Greenland:

• You cannot and will not buy alcohol after 6pm. Monday through Friday, you cannot buy alcohol after 6pm. You can buy until 1pm on Saturday. Sunday is completely off limits. Trust me, we don't like it either.
• Don't gawk at the people carrying around guns. (This doesn't apply to the cities!) We're avid hunters. For some people, it's how they survive. I've seen a couple tourists almost kneel over and die when they see guns. Don't worry! I understand, it would be a bit shocking. Just try not to look horrified, as most of us would probably take offense.
• Don't vent your frustrations about shortages in our markets. We cannot grow our own vegetables, and as a result, we import them. This leads to markets not having some things available for a while.
• Don't just walk into the doctor's office for a checkup. The doctor’s office is extremely hard to get into. If you want to get checked, you have to get in a line before it opens. But hey! You get it free!
• Don't wear shorts. This is so obvious, it hurts. People still do it. Our summer is very short, and even then, it's not much of a summer. Temperatures are very low and often catch tourists off guard.
• Don't touch the sled dogs. Seriously. Don't do it. No, really. Don't do it. Those dogs aren't raised like pets. Unless you have complete assurance from the owner, do not touch them.
• Don't remind us that we're owned by Denmark. Personally, this one doesn't bug me. It gets a bit annoying when that's the only trivia that people know of my country, but it doesn't truly hurt me. I can't say the same for some of the other people I know. We don't hate the Danish (heck, most of us are half Danish!), it's just a bit tiresome.
• While we are a very friendly people, I don't suggest touching anyone who you aren't close to. This applies to many countries though.
• For the love of God, do not accuse a Greenlander of killing innocent animals if you are against hunting. Hunting is a part of our culture, and most will look at you with distaste if you tell someone that we're killing innocent baby seals. We don't. (By the way, baby seals wouldn't feed anyone.)
• Don't look for Starbucks. Sorry, they're not here.
• Don't call Greenlanders eskimos. We prefer Inuit (or Kalaallit). Inuit refers only to the Kalaallit of Greenland, Inupiat of northern Alaska, the Inuit of Canada.
• I know the language sounds strange to those who don't speak it. For instance: I can't hear very well becomes Tusaatsiarunnanngittualuujung. It's okay if you don't speak Greenlandic! We don't expect you to. However, I've heard some tourists making fun of it. Please don't make fun! Yes, it's strange and looks impossible, but it's a source of great pride for many Greenlanders.

Since we're a pretty welcoming people, we'll probably forgive you for messing up with these. I'll add more when I think of them!

Sweden

1. Don’t eat yellow snow, because even if it could be beer, it’s more likely piss.
2. Don’t drink and drive. This is an absolute no no.
3. Don’t brag, mostly because it is so boring to listen to, and I guess this might be universal. People might ignore you and walk away.
4. Don’t be bothered if people don’t believe in any god. Almost no one is going to church anymore unless it is for special happenings such as marriage or funerals.
5. Don’t expect any strangers to talk to you, sit down beside you, or chat to you while waiting for the bus.
6. Respect the line and queue. People really care about discipline. Be polite when queuing even if it doesn't make sense.

This image show some swedes waiting for a bus. Do not walk too close to each other! Hopefully there are enough places available on the bus later on so they don’t have to sit next to eachother.

Edit: Wow, 6,6k upvotes. That’s sort of insane, thank you! :)

Australia.

Do not, do not, absolutely do not go for a swim intoxicated, outside the flags, or both.

Because unless you hail from somewhere like Hawaii, you have no idea what swimming in the ocean is like. That is not the same water as what is in your local swimming pool. It is to your beach in Devon like a raging bull to a tame cow.

Once, on January 1st, on Bondi Beach, I saw lifesavers pulling people from the ocean non-stop. Their jetski was turning at the knee-deep to pass another distressed yet living body to those ashore, and without a pause, racing back to pick another one, then another one, for close to two hours. I've heard horror stories about pulling a 140kg Englishman, all covered with a thick layer of tan oil, out of the water.

They need to erect a monument to Australian Surf Life Savers there in the UK, really.

See the flags? Swim between the flags. Don't see the flags? Don't swim.

Russia:

1. Do not stare at people openly - you can check someone out discreetly, but an open stare can guarantee you an aggression;
2. Do not lose control of your belongings at any time - Russian street and transport thieves are quite talented;
3. Do not resist if you get asked to show your IDs or God forbid arrested - police have a temper;
4. Do not touch painful topics while interacting with locals - World War II, Crimea and anything else related to politics especially;
5. Do not reject hospitality - even if you just stopped by to drop some papers, be prepared to have dinner and some tea with sweets, and saying no is not an option;
6. Do not keep your shoes on when you are someone's house guest.

CANADA:

1. Don't tell us you know so-and-so, and so-and-so, from Canada, and do we know them too? Canada is the second-largest country in the world. I don't know half the people in the town where I live, let alone everyone in the country.
2. Don't ask if we live in igloos. We don't. Seriously. I have been in the Arctic and even THERE people live in pre-fab houses. It doesn't snow year-round everywhere in Canada. I live near a community that has outdoor swimming pools.
3. Don't assume that just because you've been to one region of Canada you know everything there is to know about it. There are distinctive cultural differences between provinces. How things are in Toronto is not necessarily a reflection of how things are in Vancouver.
4. Don't talk about how people in Canada are "so polite". Some are, some aren't. It depends on the person.
5. If you go to a national park, DON'T PET THE WILDLIFE! DON'T FEED THE WILDLIFE! DON'T WALK NEXT TO A BEAR! These animals are EXTREMELY dangerous and they can be VERY unpredictable. Even a deer can kill (with its hooves) if it feels threatened. It's recommended to keep at least three schoolbus lengths away from any animal, and at least double that if it's a bear. If you want to take a photo, do so from a safe distance.
6. Don't ask where the nearest Dunkin' Donuts is. We have Tim Horton's.
7. Don't ask us if we wish we were American. Many of us have no desire to live in the U.S.

Rwanda, a tiny country in the eastern central part of Africa (it is there, in red) Rwanda

1. When visiting Rwanda, don't bring any plastic bags as they are prohibited in the country. When you try to bring them, they will be confiscated right at the airport. Same goes with throwing waste in the environment, our country is very clean, and throwing any waste would be a shame for you, and the authorities can punish you for that.
2. Don't openly discuss ethnic issues. 22 years ago our country had seen one of the most atrocious tragedies in human history 1994 Genocide Rwandan genocide you shouldn't go around asking everyone what? where? how? who are you? The good way to learn this history is to try and visit some memorials which are rich in that history and it's near the main city, Kigali and almost in every other city across the country.
3. Don't try to take pictures of everything you see especially people even young kids in the street without first asking. Yes, our country is still under development, you might see poor neighborhood, young street kids or some funny things you can make out of those pictures - taking photos of those vulnerable people without their permission is a sensitive issue in our culture.

