Air Travel Etiquette

There is no doubt about it, traveling on airlines is stressful and tries the patience of many, otherwise, good-natured people. The crowds, delays, inadequate meals, and confined spaces often combine to make people more than a little grumpy and impatient. Unfortunately, in times of stress, we often forget to be respectful and considerate of others – something that can improve our own mood, if even just a little. On your next flight, try following these basic air travel etiquette tips and see how they can make the trip more pleasant for you, the airline staff, and your fellow passengers.

• Avoid bumping or hitting people with your luggage.
• Allow those with advanced boarding privileges, especially elderly people, those with disabilities, and young children, to board the plane unimpeded; wait in the seating area and don’t approach the gate until you are called to board the plane.
• Board the plane quickly and refrain from blocking the entryway or aisles. If necessary, step aside to allow people to pass before loading your carry-on luggage into the overhead compartment.
• Use care when placing your items into the overhead compartment. Other people may have delicate items in the carry-on bags already stowed in the compartment.
• If you notice someone struggling with items in the overhead compartment, be kind and assist them.
• Remember to use general pleasantries: “Please,” “Thank you,” “Excuse me,” “You’re welcome.” Sometimes when rushing from one gate to another we forget these simple courtesies.

 

8 Tips for Being a Good RV Neighbour

An RV is a great way to travel and enjoy the countryside. It offers easy access to the outdoors with all the comforts of home.

However, just like being at home, you generally have neighbours, at least when you stop and set up camp, and following the rules of etiquette helps to create a friendly atmosphere and more enjoyable experience for everyone.

Follow these 8 tips for RV camping etiquette to be a good RV neighbour on your next trip:

1. Follow the campsite rules. Most campsites have rules and regulations that you are given when you register. These rules usually include campsite speed limits, fire regulations, quiet times, and so on. Adhering to these rules is one of the basics of campground etiquette. Be sure to review and enforce the rules with your children, as well.
2. Park your RV in alignment with the campsite layout. Some campsites have concrete pads to indicate where to park your RV, while others have only the utility pole to indicate where your space ends and your neighbour’s campsite begins. The best approach is to check how other RVs are parked and align your unit with them. Note their angle of parking and distance from the utility pole and replicate it when you park your RV. If you don’t see other RVs around when you park, examine the campsite map to determine the intended set up.
3. Contain yourself and your stuff to your area. When you set up your RV, don’t allow slideouts or awnings to extend beyond the utility pole and into your neighbours area. Also be sure to keep your belongings, chairs, mats, toys, and so on in your campsite. The exception is a satellite dish, which may need to be placed in a specific area to receive a signal. But before placing your dish on another campsite, ask for permission from the people occupying the site.
4. Be considerate when arriving late or leaving early. If you arrive at the campsite after dark or leave before dawn, remember that others may be sleeping and be as unobtrusive as possible. If setting up, do the least amount you need to get through the night and keep voices quiet and lights dim. If you are leaving early, pack up the bulk of your items the day before so you can make a quick get away with the least amount of disturbance possible.
5. Treat other campsites as private property. When someone is set up in a campsite, that site becomes their property for the duration of their stay. Never cut across another occupied site without permission. If the washrooms or beach access are on the other side of a site, walk around.
6. Keep noise to a minimum. If you have television or radio, keep the volume in check. If possible, close the windows next to the speakers to contain the sound. To test the volume, turn on the TV or radio and go outside your RV. If you can hear it, turn down the volume, close windows, or move the speakers to reduce the sound outside your RV.
7. Be a responsible pet owner. If you are traveling with pets, make sure they are well taken care of. Keep dogs on leashes whenever they are outside so they are not bothering your neighbours and discourage them from barking. Never leave a dog that barks or howls unattended.  Also, clean up after your dog – always.
8. Clean up after yourself. Before you leave the campsite, clean up your area. Dispose of garbage properly, including bottle caps, cigarette butts, and dog waste. Always leave a campsite as clean, or cleaner, than it was when you arrived.

Follow these etiquette tips for create good neighbourly relations with your camping community and have a safe and happy summer!

Remember Your Manners When Texting in Public

While out at a restaurant to other day, I happened to notice a small group of people at another table. They were chatting together while waiting for their meals to arrive.

Suddenly, a cell phone chirped and one of the people in the group checked their phone, chuckled at a text message they had received, and then, without a word to the others, typed a response to the message and placed the phone on the table before returning to the conversation.

