Imagine you’re traveling to a new country, armed with Google Translate and vibes. You’re confident, smiling at strangers, waving enthusiastically—and then boom! You just insulted someone’s ancestors, declined a marriage proposal, or ordered raw octopus thinking it was chicken.

This isn’t just a travel story; it’s the Awkward Olympics. And let’s be honest, we’re all competing.

1. “Nice Shirt!” … But Is It Really?

  • In Nigeria: Complimenting someone’s outfit is normal. “Ah, you look fresh today!”
  • In Germany: They might side-eye you, thinking you’re sarcastic or trying to flirt.

Once, a Nigerian auntie in Berlin said, “You’re looking too fine today!” The poor German woman thought she was being insulted.

2. The Case of the Phantom Smiles

  • In the U.S.: Smiling at strangers is standard. It’s their way of saying, “Hey, I’m not a serial killer!”
  • In Nigeria: If you smile randomly at someone, they might ask, “Why are you showing me teeth?”
Nollywood meme

Meanwhile, in Russia, smiling at strangers is borderline suspicious. A Nigerian man in Moscow learned this the hard way when his friendly grin was met with a solid, “Nyet.”

3. Food Wars: The Great “Spice” Scandal

  • In Nigeria: Spice is life. If it doesn’t make your eyes water, is it even food?
  • In Europe: A sprinkle of black pepper is their idea of “spicy.”

A Nigerian tourist in Sweden once asked for “extra pepper.” They brought him paprika. The disappointment was so loud he had to share make a post about it and it trended on Twitter.

4. Gestures That Could Ruin Your Life

  • The Peace Sign:
    • In Nigeria, it’s just vibes.
    • In Australia, doing it backward means, “Up yours!”
  • The “Okay” Sign:
    • Nigerians see it as playful.
    • In Brazil? You just insulted someone’s entire bloodline.

5. The Loud vs. The Silent

  • In Nigeria: Conversations are lively, loud, and borderline dramatic.
  • In Japan: Silence is golden. Loud talkers are seen as chaotic.

Imagine a Nigerian friend in Tokyo. He tried to crack a loud joke in public, and the whole train stared like he was an alien.

6. Gifting Gone Wrong

  • In China: Wrapping a gift in white or black paper is like handing over bad juju.
  • In Nigeria: If you wrap it at all, you’re a saint. Half the time, we just hand over the gift with a big smile with a subtle “Sorry it’s small, but manage it”.

Once, a Chinese guest at a Nigerian party wrapped their gift beautifully, but forgot the cash. The hosts are still waiting.

7. Personal Space is a Myth

  • In Nigeria: “Personal space? Never heard of her.” You’ll get hugs, pats on the back, and maybe even someone resting their arm on you.
  • In Scandinavia: They need at least two meters between bodies, or they panic.

A Nigerian student in Finland tried to greet classmates with a handshake. They recoiled like he was holding fire.

Twist Ending: Embrace the Chaos

Sure, cultural clashes can be embarrassing, but they’re also hilarious—and they make life interesting. Whether you’re waving awkwardly in Japan or asking for “extra spice” in Norway, just laugh it off and blame your ancestors.

P.S. Love this? Don’t miss more Crackko Gbedu:

Categorized in:

Culture Clashes

Tagged in: