Essay 1: Latin American Customs and Manners

Thinking of studying abroad in Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, or Mexico? Customs and manners will differ in each place, but will share some similarities in terms of lunch generally being a larger meal than dinner, dress being more conservative than in the United States, and the greater emphasis that is placed on using people's formal titles.

Belize

Greetings and Conversations: The official language is English. Men generally shake hands with men when introduced and close friends of both sexes hug one another in greeting. Be sure to use people's formal titles. Avoid discussing politics, race, or religion, but do ask about Belize in general. People generally are quite proud of their country.

Dress: Wear anything that is comfortable as long as it is not provocative. Men wear dark suits and women wear dresses to more formal occasions.

Meals and Tipping: Breakfast is generally around 6:30-7:00am and consists of coffee or tea with bread in the cities and will more likely include eggs and beans elsewhere. A typical lunch is served around 12:00-1:00pm and consists of rice and beans cooked with coconut milk. Fried plantains and a salad of shredded carrot and cabbage may accompany the meal. Dinner is usually lighter than lunch and served around 6:00, 7:00, or 8:00pm. Dessert or coffee after a meal is not common. Tipping is generally 10 to 15 percent in hotels and optional in smaller establishments.

Visiting Private Homes: Always accept any food or drink that is offered. It is rude to refuse, especially in more rural areas. Push your plate forward with the silverware on it to indicate you are finished with your meal. Your hosts will appreciate it but not expect you to bring wine or a dessert. Good gifts for families include blank VCR videocassettes, cassettes of American music, pocket calculators, French cosmetics and perfumes, and crystal vases or ashtrays.

Transportation and Driving: There are no subways or trains in Belize. The government sets taxi fares. Long distance buses may be crowded, book in advance or consider flying. It may be expensive to rent a car and difficult to find service stations (Mallan, 1995).

Costa Rica

Greetings and Conversations: The official language is Spanish. In all situations, politeness is valued. Men shake hands with acquaintances and friends. Women who are introduced to each other pat one another on the left arm. Women who are good friends kiss on the cheek. Use formal titles. Don't ask a woman about her job unless you are sure she works outside the home. Costa Ricans refer to themselves as ticos (tee-kohs). At a social gathering make sure you shake hands and say good-bye to each person when you leave. People adore children in Costa Rica. Ask them about theirs. Feel free to discuss politics and to ask about Costa Rica's fine wildlife preserves. Please note that people in Costa Rica have a strong sense of personal honor, thus you should never say anything that might be taken as personal criticism.

Dress: Climate will vary a great deal depending on altitude. A sweater or jacket will be in order at higher altitudes, especially at night. For casual dress, just about everything is acceptable except shorts. Shorts are only worn at the beach or for sports. Women should not wear clothing that is revealing. Generally, local people dress as nicely as they can afford to and prefer a conservative style (Rachowieki 1997).

Meals and Tipping: Breakfast tends to be between 6:00am and 7:00am and will vary in content from more urban to more rural settings. The larger the city, the more likely your breakfast will include juice, bread, coffee, and perhaps eggs. In more rural areas, breakfast is more likely to consist of rice and beans served with tortillas and coffee. Lunch is generally around 11:30am to 1:00pm. People may stop for a coffee in the late afternoon and eat dinner around 7:00pm. Dinner is generally a lighter meal than lunch. Stews, fish, and rice/beans are common dishes. It will be safest to drink mineral water and, unless you know where and how it has been made, to avoid horchata, a popular beverage made from corn. Don't worry about eating everything on your plate. Vegetarians: please note that carne means "meat" in Spanish but usually means "beef" in Costa Rica. A menu that indicates "No tiene carne" probably means there is no beef in the dish, however it may contain other meat. Restaurants add a 10% service charge. You may leave an extra tip for exceptional service.

Visiting Private Homes: If invited to dinner, bring flowers such as roses or carnations or good wine and leave soon after the meal, so that the family can get to sleep. Most people wake and begin to work early because of the heat. People commonly shower more than once per day.

Transportation and Driving: Buses run by different companies have different fares. Few buses are air-conditioned. The train system was severely damaged by earthquakes in 1991 and has not reopened for regular passenger service (Rachowieki 1997).

