Who has never heard of the famous saying "The custom of the house goes to the square"?
When we talk about multiculturalism, our manners need to be considered and rethought, especially if you are living or want to live abroad, because it is through them that you will be perceived in your environment.
Let's do the exercise of imagining an American living in Switzerland, and when invited to eat a pizza at a Swiss friend's house, he starts serving himself by taking the pizza with his hands and eating it the same way. How do you think this culture would view this attitude? Is the American visitor rude? How could this culture clash be interpreted if the host were the American's boss?
In the United States, it is usual for people to eat pizza or sandwiches with their hands. It is part of American manners. However, cutlery is used in Switzerland to cut food at meal times, including fruit. Is there right and wrong in this story? Of course not, just different ways that are determined by cultural factors.
Living abroad is an unique opportunity to exchange of knowledge of world perceptions. In some cultures burping after meals is a compliment to the food served, while in others, this attitude at the table is objectionable, a reprehensible act. What I mean is that when one intends to move to another country, the primary homework assignment is to get to know the culture to which one is transferring, to prepare oneself to adequately and fully live this experience. The exchange contributes to the personal development of all those who have the opportunity to share this cultural knowledge. Everyone wins, and everyone learns.
Each of us has a code of conduct that has been determined by our culture and handed down to us by our family, school, religion, friends, etc. In other words, throughout our lives, we have been taught what is right and wrong, proper and improper, respectable and disrespectful. In theory, there is no international code of etiquette that is universal. Still, depending on your country, certain personal customs must remain at home, so embarrassing situations are not created, causing discomfort.
In other words, social rules guide human behavior and interactions so when they are not followed, they result in some reproach. If reproach is unpleasant in our own culture, it is much worse when this censorship occurs in a different country. When you are censored abroad, adapting to the new culture becomes more complex since the ways of the country of origin are not received by the new country in which you live. Therefore, caution is necessary!
Every foreigner who lives abroad wants to be part of that new environment, to be welcomed by the place and the group with which they relate. Adaptation is more effortless, without embarrassment, and more peaceful when this welcome happens.