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Some people shake hands when they meet. Others kiss, bow, say "Namaste" or nod their heads. Clueless travelers who aren't up-to-date on local traditions may find out the hard way that plopping a wet kiss on the face of a bowing stranger could cause offense in a foreign country. CultureCrossing.net, a Web site that provides user-generated information on the cultural practices of more than 200 countries, attempts to prevent culture shock by informing its readers of international taboos and proprieties.
In addition to a comprehensive country-by-country guide, the site also includes a message board where inquisitive readers (who have created a user name and password) can ask culture questions or contact other members. Less useful are the site's "global resources," a thinly veiled directory of fruitless sponsored links.
While a few other sites on the Web offer advice on differing business customs abroad, no other online resource does exactly what Culture Crossing tries to accomplish -- that is, to provide comprehensive information on international cultures based on user-generated facts. Culture Crossing attempts to be the Wikipedia of international practices and traditions. Members can contribute to Culture Crossing's guides by adding facts from their own travel experiences.
The folks behind this site want to assure you that the information on their pages is not just an amalgamation of half-truths and whoppers written by uninformed users; they promise to double check all content against two sources. Well -- that's a relief! But is the advice detailed in Culture Crossing’s pages accurate? Our travel investigation team (this writer and her Internet connection) ran some tests to find out.
 Test Drive
Pages about each country include information on "Personal Space and Touching," "Taboos," "Gender Issues" and "Eye Contact,” among other topics. Some cultural tips are helpful, others humorous. About Ireland, Culture Crossing says, "It is important to be facing the person with whom you are speaking." One would hope most travelers are not in the habit of shouting at locals who are standing directly behind them. And, according to the site's section on England, "It is not acceptable to start conversations with strangers [on public transportation] … if a conversation is started regardless of this it is usually embarrassing for all concerned." Is asking directions on the Tube tantamount to poorly controlled bodily functions or a nasty public divorce? We think this isn't quite the case -- so we advise readers to take Culture Crossing's guidance with a grain of salt and a pinch of common sense.
 Jokes aside, Culture Crossing can be quite useful. Perusing the site, we've learned that the American hand symbol for "OK" (connecting your thumb and index finger and raising the other three fingers) is an offensive gesture in Brazil. In Indonesia, it’s better to point with your fist than your finger (the latter is bad manners). And in Nepal it is considered rude for a man to initiate a handshake with a woman. We checked these facts with other sources, and they're accurate.
All in all, Culture Crossing is a fun assemblage of fascinating points on foreign cultures. If you're planning a trip you're likely to find some interesting facts on this site, and you may avoid an awkward gaffe (or two) -- or even impress some of the locals by demonstrating your knowledge of their customs.
Neat and Nifty
We love the "Cultural IQ Quiz," which changes weekly and tests your knowledge of juicy little cultural factoids. This week's quiz asks: In what country is wearing camouflage a crime? Your options: Canada; Spain; Trinidad and Tobago; and France. (The answer is at the bottom of this review.)
Buyer Beware
Culture Crossing's comments about local behavior should be read as guidelines, not rigid rules; if you read that gender roles in your destination of choice are strictly traditional, this does not mean that every woman you will meet is a housewife. And, as we previously mentioned, some of the cultural advice on this site may seem a bit exaggerated. Reading up on the facts offered on Culture Crossing will give you an impression of a country that may be of use when you travel -- but it's best to double check your info with another source (or see for yourself how the locals act and draw your own conclusions).
The Bottom Line
In practice, Culture Crossing may be a better source of entertainment than travel planning tool. A visit to this site in the weeks before your trip is a great way to build up excitement and learn some trivial facts about your destination. But can Culture Crossing help you tailor your behavior in order to fit in and avoid offending locals?
If you're going to a place with squatting holes in the bathrooms or a communist government, some degree of culture shock will probably hit regardless of what you read before you get on that plane. But it is possible to expand your understanding of a destination, and avoid the embarrassment of unintentionally waving an offensive hand gesture as you hail a cab, by poring over Culture Crossing’s inventory of intriguing cultural data.
Independent Traveler Grade: B+
What does this grade mean?
How would YOU rate CultureCrossing.net? Share your opinion!
The answer to the Cultural IQ Quiz question is: Trinidad and Tobago.
Related Links
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--written by Caroline Costello
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Last Updated: 10/15/08
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