1. I used to think that the rules of courtesy were the same all over the world, but as I interacted with people from different cultures, I discovered that gestures like maintaining eye contact or being punctual don't always mean the same thing. What represents respect in my culture may be understood differently in others.

2. I had the idea that behaviors like arriving on time, looking someone in the eye, or respecting turn-taking were universal forms of politeness. This taught me the importance of being aware of cultural diversity.

3. Behaviors that are considered respectful in my environment, such as arriving on time or making eye contact, can be uncomfortable in other cultures. This experience helped me understand how essential it is to understand and appreciate cultural differences in order to communicate better.