I love all the ritualized behaviour, secret meanings and unexpected taboos - standing up when someone of higher status stands, elaborate rules for serving and eating, tapping the table to thank the server, never refuse a toast from a superior, stuff like that.
Whether it’s about meals or anything else, I’d love to hear about any uncommon politeness standard or similar social behaviour that goes on in your location, culture or restaurant!
One of the many things I loved about Taiwan was that people leave the left side of the escalator free for those who want to walk up or down.
There’s one single file line of people standing on the escalator. Even during the evening commute, there’s a single file line snaking back down into the station. But then as you get close there’s a much smaller line to the left moving much quicker of every who plans to walk up.
It’s so civilized.
Pretty standard in the London Underground too, despite technically being way more inefficient than if everyone just stood two people on each step!
That’s pretty common for anywhere with subways. Unfortunately there’s no international standard on which side is the correct one to stand on.
It’s mostly “stand on right”, but not everywhere, not even within the same country. (UK and Japan uses both).
As a tourist, please look for the signs.
Stand on right, walk on left : London, Berlin, New York, Copenhagen, Osaka
Stand on left, walk on right : Tokyo, Sydney, Edinburgh
Chicago subway system would like to have a word with you
Big in Washington, DC too. Stand right.
Sub-protocol here…you can walk on the right but don’t stand on the left. Kind of like the fast and slow lanes on the road.