Manners and Etiquette

ID1110000304's answer: I would say a white lie. Something like I'm really busy that day or you can just tell the truth.

Baby Cachet's answer: Declining a baby shower invitation can be tricky, but can also be done properly and with grace. Typically, the goal is to decline in such a way as to not hurt the host's feelings and to not jeopardize your chances of getting another invitation in the future. For most situations, the following tips should help ease the process of declining an invitation:

* Respond in kind. If the invitation was extended to you through an invitation card by mail, then you should decline via a card by mail, usually by mailing the enclosed response card. Likewise, if you were invited over the phone, then you should also decline by phone. Exception: If the invitation by mail specifies a RSVP phone or email, then it is acceptable to decline by phone or email even though you received a paper invitation.

* Decline as soon as you can. If you're sure that you won't be able to attend, let the hostess know before the RSVP deadline so that she can make planning adjustments. It wouldn't be nice or proper to wait until the last minute and say that "something came up".

* Show that you appreciate the invitation. It's important to express how much it means to you that the hostess thought of inviting you. This will go a long way in ensuring that she'll think of you again when the next party comes.

* Be as honest as you can without being hurtful. Give as truthful a reason as you can as to why you won't be able to attend. "I have [an event] already planned for that day", "I have to work", "I'll be traveling that week".

* Keep it short and sweet. You want to remain as truthful as you can without giving too much details or embellishments. It's easy to say too much and stray away from the true reason why you're declining.

* Send a gift anyways. If you have a weak excuse or feel badly about rejecting an invitation (maybe you had to accept another invitation over this one), a great way to make up for it is to send a gift to the hostess or guest of honor in your absence. The gift can be a token gift (bouquet of flowers, a cake, etc.) with a note to express your regret.

I cover my hands with clothing, like my sleeves, when they're cold.

I don't think it means anything specific, or bad.

Just that maybe you should turn the heat up?

Haha.

* Yes, it's quite appropriate for the grandmother to be to have a baby shower for her daughter. Tip: Often it is better to have the baby shower after the baby is born (approximately two to three weeks after the birth) so guests know the sex of the baby, but also can enjoy seeing the baby. More and more young women prefer having their baby showers after the birth of their baby.

* The understanding is that the person is purposely looking at you with 'wide eyes' making their eyes look bigger. This means they are trying to attract your attention and could be called a form of flirting. Some people use this method to hopefully strike the idea that one is innocent, or has hurt feelings.

Traditionally, a baby shower is given by a friend or friends (usually females) who are not related to the mom and daddy-to-be. However, it is becoming more and more common nowadays to have a family member throw the shower. This family member can be a cousin, aunt, grandmother, mother, sister, etc. so long as it is not the couple themselves giving the baby shower.

Guys stand up at toilet (or less commonly, sit down) and then pee out of the hole at the tip of their penis (where the urethra begins, and where semen also comes out).

A lot of guys also urinate in the bathroom sink. It's not talked about, but it's very common.

You may say to Signore & Signora or abbreviate it as Sr. & Sra.

EX: Dear John [ or as you customarily address the person ]

We were so pleased to hear of your upcoming honor as [ name the honor in full, KBE, OBE , VC , whatever.] It is well-deserved and we are proud to know you and are gratified at the recognition of your signal service to Her Majesty.Our most hearfelt congratulations to you .

Most Sincerely,

Signature

No doubt any honoree wil receive numerous letters, so short and to the point is best.

The typical tip for a hotel maid is $1-2 per bed, per day.

So If you have a room with 2 Queens, for 2 nights, you would be tipping $4-$8, whatever is more comfortable. You can tip every day, or at the end of your stay.

If you trashed the room (i.e. bachelor party, beer stains, clogged toilet, blood, cigarettes, trash, etc.) Tip accordingly to what you would want to be paid to clean up your own mess.

For a food delivery, the standard tip is $3. I usually give more ($4 to $6) if they are delivering a lot of food, or if the weather is bad.

In restaurants nowadays, you are generally expected to tip 20% for good service. The standard tip was 15% for a long time, but in the last 10 to 20 years, it has gone up to 20% of the total bill. It is acceptable to adjust this up or down depending on the service. It is NOT acceptable to adjust this tip because of kitchen errors or delays. The waitstaff have no control over that.

Also, tips vary widely depending on the service. If you have a houseful of furniture delivered and you tip 4 men $3, you are going to receive very poor service in future. My general rule is to tip, per person, the amount of a nice lunch in your area. Generally no less than $20 per person.

Tips for personal services, i.e. haidressers. massage therapist etc,10-20% depending on the quality of service.

Do not give cash tips to hospital personnel. A tip should include all nursing staff for all three shifts. And specify if you give candy, which box is for which shift. A flower arrangement and a Thank You card for the nurse's station is nice. But really, a Thank You card is all that is necessary for good, attentive care.

There are books for tipping in all situations, but it reads like the tax code. Let your conscience and your ability be your guide.

