209
votes
Took airline plane blanket by accident; didn't realize it was forbidden. What should I do?
To avoid any lingering feelings of guilt, you can call the airline and ask them what they'd like you to do with the blanket. Explain that you took it by mistake because you were not fully alert when ...
- 131k
163
votes
Took airline plane blanket by accident; didn't realize it was forbidden. What should I do?
We live in a strange world where manufactured goods (like blankets) are very cheap, and people's time is very expensive. Our moral (and legal) codes haven't caught up with this: so we feel bad at ...
- 1,681
158
votes
Accepted
Dress for First Class?
If you've been on a plane before, I'm sure you've walked past first class; nobody cares. If you want to dress up, sure, but I'd prefer to be casual and comfortable.
- 846
147
votes
Took airline plane blanket by accident; didn't realize it was forbidden. What should I do?
Or should I just forget about it, having learned my lesson?
Just forget about it. No one is going to come after you for stealing a 2-euro blanket. Keep it as a souvenir and don't steal any in the ...
- 82.1k
145
votes
Accepted
Should I not use double things in a double room if I have booked it as a single guest?
Being a supervisor at a well known 3/4 star hotel I speak from experience.
If a consumable/expendable amenity has been provided in your room, it is yours. This includes personal care products, snacks,...
- 1,066
143
votes
Accepted
How would Japanese people react to someone refusing to say “itadakimasu” for religious reasons?
Outside of a temple, or perhaps dinner with the Emperor, "itadakimasu" has zero religious connotations. A reasonable translation would be "thanks for the food" said to no one in particular. The after-...
- 869
126
votes
Accepted
Is it rude to ask if the food contains pork or alcohol?
As a white, Christian, American person I can definitely say that nobody would (perhaps should) be offended by your dietary restrictions. I have a number of friends who are vegetarians for no reason ...
- 1,364
126
votes
What is way to eat rice with hands in front of westerners such that it doesn't appear to be yucky?
Do you have some kind of roti or some kind of flat bread that can go with the rice? People may be less edgy if they think of it as eating taco or burritos by hand.
It might come down to whom you're ...
- 1,153
118
votes
Should I say hello to the passport control officers, or just quietly give them my passport?
I’m a former Immigration Officer myself (in the UK).
Saying “hello” (or “good morning/evening” etc) is entirely appropriate, just like any other encounter in the English-speaking world. It ...
- 1,668
112
votes
Accepted
Is it offensive to the chef/host to finish all food on your plate in Italy?
I would say it's the other way around. Italian chefs don't like to see leftovers on the plate as it could signal that you didn't like the food. Once, in a local bar in which I have lunch every day, I ...
- 3,259
110
votes
Accepted
Are sweatpants frowned upon on flights?
You won't win any fashion contests, but that's not what you're aiming for anyway. I can't tell you anything about East Asia, but I've travelled plenty around Europe (including Eastern Europe). Jeans ...
- 11.9k
105
votes
Do I have to whistle really loud to hail a taxi in NYC?
I've lived in New York City for most of my life, and I've never whistled for a taxi. I have, however, hailed many taxis by silently raising my arm or indeed just making eye contact without any ...
- 131k
104
votes
Accepted
What is a polite way to tell a Scottish person that I am struggling to understand his/her accent?
I'm English and lived in Glasgow for 4 years. Understanding many (but certainly not all) people will be tricky (even us native speakers struggle), but they'll be very willing to try to help you ...
- 12.6k
100
votes
Accepted
OK, we are all adults here, so what is a bidet for and how do I use it?
Bidet Who Are You?
The bidet is a sanitary installation which looks like a shallow toilet bowl with water taps. The purpose of the bidet is to clean up after you've done what you came to do in the ...
- 52.5k
96
votes
Accepted
Is it rude to bring bottled water into a restaurant in Germany?
they can exploit it in their favor
Everything in restaurants¹ is more expensive than the pure cost to acquire or produce it.
This is how the waiting staff and location is paid.
The only difference in ...
- 2,676
95
votes
How can I avoid ordering multiple bottles of water at a restaurant?
In France it is required by law to provide tap water to a customer, for free. It is very common and acceptable to ask for tap water in a pitcher in a restaurant. Don't hesitate to ask for a refill.
- 841
91
votes
OK, we are all adults here, so what is a bidet for and how do I use it?
I'm Portuguese and every bathroom has a bidet. Only the really small ones don't. It is something I find in European countries with Latin roots (specially Portugal, Spain, France and Italy).
From ...
- 1,001
91
votes
How would Japanese people react to someone refusing to say “itadakimasu” for religious reasons?
Itadakimasu means, literally, "[I humbly] receive". Yes, the origins of the phrase may be about giving thanks to the gods, but at this point it's about as divorced from that as telling someone "bless ...
- 99.8k
85
votes
Dress for First Class?
and just wanted to experience it at least once.
Dress up, dress as nice as you like and comfortably can for a flight and make it a whole experience. You want to enjoy it so enjoy it to the fullest.
...
- 32.8k
81
votes
How am I supposed to keep a toilet bowl clean without a toilet brush?
You're not supposed to do anything. Cleaning the toilet is housekeeping's job, and in better hotels in Asia it's common to have several visits per day: once in the late morning and once more around ...
- 99.8k
74
votes
How do I politely refuse to lend my pen?
Let's be honest, refusing a pen will never be polite in the eyes of people! It's your right for sure, but no one will understand, they will always think "it's just a pen, how rude!". Besides, people ...
- 96.5k
73
votes
What is way to eat rice with hands in front of westerners such that it doesn't appear to be yucky?
A bit of open mindness will not kill you, the same open mindness you'd like to receive from other people who you think find your habits disgusting.
Follow me:
First and foremost, you can eat the way ...
- 5,872
70
votes
Is it rude to ask if the food contains pork or alcohol?
Not rude here in the UK, or anywhere in the western world so far as I'm aware.
It is polite, though, to tell your host at an early enough opportunity that they haven't already bought the ingredients ...
- 6,538
66
votes
What is a polite way to tell a Scottish person that I am struggling to understand his/her accent?
This is a personal experience answer. I am Dutch, so maybe a bit more blunt than you, but my solution works well.
I had that same problem last summer. I had arrived in Edinburgh one day, went to ...
- 58.7k
64
votes
Accepted
Would it be ok to eat rice using a spoon in front of Westerners?
It depends on how you define "western countries", but if you think of Western Europe + UK + US/Canada, please rest assured that nobody would care whether you use sticks, fork, spoon or hands (well, ...
- 21.9k
64
votes
Is wearing a mask in public a no-no (making one look weird)?
Wear the mask when you feel the need. It is unfortunate that people sometimes react that way but they do with many other things than masks too. Too bad that few people outside of Asia understand than ...
- 44.2k
61
votes
Accepted
Do flight attendants prefer I press the button or walk to the back? (Long-haul flights)
There is no specific preference, it depends on the person actually. Some do not like to be interrupted while they are at their position (usually the galleys) because it is sometimes the only place ...
- 96.5k
59
votes
Do I have to whistle really loud to hail a taxi in NYC?
Grew up in New York City, and the only people who whistle for taxis that I have seen are doormen—and they do it with an actual whistle. Even then, I suspect they are only doing it for effect or maybe ...
- 1,016
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