1. You shouldn't be annoyed or irritated if someone didn't make it on time. For many people being late "is just okay" one hour or 4 hours would still be okay ;) so if you are meeting someone either for business or personal affairs just bear this in mind and be patient.
2. Restaurant and other service businesses. You will be treated really well, in fact a special treatment will be given to you if you are a foreigner (Rwandans are very welcoming and we are naturally good to our neighbours), but don't take advantage of it or think that they want something from you (i.e. don't shout or raise your voice when you are not satisfied with the service, there is a good manner to bring the issue at hand).
3. Rwanda is very safe and secure. Contrary to the popular belief or some perception of a country which has been in Genocide 22 years ago, you can move around anytime you want; even midnight. Don't expect anyone to understand what you are talking about, even if you speak English or French, the majority of people only know one language; Kinyarwanda. Taxis, local traders, waiters, service providers, etc. they try hard to understand you but make sure when you are traveling to have a local guide with you (this will also help you pay less for everything, because you will not be overcharged cause you are a foreigner)
4. Don't bring cats or dogs to public places or smoke in public. This doesn't mean Rwandans hate animals, it means they respect other people's views almost on anything. There are also special places reserved for smokers.
5. When you are a guest to someone's home, don't pay (or contribute) for the food or drinks offered unless asked to, this is rude or in some cases disrespectful.
6. Don't get annoyed if you are being called 'muzungu' everywhere. Literally muzungu means 'a traveler' but it is widely known as 'white people', even Asians are called 'muzungu' ;) ;) Don't think they are being racists or are they trying to insult you.

Welcome to Rwanda! The land of thousand hills.

As far as I'm concerned, there's only one "absolutely not" rule for Germany:

1. Don't do the Nazi salute. Not even in jest. It's a crime and every year there are tourists arrested for it. Also don't carry any Nazi symbols on you.

If you not just want to avoid getting arrested but also keep the respect of the Germans you meet, the following rules are important:

1. Don't stare. You'd appear either uneducated or mentally ill.
2. Dress somewhat better than the average American. T-shirts are only acceptable if it's above 20°C outside. Avoid tennis shoes unless you are actually in the middle of exercising.
3. Remember all the things your mother and grandmother told you about manners and about doing things the right way? That really matters in Germany, otherwise you come across like the scum of society. There are a lot of rules for this on very diverse issues, from being on time to not speaking with your mouth full to using an appropriate level of formality/festivity when the occasion calls for it.
4. Don't talk about money - not about your salary, not about someone else's salary, not about how much you paid for something and particularly not about trickle-down economics. If you're wealthy, don't flaunt it.
5. Don't talk about religion.
6. Don't talk about politics unless you can agree with the basic consensus I outlined here. This is tricky. Many Germans like to discuss the news or argue about what should be done in an armchair expert way, so you may be drawn into a political discussion anyway. Disagreeing with each other on political issues is not a big deal in Germany - except if you disagree with the basic consensus of our country, people will lose respect for you until you present a really thoughtful argument. These issues are supposed to be obvious to everyone. Kind of like trying to argue for limits on freedom of speech in America. Which Germans might try to do.

Then, if you want to make friends with Germans, keep in mind:

1. Don't strike up conversations with strangers at a supermarket or the like; that's creepy.
2. Start out addressing people as "Sie" unless you are 100% sure that you are in a Du-subculture.
3. Avoid coming across like an over-eager puppy in your early interactions. Germans like to gradually warm up to people and taking the time to really get to know them before acting like BFFs.
4. Ask if you should take off your shoes when visiting someone's home.
5. Don't wish someone a happy birthday before the day. Same for anything. The origin is a superstition that something bad will happen to them (they might die) before their birthday if you do, however this rule is not limited to superstitious people. Even bright, rational Germans will feel uncomfortable because it's just not done. I guess it feels similar to congratulating someone on passing an exam before they have taken it...

If you'd like to read more interesting tidbits about Germany, follow my blog Understanding Germany.

Singapore

• Singapore Laws

DO NOT, and I mean DO NOT FUCK WITH THE LAW IN SINGAPORE. Of course, you should not commit a crime in any countries. However, Singapore Laws are VERY strict. Murder, Kidnapping and Drug Trafficking carry the death penalty. There is a reason why people call Singapore a "fine" city. One such person who learned this the hard way was Michael Peter Fay. Go search his name up. Spoiler alert, he got caned.

• Do not insult the Goverment

Yes, please do not do it. It’s for your own good. Recently, a man (Australian, I think) insulted us because he could not find any Pokemon in Singapore. He was soon fired from his job. Even our own Singaporean teenager, Amos Yee, insulted our late founding father Lee Kuan Yew and was arrested.

• Do not take taxis in Singapore

Unless you have lots of money to spare. Otherwise, you can save your money by taking our public transport. It’s clean and efficient as well.

• Do not tip

Yes, it is not neccessary to tip in Singapore. Most of the times, the service charge is added to your bill.

• Do not bring gum into Singapore

Well, just do not bring in large amounts of gum and start selling it. Most of the time, we Singaporeans just smuggle in small amounts of gum. If you chew gum in public, PLEASE THROW YOUR GUM INTO THE BIN AFTER CHEWING.

That’s about it.

Israel.

1. Please, for the love of Thor, do not leave packages unattended. The bomb squad will be called and it will make everyone hate you
2. Don't go to a political protest. You're a guest in our country, it's our job to keep you safe. Please don't make that job harder.
3. Don't forget to drink. Please remember to drink plenty of water, especially during the warm season. Seriously, vitally important.
4. Don't shave before going into the Dead Sea. Also, don't splash. It freaking hurts. Also, wear a bathing suit you hate, since you'll have to throw it out
5. Don't go into the West Bank without a guide if you don't know your way around. It can be a Palestinian guide, just have a guide
6. Dress modestly at religious sites.
7. Don't go into Meah Shaarim or Bnei Brak without a guide, and don't drive through their neighborhoods on the Sabbath
8. Speaking of the Sabbath, understand nearly everything is closed. Happily, if you are friendly, people will likely invite you for meals.
9. If a shop keeper kicks you out seemingly for no reason, ask yourself "is it Friday evening?" Don't get combative. It's not personal, they're kicking you out because by law they need to close before Shabbat.-Harris Wild
10. I apologize to Muslims, I know it's a prayer for you, but "Allahu Ackbar" is triggering to Israelis who think a bomb is about to go off. Please be careful.
11. Don't take first price at the shuk. Haggle
12. Do not discuss politics. Seriously, Israelis take that subject far too seriously. They will talk politics to you. Smile, nod, listen. Do not argue but please do not think that one opinion represents all Israelis. Hat tip to ‎Amir E. Aharoni (אמיר א׳ אהרוני)‎
13. While asking what people did in the army, some will answer. Some will not. Do not press them. This is hard, since I'm a curious person and I still struggle with this.
14. Don't panic. The country is safe. But pay attention and follow all instructions given by uniformed personnel.

