This list was inspired by watching some tourists on both sides of the Atlantic and Pacific. This advice applies if you are a visitor here or are visiting over there. I hope you enjoy

Ten Things Not to Do When Visiting a Foreign Country

10 If you are visiting a foreign country, do not assume everyone who does not understand what you are saying is stupid. If you do, At best you will get no help. At worst, you will find people going out of their way to make sure your visit is a nightmare.

9 If you are visiting a foreign country, do not continue to believe you will find the same food you have at home. If you do, at best you will deny yourself a learning experience. At worst, you will get very hungry and tired of eating the snacks you brought with you.

8 If you are visiting a foreign country, do not openly compare the rooms and sights with those you have at home. If you do, at best foreigners will think you ignorant. At worst, you will not appreciate what you are seeing and could cause an international incident.

7 If you are visiting a foreign country, do not take pictures of anyone without their permission. If you do, at best you will have nothing but frowning people in your pictures. At worst, that little hand gesture flashed by the last reluctant model just maybe a curse upon your house for ten thousand years

6 If you are visiting a foreign country do not pick up souvenir rocks from sacred sites. If you do, at best you will be asked to give them back. At worst, you will carry the rocks home only to find a little Friday the Thirteenth effect since they have an ancient spell cast by a prehistoric resident wanting to ward off hairless apes from attacking the garden.

5 If you are visiting a foreign country, do not to dress as if you were paid by several manufacturers to be a walking billboard. If you do, at best the only thing you will broadcast is a low IQ (whether deserved or not). At worst, the messages on your clothes might be mistaken for a political or sexist statement which you may find difficult to explain to the magistrate

4 If you are visiting a foreign country, do not wrinkle your nose to each strange smell. If you do, at best the country residents will believe you find their country offensive. At worst, you may run across a disgruntled resident who will be willing to explain how disgusting it was to visit your country and offer to settle the situation with a duel.

3 If you are visiting a foreign country, do not assume the rules in your country are the same rules in the country you are visiting, If you do, At best you will be only a little wrong when the authorities  point out your mistake. At worst, you may be a lot wrong as the authorities prepare you for the punishment phase of your trial for what you thought was a small infraction.

2 If you are visiting a foreign country, do not make everyone aware of where you came from by your stereotypical behavior. If you do, at best you will be mocked behind your back. At worst, you will fortify the belief that everyone from your country behaves the same as the stereotype and will not be able to shed that image nor the resulting scorn.

1 If you are visiting a foreign country do not make a mess of the places you visit. If you do, at best people will ask you nicely to leave. At worst, the authorities may ask you nicely to clean up after yourself prior to being a guest in one of their fine, historically chic, damp and moldy holding tanks prior to deportation.