ears, noses-- o my

[wong name]

i was just wondering how much customs, or tales differed from country 2 country....like if your nose itches in the midwest america it means that someone is talking about u-------and when you touch your ear and so on----this cant be the same all over the world can it???

[Paulo]

I know that if my foot tingles, that wong name just posted another strange thread.


:D

[travelpunk]

:D :P

Those are definitely unique topics

I think in LA, if your nose tingles...you're in show business and you're doing too much cocaine ^_^ but, I think that's the same in all countries

As far as superstitions, the Philippines probably has the longest list. Everything means something!

[wong name]

both those are very funny, sorry just trying to find unique things-----everything has all been done......but i hear ya, its not the best area 4 these topics......ill keep it 2 travel related ideas

[travelpunk]

Wong, this is the general discussions area so you are free to post anything you want! Travel related or not, it's all good .

[Paulo]

It's cool man, B)

actually I was mainly referring to another thread you started.

as tp said, it is the general discussion forum anyways



Paulo

[Canadian Dude]

Dude, your topics are great for making the brain work...keep'm coming wong!!! B)

[Columbia]

In Japan, if you stick your chopsticks staight up in your food it means death. And they share our superstitions about the number 13, except for them it is the number 4. In hotels, for example, there is no room number 4 or no 4th floor. Thats all I can think of, and so you know this is second hand info.

[wong name]

well i will tell u what my chop sticks are going in slanted --------forever!!!! ha,ha

[voyd]

Originally posted by Columbia@Nov 15 2003, 01:20 AM
In Japan, if you stick your chopsticks staight up in your food it means death.* And they share our superstitions about the number 13, except for them it is the number 4.* In hotels, for example, there is no room number 4 or no 4th floor.* Thats all I can think of, and so you know this is second hand info.

I could be wrong on these, but I vaguely believe that:

Chopsticks straight up in your food resemble incense sticks straight up in bowls of dry rice - often used to memorialize/pay tribute to the dead (like putting flowers on someone's grave).

And the Chinese/Japanese word for "4" (si4) is a homonym for "dead" (si3).

Basically all pointless trivial superstitions, in my book. Aum....

[Columbia]

Well that makes fine sense. I heard it from my cousin who's taking Japanese classes. Does anyone know the country where it's considered real rude to touch someones head or point your fingers or toes directly at a person (the same place where people are really proud. To the point where they won't admit to not knowing directions and will give you false ones so that you have to ask as many people as you see and then pick the most popular answer)?

[Mocassin]

Out here:
If you step on someone's foot, it means you want to sleep with that person...
WN, we also say that if your nose itches, someone is talking about you...
When the necklace you wear turns around (the back comes at the front), it means that someone is thinking about you in a good way, like a secret admirer or someone who cares a lot about you.

[Columbia]

Here, if you're fiddling with your belt buckle, or even just your belt, it's supposed to mean you're thinking about sex. If your ears burn it means someone's talking about you. Aaand the necklace thing...well there's no catch or nothing about that, just that if the latch is in front people like to say "Your boob is showing".

[wong name]

boobs showing? < perk > ha,ha well im guessing that the necklace thing is mostly addressed to women.... but believe me u....next time i see the clasp showing ill say 2 the gurl that her boobs are showing? ----and get slapped across the face-----ha,ha

4 the love of god moc.........stop stepping on people toes up there in the great white north. please------ha,ha never heard that one before, but u can bet your arse that im gonna use it from now on.......is it like a french thing? maybe, possibley?

in regards 2 the chopstick contraversey ---im sticking with forks, no matter how silly i look----ill never look at a chop stick the same again....

[worldwidemike]

In regards to the touching someone's head, I think it is a Buddhist thing. In Myanmar, my guidebook warned NEVER pat a child or someone on the head. It is considered very rude. I forget the actual Buddhist reason...something about the soul residing in the head or something like that???

Pointing is considered rude in a number of countries, too.

And in Hong Kong, if you ask someone directions and they do not know the answer, they "lose face." So, often they will simply shake their head like they don't understand you, or even worse, make something up. I tell you, THAT made asking directions and following them just a tad tricky, knowing the back of your mind that you might be off on a wild goose chase!

worldwidemike

[Columbia]

Ha, imagine trying to explain what you meant to her too eh wong? No matter how many times I hear it it makes me jump a little..guess that was the point.
And thanks wwm, I've been trying to figure that out for so long.