10/26/21 Week 7: Response to "Differences in manners"

 Differences in manners

By Angélica Conde

"Mind your manners" is an expression many of us heard while we were growing up. But depending on where you're from, those manners can vary greatly. 

I have considered sharing some manners that may differ from my culture.

For example, slurping your food or making noise in my culture is considered rude and gross. On the other hand in China, it's considered a compliment for the chef.

Tipping is considered totally normal in my culture, it's a sign of respect and appreciation for the waiter, but in some countries like Japan or Korea, it's considered an insult.

In my culture, probably very similar to many, yawning with an open mouth is disrespectful if we are in class or listening to someone worse because it is considered as if they are bored with what the speaker says. 

Erupting is rude even when I know that there are cultures that consider it a compliment. And well, as always, it's remarkable to emphasize even when cultures have their different paradigms, there are some manners that are practiced in certain parts of a country, or especially in some families.

When I was a child, I remember one time in school I was punished for erupting in class. And as I mentioned earlier it's considered disrespectful in my culture, it's gross. But I was a 7-year-old girl who burped uncontrollably after drinking so much soda, and I didn't feel ashamed at all, just pain because my teacher punished me by hitting my hand with a ruler. 

My mom had taught me that flatulence was part of the human body, and that was an accident, I'm not trying to say that I consider it correct, but again, I was a girl who didn't have much control over my flatulence, just remembering it gives me so much laughter. 

Nowadays things are different, I am an adult and I can control my body. But I still think it was not the right way to correct me. Well, what can I tell you, in those days it was also allowed for teachers to "punish" students with the ruler. Now it's another story, you can probably go to jail for punishing students like that.

Well, I have students who have burped, farted, yawned, blown their noses in the middle of class and I don't think they should be humiliated. I have always set them apart and explained the correct behavior of manners, I have taught the other students not to point at someone who made a mistake or did something that goes outside the parameters of what we consider "correct". As educators, it's our role to help them and teach them to be tolerant.

💬What is a manner that is considered polite or normal in your culture and has a different meaning in another culture?

Finally, there is a video that according to my cultural manners it's gross and disrespectful, but not for them.

This infamous scene from Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls was inspired by the customs of the Maasai Tribe, located in Kenya. While most countries consider spitting very rude and unhygienic (it could very easily transmit disease), the Maasai Tribe uses it as a form of affection, good luck, or reverence. They will spit when they greet each other as a sign of respect. A father will spit on his daughter when she is married, to bring good luck and prosperity to the marriage. And the tribe will spit on newborn babies, to ensure the young child will not be cursed. Yes, to us it seems odd, but it's safe to say that many of our ways will seem equal as bizarre to the Maasai.

References:

Differences in manners - Dr. John J. Ivers

Wise bread - 12 Lessons in Manners From Around the World

How stuff works - 13 Examples of Good and Bad Manners Around the World

Ace Ventura - Displaying Affection https://youtu.be/DYwyBs15ekI