Do's and Don'ts

This morning, I was flipping through a pre-departure packet that was sent to me by the language school I'll be attending in Costa Rica. The purpose of one of the chapters was to prepare me for certain cultural differences I may stumble upon.

Here are a few differences between Latin America and here which I found to be notable:

1) People are as helpful as possible:

They say that, in general, people in Latin America try to be as helpful as possible. Accordingly, when asking for directions it is apparently not uncommon for someone to take the time out of their day to walk you to your destination.

The difference: Can you imagine someone with broken English asking a random New Yorker to walk them to their destination? If the New Yorker is feeling particularly warm that day, he might say something like, "Sorry, man. I gotta run. Season finale of 'Lost' starts in ten, and my Tivo is in the shop."

2) Respect for the elders:

Respect for the elders is expected in Latin America. Everyone in the family shares in the emotional and financial support of its members, and it is not uncommon for three generations of families to be living under one roof.

The difference: Here in the United States, we stick all of our old people under one roof, bus them over to Walmart, and give them 15% off on Tuesdays.

3) Macho man:

Most Latin American men are proud of their machismo, and they view whistling at ladies as a compliment.

The difference: After I graduate from law school, I may open up shop in Latin America. Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to introduce to you...the sexual harassment law suit.

4) Things don't always work:

In many parts of Latin America, things we take for granted here don't always work. Plumbing is a prime example, and they recommend that I check with my host family before throwing toilet paper in the toilet.

The difference: Could you ever see your self muttering these words when entering someone's home. "So, help me out here. Do I throw the shit-rags in the toilet, or uhh...?"