“the situation reminded me of two people whispering to each other while in the company of a larger group of people”

A few moments later, the phone chirped again and the person responded to another message while ignoring the people at their table. This routine repeated itself at regular intervals throughout their meal.

Technology aside, the situation reminded me of two people whispering to each other while in the company of a larger group of people. Holding a private conversation, whether through text or in hushed tones, while in the presence of others is extremely poor manners and is disrespectful to the people you are with.

Good etiquette requires that when you are with other people, you turn off your cell phone and text messaging. If you are waiting for an urgent message and must respond, excuse yourself from the group and find a quiet location to respond to the message. If more discussion is needed, it is best to call the person to resolve the issue rather than letting text messages continue to disrupt the people you are with.

Is a Gift Required for the Bride and Groom when attending an Engagement Party put on by the Bride’s Mother?

The decision of whether one wants to give a gift, or not, is always at the discretion of the guest. However, that being said, it is customary to take a small gift, for the Bride and Groom, to the Engagement Party.

Taking into consideration the couple’s taste in decor eg: Traditional, Contemporary etc. you may consider one of the following gifts appropriate and easy on the budget:

• A nice Picture Frame – Made from Crystal, wood, metal. There are some really unique ones on the market today.
• A Vase – for all those flowers the groom will be buying! Consider a Bud Vase or one suitable for a small bunch of flowers.
• A Photograph Album – Yes, people still use them for their favourite photo’s, on the Coffee Table.
• If you have a photograph of the happy couple in their younger years or when they first met, put a copy on the first page as a memento.

A gift we were given on our Engagement – A small crystal dish in the shape of a half- moon (crescent shape). It can be used to serve after dinner chocolates or to hold soap or jewelry in the bathroom. It has remained one of my favourite gifts, given to us by a work colleague of mine. Small but, special.

If you are really unsure of what to buy, you can always consider a pre-paid Visa/Mastercard which can be purchased from several local shops. Ultimately, remember, it is always the thought that counts the most.

Elizabeth

Bike Month and Road Bike Etiquette

In British Columbia, June is Bike Month. During this month, many organizations and government agencies host or sponsor bicycling events intended to encourage people to bike more and drive less. (You can get more information and see a list of upcoming events at the Better Environmentally Sound Transportation (BEST) Bike Month website).

Increasing the number of bikes on the roads (and reducing the number of cars) has many benefits — for the environment, for individuals, and for our communities — but it’s not without its own challenges.

One of the challenges is sharing the roadways and the somewhat tenuous relationship between motorists and bicyclists. The differences in the speed of travel and the ability of bicycles to slip silently between cars has led to much frustration on the part of vehicle drivers, while inattentive drivers and the potential for harm generates fear and anger among bicyclists. However, much of this conflict could be solved through basic etiquette – on both sides.

Bicycle Etiquette for Drivers

• Be aware of your surroundings and watch for smaller vehicles, such as bicycles and motorcycles, especially in and around intersections.
• Use caution when passing cyclists in the same lane. Slow down and move a far as possible to the left to give the cyclist as much room as possible. If there is a left lane, consider changing lanes before passing.
• When parallel parking along a roadway, park as close to the curb as possible to leave room for cyclists riding to the left of parked cars.
• When parked along a roadway, check for cyclists before opening your car door.
• When making a right turn, stop before entering the intersection and check for cyclists both coming from behind on the right side of your vehicle and coming from the left across the intersection.
• Avoid using roadways designated as Bike Routes as thoroughfares. Treat them as local access routes and, remember that in BC, these routes have a speed limit of 30 km/hour.
• Do not honk your horn at a cyclist. The sudden, loud noise may distract them so they lose control of their bike.

Riding Etiquette for Cyclists

• Know the rules of the road and follow them.
• Be aware of your surroundings. Don’t distract yourself by listening to an ipod or radio while riding.
• Ride as far to the right as possible, but give yourself enough room to ride safely and stay out of the way of car doors being opened in front of you.
• When riding with other cyclists, ride in single file, not side by side.
• When riding on a Bike Route, remember that you must still share the road with other vehicles and the same riding etiquette applies.
• Signal your intentions and be predictable.
• If you become aware of a car wanting to pass, move as far as possible to the right to give them as much room as possible.

Roadways are intended to accommodate many vehicle types as well as pedestrians.

No matter how you are travelling, a little courtesy and respect goes a long way towards improving the safety and enjoyment of travelling on roadways for everyone.

