International Code of Basic Social Behavior
Standards of Behavior When Traveling Overseas
by
Allister Nisbet
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International Code of Basic Social Behavior
BACKGROUND
WHOM DO YOU TRUST?
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BACKGROUND
WHOM DO YOU TRUST?
1. Bosun
2. Chief Engineer
Does knowing their rank
change your opinion?
3. A.B.
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4. 3rd Officer
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Who are These Men?
1.
Sir Bob Geldof: Inspiration
behind Band Aid / Live Aid
Concerts, which raised famine
awareness and millions of dollars
in famine relief. He was recently knighted by
Queen Elizabeth II in honor of his contribution to
humanitarian projects. He was also nominated for
the Nobel Peace Prize.
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Who are These Men?
2.
Dr. Harold Shipman: UK
doctor found guilty of murdering
15 (mainly elderly) patients by
lethal injection. Suspect in 100s
of other cases. Committed suicide while serving
multiple life sentences in prison.
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Who are These Men?
3.
Thomas Hamilton: Shot and killed
16 primary school children and their
teacher in a classroom in the UK. Then,
he shot and killed himself.
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Who are These Men?
4.
Timothy McVeigh: The
Oklahoma City bomber; a
terrorist against his own country.
He killed 168 people with a 4,000
lb. home-made bomb. Executed by the State.
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• First impressions are very important, but be careful not
to judge people too quickly.
• National stereotyping is a lazy way of judging people- Russians are NOT all alcoholics
- Americans are NOT all fat
- British food is NOT all terrible
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Exploring National Stereotypes:
‘International’ - seen through a
stereotypical European prism:
Heaven: Having a French lover, an Italian cook, a German car,
British police, and all organized by the Swiss.
Hell:
Having a Swiss lover, a British cook, a French car,
German police, and all organized by Italians.
Create your own ideas of ‘international Heaven and Hell’ using
a stereotypical Asian prism.
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We all have differences:
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Backgrounds
Ambitions
Interests
Habits
Beliefs
Appearance
Way of expressing ourselves
OPINIONS!
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• Learn to respect cultural and national differences.
• “Share our similarities, celebrate our
differences.”
• As the world gets smaller, more people meet and
work with each other across cultural and national
boundaries.
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DISCUSSION
• What is your opinion of those
who look or act differently than you?
• Would the world be a better place if we all spoke the
same language?
• Is the People’s Republic of China a better country
than others?
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Coming together is a beginning, staying together is
progress, and working together is success…
…people achieve
more as a result of
working with
others than against
them.
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Human Characteristics
6 of the best:
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HONESTY
RESPONSIBILITY
RESPECT
SELF-CONTROL
PROMISE-KEEPING
EQUALITY
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HONESTY
• Telling the truth
• Meaning what you say
“There is one way to
find out if a man is
honest; ask him! If he
says yes you know
he's crooked.”
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RESPONSIBILITY
• Carrying out your obligations or duties
• Answering for your own actions
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RESPECT
• Treating everyone, including yourself, with dignity.
• Having respect for yourself and others.
• Respecting your own and other
people’s property.
• If you wish to be treated equally,
then you must treat others as you
want to be treated.
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SELF-CONTROL
• Being able to control
your own actions and
emotions.
• Understanding how your
behavior affects those
around you.
“Self control is when your
conscience tells you to do something
and you don't talk back.”
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PROMISE-KEEPING
• Keeping your word.
• Understanding promises
and what it means to give
your word.
• Society is built upon a
foundation of promises.
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“The best way
to keep one's
word is not to
give it.”
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EQUALITY
• Understanding that all people
have the same rights.
• Treating all people fairly
and consistently.
• One country or its people
is not ‘better’ than another.
“All men are created
equal, but some men are
more equal than others.”
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DISCUSSION
Describe your characteristics:
• Are you honest?
• Do you take responsibility?
• Are you respectful?
• Can you practice self-control?
• Can you keep promises?
• Do you believe in equality?
• Describe your personality: Is the glass halffull or half-empty?
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There are some basic social behaviors
which will make living and working with
people from other countries a better
experience.
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NOISE
• Be aware of your
surroundings & the
people near you.
• Time of day.
• Radio and music.
• Mobile phones.
• Talking and Shouting.
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DISCUSSION
NOISE ANNOYS
• Does noise annoy you?
