Interesting eating habits

• Egypt; Do not use a salt shaker!
If you are invited to a party in Egypt, it is better to avoid adding salt to food. This normal behavior shows the host that she is not a professional chef and has not been able to prepare delicious food.

• France; do not hide your hands under the dining table!
In France both hands should be on the table when you are at the table, even if you are not eating. If you do not use a spoon or fork or do not have a cup in hand, place your forearms and fingers on the table and be careful that your elbows are never on the table. Of course, this custom is not accepted in the UK at all, and your hands should be on your knees when you are waiting for the main meal or dessert.

• Japan; do not eat in silene!
It is common in Japan to eat out loud. In the culture of the people of this country, eating with a voice conveys your compliment and satisfaction with the chef’s cooking. So, the louder you eat, the more you enjoy the food! Of course, this behavior can only be seen in foods like soup and noodles, and you should be careful when eating other foods.

• Egypt: please burp!
Burping in Egypt means thanking the host for her delicious food. By doing so, you are implicitly informing your Egyptian host that you are satisfied with her cooking. Burping is considered an ugly behavior in the culture of many people around the world. However, if one day you travel to Egypt and visit an Egyptian family, try to burp as much as you can after eating!

• Venezuela; do not be on time!
Compulsory delay in Venezuela (there is a similar culture in Greece) is a sign of your positive personality. Usually, arriving at a party on time is a sign of your punctuality, but when you are invited to a party in Venezuela, give up this habit! In fact, the people of this country consider the timely arrival of guests as a sign of overeating, gluttony and intense interest in food (as an inappropriate behavior).

• China; do not finish your meal!
In Chinese culture, emptying a dish (eating all the food served) means disrespecting the whole host family. In this strange food culture, the guest must leave some of each meal in the serving dish. By doing this, the guest informs the host that the food served is sufficient and there is no need to serve more food. If this rule is not followed at a Chinese party, the host family will be ashamed and will apologize to the guest.

• Morocco; Eating by hand!
Although eating by hand was common in most societies until a few decades ago, nowadays the presence of spoons and forks has made this type of eating rude and unhygienic. But in Morocco this custom is still quite common and even food is served by hand at some parties. Of course, you only have to eat with your right hand.