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People of the same sex will stand in very close proximity to each other and people of the same sex may also hold hands while talking. This is more common in the rural areas but is a long standing tradition.
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There is little regard for or sense of personal space. Less than arm’s length is common in most situations
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In the business milieu, interactions are more “westernized”, but visitors should not be surprised or concerned by more touching or personal closeness than they might experience in their own countries.
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Physical interactions between males and females in public is not well tolerated in the rural areas. In community meetings men sit in one area and women in another.
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In the business arena, men and women may shake hands and converse as normal, but it should be well understood that these types of interactions are relatively new to Swazi culture and caution should always be taken when interacting with members of the opposite sex to avoid misunderstandings and misinterpretations.
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Typically, even in the business arena, men and women group according to gender although mixing is becoming more common.
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When talking to someone, you may find that Swazis stand very closely. In public transport and in situations where individuals are seated, you will find that Swazis tend to sit together with little to no space (even if other seats are available).
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In traditional Swazi families, hugging is uncommon and only something that the children do. It’s more common for the female elders to hold on to their children’s hands.
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In the urban areas, hugs are more common among women. When hugging someone, you must keep space between yourself and the other and move towards the right meeting his/her cheek and using just the right arm to embrace.
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