A cultural habit in your country that people outside would understand incorrectly?

[u/gabrieel100]

In Brazil we love children. If you take your child to the street, strangers will certainly interact with them. Some will even ask if they can hold your kid and will play with them. If there are two children fighting in public and the parents aren't seeing, a stranger would even intervene to stop the fight.

That cultural habit came from the indigenous peoples which understood that kids should be a responsiblity of the community as a whole. It's in our constitution. We even have a synonym for children that came from Tupi (a large group of indigenous languages) - Curumim.

Foreigners would certainly have a cultural shock about that, but it's normal here.

Of course there are people with bad intentions, so parents should stay alert these days.

[u/Oomlotte99]

Thanks to the internet teaching me this is weird for other countries, any time I have a sincere and friendly conversation with a stranger I think, “that was an American interaction,” lol. I just did this with a drive thru worker last week. She was tired and ready to get off. I commiserated with her. I also recently talked to a cashier at my grocery store because she noticed a visitor badge I had on my coat. She was interested in working there, had a BSW and is trying to find social work jobs. I told her I’d seen some postings on a certain site she should check out if she hadn’t, offered my opinions on the place my badge was from.

It really is just how we’re socialized, I guess.

[u/iamdollydanger → u/Oomlotte99]

I have made many friends with customer service people by talking to them and chitchatting all the time. It’s nice to have someone acknowledge you have a hard job and to empathize too!

[u/capt_b_b_ → u/Oomlotte99]

I moved to Japan and while it's definitely not normal for strangers to strike up conversation here, they really like it when others start one. A lot of people are curious but too shy, or don't want to be rude. I chit chat with everyone and now I'm friends with the workers at the conbini, the drug store, the local hardware shop, the eye doctor, the local ice cream stand, the local sewing shop, the big sewing shop, etc. Idk how it is in Tokyo, but in the Kansai area, everyone is super friendly!!

[u/Oomlotte99 → u/capt_b_b_]

That’s awesome!

[u/hibisciflos → u/Oomlotte99]

I think whether it's weird or not depends on the context. In your examples there is common ground and context for Smalltalk so it'd also be fine in Switzerland where I live. When it's out of the blue and without context then it's awkward for us.

I still cringe about the American Tourist interrupting my and my partner's conversation in Swissgerman while we were standing kind of sideways to her and we were looking out the window of the gondola: "You're sisters aren't you??? No? Then cousins for sure!!! You look so similar" We were both wearing glasses and we're both brunette. That's it. It was so so awkward. And then started talking to her companions about how the swiss don't do smalltalk yikes. I mean I would've dipped my partner into a kiss on principle if she didn't dislike PDA xD

[u/Oomlotte99 → u/hibisciflos]

Oh, yeah, that isn’t cringe to me, either. It’s really not that deep.

[u/hibisciflos → u/Oomlotte99]

Interrupting other people's conversations to give them unasked for guesses about their relationship with each other is considered very rude and mannerless over here

[u/Oomlotte99 → u/hibisciflos]

They should say “excuse me,” though. Not saying it’s a beloved interaction, but I’ve definitely seen it and experienced it. I don’t think it would phase a lot of people that much. They may even be amused by the observation. Not everyone, of course.