When traveling abroad, the last thing we Americans want to do is offend the locals. Unfortunately, too many of us think that’s an easy trap to avoid: As long as you are polite, say “please” and “thank you,” don’t tell ethnic jokes about the local population, don’t act rude or all “ugly American”-like, and don’t walk around in an “FBI (Female Body Inspector)” T-shirt, you’ll be okay. Right?
Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. One downside of international travel is that it is shockingly easy for Americans to accidentally offend locals in a foreign country; some gestures or actions that mean absolutely nothing in the U.S. are considered extremely offensive abroad. If these unintentionally offensive American tourists are lucky, the locals will just seethe quietly or, even better, politely warn them of the offensiveness of their behavior. But at worst, it could lead to a nasty confrontation or, as has occurred in at least one case, a potential international incident.
Don’t let that happen to you. Here are 10 of the most accidentally offensive things Americans do overseas.
Using the left hand
![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/vip.nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/08/lefthand.jpg?w=618)
So using it to initiate a handshake, touch food, touch someone else, or present a gift is considered pretty disgusting.
Sitting in the back seat of a taxi
![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/vip.nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/08/taxi.jpg?w=618)
These cabbies prefer you to ride up front with them, as if you’re pals. Still, some travel guides suggest that female passengers nonetheless ride in the back seat for safety reasons.
Tipping
![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/vip.nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/08/tipjars.jpg?w=618)
Putting your hand in your pocket
![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/vip.nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/08/handsinpocket.jpg?w=618)
Giving a peace sign
![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/vip.nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/08/peacesign.jpg?w=618)
Showing the sole of your shoe
![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/vip.nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/08/showingsoleoffoot.jpg?w=618)
Former U.S. Congressman Bill Richardson learned that lesson the hard way: On a delicate diplomatic mission to Iraq in 1995, Richardson crossed his leg in that fashion while talking to Saddam Hussein. The Iraqi leader was so offended, Richardson says, that he walked out of the room.
Crossing your fingers
![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/vip.nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/08/crossingfingers.jpg?w=618)
Don’t be surprised if people start staring at you. There, crossing the fingers is considered vulgar, as it’s said to resemble a certain female body part
Touching someone’s head
![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/vip.nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/08/buddhist.jpg?w=618)
Buddhists consider the head sacred; it’s where they believe the spirit lives. So hands off (and it’s probably not a good idea to walk around touching strangers, no matter where you are).
Giving the thumbs-up
![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/vip.nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/08/thumbsup.jpg?w=618)
You can memorize the list, but it might be easier just to forget that you have thumbs while traveling overseas.
Giving the A-OK sign
![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/vip.nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/08/a-okaysign.jpg?w=618)