Bolivia

Greetings

Man greeting Man - Men shake hands when greeting one another and maintain direct eye contact. At a first meeting a handshake will suffice and is sometimes combined with slight touches on the arms and/or elbows.

Woman greeting Woman- At a first meeting, a light handshake will suffice, sometimes usually accompanied by a slight nod and warm smile. Friends generally kiss each other once on the cheek.

Man greeting Woman- At a first meeting a regular handshake will do. Friends, family and long-time acquaintances will share a light kiss on the cheek which consists of touching cheeks and making a slight kissing noise. This is usually accompanied with a touch on the arm and shoulder and in some cases a light hug.

Communication Style

• An indirect style of communication is preferred over a direct style. Bolivians are very polite and tend to be more on the formal side.
  
• It is best to avoid confrontations and maintain composure at all times.
• Loud voices in public are looked down upon, with the exception being in bars and discos.

Personal Space & Touch

• Bolivians tend to stand close to one another while talking. One to two feet is normal. It can be considered rude to back away from someone while they are speaking.
• When speaking with family, it is common to share hugs, touch shoulders and in general express affection through contact. Otherwise, it depends on if the other person is a friend, a boyfriend or girlfriend, an acquaintance or someone you don’t know.

Eye Contact

• Bolivians tend to favor direct eye contact over indirect. Maintaining eye contact creates an atmosphere of trust and respect.
• It is best from men and women to avoid overly direct eye contact during initial meetings as it may be misinterpreted.
  
• An adult might have less eye contact with a child if they are not too interested in what they are saying.

Gestures

• People beckon one another by extending an arm and making a scratching motion with their fingers.
• It is best to always cover your mouth when you yawn.
• Avoid using a finger to point, it is best to use the whole hand or just nod your head in the direction your are referring to.

Views of Time

• Bolivians tend to place more emphasis on people and relationships than to the strict adherence of set schedules.
• Like many South American countries, Bolivians arrive fashionably late, often at least an hour after the appointed time. However, a punctual person is much appreciated since it shows their sense of responsibility and professionalism. It is important to be on time in business situations.
• Transportation services, such as buses, trains and even planes, are often not on time.

Gender Roles

• Work opportunities for women are limited and salaries are lower than men's.
• Women are still expected to do most if not all of the cooking, cleaning, and child rearing.
• The role of women in society depends on the social standing. Most women living in big cities are expected to work to help improve the family’s economic situation.
• Women living in the countryside are usually expected to be in charge of the house, educate and care for the children and do all the cooking and cleaning.
• Foreign women are free to do as they like and their choice is respected.

Taboos

• Putting your thumb in between your middle and index finger while making a fist is an obscene gesture.
• Avoid eating food with your fingers. Always use utensils.
• Avoid resting your elbows on the table while eating, using your wrists is the way to go.
• It is rude to not say hello or goodbye when coming and going. Also, not listening when someone is speaking and not accepting an invitation to eat are considered rude.
  
• It's best to always accept an invitation to eat together or at least be very polite if you need to refuse for some reason, otherwise you risk being offensive.
  

Law & Order

• The legal drinking age in is 18, however the sale of alcohol is not strongly controlled.
• Possession and trafficking of drugs is punished heavily and drug control is strongly enforced.
  
• There is a new law that forbids drinking in public places.

Dress

• For Men: conservative, blue, gray and/or brown colored suits with white or light blue shirts and conservative ties.
• For Women: Business suits or dresses that are elegant and feminine with good quality accessories. Most women choose heels over flats, wear makeup, and pantyhose.
• Jeans and shorts are usually not acceptable in the workplace.
• Being clean and well groomed is highly valued.

Titles & Business Cards

• Titles are very important and it is best to address people directly by using their professional title only. If they do not have professional titles like, Doctor, Lawyer, etc, they should be addressed as Señor, Señora, Señorita, plus their surnames.
• Business cards are usually given right after the introduction and are presented with one hand. They are given right away so that it is easier to visualize the first and last name of your acquaintance. Be prepared to present business cards to everyone in a meeting.
• It is advisable to have one side of your business card translated into Spanish. Present your business card with the Spanish side facing the recipient.

Meetings

• It is best to arrive on time even though you may be kept waiting.
• Beginning with small talk helps establish a base for the relationship, after which discussion of business matters can begin. Allow your host to initiate the business conversation.
• Although meeting agendas are common, they are not usually followed. Remain patient and composed.
• Avoid talking about politics, religion, and a person's ancestry.
• Good topics include soccer, family, places to visit in Bolivia, and local food.

Negotiations

• Avoid hard selling and any sort of conflict or confrontation. Bolivians respond much better to the soft sell.
• The issue of saving face is important in Bolivia, so don’t be surprised if it appears that your counterpart seems to agree to everything you say, but no contract is signed.
• Final decisions are usually made by the highest ranking officers, so it is best to have them in the meeting if possible. Expect to hold several meetings, not just one.
  
• An indirect style of communication is preferred over a direct style, so try to avoid questions that need to be answered with a straight "yes" or "no".
• Showing nervousness during negotiation is a disadvantage. It's best to negotiate price calmly and rationally.

Gift Giving

• If invited to a Bolivian home, it is appropriate to bring flowers (avoid yellow & purple), wine, good quality liquor, or chocolates.
• Make sure that gifts are nicely wrapped and expect that they will not be opened right away. It is polite to open the gift after the giver of the gift has left.
  
• Avoid gifts like a letter opener, knives, and or scissors as they can mean a severing of relations.
• Gifts may be given in business situations with foreign companies, such as a small souvenir of Bolivian culture. These gifts are usually opened in public and their meaning then explained. They should not be expensive nor excessive.

In the Classroom

• The school year begins in February and Ends in November. There are winter vacation in July and summer vacations December-January. ’s national holiday is Independence Day on August 6th.
  
• Almost all Bolivians are Roman Catholic (mixed with traditional indigenous beliefs in many communities) and so Catholic holidays such as Christmas and Easter are also nationally celebrated. In addition, all towns and communities have their own festivals and rituals throughout the year.
• There are no set rules for attire, just nothing too revealing.
• Grades are given on a scale from 1-100. A failing grade is less than 51 points.
• There are many different types of evaluations depending on the field of study, the university and the professor.
• Teaching is a mixture of lecture and group work. Often times a professor gives a biography, explains the most important points, answers questions and then gives group projects to be developed by the students.

Other Observations

• The national dance is the cueca, which originated from the Chilean version of the dance. Cueca consists of couples moving to three quarters time while waving handkerchiefs. The cueca dance of is most commonly seen during festivals.

• Language is an important tool in Bolivian business. Foreigners should try to speak Spanish well and know the technical terms of their business.
• If the business is conducted in English, it is important to know the level of English of your counterpart so that there are not misunderstandings or offense taken.