Having followed very different life styles over the course of pretty much all my adult life — living, studying and working in a number of different countries and travelling in many more — I have picked up a number of behaviors, habits and views on people and their cultures etc., all which I most likely would not have had I spent my life in Nepal.
For instance, I greet people in a number of different ways. What’s more, how I greet someone says something about not only the nationality and culture of the person, but also how I see/view them! 🙂
Here’s a tongue-in-cheek look at what how I greet a person says about the region they come from or their nationality.
| A handshake, unless I know or am close to him, in which case a handshake and a hug. | North American man |
| Also a handshake unless I know or am close to her, in which case a hug. | North American woman |
| A handshake. | British Man |
| Also a handshake unless I know her then a hug. | British Woman |
| A handshake. (It’s awkward hugging them, what with the height differential!) | Dutch/Belgian man |
| Three kisses on the cheek. | Dutch/Belgian woman |
| A handshake, unless I know or am close to him, then a hug. | Other European (except Italian and Spanish) man |
| Two kisses on the cheek. | Other European (except Italian and Spanish) woman |
| A handshake, unless I know or am close to him, then a hug. | Latin American man |
| A handshake, unless I know her then a hug and possibly a kiss on the cheek. | Latin American woman |
| A bear hug. | Italian and Spanish man |
| Two kisses on the cheek and a bear hug. | Italian and Spanish woman |
| A Namaste (Nepalese and Indian greeting) unless I know him then a handshake, and if I am close to him, then a handshake AND a hug. | Nepalese (or Indian) man |
| Also a Namaste, unless I know her well, then a hug. | Nepalese (or Indian) woman |
| A handshake…if he offers his hand, unless I know him well in which case there would certainly be a handshake and possibly even a hug! | Arab/Muslim man |
| One of the above depending how well I know her. If she is hidden behind a veil of fabric (i.e. a burqa) then of course nothing! Just a, “Hello!” | Arab/Muslim woman |
Of course, where I meet the person (whether somewhere in Europe, Africa, Asia or North America), the make-up of the social setting (whether mostly expats or locals) and what I think how the other person sees me also affects the way I greet them!
Sometimes, going for the hug and/or kiss confuses them because of my nationality!
Hugs, I must however add, are my favorite mode of greeting! What about you?
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