Bulgaria

1. If you are homosexual, DO NOT overtly show your sexual orientation. Even though our society is becoming more and more progressive, homosexuality is still frowned upon, and even though I don't remember having heard about assaults over homosexual people in the recent years, do not get close to a person who looks like it would beat gays (i.e. bald-headed and covered in Nationalistic-style tattoos), as a rule. Or a group of drunken-looking youths.
2. Avoid contacts with aforementioned individuals if you are not really white in complexion, or are Turkish, as well. These guys are no joke, even if some of them look like walking punchlines.
3. DO NOT insult Bulgarian national heritage. Assume that if someone is considered to be Bulgarian, he or she is. Do not try to be a smart-ass and bring up opposing arguments, Bulgarians really don't tolerate that.
4. Talking about Macedonia as a country is absolutely forbidden, as for most Bulgarians it is a country of brainwashed people who don't recognize that they are, in reality, Bulgarian. You can only go as far as to say: "I went to Skopje/Ohrid once and ate burek there."
5. Bulgarian food is holy and is not meant to be insulted. Say that everything you have been served is the best you've ever eaten in your life or at least amazing. Now, Bulgarians usually understand that some of our specific foods like Shkembe chorba (<3) are not very pleasant to some foreign stomachs, but if you are served one, at least try to eat some before saying you're full or sth.
6. When invited to a dinner in Bulgaria, expect A LOT of food on the table. It's the traditional way of a Bulgarian to state they're wealthy and prosperous. Most Bulgarians will, though, understand that you're full and not bother you to eat everything you've been served.
7. Rakia, our most beloved brandy, is holy too. Everyone is especially proud of their home-brewed rakia. If you're not very tolerant to alcohol, don't drink much, because it is strong. But drink a bit at least, it is a sign of respect.
8. If you are giving a woman flowers, avoid an even number of flowers in a bouquet (I learned that the hard way :P) or chrysantemums. They are for dead people.
9. Expect people to move their head horizontally to say "yes" and nod to say "no". Avoid responding with a facial move, you'll pretty certainly get it wrong.
10. As a rule, when entering an Orthodox church, try to be covered enough (long trousers/skirt with a long-sleeved shirt is sufficient for women, and long trousers with some kind of shirt on for men). You may notice that not everyone follows this rule, but people who don't are viewed as stupid people, and often they are. Also, you have to make the cross sign like that threee times upon entering and leaving a church (always with face turned to the inside of the church):

1. Don't mind people being a bit late (5-15 minutes is the standard). It's very usual for Bulgarians.
2. Bulgarian drivers aren't the most civil people. Don't mind being shouted at, sworn at, or other drivers not quite sticking to the driving regulations. Do the best to stick to them yourself, and you'll be fine.
3. Don't expect everyone to speak English. Most young people speak at least some, for older generations you'd be better off speaking Russian.
4. DO NOT call us Russians. We aren't. We freaking aren't Russians.
5. DO NOT have an opinion on the current policy of Russia or Russia in general. Due to historic reasons, Bulgarians are pretty much divided into people loving Russia from deep down in their hearts and people hating Russia immensely. And you don't want to be between the hammer and the anvil.

Still, in general, Bulgarians are very welcoming and easy-going people, and will try their best to make you feel at home. So, if you follow these rules, you will have an unforgettable experience here!

Philippines:

1. Do not leave bags unattended in airport. Don't give reasons for security to open them. Secure bags. Preferably seal it in plastic, like in the photo. Funny but serious. Most recent issue and concern actually happens the moment you step out of the plane.

The issue is called "Laglag bala" or literally "bullet planting". The scam goes as, when passing through the detector, a "concern" will light up, and officials need to "inspect". They would have a bullet on hand, and supposedly "finds" a bullet in your bag.

According to our nonsense law, having a bullet in luggage is a crime. Even if it is just 1 bullet and no gun. Cause random people are kungfu martial arts masters who can toss a bullet with bare hands and kill. It is ridiculous because bullets are being found in the bag of a a.) foreign missionary b.) elderly nun c.) fresh graduate teacher

Airport security have superior thick faces and don't mind looking like idiots arresting a 70yo nun because she has bullets in her bag.

They will do this often in departure as well, meaning either you will

• go through security and miss your flight
• probably be jailed
• be freed to take your flight for a large bribe

Random SHIT Fact: there was a news report that a few pounds of drugs actually made it past security and was discovered abroad in a foreign airport. Pounds of drugs get past security but a 9mm bullet is always found. WOW

Airport officials go "oops .. it happens.. can't be perfect" but just a week later some underpaid homesick nanny gets caught with bullets again.

(translation: Reminder. I love my family. I'm not a dumbass. My bag has no bullets.)

2. Do not agree to "kontrata" or contract for taxi. Most of the time this is a scam to get more out of foreigners. Contract means the meter will not be used, and a fixed amount will be agreed on, based on the distance. Usually it is 3x or more the rate if you used the meter. Sometimes they will use reasons like "its traffic going there"

3. On second thought, preferable to not get taxis randomly, and contract one from your hotel/airport. The difference with contracting with your hotel and airport, is that these are regulated and checked, and you surely are getting a fare rate. Normal taxis might abuse your lack of knowledge in routes and take longer paths. Some have hidden mechanisms, like a pedal beside the gas, which when pressed, will trigger more kms driven, and the fellow might use it when you are looking at the sights or napping, and not noticing the meter is suddenly going in hyper mode.

4. Avoid going out alone at night, especially if you are obviously not a local and most especially if you are a young lady.

5. Do not go to crowded places such as wet markets unless you have a friend who is familiar with the place. Avoid bringing much cash and preferable keep your jewelry and gadgets at home. While you are busy loading Camera360 in your tablet, your smartphone has already disappeared from your pocket.

Spain

I've been siting here in my chair thinking of things you should absolutely not do in Spain and I can't think of any relevant one. We are pretty chilled about everything, sometimes too chilled.

However, there is one thing that you shouldn't do. Nobody is going to arrest you but people will politely laugh, chuckle and snigger at you. If you know somebody, expect them to take the piss out of you. You've been warned!

Just do not wear socks with sandals:

For some reason that goes beyond my understanding, some tourists wear socks and sandals.

Really, why?

We usually wear sandals or flip-flops in the summer because it's hot so our feet get some fresh air. If you put socks on, your feet will perspire less and because you're not wearing full cover shoes, you're more likely to become a smelly walking human. Besides that, we think it's anti-aesthetic.

I hope you enjoyed the answer!

Some non-obvious things that can get you into trouble in India:

1. Kissing in a public place. In some jurisdictions this can get you into jail under "public obscenity" (a lot of our laws are stuck in the Victorian era). Although the law enforcement cuts some slack if the couple is married, if the couple is unmarried things can get really messy. Gere kiss sparks India protests
2. Touch anything of respect with your feet. If you stomp over a book, national flag, image of a deity etc, you can get into trouble. While stomping a book might invite strong frowns (people will think you are an idiot), deliberately stomping an image of a god of any religion or India's national symbols (such as the flag and the emblem) might get you arrested.
3. Physical contact with member of opposite sex. Hugging and handshakes are still frowned upon in most parts of the country among members of opposite sex. Unless the local offers to hug or handshake, don't. This is not illegal and no one goes to jail for hugging/handshakes. Just it is a custom. On the other hand, among members of same sex hugging is pretty common.
   
4. Disrespecting any religion. While India is fairly tolerant of atheists and is officially secular, abusing any religion or caste is an offense. Insulting Christianity or Islam or any of the minority religions would be seen as a bigger offense. When you have 1.2 billion people of dozens of religions, such laws become essential.
   
5. Shorts/skirts in a place of worship. Dresses that show anything above the ankle is generally frowned upon in most places of worship and in someplaces officially banned. This applies to both sexes.

NIGERIA

1. Don’t give out your pen in the banks: A lot of Nigerians are always in a hurry, most of them always go to banks without a pen. They usually depend on other customers for a pen since most banks don’t provide pen for their customers. After using the pen, most of them don’t return the pen unintentionally, it is either they give out the pen to the next available person looking for a pen or they go out of the bank in a hurry with the pen and continue their daily dealings.

