My Travel Bag

When I travel abroad, I’m intrigued by the cultural traditions embraced by each country. For instance, the French have an ongoing love affair with food and their reverence for time spent eating is evident in any culinary establishment nationwide. Courtly manners are expected at the dining table, where one never cuts salad with a knife or fork but rather folds the salad on a fork using a knife. Bread is never cut either. Instead, it is broken with your fingers and, in the absence of a bread plate, placed on the table above your dinner plate on the left. Fruit is not eaten whole; rather it is peeled and sliced before eating. When they’re finished eating, the French place the knife and fork side by side on the plate at the 5:20 position, with the fork on the left and the knife on the right with the blade of the knife facing the fork.

Italians are known for using the most body language of all European nations to express themselves. The family is the most important affiliation in Italy and personal relations are scrupulously maintained with loyalty highly valued. They greet friends with a kiss on both cheeks. Eye contact is maintained while talking, otherwise Italians might think you are hiding something. A waiter or waitress is called by raising one’s index finger and making eye contact. And Italians always stand when an older person enters the room.