The Perfect Wedding Shower

As you begin your wedding plans you will discover that there are a number of special events that take place prior to the actual wedding. The wedding shower is one of these exciting events.

Traditionally, the Maid of Honour and Bridesmaids are responsible for planning and hosting the bridal shower. Some people consider it improper for a relative of the bride to host the shower because attendees usually bring gifts; however, traditions have changed and relative-hosted showers are a common and accepted occurrence today. If the maid of honour or bridesmaids are unable to host the shower, other close friends are, quite often, delighted to step in.

Selecting a date for the wedding shower can be tricky. Showers are generally held between four and six weeks prior to the wedding; however, the timing will depend on the bride’s schedule and the distance guests are travelling for the wedding. Be careful not to choose a date too close to the wedding day or the shower may interfere with other wedding plans and cause undue stress for the bride.

The guest list for the shower generally includes women who are close to the bride and groom. The following people are generally included in the guest list:

• All women in the wedding party
• Mothers of the bride and groom
• Grandmothers of the bride and groom
• Stepmothers of the bride and groom
• Sisters of the bride and groom
• Other female family members (aunts, cousins, nieces)
• Female friends and co-workers of the bride and groom

Note that individuals who are not invited to the wedding are generally not invited to the shower.

Send the wedding shower invitations at least four weeks prior to the event and include a response card with the invitation so guests can RSVP. You may also want to include return envelopes, addressed and stamped, to make it easy for guests to reply. Etiquette dictates that each invitation be addressed by hand using the formal format. Send a separate invitation to each shower guest even if they live with someone who is also invited to the shower. For example, if a mother and daughter live in the same household, they should each receive their own invitation.

Following the shower, the bride will need to send thank you notes as soon as possible. The shower hostess is responsible for keeping a record of who brought each gift so the bride will be able to personalize the thank you note by mentioning the gift.

The wedding shower is the start of many fun filled, memorable events for the bride and “all the girls.” Enjoy!

Top 10 Tips for Planning the Perfect Wedding!

Just the thought of planning a Wedding can be overwhelming and stressful for most people. Not sure where to start? Start with these Top 10 Tips as a foundation for your “To Do” List:

1. Permission to Marry – Start off on the right footing and future in-laws, on both sides, will be happy. It is customary for the future groom to visit the future bride’s father and ask permission to marry his daughter. If it is not possible to ask the father, he should ask her mother or next of kin.
2. Where the marriage will take place – Once it has been agreed the marriage will take place, the couple should decide on where they wish to be married. A Church, a Temple or a Registry Office. If they choose a Church it is normally one close to the bride’s home.
3. Book Early – This cannot be emphasised enough. The Vicar or Priest should be contacted immediately to discuss the reading of the banns and book a date. This is often done as early as a year in advance, in order to get the date you want.
4. Cost, who pays? – Traditionally the bride’s parents pay. However, owing to the exorbitant cost in today’s society sometimes one has to compromise. It is often suggested that the groom or his family pay for the drinks at the Reception. A Cash Bar is also commonly used, and most acceptable, with drinks for the various toasts and wine with dinner being provided by those paying.
5. Dress for the Wedding – Traditionally the bride, or the father of the bride, buys the bride’s dress. Sometimes the dress is handed down through the generations, from mother to daughter. Today, it is also common for the bride to hire her wedding gown.
   The majority of men hire a suit or Tuxedo for the occasion.
   Often the bride will pay for the bridesmaid’s dresses. However, owing to the cost, it is also acceptable for the bridesmaid’s to buy their own.
6. Essential bookings – At the earliest possible date, book the transportation for the bride and family to the Church and to the Reception. Also transportation for after the reception is of utmost importance to ensure there is no drinking and driving.
7. The Photographer – To avoid disappointment book the Photographer as soon as possible. A year in advance is advisable.
8. The Reception & the catering – Book 6 months to one year in advance.  Owing to mishaps that can occur eg: double bookings make sure you visit the place of choice closer to the date and check the catering for food quality.
9. The Entertainment – While the Entertainment should be booked well ahead of time, take into consideration the range of the age group taking part in the festivities, before you make your choice. The party will most likely consist of the young and the elderly – all looking forward to taking part on this happy occasion.
10. The Gift Opening – Traditionally the gift opening is done the day after the wedding day, usually at the bride’s home or other place of choice.