2. Don’t Argue with a Nigerian Army: The Nigerian Army is very professional and don’t tolerate indiscipline from the citizens. Some of theit soldiers behave irrational sometimes that is why it is advisable not to argue with them especially when you are at fault.

3. Don’t steal in public places: We all know stealing is bad and not acceptable anywhere in the world, but in Nigeria, you might not be arrested immediately, you might be seriously beaten or get killed by the angry mob before the arrival of law enforcement officers.

4. Don’t Put Your Wallet in Your Back Pocket

Even though most Nigerians nice and helpful there are always folks looking to take advantage of unsuspecting tourists (and locals!). Never place your wallet in your back pocket, as you are bound to lose it – sometimes without even knowing.

Always be vigilant and keep an eye on your wallet, particularly when you’re in a bus stops, market or any other crowded place.

Scotland- specifically the Northern Highlands.

Don’t, as one lovely visitor from the Home Counties did just recently, walk into the little local shop and loudly ask “Are these English strawberries? I only ever buy English strawberries in season.” She was met with a stony glare and a “You’re in Scotland now, lass” from the shopkeeper. Scotland turns out some of the best soft fruit in Europe from the berry fields around Dundee.

Don’t hire a car and set off to tour the Highlands - well not without learning how to drive on single track roads much, much, much, narrower than you’ve ever driven on before. Do practice reversing before you start out. Quora User's answer to What is the most satisfying passive-aggressive thing you have ever done to a really mean or rude person?

Don’t go into a pub when there’s a Scotland/England rugby match on and cheer if England score a try. Just keep quiet and smirk. Alternatively, cheer for Scotland.

Driving again - don’t forget we drive on the left. This is not something you can practice easily at home if you drive on the right - so don’t try it. But do get used to it on quiet roads here in the daytime before you set out to drive the North Coast 500 - Home

Don’t, especially if you’re from the States, tell us how “cute” and “quaint” all our buildings are. No they’re not, they’re normal. We don’t do McMansions here.

Don’t expect the food we serve in our pubs and restaurants to be horrible. That’s a trope from the sixties. We have some of the best seafood in the world and our venison, Aberdeen Angus beef and grass fed lamb is extraordinarily good. You can still find the occasional McDonalds though if you want horrid food.

Don’t tell us “I just can’t understand your accent”. Try to tune in instead. I’ll moderate my accent if you’re from another country or you’re not a native English speaker - but really, it’s not too hard. Unless you’re in Aberdeenshire - no-one understands what they say.

Don’t take a wrong turn off the motorway and end up in one of our peripheral housing schemes like Easterhouse. Have you ever seen “Assault on precinct thirteen”? If you do find yourself here, lock your doors, turn around as fast as you can, and get the hell out of there. Don’t stop till you reach the clean fresh air of the highlands.

And finally don’t expect us all to be dressed like extras in Braveheart. You’ll see plenty of kilts and tartan, but mostly in tourist gift shops.

Apart from all these “dont’s”, “do” have a great time and enjoy yourself, we’re mostly very forgiving of any cultural faux pas and we love showing off the good bits of our country.

Ceud Mìle Fàilte!

Canada

Do not attempt to enter Canada with a handgun*. Our gun laws are very different from the USA. Your best case scenario is it gets confiscated. It only gets worse from there.

*Edit - http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/fs-fd/visit-visite-eng.htm
Edit 2 - Restricted and prohibited weapons http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/fs-fd/prohibited-prohibe-eng.htm
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/fs-fd/restr-eng.htm

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Do not carry alcohol in an open container outside of your home or a licensed facility. When travelling in Spain I quite enjoyed walking around the streets of Seville while drinking beer that I just purchased from a vending machine. Unfortunately it's not permitted here.

Do not attempt to enter Canada with opiates, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamines, marijuana or other street drugs (of any quantity). While you may have a prescription for marijuana in your home country, and some Canadians have a licence or prescription for marijuana, the marijuana laws here are sufficiently vague that it's not worth the risk.

​While the above picture says 8 hours it actually takes 20 hours to get out of Ontario from Toronto via Sudbury/Thunder Bay (direct route).
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Just a friendly reminder that Canada is an extremely large country. We are almost the same size as Europe. Do not expect to visit Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Ottawa in one day.

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Enjoy your visit to Canada.

Singapore

Let's get the elephant in the room out of the way.

• Don't bring in narcotics. I understand some cultures have a time honoured tradition to bugger about this issue. Don't. Even. Try. We hang people for smuggling weed. If drugs are your joie de vivre I strongly suggest not coming at all. You won't even get the benefit of a defense, the sentence is mandatory capital punishment barring presidential pardon.

With that out of the way.

• Don't complain to a local. We take pride in our ability to bitch. Don't start a competition.
• Don't wear anything that isn't a loose t-shirt and shorts barring the possibility of financial distress. The weather's so bad, there will be much swearing and gnashing of teeth.
• Don't forget a brolly. It can take 5 minutes for a sunny day to devolve into a thunderstorm. Forgetting it will inevitably revert to much swearing and gnashing of teeth.
• On a side note, this island has one of if not the highest incidence of lightning strikes per square kilometre in the world. Find Shelter.
• Brollys are also terribly useful for mitigating the bad weather.
• Don't trust the weather forecast. You'd have better odds rolling a 10 sided die.
• Don't litter. At least, don't get caught. Your services to our nation will go entirely unnoticed.

• Don't be a prick.

• We are non-confrontational. Staring is considered very very very confrontational. Please don't. (Less charitable people accuse us of being subservient.)
• Don't freak out when you see a young child taking the train or the bus alone. Kidnapping is rare. I've known children of multimillionaires going to school alone via public transport. This may or may not have to do with the fact that kidnapping can lead to life imprisonment or capital punishment.
• Don't steal bicycles. It is well known that the neighbourhood police is so bored they follow up on bicycle thefts.

• As a pedestrian, don't run a red light. Jaywalking is entirely acceptable if you don't get caught (or run over), but if you make the effort to walk to the pedestrian crossing and still run the light, people will stare at you like you're batsh*t crazy.
• People have been caught. Don't tempt the police.
• If you rent a car for whatever reason, the only acceptable way to use your phone is hands-free. Since 2015, the police has the authority to dispossess of your phone in perpetuity.
• Don't bribe the police. Just because it worked in every other country in South East Asia doesn't mean it works here. We've had tourists being arrested trying. You'd be the butt of all jokes for a month.
• You may occasionally see this. If the word Gurkha means anything to you, don't do anything stupid.

• Don't hesitate to ask for directions. Several times. From different people. Trust only the ones who used GPS.
• Don't miss out on our zoological gardens. In particular the night safari.
• Don't miss out on ordering coffee like a pro

• Don't leave precious belongings lying around. It is considered impolite to foist upon strangers the quandary of leaving the item there in the off chance the owner reclaims it or turning it in to security/management/the police.
• I've left my debit card in the ATM machine in a train station and forgot about it until a few hours later. When I went back to the machine later that night someone had left the card on top of the ATM.
• Don't walk alone down unlit streets in rough neighbourhoods at 2am in the morning. You might have left the country by accident.
• Don't visit the town area during lunch without a tissue packet.

• Don't pay 15 bucks for "Singaporean food" If it isn't Peranakan and you paid more than 5 bucks for it you got ripped off something special.
• Corollary A: Don't go through your trip without eating at a hawker centre at least once.
• Corollary B: Mandarin Orchard Singapore's Chatterbox likes to claim credit for Chicken Rice. Don't believe their BS.
• The only Local fare worth more than 10 bucks (That isn't Peranakan) is the Chili Crab. Don't be stingy on the price.

