Cultural misunderstandings

    Last month I bought an English magazine and there I found a humorous extract from an advertisement for Heathrow, London’s most important airport, where people of all nationalities and cultures meet. It was very interesting because it talked about the problems associated with different nationalities and body language. Besides, it presented two examples that illustrate those problems.

    The first example is about a Japanese, who is waiting in the airport, and asks an America passenger whether Heathrow has a luggage trolley service. In fact, it has. And this service is not only first class, but free! so, the Yank replies with the famous OK ring gesture. However, to the Japanese this means “money” and he concludes there is a change for the service. Meanwhile, a Tunisian on-looker thinks the American is telling the Japanese that he is a worthless rogue and he is going to kill him.

     Another example is about  the ring gesture, which can have further meanings, in this case a Frenchman who has just read a British Airport Authorities advertisement,  remarks wonderingly to his wife “you know how much zis airport cost”, and he made the finger-and thumb ring which to him means zero. Unfortunately, at the same time, he is glancing at a Colombian who is enjoying a fine Burgundy .The Colombia enraged by the deadly obscenity which he assumes is directed at him, chokes on his wine and catches his nose with finger and thumb. Unluckily, this appalls a Syrian opposite, who thinks the Colombian is telling him to “go to hell.” The Syrian is restrained with difficulty by his Greek colleague from getting up and punching the Colombian on the nose.

     Meanwhile, the Maitre, the person who is in charged of the waiters, attempts to calm the situation with “two out-thrust palms” but this is taken by the Greek as an insult and, in his rage, he promptly skewers the unfortunate man with his knife.

      What I would like to highlight is that although it is a humorous extract and its purpose is to entertain us, it also shows us how deeply our interpretations, our behavior, way of life and thinking are conditioned by our culture. Therefore, We need to have some knowledge of cultural customs in order to avoid misunderstandings, if we are going to travel to other country, we really have to consider those things, or keep our hands in our pockets!!.

Abby