10 foreign customs that may sound a little strange to Brazilians

Most Brazilians have different customs and quirks that are very different from those of some foreign countries and that can cause us some kind of strangeness, according to travel sites and a portion of our readers. As the culture of any country is vast and different from others, we separate some details that may have the potential to shock us, such as, for example, roasting cacti — among other things. Can you imagine if one of these customs becomes a fever in Brazil?

We, from awesome.club, we love learning about new cultures and being able to inform you about these diversities. Nothing is as good as discovering facts about another continent in the comfort of our own home, isn’t it? Stay with us and check it out.

Most Brazilians love a good old-fashioned barbecue — and it can be made with a variety of meats. But what few people know is that there are other very different ways of having a barbecue in other countries. For example, in Mexico, it is common to roast palm — a type of cactus — as it is a food rich in fiber. Can you imagine eating something so different like this?

Known as Naengmyeon, is a cold noodle — or ice cream, mixed in the soup. In the past, the dish used to be very popular in winter in South Korea, and now, some Koreans love to eat this food in summer, as it can be highly refreshing. But don’t be scared, the recipe is very popular in their country, just like our hot or room temperature noodles are normal for many people.

Friday the 13th is usually a superstitious day in many parts of the world, including Brazil. Few people may know that, in countries like Spain, the unlucky day is usually on Tuesdays that fall on the thirteenth day of the month. This is because that specific day, known as “mars”, is dedicated to a not very peaceful being from Greek mythology. Pretty curious, don’t you think?

Although it seems strange to us that we have gas station attendants to fill up our cars, in Portugal it is not a common practice for an employee to fill up gas for you. If you travel to this European country, be prepared to get out of your car and choose and put fuel.

Here in Brazil, our bathrooms have tiles both on the walls and on the floor, while some countries use wallpapers and other types of flooring. According to the opinion of one of our readers, this is quite common.

Most Brazilians love to greet people with kisses on the cheek (one, two, or even more). But what few people know is that inhabitants of several countries also have this same habit. Colombia, Peru, Chile, among others — they usually only give one. In Italy, Greece, Croatia and France (depending on the region), they kiss twice. Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and a few other places, give three kisses. For one of our readers who lives in France, this practice is a little uncomfortable.

“Wow, I live in France and I have never seen people who kiss so much to say hello! It even abuses me to arrive in a place with 30 people and have to kiss one by one”. © Simone Burtet / Facebook

In Japan, toilets usually have a control to heat the seat, in addition to a jet of water to wash ourselves after needs. Perhaps the seat heater is not very useful for us, as we live in a tropical country and it is hot almost every day. But the idea is quite curious, isn’t it?

“In Japan, we have an electric heater on the seat and a water jet to wash your private parts.” @ Almir Nagano / Facebook

In the UK, having two faucets on the sink can be common, as one has cold water and the other has hot water. But according to one of our readers, there is no middle ground, because either the water is too hot or too cold. Have you ever thought if this fashion catches on in the coldest states of Brazil?

This practice may shock some Brazilians, as we are known for our “cleanliness mania”, as we shower several times a day. But not having the habit of washing your hands after using the bathroom can be something a little common for some inhabitants of Spain, for example.

According to the comment of one of our followers, in the Czech Republic it is common not to enter someone else’s house without first taking off your shoes. For Czechs, wearing shoes inside someone’s house is considered bad manners. Can you imagine if this different idea becomes practical in Brazilian homes?

“My husband is Czech, and the first time I went there, I was surprised, because we don’t go into absolutely anyone’s house without first taking off our shoes. It is considered bad manners not to remove your shoes.” © Andreia Lie Ota Psohlavec / Facebook

Which of these customs shocked you the most? Could you adapt to these habits? Tell us.