• Don't be pressured into eating the Durian. This is not a fruit for everyone. Never feel ashamed for not trying. (You pleb.)
• Don't believe the Malaysians when they claim credit for our national dishes. They don't rock it like we do.
• Malaysian Durians however, are best in the world. We'll give them that
• Don't forget to visit the one wild bovine in the entire country. Mileage may Vary.

• Don't forget to traverse the Treetop Walk. The Trail cuts through several acres of virgin rainforest that the government hasn't yet decided to convert into housing.

• Don't miss out on our mangrove swamps at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Your trip to Singapore isn't complete until a monitor lizard runs over your feet or a giant mudskipper flips you one for your intransigence

What'cha looking at! I'm walking here!

• Don't attempt to decipher our English creole. Most people here are entirely capable of communicating in an English you can roughly understand.
• Don't be a Grammar Nazi. Our creole affects our speech patterns, in particular the Ethnic Chinese. Sentence structure can be charitably considered to be grammatically incoherent.
• Don't laugh in the toilet. You expose yourself as a bona fide tourist.

• Don't check into Changi Airport anything less than 2 hours before the flight. If you're here on a overnight transit, lucky you.

• Don't take my word for it.

In the United States, do not argue with the police. They are armed and they are jumpy because so many other people in the US are armed, including a lot of people who should not be.

Several years ago an Italian professor attending an academic conference in California crossed a street at a location other than a designated crosswalk. It would not occur to an Italian in a million years that this might be a crime. A cop saw him and shouted at him. He, being Italian, questioned the officer. The officer hurled him to the ground, tore his clothes, roughed him up and took him to jail for refusing to obey a lawful order given by a police officer. (He was eventually released without charge.)

The fact is, if the police are violating your civil rights, or even if they are breaking the law, there is nothing you can do about it at the time. Resisting them risks your being shot. Obey without question.

Vietnam.

Here are what you should not do if you want to get a smile like this from Vietnamese:

• Don't forget to say "Xin chao" for "Hello" when you meet someone, and "Cam on" for "Thank you" with bent head when you get something from them. This is not something obligatory, but shows how much you respect local people and the language, and how grateful you feel.When it comes to greetings, I believe there are no differences to the way western people greet each other.
• Don't try to hug/kiss people you just met for the first time. Most people don't feel comfortable with it, especially older folks. However, Vietnamese are very fast at picking up new things, so you can do this next time after you explain to them. For the first time, use your handshakes.
• Don't cross your arms on your chest. It's not illegal, but people would feel you are keeping distance from them and not being friendly.
• Don't wear shorts/miniskirt/T-shirts/any revealing clothes when you visit pagodas/mausoleum. It is considered extremely rude and offensive, and you may end up being asked to leave at the gate.
• Don't touch someone's head, and point with your finger. Use your hand instead.
• Don't go into people's home with your shoes on. If you see other people taking their shoes off, do the same. Or better ask the house's owners if you need to take your shoes off.
• If someone invites you to dinner or drink, especially after a business meeting, most of the time they will pay for you, so no need to insist. Instead, invite them and do the paying next time.
• Don't bring any firearms/weapons to Vietnam unless you have a special permission. Most of the time, they are illegal and you don't want to end up in jail, do you? Vietnam is not 100% safe, but seriously, you won't need guns here. We don't think a country is deemed safe as long as its citizens need guns/weapons around. Still worried about your safety, bring some pepper gas :)
• Don't bring any illegal drug to Vietnam. Remember, we have death penalty for selling illegal drugs like heroins.
• Do not give handkerchiefs, anything black, yellow flowers or chrysanthemums. They are things special for funeral/sad events, so you won't need them unless you come to Vietnam for mourning someone. Instead, bring fruits, sweets, normal flowers when you visit someone's home.
• Avoid public displays of affection (PDA) with a member of the opposite sex. This really depends on the region you visit, but urban areas are more open to this. E.g. you may even receive some compliments if you kiss or hug your girlfriend/boyfriend.
• Do not pass items to someone older with one hand. Using both hands shows your respect to that person and this action won't hurt you either.
• Do not sit when you are not shown where to sit. Better, wait until elders sit.
• Do not carry large amount of money/jewellery, luxury items, and leave your bag unintended. Pickpockets or drive-by bag snatchers are not uncommon.
• Do not forget to bargain in local markets. This is fun actually. There is a whole strange perception in Vietnam that foreigners are all tourists and tourist must have money, hence, they would just say a random price for you and see how you react. One of my French friends told me the trick he had been using when he was in Vietnam is: keep saying "Dat qua" (literally meaning "too expensive") 2 or 3 times, the seller would appreciate your "Vietnamese" and lower the price for you. He told me it worked all the time, like a charm :) But of course, don't overuse it. Sometimes, 50 cent might not sound big to you but it surely means a lot to many poor people.
• Don't forget to ask for the price first before you get in the car/taxi/bus/train. Otherwise, you may end up paying more than what you should. Trust me, I learned it the hard way in Paris and Rome as well :(
• Don't stop when you cross the street. I know it sounds scary when looking at waves of motorbikes in Vietnam, but believe me, just keep walking. People would notice you and try to slow down and change the direction so that they won't hit you. If you stop, the probability of getting hit is even higher. Some of my friends even tried to cross some small streets with their eyes closed when they visited Vietnam, and they did survive to tell me about that. But don't try this if you see cars/trucks/etc. Wait until they pass, then keep walking :)
• Don't forget to wear a helmet if you want to drive a motorbike in Vietnam, for your own sake. I'm not telling to do this so that you can avoid the fine from Vietnamese policemen because they often ignore tourists/foreigners and only hunt local law breakers. You do this for your own safety. When you are not used to riding motorbikes, chances are you might end up lying on the street.
• There is no need to advertise your sexuality. LGBT is common in Vietnam and you can find it on entertainment media all the time. Young people are quite open to it, but it's still not a comfortable topic to discuss with older generations.
• Don't blame anyone if you see them eating some strange food/meat/animals. Remember, some do and some don't. However, it's important to note that in Vietnam, all animals are treated equally. You would feel the same if some Muslims complain that you are eating pork.

There may be more and it all depends on where you are visiting. But pretty much the things I have listed are enough already. Hope you will have a pleasant stay in Vietnam.

Note: If you also plan to visit other East/South East Asia with similar culture, some of the rules above can be applied as well.

