Tags: Facebook photos, Instagram photos, travel etiquette, travel customs, travel manners, vacation photos, social media, house gifts, travel concierge
MS. BEHAVING has returned from her customary summer sojourn to the world’s capitol cities, and is here not a moment too soon to tackle her reader’s concerns!
A READER WRITES:
A friend invited my daughter to join her family for a seaside weekend. We're delighted, but our friend shoots endless photos of her kids/their friends … then plasters them on Facebook and Instagram. I asked her not to post my child's pictures, but she blows it off by saying, "Don't worry--I never tag people and I never identify the kids." I don't want my daughter's pictures showing up anywhere. How do I deal with this?
MS. BEHAVING REPLIES: Stand firm! Let your friend know that, even if she doesn’t tag, your daughter is a guest and not a part of the family Facebook bargain. Pix of your daughter and her pals would be lovely in a family album but not part of the multi-million-folk networks – and she should happily send the snaps to you, with your thanks. (You are sending a little gift /note with your daughter for the weekend with your thanks, yes?) Ms. Behaving must also note that your daughter and her friends are probably posting their own pictures anywhere and everywhere, anyway. If you trust her upbringing, knowing that even un-tagged pix won’t jepordize her future as a corporate CEO, rest easy. Chat nicely with her before the weekend – don’t go topless! Don’t drool over the pool boy with an iPhone around! – and know you have done all you can. Let Ms. B know how it goes.
*
A READER WRITES: I’m going to Switzerland with my son, and friends there have kindly invited us to stay with them for a long weekend. We are thrilled to be staying in a private home after traveling around Europe for a couple of weeks. What should we bring as a house gift from the USA? I have zero room left in my luggage. Help!
MS. BEHAVING REPLIES: Happily you don’t have to carry chocolates or cuckoo clocks! Your generous Swiss hosts have plenty of these, and simply long for your great company. If you know their tastes, then definitely host an evening’s dinner in the best restaurant in town as a thank-you -- for starters. If they insist on paying for all the sightseeing, let them. You are their guests. Ms. Behaving has found that her Swiss friends are gobsmacked when she presents them with a slim paperback by the American author and New Yorker stalwart John McPhee: “La Place de la Concorde Suisse.” It’s his delightful take on the Swiss Army/defenses, and is a brilliant book even if one hasn’t friends in Switzerland. Enjoy being a guest!
*
WHAT’S YOUR QUANDARY? Have questions about etiquette, local or global travel customs or awkward moments on the road? Fear not! Ms. Behaving is ready to answer. Send your queries (putting "Ms. Behaving" in the subject line) .
|
|
|
