Then I saw a tradtional vietnamese pot that was very cheap. So I reached into my pocket, pulled out the money and tryed to give it to the lady. She looked at me with a deathning stare, then I rembered that in Vietnam that it is polite to give someone something with two hands. I quickly put my other hand on the money, passed to the street vendor and she kindly excepted. I was lucky that the street vendor was so kind and was thoughtful that I was a tourist and that i did not know the proper etiquette, but to some people in Vietnam it is very disrespectful.