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Meetings with local government officials and/or NGO employees begin when everyone gets there. If you show up on time, expect to wait an hour.
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It's proper to greet the entire room first. Then greet the highest ranking male or male elder and from there go around the room. As a woman, remember to verbally greet men, unless the man offers his hand.
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Small talk is expected; in fact it is part of the greeting. Go around and ask everyone about their morning, family, health, and work. Two to five minutes will suffice.
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Before the meeting begins the highest ranking male or male elder leads the group in an Islamic prayer. There also can be no one leading the prayer, whereby everyone attending prays silently. After prayer, the leader of the meeting welcomes all those attending in order of importance.
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Meetings here can last up to eight hours. Every one has something to say about everything. Usually it is mostly men at the meetings, so therefore they feel entitled and expected to offer their opinions about all matters on the agenda.
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Once the meeting is finished, it is closed with another Islamic prayer.
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