Regarding the South of the USA:

• People in the South are often effusively polite to strangers or to not-so-close acquaintances. They may go out of their way to seem far more interested in you and in your health and well-being than they actually are. Visitors from European countries, or even from other regions of the U.S., can find it stifling, since in many cases the demeanor is pretty obviously superficial. You're always safe responding pleasantly in kind, but doing so can take up an awful lot of energy. Don't fail to smile back if someone smiles at you or to wave back if they wave at you, and don't ignore someone if they speak to you in passing. Refraining from pleasantry is considered capitally rude.
• This is related to the fact that Southerners often place great emphasis on appearances. The basic idea is that even if you grew up quite poor in a little shack on a dusty farm (as most of my grandparents did, for example), you can still act and appear as if you have all the gentility of the folks who live in the sprawling oak-shaded manor on the hill. That's not necessarily the way we think about it today; but excessively good manners are thought to show a high-quality, respectable upbringing, and Southerners tend to try to level the playing field by enthusiastically elevating everybody. Don't speak brusquely to people; be readily willing to spend a little more time on them than they might actually warrant in your daily scheme of things. Don't appear to be in too much of a hurry, even if you really are (unless of course there's an actual emergency).
• Especially among older people, "yes sir/no sir," and "yes ma'am/no ma'am" are considered proper forms of address to all but close friends, and their presence or absence implies a kind of T–V distinction here. It's considered especially important that young people speak to older people in this way. This has become a little less common, particularly in workplaces where mainstream corporate culture is now dominant, but it is still valued in the native society at large. Don't address an older person or a person of social importance with words like "yeah," "sure," "uh-huh," or the like; and if that (understandably) seems weird to you, remember that the person you're talking to is probably silently judging your parents by how you are treating them. That's just the way it works here. Everyone sort of acts like they're at a job interview all the time. Those who don't are sometimes labeled "no count," "heathen," etc., etc.
• In all but the most dense urban areas of the U.S. South, walking as a form of commuting is quite uncommon, public transportation is sparse-to-nonexistent, and there aren't particularly good amenities for cyclists. Everyone in the South drives, even if their destination is only a few blocks away. It's an automobile culture, as you can tell by the unnecessary and ugly sprawl surrounding most mid-to-large-sized towns. Don't plan a trip, even to a large city, expecting that you'll be able to get around easily without a car. Sure, you can hoof it, but you'll get odd looks from the folks driving by, and if it's summertime you just might melt.
• Southern food is delicious, and wonderfully varied, but not particularly health-conscious. If we can fit it into a fryer, then we're gonna fry it. If it has a high nutritional value, we're going to cook it in lard until it doesn't anymore, and then add a lot of salt. We're slowly warming to the idea of healthy eating, but when the vegan cousin from California comes to the house for dinner, he may have to make do with a tossed salad and a few green bea—wait, nope. No green beans. We cook those with bacon. If you don't want to eat the food, that's fine; we have many options for you these days. But don't insult home cooking, and don't go on in a loud voice about how unhealthy it is. We know that already. Our grandparents have all already died from cholesterol. We don't care so much; it's part of the weird Southern Gothic thing we have going on down here. Also, don't forget that if you ask for "tea" in many Southern homes and some restaurants, you're going to get iced tea heavily sweetened with sugar. Sweet tea has been called the "house wine of the South," and there's some truth to that.
• God and Country are quite important to most Southerners, so much so that Republican politicians have learned to milk the hell out of it in twisted ways that the whole world knows about at this point (except, oddly enough, for many Southerners). These are aspects of the culture which are pinned neatly to the sleeves here, not guarded or hidden away. American flags and crosses are everywhere, and there is a church building on every corner. If a particularly catty Southerner suspects that you might not "have your head screwed on straight," he or she may try to bait you into conversation about religion or politics. Do not directly engage in such conversation, particularly not in such a way as to create an argument. And do not publicly criticize the U.S. military or organized religion if you want to stay free of trouble.
• Contrary to popular opinion, it is no longer the year 1960 in the American South. Yes, there is a lot of bigotry here. Of course the area has a strong history of racism, and some of that definitely continues today. But don't be at all afraid to visit and enjoy the South because your skin isn't pale or because you're gay. The South is by and large a much friendlier, more relaxed and hospitable place for everyone than portrayed in the movies and in the endless litany of news segments which highlight us only at our worst, never at our best — and if someone should say something untoward to you about your race, gender, or sexuality, then stare them in the eye and calmly inquire, "Did your momma raise you to be that ugly, or did you come by it through some tragedy later in life?"

FRANCE :

• Don't engage the conversation without greeting. This is actually one of the rudest thing you can ever do to a French. Most of the time, if you ask for help or want to talk with someone without saying "Bonjour" or at least "Excusez-moi", your interlocutor won't talk with the same enthusiasm as if you had greeted them.
• Don't overreact and smile for nothing. This is especially true for Americans, who seem to find everything awesome! (this is one of the thing that makes them friendly though). In Europe, and especially in France, you will make people uncomfortable by willing to make them comfortable this way, it seems you're forcing them to open up to you.
• Don't snort. Ask for a tissue or contain yourself, this noise is just disgusting.
• Don't be loud. What you're saying must be interesting as hell, but keep it for the person you're talking to.
• If having lunch/dinner with French people, don't eat before everyone is served. This might seem obvious, but this is really something not to do.
• Don't enumerate all the stereotypes you've heard about Frenchies. Do not. Upon any circumstance. Believe me, you'd better fly back to where you came from if you ask someone if they wear a béret regularly.
• If spending holidays at the sea, don't walk around shirtless or in bath suit unless you're at the beach. Not only because it's rude, but also because in most cities, they'll fine you (except Cap d'Agde).
• Don't criticize our cuisine. Well it may seem arrogant, but French people are really proud of their gastronomy (for good reasons), and won't accept that foreigners tell them that their food isn't good.
• When eating, put both of your arms on the table. This is a basic étiquette, it's rude not to do it.
• Know when to kiss or shake hands. Here's the standard chart : always kiss females you've been introduced to, or have sympathized to twice on the cheek to greet them (there are rare exceptions though). If you know a male well, you can kiss him too. If you don't know well the latter, just shake hands.

More from the USA:

• The United States is a politically divided country. There have been recent statewide elections that have been won by hundreds of votes. Don't assume that all Americans are politically conservative gun-toting rednecks. In fact, most Americans consider themselves moderate and this country has a more progressive view on soft drugs and gay marriage than some Europeans.
• Many laws vary by city and state jurisdictions. Research which states you are visiting while in the USA as laws can change from one state to another (even from one city to another)! States such as Colorado and Washington have recently approved the sale of marijuana, while many states and cities will enact harsh punishments for the possession of a single joint.
• On that note, don't assume all Americans are alike. We're a country of over 300 million people spread out over 3,000 miles. There are vast cultural differences between someone from the South, the Midwest, East Coast, West Coast, etc. Also, many Americans identify with their state first (New Yorker, Texan, Californian) before they identify with the country as a whole.
• Don't overreact to the crime and safety issues. America is going through the lowest rates of violent crime in over 40 years (http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2012/0109/US-crime-rate-at-lowest-point-in-decades.-Why-America-is-safer-now). Yes, there are bad areas in every city, but most tourist areas and surrounding neighborhoods are safe for the average traveller.
• Race conversation is a taboo. America still has many issues with race (although we're a bit more forthcoming about them than Europeans), and a flat out discussion about race (or religion or politics for that matter) is simply not discussed in mixed company at the dinner table.
• Edited to add an additional answer: Americans LOVE their personal space. The double-kiss or triple-kiss hello intimidates us and it surprises most foreigners when we back away in disgust. We only tend to hug family or close friends (and straight male-male hugs are generally frowned upon).

