Gray Line Wanderings Travel Blog

Unless you want to stand out like a Halloween costume at a tuxedo party, you are going to have to learn some rules of etiquette before visiting South Korea. This nation is strongly founded on the virtue of dignity and its people have consequently developed very distinct behavioral codes. Many foreigners inadvertently snub the rules of Korean etiquette by carrying their Western sensibilities with them to the East. These cultural differences often lead South Koreans to view foreigners as rude and uncouth. If you don’t want to contribute to the bad reputation of foreigners in South Korea, then follow our pointers and surprise your new friends with your politeness.

Bowing

Bowing is an important part of the greeting process. Do not exaggerate your bow, because this could be construed as a mocking gesture. In the Far East, bowing does not imply subservience – it is a simple sign of respect akin to a handshake or a kiss (sometimes three) on the cheek.

Chopsticks

You should never leave your chopsticks sticking out of the rice bowl. This would be similar to stabbing your fork into a steak and leaving it upright when you aren’t eating. You should always place your chopsticks on the table or across the top of a bowl.

Accepting Drinks

If you are offered an alcoholic beverage by an older person, you should always accept it with two hands. It is sufficient to accept the beverage with your free hand supporting the receiving hand. Korean dinners often involve soju and your elders will invariably insist on you imbibing a few too many.

Probing Questions

Do not be surprised if you are asked about your weight, marital status or income. These are all ordinary questions in the Korean context. It might feel uncomfortable to divulge this information, but it is simply a Korean attempt to break the ice.

Buses and Subways

It is essential to keep quiet on public transport. Unless you want to get the evil eye from a person who has about 20 years of Taekwondo experience, it is best to abide by this simple rule. Koreans find noisiness very rude and it’s best to hold onto your riveting tale until you disembark.

Politeness

As with any travel destination, simple polite gestures go a long way. If you behave in a respectable manner, the people will warm to you and you will have a fascinating time. Remember that you are visiting their country – the onus is on you to adapt, not them!

by Taylor Record

Any grilled-meat-loving person knows that Bratwurst and Sauerkraut go together like… well… Bratwurst and Sauerkraut. So you can almost imagine my dejection as I ordered my Original Thuringer Rostbratwurst at a roadside stand in Berlin, Germany, and my request for the fermented topping was denied!

“ Germans don’t really eat sauerkraut on this,” she told me with a thick German accent and the look of pity plastered across her face.

I felt like a naïve American tourist as I solemnly ate my German Brat, lonely in the crisped bun with a just the swirly pattern of yellow mustard to keep it company. It was if the world as I thought I knew it had been altered.  She probably thinks I’m an amateur. Maybe they call sauerkraut something different. Maybe bratwursts aren’t really even German. Is this German beer even German??

Three years later, and today is finally the day to uncover the real answer to this timeless question. Do they eat sauerkraut on Bratwursts in Germany?

I searched all over the web, and the verdict is sometimes?

 In Germany, some bratwursts are often served with crusty bread, potato salad, and sauerkraut.  However, the Thuringer variety is traditionally served on bread and brushed with mustard. Judging by the strict adherence to Thuringian tradition in composition and preparation of this bratwurst, I wouldn’t be the tourist to demand kraut on this dog.

Perhaps the best source of information I have is the information that the woman at the eggy-walled stand gave me. I smiled and even spit out the best “Guten Tag!” I could muster. I can’t imagine she mislead me to deter bad etiquette!

And if she was trying to fool me, she certainly won. She would probably be quite amused that I have devoted three years and, well–probably only 30 minutes of thought to the issue–but that is certainly more brainpower than I typically spare on a single lunch item.

One of the most exhilarating and amusing parts about traveling the world is experiencing a whole new sector of ingredients and culinary feats. From fried tarantula to durian, there is no more literal way to get a taste for a culture than to taste the food. Take note of your ordering missteps and serving faux pas along the way, and you’ll move away from novice tourist to regional expert.

So please, fellow travelers, ask politely about the kraut-laws for your brat of choice before boldly requesting. As for beer pairings and mustard etiquette… you’ll have to figure those out for yourself.

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