You may say 'ojama shimasu' when you enter. You should remove your shoes in the entrance, and may put on slippers if they are provided. (If the home has any tatami floors, you should not wear slippers on them; instead, you should only wear socks or go barefoot, as tatami can be easily damaged.) It is also polite to bring a gift, typically a food item or alcohol. If you are staying for a length of time, you may be invited to take a bath. In this case, if the home has an 'ofuro,' there are some special rules.

In Japanese homes with 'ofuro,' there is a tiled area with a drain in the floor separate from the bathtub. Here you may cleanse yourself with the detachable shower head as you normally would, using soap/shampoo as you wish. Once you're clean, and have rinsed away all of the soap/shampoo, you may enter the 'ofuro' (bathtub). The water is usually quite warm and very relaxing. Once you've had enough, do not drain the water, as it is reused.

When going to the toilet, make sure to remove your house slippers and put on the bathroom slippers.

Don't place chopsticks upright in your bowl of rice, it's taboo. Slurping, talking with your mouth full and littering the table with meal refuse is acceptable in most situations. Many of the "rules" of western etiquette don't exist here. Some people, myself among them, might find some of the common dining habits off-putting. But not enough to prevent me from marrying a Taiwanese man!

Foreign Policy has recently came out with an issue talking about how Middle Eastern Women are treated. It stated and I paraphrase" If you think that women are treated better than we say, we are wrong, they are treated way worse than we think." In Middle Eastern countries, they are mostly patriarchal and male-dominated societies, women are treated as subordinates. If you want to know how he treats you, I suggest reading answered questions about how to get to know a person.

You should tip them around $5 dollars. Or more. =)

$1.00 per bag is the standard tip.

..FALSE! $1 per bag was standard in the 1970's and 1980's but in today's economy, the standard is $2 per small/medium pieces and $5 for larger, heavy pieces or Golf clubs and huge boxes. Even the Airlines AA and USAir will ask for $2 for curbside check in ...and that's the airline fee -NOT the private contractor skycap.

This is not a question - it is a statement. Please ask a question to receive an answer.

Some examples of things that are generally considered rude in Japan are arrogance, speaking too highly of one's own family to others, talking excessively/noisily on trains, standing chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice, passing food from one pair of chopsticks to another, being inconsiderate of other's opinions/feelings, and many others.

Here's how to curtsy: From a standing position with your arms at your sides, gently hold your skirt on both sides with your thumbs and first two fingers, pinkies extended, and at the same time, bend and cross your left leg behind your right one, toe touching the floor while bending your right leg slightly to accommodate this bend and bend slightly at the hip, keeping the back straight and holding the head in a nod. The whole act takes about 2 seconds and is done in one graceful manner.

Depends on the relationship the guy is in. If he is poor give him money and ask him out. Most guys look for hot girls to show off to their friends. Avoid those guys. Also you can give him some cheese. Guys LOVE CHEESE.

Yes, people may clap and often cheer after the National Anthem of any country that they are proud of.

When you are inside , at something like Commencement exercises it is inappropiate . At any sporting evemt , inside or out , it IS acceptable.

It depends upon how close or intimate and comfortable you are with the person. If you are close or intimate and comfortable with them, find loving and caring words expressing concern placing it as important to them rather than a "selfish" request. If you do not have an endearing relationship, do not mention it at all, unless you are an adult using your efforts to teach a child. Or give them a spray as a present. Or when out and they smell bad spray yourself and then give them a spritz. If its a women find out if they have a period (it's a women's thing). If they don't, maybe they don't have any clean towels or clothes so they can have a shower and they are waiting for them to dry. Maybe they breathe in through their mouth instead of in through their nose, it makes a difference to the sense of smell. Do not tell them they smell bad straight up. I agree, you can't really go out and say it without being rude. If it's their breathe you could always take some gum and offer it for them also. I agree, it's a tricky subject. When my employees smell I tend to say general hints to the whole team such as "Let's remember proper hygeine, team. Especially in the summer months." That usually makes everyone on my staff rush off and spray or wash or brush teeth at their break. If you are not the boss, not a parent, not a relative, and not a friend to the offending person, you have to tread carfully. I often use this trick: I ask about myself in a confidential tone. Often I'll lean in and whisper "Can you help me? Do I smell bad?" and that makes the person take a whiff. Plus they trust you once you have confided your insecurity to them. The majority of the time, once they've told me I don't smell, they ask me to check their smell. I usually give a pretend whiff and say "well, only a bit." or "hey, it is hot after all!" And that is subtle enough to give them the hint that they need to fix their stench. Be really really subtle and polite in this situation. It's very embarrassing and offensive to tell someone about his/her body. Think of how you'd want to hear about it. Tact, deplomacy and delicacy are the way of dealing with bodily functions.

putting water in to the refrigerator to freeze it

cutting wood

dropping plates, or cups

chopping fruits or vegetables

tearing paper

breaking items

chewing pencils

peeling potatoes