Page 4 - Home of Civilizations

welcomes, handshakes, hugging and kissing A dinner invitation to someone’s home is a special honour. At the dinner
on both cheeks, followed by a “How are you? table it is customary for the hostess to offer additional servings many times
How is the family? How is your health? How is and with great insistence. The guest is expected to accept the offer after
business?” are important rituals. It is expected several such offers. Dinners are leisurely affairs, to be savoured slowly
that everyone will inquire after the health and along with the delicious home-cooked food. Sometimes, guests bring
well-being of everyone else at first. During flowers or sweets to such occasions. During a typical after-dinner coffee,
religious holidays, greetings are even more tea, candy, cookies, pastries and fruit are served.
important. Young people visit and kiss the
In business relationships the whole affair is conducted as a social occasion,
hands of elderly family members. Every friend
and completed with greetings and sharing coffee, tea or food and drinks,
and family is visited in order to renew bonds
depending on the extent of the business. Even in ordinary shopping a lot of
and kinship. Children receive pocket money
personal information is exchanged between the vendor and the customer,
and gifts, and responsibilities for social charity
setting the stage for everyone to fulfil their various responsibilities.
are fulfilled. Like elsewhere, these are joyous
Bargaining is not a simple game of negotiation between adversarial parties
occasions. However, celebrations emphasize
but part of socialization and friendly chit-chat to confirm the non-adversarial
traditional, social and spiritual aspects, and
nature of the activity.
a certain amount of decorum in action and
appearance is expected from everyone. Enjoy your stay!

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