Business
RESPECT THE LAW – Respect the Rules and Regulations, and the Norms of the Country
Practical life advices and tips for immigrants who arrived in Europe. Anyone who is a new immigrant, asylum seeker, refugee, or immigrant who has been living longer will benefit from this
Follow the rules, just like the local people or even better than them. No matter in which country you are living, you must respect and follow their social norms and legal rules. Being an immigrant does not make you an excuse for ignoring the rules; in fact, being a new member of a society is a good reason to care about the regulations even more than the old members. Furthermore, imagine a European comes to your homeland and violates your society’s rules and regulations. Do you like it? Here are a few examples of social norms and legal rules, you might be aware of:
Any direct or indirect involvement in crime can seriously affect your life. Do not get involved in any illegal activity directly or indirectly. If you get involved in crime, you will be punished legally, and it will be part of your life history.
Respect women’s right to feel safe and comfortable. Sexual and verbal abuse or harassment are serious crimes. Be careful respect women’s boundaries: they may not always want to shake hands, so wait for them to initiate. If you witness any verbal or physical harassment, do not ignore or encourage it: always inform the police.
Be very careful not to get involved in any illegal activity, including drugs, smuggling or theft. This can have a very negative impact on your life.
If you see other people engaging in illegal activities, do not get involved or cover up for them; you can still be charged as an accessory.
Do not get involved in underage sexual or intimate relationships. Always ensure you have proper consent before engaging in any sexual activity. A person under the influence of drugs or alcohol cannot give consent!
Never drink alcohol and drive! Not only is it illegal, but you will be risking your life and the lives of others. There are no exceptions, even if you feel fine; alcohol affects you in a way that changes your judgment, depth perception as well as vital motor skills required to drive safely. Driving under the influence of alcohol is a crime punishable by a fine, a driving ban, or even jail time.
Never get involved in illegal or black market activities. Buying stolen goods is a crime, so if you buy anything second-hand, always make sure you are certain where it is coming from, and ask for a receipt.
It is illegal to move individuals or groups of people from one country to another by any unofficial means. This is called human trafficking, and is a very serious crime.
Money laundering is illegal. Make sure that you do not earn any money illegally, and keep clear records of your incomings and outgoings – this will also help you to stick to a budget.
Respect the traffic signs and rules anytime and anywhere; this is for your own and others’ safety.
In social interactions, if people say no, remember, it means NO. In western cultures, people are more frank and straightforward. So if they want something, they would tell you. And if they do not, they would say NO. Take no as a legitimate answer. You should be also able to say no. It is a valuable skill and a sign of a mature personality. Remember that there is no point in saying YES, when you mean NO!
Respect people’s personal space. Everybody needs it. You can only get closer to people, when and only when they explicitly let you in their trust circle. Otherwise, be careful about the regular distance. Never get too close, never invade anyone’s privacy.
In any Queue, Always wait in line and always wait for your turn. Do not cut in line. Practice coming early to be first. Don’t Be out of Line, Stay in Line like everyone else. We all are equal.
Read each and every instruction and manual which is handed to you, thoroughly and carefully. A considerable amount of time and money was spent for these documents to be developed, written, and printed. Therefore, one can infer that there are very important reasons behind preparation of these instructions and manuals. So please read them well and read them thoroughly. It does not matter whether it is a consumer medicine information, or a fire safety instruction, or just a simple recipe for a local food; read all sorts of instructions and manuals that are given to you meticulously and make sure you understand each and every line, and follow them.
When you are talking with a professional about your legal status or while filling a legal form, do not answer a question that you did not understand. Always ask for explanation and clarification from the person who is responsible for your case. Do not assume, ask!
There is a general, inviolable rule: never sign a document, unless you read it thoroughly and you are 100 percent sure that you have understood each and every word in it. Your signature is your asset; it is a very important and valuable mark that has the power to make you obligated and responsible before the law. You have the right to ask as many as questions that you have about the document that you are asked to sign; and, you have the right to say “No,” and not to sign the document. Do not rush to sign any paper. Take your time and make sure you understand what responsibilities fall upon you after you sign the document.