CANADA

• Don't skip vowels. Look at the word ABOUT. There's an O AND A U in there. Don't skip them. Don't pronounce them like a short A. AB-OUT. ABOUT.
• Don't walk under ladders.
• Don't ask how far it is to another city without checking on a map first. It's a big country.
• Don't ask how far you have to drive to get to snow. If it's winter it will be obvious. If it's not winter you will have a very long drive ahead of you.
• If you're in Quebec don't ask if someone speaks English. If the person speaks English, they'll speak to you in English. They can very clearly tell you don't speak French.
• Don't ignore streetcar drivers. Say "Hello" to them and ideally address them by name - "Hello, Dave."
• Don't ask how the Leafs are doing in the playoffs this year. They're doing horribly.
• Everyone loves Vancouver, but please don't buy a house while you're there. They make terrible souvenirs.
• Don't mention the USA. Just don't. If a Canadian mentions it just act like they didn't bring it up. Unless the topic of discussion is the War of 1812 in which case you may mention the Siege of Detroit.
• Don't mention New York bagels, especially in Montreal. And after visiting Montreal, don't ever eat a bagel from somewhere else.
• Don't take anything a Canadian tells you very seriously.

Hey! I'm from Belarus and before I tell you about thing you shouldn't do, I probably have to remind you where this country is ;)

Assuming some of you might have just discovered this country for yourselves, I've got to say that it's an amazing country with unique history and ultimately kind and hospitable people.

But to make your visit to my country the most pleasurable for both you and Belarusians, here's a couple of tips on what you probably shouldn't do when visiting Belarus:

1. Don't ask people what they think about their President. It's a sensitive topic and most people most likely won't speak their mind anyways. At the same time they might get suspicious about you. Yep, we all come from the Soviet Union and the memory of the Cold war with all its spies, conspiracy and provocations is still fresh.
2. Same applies to Putin, the Ukraine situation, Russian politics, etc. But for another reason. We shared the same history, same land, same culture with those countries, and now we're in the middle of warfare. Belarusian people are very tolerant and quite wise, and when it comes to their brotherly nations that are fighting between each other, they don't like to be forc ed to take sides.
3. Don't try too hard to involve random people into a small talk. We're very friendly but we don't trust every passer-by out there. It takes time to get to the point when Belarusians start showing you all their hospitality. But once they do - you will be amazed how far they can go to comfort other people.
4. If you come for business, don't discuss top secret stuff in hotel rooms and lobbies, bars, restaurants, etc. As the last bastion of totalitarianism in Europe, Belarusian secret service still uses the approach of total control and eavesdropping is a common method. Don't look for bugs though! Just if you want to discuss something that you only want your partner to know - go for a walk in a park.
5. Don't expect everyone to understand your English, or any other foreign language you would try to speak with them. Some of the younger generation would be able to talk to you and at least give you directions, but 35+ people would mumble and walk away with a hint of shame. Staff in bars and restaurants would be English-speaking only if the place is expensive enough, otherwise one out of 10 waitresses would be able to walk you through the menu. And it only concerns the capital of the country - Minsk. If you're travelling around the country you may want to have some of your local English-speaking friends to help you out with common conversations.
6. Don't overreact to all the above-mentioned :) All in all it's a pretty modern European country. So if you visited any of the latter, you should be good in Belarus.

I wish you a good trip to Belarus! And would be delighted to hear your impression of the country.

PERU

• Do not criticize Peruvian food. Seriously, this is maybe the most sacred thing in our country. The one that ties all the people, no matter their social class. Do you want to make happy your Peruvian friends? Make a compliment about the food: "The first thing I did when I visited your country was eat some ceviche, Jesus Christ, what a wonderful thing!", "Wow! I can't believe how many different kind of potatoes you have, your country was blessed by god", "For god sake, I never enjoyed so much a lunch like when I was in Peru".
• Do not discuss topics related with Chile. Avoid comparisons. A lot of Peruvians still perceive this as a sensitive issue since some war we had with them more than 100 years ago (we lost) and still can't get over it. If you are looking for a fight you can mix point 1 and 2: "oh gosh, I never tasted a better pisco than when I was in Chile!!!"
• No matter what you've heard about drug lords and production of cocaine, don't try to be a smart boy and pack some of cocaine or related drugs on your luggage as a "souvenir" when you are coming back to home. Seriously, you'll be several years in jail. Forget the "I'm American, I have my rights, my country rules! USA! USA!" (Apply the same for your own country).
• Don't assume we all dress like Incas and ride llamas. You won't get in jail or kicked out but you'll be perceived like an idiot. The Incas are part of our heritage and history but is in the past. If you want to see llamas go to the highlands, you'll find a lot of them and rural people dressed with nice typical clothes, but that doesn't apply for the whole country.
• Don't make racist comments. I think I don't need more explanations about this. We have enough with some Peruvians being racist with our own people. So we don't need foreigners adding more problems.
• Ask first which are safe places to go as tourist. Specially in Lima. Our capital is a big city and applies the same common sense rules like any other big cities in the world: there are bad places and good places, avoid dark streets, don't show off the bling bling like if you are Lil Wayne or Paris Hilton.
• When you are taking a taxi, I suggest use Uber, easy taxi or any other taxi apps instead taking one in the street. They are safe and you'll avoid some problems with local taxis.

UPDATE April 11th, 2016:

I wanted to add a couple of cases to prove how important is point #1 (about messing with our food).

Case #1:

This guy is a famous local author named Ivan Thays, he published several books and had done a good career on that. In 2012, he published on his blog (that is part from one of the most important newspapers in Spain, "El Pais") that he "was one of the few Peruvians who didn't believe our food was the best in Latin America, didn't know about the restaurants where they prepare the best food and honestly he considers the Peruvian food is unhealthy and stodge...and any qualified nutritionist should forbid it."

As you can guess, there was a huge rage in public media (journalists writing awful things against him), public opinion hated him, social networks went to a melting point spitting all kind of hate and claiming for his head. If this guy wanted to be popular making the whole country hate him, he achieved.

There you have a sample of TV shows hating him.

Case #2

This guy is Alfredo Barnechea, presidential candidate who started with a humble campaign to run the administration of the country for this period (2016-2021). His popularity started to increase thanks to his ideas and good participation on tv political shows. Some people think he is the best candidate because his background, experience and was going from 1% in the polls to the Top 2 between all the candidates.

But...

During one of his visits to a public market, some people offered a piece of "chicharrón" (some kind of crackling) from their public restaurant. He dismissed the offer and... OMG! (look the face of the lady in the video).

Well, this is what happens when you dismiss an offer of food and you are running for president.

Moral of the story: don't mess with the Peruvian food.

United States

I've traveled extensively. I've rarely seen many of these unbending rules. I accept that they exist, but as a young adult, I traveled (frequently by hitch-hiking) all over central America, parts of South America, western Africa and most of western Europe. I swear to you, not once in my life did I ever worry about offending people and not because I'm a dumb American (at 16 I studied in Spain for a year). I adjust quickly.

That doesn't mean there aren't rules. I tend to go a bit into "lockdown" and remember that visiting a foreign country is like going to church (temple, synagogue, mosque): "Speak softly. Be clean in conversation and behavior. Be incredibly polite. Stand when everybody stands. Sit when everybody sits. Thank everybody for anything, even if you don't know what you're thanking them for." Those were "church" behaviors beaten into me as a child -- I take them with me when I travel.

In the USA there are rules and things you shouldn't do. The rules relax significantly when you are in small groups, to the point where they almost disappear. But they exist to save you from getting your face punched in sometimes. The US, compared to France or Germany or the UK has fewer cultural "rules" but they exist when you're in public. I'm speaking for the Northern parts of the USA. I'm sure Southern people can clue you in about their region.

