Before your study abroad trip, it is essential to prepare as much as you can to make your cultural adjustment as easy as possible. Ways to prepare include researching what the weather will be like, figuring out what types of food you will be eating (and trying them in the United States first if possible), and also things as simple as how to greet people in your host country.
Traditional Greetings:
- Thailand – The traditional Thai greeting is called the wai. In general, the younger person greets first, by placing the palms together at chest level and bowing slightly. The higher the placement of the fingertips, the greater the respect; the highest wais are reserved for monks and royalty. If someone should wai you, it is polite to wai back (except to children.)
- China – Bowing or nodding is the common greeting; however, you may be offered a handshake. Wait for the Chinese to offer their hand first.
- India – “Namaste”, for an Indian it’s a common way of greeting outsiders and elders. Both palms placed together and raised below the face shows respect for others.
- Nepal – You may accept handshake offered by both sex male or female, but never offer your hand first to women. Instead you do `Namaskar’ Its considered rude for a man to touch a women even shaking a hand, especially married women. Hand shakes are more gentle not strong, so don’t feel the person isn’t interested, it’s just their way.
- Japan – Bows can be generally divided into three main types: informal, formal, and very formal. Informal bows are made at about a fifteen degree angle and more formal bows at about thirty degrees. Very formal bows are deeper. The most common greetings are ohay_ gozaimasu or “good morning”, used until about 11am but may be used at any time of day if it is the first occasion that day the two people have met; konnichiwa which is roughly equivalent to “good day” or “good afternoon” and is used until late afternoon; konbanwa or “good evening”; and oyasuminasai or “good night”.
- Taiwan – Greetings are formal and the oldest person in a group is always greeted first. Handshakes are the most common form of greeting with foreigners and many Taiwanese look towards the ground as a sign of respect when greeting someone. You need not follow their example as they understand that westerners tend to smile warmly when introduced.
- Korea – Greeting and saying thank you are very important to Koreans. These words are always said with a bow of the head. The depth of the bow depends on the relative seniority of the two speakers. As a related note, seniority grants one important/preferred status and respect in Korea. And, as such, you may often be asked somewhat personal questions about your age, education and marital status (sometimes-even wealth), these questions are not meant to pry or offend, just to determine your status and how you should be addressed.
Knowing how to act when greeting your host family, teachers, and everybody you meet on your study abroad trip to Asia will help you tremendously to reduce culture shock and help integrate you into the new culture of your host country. To read more about cultural adjustment and how to deal with culture shock, download our free e-report, AmeriSpan’s Guide to Cultural Adjustment here. For more information on AmeriSpan programs, visit our website here.
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