Don’t procrastinate, set the date!

Grace in Hockey and Other Sports

The Vancouver Canucks have just won a challenging round against the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup playoffs and the city has been abuzz with the excitement of the games. Everywhere you look someone is wearing a Canucks jersey, complete strangers are discussing the games, and Canucks flags are flying on top of buildings and from many car windows. I even saw a model of Roberto Luongo, the Canucks goalie, in full goalie regalia mounted in front of a net on top of a car driving around the city.

I love hockey and it’s fun to see the team spirit around the city. Sports, whether you are playing or watching, have much to teach about life and manners –working together as a team, hard work and perseverance, giving your best no matter how dire the circumstance, winning – and losing – with grace, and most of all, good sportsmanship.

It’s great to show your team spirit: cheer on your team, wear the jersey, and get excited when they’re doing well, but it is also important to keep things in perspective and not lose our heads when we lose a game. In life, not everyone will always be on your team and you won’t always be on the winning team, and that’s okay. What’s not okay is to denigrate people on the opposing team or to be physically or verbally aggressive. Even if your team doesn’t win, rejoice in the good fortune of those who do and appreciate the skill of others – even the players on the other team.  Losing is disappointing, but don’t let your own disappointment overwhelm the situation and ruin the fun for everyone.

Go Canucks Go!

Spring Cleaning with Respect

Now that we see a glimmer of sunshine, many people have started spring cleaning projects in their yards and homes. The warmer weather and the freshness of the budding trees and flowers inspire us to de-clutter, clean, and generally rejuvenate our surroundings. However, in our enthusiasm for these projects, we need to remember to be respectful of others.

The following guidelines will help you maintain good neighbour relations while you spruce up your home and yard:

• Don’t let your excitement on the first nice weekend of spring (or any other day) lure you into rising at the crack of dawn to get a head start mowing the grass or hammering loose fence boards back in place. Your neighbours will be more appreciative of your hard work if you postpone your noisy activities until after 9:00 or even 10:00 on a weekend morning.
• When mowing your lawn, if you have an unmarked property line, it is good neighbourly etiquette to mow one to two feet past the property line to ensure there isn’t a strip of long grass between your yards.
• If trimmings or debris fall into your neighbour’s yard, be sure to pick it up and remove them before you consider your work complete.
• Consider what you will do with the debris and unwanted materials leftover from your cleaning. It might seem like an easy and sensible solution to dump it in a clearing or greenbelt area, if it’s yard waste after all, it will decompose. In truth, yard waste such as grass trimmings, moss, and weeds don’t decompose well in that environment. They remain an unsightly mess for months and the weeds often take root and can even harm natural environments by crowding out the native plants. Many cities have yard waste recycling facilities where you can take your debris so it doesn’t become someone else’s problem.
• If your spring cleaning extends to replacing old appliances or furniture, also plan for the disposal of the old items. Appliance and furniture stores will often take your old items when they drop off the new ones. With a little investigation, you may also find charities or recycling companies that will pick up such equipment and keep it out of the landfills. In any case, your neighbours are not likely to appreciate seeing your old washing machine, dishwasher, or sofa in your driveway or by the curb for weeks after your project is complete.
• Spring cleaning can be much more fun with a little music to get you moving. Unfortunately, your neighbours may not share your taste in music, so keep the volume in check. If you really need to hear it, use a headset.

Lent and Respecting Others’ Personal Choice

Recently, I was having lunch in a restaurant and overheard someone explaining how they had given up dessert for Lent. I was reminded of how fortunate we are to live in a multicultural society where people have differing beliefs and customs.

For those not familiar with Lent, it is a period of penitence observed by Christians before Easter. In general, Lent starts on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday, and it is customary for many Christians to give up a favourite food or activity during this time. Lent is largely a personal choice based on faith and may be observed in different ways depending on the person’s church or denomination.

It is the differences between people that make life interesting.

Whether you agree with their decision or not, it is always good manners to be respectful of others’ beliefs and customs. If someone is fasting or has decided to refrain from a food or activity, it is polite to be respectful of their choice. Do not attempt to convince them to change their mind or tease them into “having just a little”. Children may also need reminders to respect others’ beliefs and traditions and not tease anyone whose beliefs differ from their own.

It is the differences between people that make life interesting. Being open and accepting of others is not only good manners, it is an opportunity to learn more about the other people in our lives and to create a real community.

Kind regards,
Elizabeth

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