Guatemala

Greetings and Conversations: In addition to Spanish, the official language, many Indian languages are spoken. People offer weak handshakes when introduced. Men may embrace or kiss good friends. Women may pat the right forearm or shoulder of someone she meets. The appropriate response is to pat her shoulder with your left hand. Women may kiss good friends on the cheek. Use formal titles in addressing people. For example, Licenciado (lee-sehn-syah-doh) is used to refer to anyone with a degree, such as a Bachelor's Degree. Avoid talking about politics. Speak softly to avoid being considered rude.

Dress: Don't wear shorts in the highlands or cities and don't wear jeans in cities. Women generally wear a blouse and skirt and men wear pants and shirts.

Meals and Tipping: Breakfast (c. 7:00 to 8:00am) usually consists of beans, eggs, bread, juice, and coffee. Lunch (c. 12:30 or 1:00pm) in many homes will consist of soup, vegetables, meat, salad, fruit, and coffee. Dinner will be similar to lunch, but lighter, and will begin around 7:00 to 8:00pm, or later. The after-dinner drink is always coffee. Generally wine is only for elegant meals. In restaurants there are not set rules about paying as a group or individually. A service charge is not included in the bill so leave 10 to 15 percent as a tip.

Visiting Private Homes: Do not take any photographs without asking permission. Bring a bottle of imported wine or flowers, but not white flowers because they are associated with funerals. Watches and small tape recorders make good gifts. If you are doing a home stay be sure to ask how the hot water heater for the shower works. There are several varieties and improper use could lead to an electric shock. Make sure that you are on time for all meals.

Transportation and Driving: Buses vary in quality. Taxis do not have meters, and tend to be expensive. Bargain with the taxi driver and compare the fare charged with other drivers (Fodor's 1991). Do not expect to make use of trains (subways or otherwise). Trains are generally used to transport bananas, not people. Driving after dark can be dangerous due to the lack of lighting, drunk drivers, and people who drive without headlights.

Mexico

Greetings and Conversations: The official language is Spanish. Women and men will shake hands upon meeting. Men embrace or kiss close friends and women kiss close friends. To make a good impression, learn something about Mexican literature and art. Mexican men may hold a visiting male's arm or touch him on the shoulder during conversation. To shrink away from such gestures of warmth may be viewed as insulting. Mexicans view themselves as part of the Americas and thus as American. Someone from the U.S.A should refer to him- or herself as North American or from the United States. Be careful of remarks that could be taken as insults to personal dignity, such as asking about salaries, how much someone paid for something, or saying anything negative about the food someone has prepared. Make sure to say good-bye to each person and shake his or her hand when leaving a gathering. It is generally inappropriate to ask someone if they are part Indian, even if in a conversation about the wondrous achievements of the Maya or Aztecs.

Dress: People in Mexico dress more conservatively and formally than in the USA Shorts are appropriate at the beach or resort areas but not elsewhere. Jeans are considered a notch below casual wear. Casual wear is skirts and blouses for women and shirt and pants for men. Meals and Tipping: Before a meal, say "Buen provecho"(bwehn proh-veh-cho), which is like "bon appetit." Drink bottled water, making sure that the seal is intact. Avoid cooked food from street vendors. Breakfast, generally between around 7:30am and 9am usually consists of bread or tortillas and eggs or is a continental style breakfast. Lunch, around 1:30 to 3:30pm is the largest meal of the day. It may begin with soup followed by meat, vegetables, and rice and be served with fruit juices, beer, or wine. Flan (custard) is a typical dessert. Dinner is generally light and served late. It may consist of cheese and beans, or soup or tamales. Be prepared for slow service when eating out. People take their time. Also, don't necessarily expect first come first served. There may be other factors involved such as serving someone of great age or social status first. The waiter will not bring the check until it's requested. Do not ask for separate checks. A 15% service charge is included in the bill. Leave the small change on the table after paying. There are many regional specialties in Mexico.

Visiting Private Homes: Mexican generally only invite close friends to their homes. Wear business clothing on a first visit and bring chocolates, imported wine, or pastries. Be cautious about expressing admiration for an object because the owner may feel obliged to give it to you. Good gifts from abroad include U.S. cigarettes, lighters, silk ties, and good quality magic markers.

Transportation and Driving: Buses in cities tend to be crowded. Enter through the front, exit at the rear, and be on the alert for pickpockets. For longer distances trains are cheaper and probably preferable to buses. Driving can be dangerous, especially at night. Drivers must be on the alert for people on bicycles, potholes, and livestock, which are a major cause of auto accidents.

NOTE: All information from Devine and Braganti (1988) unless otherwise indicated.