Croatia

Greetings

Men greeting Men – A firm handshake is the norm when first meeting and in a formal or business situation, and even when you just run into someone you know in the street.

Women greeting Women – A handshake is common on first meeting and in formal or business situations. Light kisses (or "air-kisses" where you just touch cheeks and kiss the air) on both cheeks are the norm for greeting friends.

Greetings between Men and Women – A handshake is common on first meeting and in formal or business situations. Light kisses (or "air-kisses" where you just touch cheeks and kiss the air) on both cheeks are the norm for greeting good friends Hugs are common between good friends and family.

Note: Usually in Zagreb, the term "Bok" is used as a verbal greeting. This is used for hello and goodbye, same for men to women, women to women etc.

Communication Style

• Croatians tend be straight forward who talk openly about most things. If someone doesn't like you or disagrees with something that has been said, you can usually tell.
• Soft-spoken people may be seen as lacking in confidence and open to being taken advantage off. They also may be viewed with suspicion.
• Humor is appreciated and used widely used in communicating. Many people will use a humor to make light of difficult situations or about someone’s personal flaws. This is not meant to be offensive and it is common to respond in a similar fashion.
• Avoid making comparisons between Serbians & Croats sometimes between Bosnians and Croats.
• While people tend to be direct, it is best to avoid talking about the war, economic status, and politics until a stronger relationship has been established.
• It is common to hear people speaking in loud voices and becoming animated during conversations. This usually does not signify anger; people just tend to be expressive.

Personal Space & Touch

• An arms length of personal space is common when you just meet. This distance then tends to diminish with familiarity, when in a bar or when on public transport.
• People generally don't touch each other when speaking, especially at first meetings. Once a relationship has been established light touching is common.
• Sometimes in a bar, when drunk, people may have their arm around each other, both men and women.
• Women often hold hands or link arms when walking together.

Eye Contact

• Direct eye contact is expected and appreciated. Avoiding eye contact is usually regarded as a sign that you do not care for a person.
• Making eye contact with eyes wide open can often signify that a person does not agree with the point even if they don’t say anything.

Gestures

• Showing someone the middle finger is considered rude and a threat.
• Waiving a pointed index finger or pointing at someone is considered rude as well. It’s best to use the whole hand or nod in the direction or the person.
• In certain coastal areas, extending the pinky and index finger while bending the middle and ring finger can mean anger and ill will.
• Raising the thumb, index, and middle finger at once is a Serbian gesture and is connected to Serbian nationalism. Avoid it at all costs, especially if ordering or asking for three of something. Use the ring, index, and middle fingers instead.

Views of Time

• Being late is expected in most situations and not usually considered rude. People are often late. Anything up to 15 minutes late is acceptable in most situations.
• Buses and trains often run late.
• In business situations, people tend to be a bit more aware of the clock, but deadlines are often not met.

Gender Roles

• Women have equal rights for the most part and have various opportunities for advancement in the workplace. That being said, salaries still tend to be lower and men still dominate in positions of power.
• In many areas, women are expected to fulfill the more traditional roles (cooking, cleaning, child rearing, etc) even if they work.

Taboos

• Raising the thumb, index, and middle finger at once is a Serbian gesture and is connected to Serbian nationalism. Avoid it at all costs, especially if ordering or asking for three of something. Use the ring, index, and middle fingers instead.
• Avoid making comparisons between Serbians & Croats sometimes between Bosnians and Croats.
• Avoid asking strangers about the war.

Law & Order

• The legal drinking age and smoking is 18, but it is rarely enforced.
• Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.