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It's fascinating how traveling wholly reshapes your understanding of what constitutes "gentlemanly" behavior. What I considered polite in my home country often felt completely out of sync elsewhere. for example, aggressively offering to pay for everything, which I thought was chivalrous, was practically offensive in some cultures where splitting the bill, or reciprocal treating, is the norm and allows everyone to contribute equally.
Beyond just finances, I found the expectations around physical space and interaction styles varied wildly. Direct eye contact, seen as a sign of sincerity here, can be interpreted as aggressive or disrespectful in other places, especially when dealing with elders. Similarly, the acceptable level of physical closeness during greetings differs considerably, and navigating that can be tricky. Have others found their preconceived notions of "good manners" challenged while traveling? What’s one unexpected etiquette lesson you picked up on the road?