Georgia

Greetings

Men greeting Men – A firm handshake is acceptable in most situations. Good friends and family will often engage in a kiss, left cheek to left cheek, or two kisses on alternating along with a light hug.

Women greeting Women - Most women will engage in kiss, left cheek to left cheek, or two kisses on alternating along with a light hug. Handshakes are common at a first meeting and a nod of acknowledgment tends to be acceptable as well.

Meetings between Men and Women – A handshake is acceptable in most situations. It is best to wait from the woman to extend her hand first. Good friends and family will often engage in a kiss, left cheek to left cheek, or two kisses on alternating along with a light hug.

Communication Style

• Most people tend to be indirect with other people they don't know well. Once they know each other better, they usually become more direct in their communications.
• Good topics of conversations include family, work Georgian food, art and music.

• Georgians tend to be quite lively talkers. Public displays of emotion are common; and it is common to see people engaged in what appears to be angry conversation yet, it is likely a simple discussion or debate.

• Personal questions are very common. Georgians are not shy in asking how much money you make; if is better than the; whether you want to marry a Georgian, etc.

Personal Space & Touch

• There tends to very little sense of personal space in Georgia. People are often pressed against one another on public transportation and think nothing of it.
• When speaking, people are often very close to one another. A little less than arm's length is the norm.
• It is common to see women walking arm in arm or holding hands. Male friends will walk arm in arm as well. It usually a sign of friendship and/or acceptance if someone from the same gender loops there arm in yours.
• There isn't much touching between business associates or between people who don't know each other well. As relationships develop, touching during conversation becomes more regular.

Eye Contact

• There does not tend to be many restrictions on making eye contact during a conversation, be they man, woman or child. Everybody tends to makes eye contact with everyone else.
• Direct eye contact is seen as a sign of respect and trustworthiness.

Gestures

• Using the forefinger and thumb of the right hand to used to pinch a fold of skin in the area of the one's Adam's apple, and then the fold is pulled out from the the neck toward the person from whom something is being solicited. This is a common gesture used by school children regularly when they want something. It is a way of saying "please" or begging to be given something.
• When gesturing or beckoning for someone to come, it's best to face your palm downwards and make a scratching motion with the fingers. It is better to avoid beckoning someone with the palm up.

Views of Time

• Time in Georgia is in great supply. There tends to be a great deal of unemployment and many people do not have much to do. People are willing to give of their time freely.
• Georgians are notoriously unpunctual. If a meeting is scheduled to start at 10 am, it will rarely, if ever, start on time, and it would not be unusual at all for people to arrive as much as 45 minutes or an hour later.

• Punctuality tends to be important if one is meeting VIP’s, otherwise lateness is overlooked.

Gender Roles

• Women generally do most of the work in Georgian society, particularly in the home. However, women defer to the man of the house in making almost all family decisions.
• While women are expected to be virgins when they get married (most are), indiscretions by men are tolerated both before and after marriage.
• There is very little dating that goes on between boys and girls before marriage, particularly in the regions outside the bigger cities.

• While work opportunities in the cities are becoming more varied for women, men still have a distinct advantage over women, in terms of promotion and pay.

• Men can be very forward, particularly toward western women, who they perceive as having a different set of sexual norms than Georgian women.

Taboos

• The American “OK” sign is an obscene gesture.

Law & Order

• There is no minimum age for purchasing and consuming alcohol. Liquor and cigarettes may be purchased by anyone at any time.
• There is currently a very large police presence everywhere as the current government has rooted out corruption which was previously endemic within the police force.

• Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

• When it comes to driving the only rule of the road is that there are no rules. It is a must to be very careful with whom you choose to ride and under no circumstances should a foreigner attempt to drive themselves.

• Public transportation by marshutka (17 passenger van), bus and train is cheap and widely available.

Dress

• For Men - In the cities, suit and ties are usually expected. Dark colors and somewhat conservative styles are the norm. In rural area, more casual attire like pants and collared shirts may be acceptable.
• For Women- Business women almost always appear fashionably dressed and generally wear long skirts. Nice pants are acceptable as well. Designer shoes and boots are appreciated.
• Make sure shoes and boots are always cleaned and polished. People will most likely look down on you if you have worn looking shoes.
• Shorts seem to be worn only by young children. No adults wear shorts even though it gets very hot in certain areas of the country at different times of the year.

Titles & Business Cards

• Titles are important and it is best to address people directly by using Mr."Batano", Mrs. "Qalbatano", or Miss, followed by the surname.
• One should always wait to be invited to use first names before doing so yourself.
• There is no specific protocol surrounding the giving and receiving of business cards. It is always best to treat the card with respect.

Meetings

• It's best to show up on time, but don't expect the meeting to start on time.
• There is often small talk before the meeting gets down to business, but there is no set rule.
• It’s advisable to shake hands with everyone upon arriving and leaving. The person of higher status usually initiates the handshake.
• Interruptions are common and somewhat expected. It is best to not take this as a sign of disrespect.

Negotiations

• There tends to be lots of emotion in negotiating with Georgians and they can become quite loud and animated.

• Decisions tend to be made from the top down and may take awhile to be reached.

• At the bazaar, which almost every city town of any size has,bargaining is expected, although the extent of the bargaining expected differs by the nature of the item under discussion.

Gift Giving

• Gifts are always well received, though not necessarily expected. They need not be much, ie. a box of chocolates is always appreciated.
• If you are invited to someone's house it is always nice to bring something. Flowers (odd numbers only), chocolate, or a nice bottle of wine or spirits is acceptable.
• Gifts are not usually opened (if wrapped) in front of the giver.

In the Classroom

• Schools usually start in September and end in June.
• Students dress very casually. Many wear jeans. Shorts are unacceptable. Men dress casually as well. Women seem to be more dressed up and often wear long skirts and fashionable shoes when out in public.
• The grading system at most institutions is on 1-5 scale with 5 being the highest. The pass/fail level is usually a 2 or a 3.

Other Observations

• Most business transactions in stores and restaurants are paid for in cash, particularly outside the big cities. Credit cards are starting to be used in some places, but not too many at the moment.

• Georgians have a saying that "guests are gifts from God", and they act that way too. People will always be inviting you to eat and drink with them. They are undoubtedly some of the most hospitable people in the world.

• Try to learn the language, although it is one of the most difficult languages in the world. Even if you only learn a few phrases, the Georgians will be greatly appreciative of your attempts to do so.