• What noises annoy you the most?
• Do you use your mobile phone in the
elevator? The bus? Other public places?
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PERSONAL HYGIENE
• Wash daily.
• Clean clothes.
• Clean teeth (at least twice
a day).
• Keep hair clean and tidy.
• Keep nails clean.
• Wash hands after toilet.
• Wash hands before
touching food.
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DISCUSSION
PERSONAL HYGIENE
• Is good hygiene important to
you?
• Discuss this statement:
Nobody else washes their
hands, why should I?
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ETIQUETTE
Formal rules of correct and polite
behavior in society or among
members of a profession
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ETIQUETTE (Eating and Drinking)
• Food and drink can symbolize a country, its people,
its customs, its traditions, its history, its geography.
• Learning about the food and drink teaches us much
about the people and helps us understand one
another.
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ETIQUETTE (Eating and Drinking)
• Customs don’t always cross national boundaries.
• Don’t be offended if people don’t participate in
your eating and drinking traditions.
• Don’t cause offence by unnecessary criticism of
other people’s customs and traditions.
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ETIQUETTE (Eating and Drinking)
General Rules of Thumb
• Wash your hands before eating.
• In formal dining, it is proper to use the correct knife, fork, etc.,
though it is less important than it used to be.
• Eat and drink as quietly as you can.
• Eat slowly. Take your time, this is meant to be a pleasurable
activity.
• Don’t lick the plate or the knife; don’t drink soup from the bowl.
• Don’t answer your mobile phone at a formal restaurant.
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ETIQUETTE (Eating and Drinking)
Drinking alcohol
• If alcohol is served with European / US food it is usually wine or
beer, rarely spirits.
• Drink alcohol in moderation. Getting drunk is not clever!
• Don’t assume everyone drinks alcohol – many don’t.
• Drinking has its own peculiar cultural traditions. Joining in with
someone else’s tradition helps bonding, but be careful about
over-indulging or causing offence – if you are in doubt or begin
to feel intoxicated, REFUSE.
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ETIQUETTE (Eating and Drinking)
Drinking alcohol
• Severe intoxication has an effect on your
health and your ability to function at work.
It can also lead to serious lapses in judgment.
• ‘Don’t mix the grape and the grain’. In other words, it is
usually safe to say: ‘Beer before liquor, you’ve never been
sicker; liquor before beer, you’re in the clear’.
• In some countries (e.g. Middle East) alcohol is banned
and there are severe punishments for breaking the rules.
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DISCUSSION
ETIQUETTE (Eating and Drinking)
• Do you get nervous about eating with people from other
countries?
• Are you ‘prepared to try anything once’?
• What if they don’t like the food you provide?
• What if you don’t like the food they
provide?
• Do you think it is impolite to
refuse an alcoholic drink?
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ETIQUETTE (Toilet)
• ALWAYS wash
your hands!
• If more soap or toilet paper or
paper towels are needed,
get them straight away,
don’t let the next person
find out too late!
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ETIQUETTE (Smoking)
•
•
•
•
A major source of serious ill-health.
Fewer people smoke than do not smoke.
Second-hand smoking kills.
In most countries now there are strictly controlled places for
smoking.
• Look out for ‘No Smoking’ signs. Obey them.
• Smoking while eating and while others are eating is regarded as
extremely offensive!
• Dispose of cigarette ends carefully and hygienically.
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DISCUSSION
SMOKING
DISCUSS THESE STATEMENTS:
• Smoking protects against some
illnesses.
• Smoking is not illegal. I have a right to smoke
wherever I want.
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ETIQUETTE (Litter)
• Don’t drop litter – EVER!
• Destroys the environment.
• Shows what you think of your
village, town, city, country.
• Extremely offensive in some countries
and is a criminal offence ($1000 penalty).
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ETIQUETTE (Swearing)
• Offensive most of the time.
Be aware of where you are
and who is listening.
• In different languages it could be
misinterpreted. Be careful.
• Do not swear at people senior
to you in any language.
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ETIQUETTE (Queuing)
• Be aware of those
around you.
• Await your turn.
• Don’t ‘crowd’ the
person in front
of you.
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TRAVEL TO THE SHIP
• Be courteous to others –
they are trying to get somewhere too!
• Take your time – don’t push and shove.
• Let people out of elevators before getting in.
• Arrive on time (or beforehand) for scheduled events.
• Do not disturb your fellow passengers.
• Try to ‘tune in’ to the behavior of those around you – keep
your eyes and ears open and learn.
• NEVER TAKE ANYTHING ONTO A FLIGHT FOR
SOMEBODY.
• NEVER DO OR SAY ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE
MISINTERPRETED AS A SECURITY HAZARD.
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DISCUSSION
LITTER / SWEARING / QUEUING / TRAVEL
DISCUSS THESE STATEMENTS:
• It’s okay to litter because it keeps people employed to pick
it up.
• Swearing is an involuntary outburst,
as natural as breathing.
• I shouldn’t need to wait in line
if all I need to do is ask a quick question.
• I’m late therefore I should get priority over others.
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ETIQUETTE (Meeting People)
As a general rule:
• Shake hands say ‘hello’ (man-man).
• Nod, smile, say ‘hello’ <shake hands>
(man-woman).
• Introduce yourself.
• Keep a reasonable distance when talking
with someone –
DON’T INVADE THEIR PERSONAL SPACE!
• Rules of touching are complex and differ in each country – BE
VERY CAREFUL!
• Try to keep eye contact as much as possible (though don’t
stare.)
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ETIQUETTE (Meeting People)
As a general rule, what to say:
• Weather, family, home, travel, job, sports
are all ‘safe’ subjects to talk about.
• Relationships, commenting upon appearance,
recent news, are ‘semi-safe’.
• Asking about income, politics, religion or
being openly critical are definitely unsafe!
• Saying ‘Excuse me’, ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ are the most basic
etiquette markers. Learn them and use them.
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ETIQUETTE (Optional Bodily Functions)
In Public
In Private
Comment
Spitting
Belching
Picking
nose
Blowing
nose
Sneezing
Coughing
Cracking
knuckles
Biting
nails
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DISCUSSION
Optional Bodily Functions – What is your opinion of these?
In Public
In Private
Comment
Spitting
NO
YES, QUIETLY
DISPOSE OF THE MUCCUS HYGIENICALLY – DO NOT SPIT WHERE OTHERS
MIGHT FIND IT. EXTREMELY OFFENSIVE IN MOST COUNTRIES. SOURCE OF
DISEASE SPREAD.
Belching
NO
YES, QUIETLY
EXTREMELY OFFENSIVE IN MOST COUNTRIES ESPECIALLY AT THE DINNER
TABLE. SAY ‘EXCUSE ME’ IF YOU DO THIS NEAR PEOPLE.
Picking
nose
NO
YES
USE A TISSUE. DISPOSE OF THE MUCCUS HYGIENICALLY – DO NOT LEAVE
WHERE OTHERS MIGHT FIND IT. OFFENSIVE IN MOST COUNTRIES.
Blowing
nose
YES
YES
BE DISCRETE. USE A HANDKERCHIEF. MAKE AS LITTLE NOISE AS POSSIBLE.
DISPOSE OF, OR CLEAN, THE HANDKERCHIEF HYGIENICALLY.
Sneezing
YES
YES
MAJOR SOURCE OF DISEASE SPREAD. COVER YOUR NOSE WITH YOUR HANDS
OR A TISSUE. WASH YOUR HANDS.
Coughing
YES
YES
MAJOR SOURCE OF DISEASE SPREAD. COVER YOUR MOUTH WITH YOUR
HANDS. WASH YOUR HANDS IF YOU COUGHED ANY MUCCUS ONTO THEM.
Cracking
knuckles
NO
YES
OFFENSIVE IN MOST COUNTRIES.
Biting
nails
NO
NO
USE NAIL CLIPPERS IN PRIVATE.
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Summary
• We are all equal as human beings.
• It is only our behavior that makes us different
from one another.
• Understand and act according to recognized
‘norms of behavior’
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HIERARCHY
• Be a part of society. To function as a society, a family, a
business, or a ship we need some structure.
• The ‘hierarchy’ is the traditional structure many institutions
operate under.
• It is designed so that the group can succeed as a group, not as
a disorganized set of individuals.
• It doesn’t subjugate the individual – it ensures the individual
plays his part in the success of the group.
• Respect those senior to you. On the ship address them as ‘Sir’.
• A respectful hierarchy can achieve great success.
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BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE
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