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Continuing last week's theme, I'm going to write about how people greet each other in different cultures.
So I would like to introduce you to a blog, Heart of a vagabond, written by 7 bloggers who traveled around the world. They went around the world and wrote their experiences about greetings in those countries.
I'm gonna pick out some of their stories how different greetings are in defferent cultures and tell you how to do with situations that you meet people who comes from those countries.
Argentina:
When you meet a person from Argentina, turn your right cheek, not left cheek in order to avoid real kiss.
Poland:
Polish people are quite emotional as well as careful.
it's common to greet each other with three kisses on alternate cheeks (it often starts with left cheek). This greeting is between men and women, not between guys. Guys shake their hands and raise their hand. Polish often shout when they see each other, which is a polite way in Poland.
During negotiations, handshaking has different meaning in Poland. A handshake means "it's deal!!".
When you see a person who shout "Hi!" cheerfully, she/he might be from Poland so say hi emotionally and cheerfully too!
Canada:
In Canada, as well as in Guelph, greetings are very straightforward(easy to understand). You shake hands when you first meet someone and give a hug or a kiss(es) (usually right cheek) to good friend and family members.
These greetings are common in Guelph so that it's a better way to stretch out your hand when you meet a person whom you don't know where she/he is from.
Dubai(UAE):
In Dubai, men greet each other with rubbing their noses, which is a traditional Bedouin greeting and rubbing noses is a sign of deep respect. Some women do it as well in the privacy of their homes.
If you meet someone from Dubai and his face is approaching your face, don't panic. He's not trying to kiss you but show his respect to you. Enjoy a cultural exchanges.
Mongolia:
In Mongolia, when people greet with each other during a ceremony, festival or other special occasion, they will offer their snuff bottles in the palm of right hand, with the lid partially opened. Snuff is a scented, smokeless tobacco. If you receive the snuff bottle, you should take out a pinch of snuff by using attached spoon. You then place the pinch of tobacco on the back of your hand then smell it. Even if you have an allergy to pollen or sniffles, it's respectful to hold the bottle close to your nose.
This is a very interesting style of greeting. If there is someone who is from Mongolia and lives around Guelph, please contact me through the comment. I really want to sniff the bottle!
Japan, as an extra edition:
* The following contents may contain an exaggerated information. Viewer discretion is advised.
In Japan, we usually don't touch your body and also try to show you "non-offensive". When we greet, we make a bow while we hold right arm(list) by left hand because we can't pull out a Japanese sword as long as holding right arm (a cover of Japanese sword is supposed to be on your left waist).
Exchanging business card (name card) is also an essential element of Japanese greeting. If you don't prepare any cards in business, you have no voice at this day. To avoid the tragedy, Japanese people always have thousands of business card in their bag.
"I wouldn't mind a little bow. In Japan, they bow. I love it. Only thing I love about Japan. But read books! Read statistics! Shaking hands causes viruses and flus. Tremendous germs are on the hands. It's not elitist. It's just common sense." said Donald Trump.
Yes. We bow instead of touching your body. According to one theory, Ninja utilized handshaking to kill their enemies. We can't tell whether it's true or not.
I hope these information will help you to understand greeting from different cultures and hope you won't hesitate to greet to everyone in spite of cultural differences.