• You absolutely should NOT leave a restaurant or bar without leaving a tip. It's not an option. Just like you want Americans to act right when in your country, when you come to ours, you accept that stuff is super cheap (generally) compared to a lot of places, so just accept it as part of the price. Tip. 15-20%. Err on the high side when you get great service. †
• Politics is a great conversation here, believe it or not. Feel free to share your opinion once it's solicited. Unless it's a political conversation, then just follow my "church" rules and avoid talking about it. Not because you're going to get shot (guns will come next), but because you just want to have a nice time.
• Guns. That's a no-no. Except when in intimate company or when asked, it's best not to talk guns. There are many reasons why you may be passionate or 100% certain that you're right ... but don't bother. This is likely to blow up on you and ruin a nice day.
• Don't critique American culture. And yes, contrary to some snobs, the US has a culture. It's Anglo-Saxon and we share the broad strokes with (English) Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and much of the British Isles. It's as much ours as theirs.

Those are the big ones in the Midwest. As I said, in intimate company, the rules go out the door. In public, just wear your "church hat" and stay away from the no-nos.

†

On Tipping. It's not that hard. Use basic math.

Yes. You've got to think. Most people know how to calculate 20% right in their head. Just double the number and move the decimal point in one place.

Example one:

Your check: $57.55

Double that number (easy, doing mental math): $115-ish (and I did that in my head).

Okay, move the decimal in just one place: $11.50.

$11.50!

Example two:

Your check: $138.33

Double that number: (using just my mental math): $280-ish. Maybe $235-ish. Either way, I'm in the right place.

Move the decimal over one place: $28 or $24. Err on the high side.

$28!

Don't be a dick. Those people work VERY hard. They get paid shit. You are their income and can make or destroy their night.

Some stuff you should know about Brasil:

1) First of all don't come here assuming that brazilian women are naturally promiscuous and men are thugs - "whores", ""latin fever"", or anything like that; we (specially us girls) suffer a lot already when traveling abroad receiving this sort of inappropriate treatment. It is deeply disrespectful and quite frankly if you believe so you're not the kind of person we would like in our country.

2) please do not get offended when treated informally. We are a very welcoming people, and we treat everyone like this - even authority figures such as the President - Dilma. Yes, she's a woman, just fyi - people will refer to you using you first name probably mispronouncing it but with the best intentions! ;) Actually I should warn you that we enjoy hugging and kissing (1 or 2 little kisses on the cheek, nothing excessive hahaha), mostly when we meet someone. You can keep your distance if that would make you comfortable though

3) we have a hard time with English. Don't come around expecting that you will be understood by everyone because it is rare to find people that speak basic English. We will try our best to communicate with you though, especially servers, taxi drivers and such.

4) you will meet some rude people but most of us are quite nice and will "celebrate" you for being different.

5) the public transportation system is absolute crap. If you can please take taxis everywhere. In some cities like Rio they are relatively cheap. And this is really important: make sure that they have credentials. Ask for recommendations of cab companies to locals or at the hotel you're staying. (edit: we have uber here too!! from my experience it is a much better service compared to our cabs. it's much less expensive, too! you call the uber driver via the app on your phone, just like everywhere else)

6) DO NOT ASSUME WE SPEAK SPANISH. We speak Portuguese - we were colonized by Portugal even though our languages are completely different nowadays - and assuming otherwise is really rude and you will be seen as ignorant. Actually, we have very little similarities with our fellow South American countries.

7) try not showing off, specially when it comes to personal belongings, flashy jewelry, electronic gadgets, money itself etc. Discretion is the way to go. you might be praised and treated better by everyone you if you do so, but you WILL get mugged, trust me. And it can go pretty violently. If you keep a low profile, don't worry, touristic areas are usually well guarded.

8) we are a developing country (I hate this term but I couldn't find any other word to use hahaha). Don't expect to come around and finding only the beautiful sights and lovely people; you will come across poverty, favelas, poor managed city areas and so, especially if you choose not to stick to the traditional touristic areas.

9) don't worry about tipping, it is only "mandatory" to hotel staff and waiters (A customary 10% fee is added to your bill in restaurants, bars and a few other places but you can refuse to pay if the service was not up to your standards). However, it is appreciated.

10) we come in literally all shapes, sizes and colors. Don't come expecting to meet stereotypical standards on how we look, you will probably be stunned by our diversity.

11) if you attempt on bribing a police officer, it can go either way: you might get away with whatever you were doing (the corrupt officers will definitely try to take all the money they can from you) or you might get arrested. Refrain from doing anything ~really crazy~ just in case.

12) Drugs (including marijuana, which we call "maconha") and going topless in our beaches are prohibited (shocker, I know! :|). Drug consumption is quite common in places like nightclubs and such but it is not legal to do so. If you like the stuff, do it only if youre on the company of locals doing the same, they probably know better. If not, don't do it, you'll probably get in trouble.

13) you will be called "gringo" several times (it is not something derogatory per se... It's more like "hey, we can see that you're not form here, hahaha!").

14) Religion is not a very hot topic for us, we do have a great variety of creeds, but try not bringing it up (I don't really think this is something polite or very wise to do anywhere in the world but still hahaha). We are mostly catholic, and the catholic doctrine is pretty rooted in our culture.

15) if coming to Rio de Janeiro: don't, dont, DON'T try visiting the favelas alone!! It is VERY DANGEROUS to go by yourself. Not because of the the people that live there, obviously, but because these are areas completely abandoned by law enforcement. You most definitely will run into some trouble (it might be coming from the police, drug dealers or militiaman), specially if you look like a tourist (you know what I mean....). There are guided tours that you can purchase in specialized traveling agencies! Do not try going by yourself! (edit: all kinds of criticism can be done to this kind of tourism, but I felt like it was important to talk about this if anyone wishes to do it)

(edit) just a little disclaimer: I'm from Rio de Janeiro, born and raised and I still live here. I'm not sure if everyone is aware of this, but Brasil is a massive country, it truly has continental dimensions. Because of that, there might be some differences depending on where you travel to – If you go south, north, northeast… for instance, in São Paulo eating pizza with ketchup on it is seen as almost a crime and in Rio it is pretty normal and expected hahaha. I tried to be as general as I could with my recommendations

I couldn't think of anything else! Haha
If you wish to come to Brasil, please do, you will be warmly welcomed. We're a beautiful country. Enjoy you stay and be safe! :)

Brazil

• We don't speak Spanish.
• We don't speak Spanish.
• We don't speak Spanish.
• Don't try to speak Spanish to us. It sounds (to us, no offence, please) like broken-Portuguese. Some words are similar but the communication will most likely fail and you'll look stupid in front of everyone.
• We also don't speak English.
• We are a poor and uneducated country. Most of us don't even speak decent Portuguese, which is the ONE AND ONLY official language.
• But ...
• We are very cool people, and will try to understand you, even if you are speaking Greek or Hebrew. Use sign language, that's ok. You can also ask for help - again, we're cool people - perhaps there is a person who speaks English around. I've helped many tourists in distress. The bus I take to come to work is loaded with tourists in the summer, going to Copacabana and Ipanema beaches.
• But please, don't come here thinking we speak Spanish. It is kind of offensive of visitors to know so little about us.

Other than that? Do your thing. We don't care (much).

There are very little (I'd say none, really, especially regarding tourists, who kinda get a free pass) real faux-pas around here. We are a very mixed culture, and we still have a long way to go in terms of civility (although our laws on it are very modern).