Karen Roman Switzerland is known for its honesty when it comes to buying.
In the shape of honesty stores, little little shops in the centre of the Swiss Alps share the idealism of this civilization. These are little stores where you may buy fresh cheese, milk, bread, honey, and butter without anyone watching you savour the region’s exquisite dairy goods. In fact, because these stores are run by farmers who are out taking care of the animals most of the day, no one watches them, so all you have to do is drop your money in a small basket. And what’s even more remarkable is that this level of consumer trust leads to extraordinary customer loyalty and honesty in the communities.
“Tranquilo” is a Colombian song.
Flights will most likely be cancelled, buses will not operate on time or at all, and you will most likely walk up to school as a teacher and find that there will be no class – for two weeks. It makes no difference. Tranquilo. It’s unimportant; don’t be concerned; relax. This prevailing attitude in Colombia creates a constant air of tranquilly because everything will work out, especially with the overwhelming kindness of every Colombian who will go out of their way to assist you when you’ve missed a bus, don’t have a plane, or need something to do when you’re unemployed for two weeks. And I’m convinced that this tranquilo way of life is the reason why all Colombians appear to be eternally young.
Turkey is known for its friendly hospitality.
I was apprehensive about hitchhiking, but with my only ticket out of Istanbul, 900 kilometres away, and no working forms of cash, I put my thumb out. I was blown away by Turkish generosity; I was constantly invited into the homes of individuals who gave me rides, whether it was to eat massive kebab meals or be offered a place to stay; and I could never leave without sharing the finest Turkish coffee. My hosts always picked up the tab if we ended ourselves in a restaurant. Perhaps it was the timing of my stay during Ramadan, but Turkish hospitality should be emulated around the world.
South Korea will not be tipped.
Tipping is in my blood as someone who was reared in the United States and worked in the food service industry throughout university. I’d like to tip everyone as a way of expressing my appreciation for their efforts and unity with them. But as soon as I tried to express my gratitude in a delightful cafe in Seoul, my tip was snatched away with a nasty frown by my host. Employees in the food service industry in South Korea, as in many other nations, are paid fairly and take pride in their work, thus tipping them is offensive. Perhaps the globe should think about this habit and concept.
Tinto time in Colombia
Tinto is a small cup of black, thick coffee sweetened with panela (a sweeter cousin of sugar), and tinto time is all the time. You simply stop for 10 minutes at one of the hundreds of tinto carts or street vendors to enjoy your sweet-caffeinated pick-me-up, catch up on local gossip, and speak with friends. Tinto time implies you’ll probably be late for that meeting, but everyone else will be, too, because everyone pauses for tinto.
