Guatemala

Greetings

Man greeting Man - Men shake hands warmly when greeting one another and maintain direct eye contact. Friends and close acquaintances will share a hug combined with a few slaps on the back.

Woman greeting Woman- At a first meeting, women shake hands or give a light touch on the forearm. Friends and close acquaintances generally kiss each other once on the cheek.

Man greeting Woman- At a first meeting a regular handshake will do. Friends, family and close acquaintances may share a light kiss on the cheek.

Personal Space & Touch

• In most urban settings, Guatemalans tend to be most comfortable at an arms lengths from one another. Two and half to three feet is normal. In the country, one to two feet is normal.
• There is a fair amount of touching between women and women during conversations but not as much with men and men and men and women.

Eye Contact

• Guatemalans tend to favor direct eye contact over indirect and view it as an important way of showing interest in what the speaker is saying.
• During conversations sustained eye contact is commonplace.

Gestures

• Guatemalans usually wave good bye by raising their hands with the palm facing in and wave their fingers at themselves.
• To beckon someone, extend an arm and making a scratching motion with your fingers or sweep your whole arm toward your body.

Views of Time

• Guatemalans tend to place more emphasis on people and relationships than to the strict adherence of set schedules in social situations.
• While the bus, train, and plane schedules will be adhered to for the most part, showing up a little late to a party or function is quite common.

Gender Roles

• Guatemala has a macho culture and women are treated differently than men. Most women are expected to do all the housework and all the cooking.
• Cat calls are common toward women walking in the streets but the advances usually stop at that.
• It’s acceptable for women to dine alone, but going to local bars and clubs and walking alone at night unaccompanied is not advised.

Taboos

• Putting your thumb in between your middle and index finger while making a fist is an obscene gesture.
• Loud voices in public are looked down upon.

Law & Order

• The legal drinking age is 18, and is not readily enforced.
• Penalties for possession, acquisition, and trafficking of drugs are severe and include lengthy imprisonment in local jails.

Dress

• For men: conservative suits with shirt and ties.
• For women: stylish dresses and blouses or business suit is acceptable.
• More casual attire may be found in rural areas.

Titles & Business Cards

• Titles are very important and it is best to address people directly by using their professional title or Mr., Mrs., or Miss, followed by the surname.
• It is advisable, although not required, to have one side of your business card translated into Spanish. Present your business card with the Spanish side facing the recipient.

Meetings

• Arriving on time for a meeting is important as Guatemalans tend to be quite punctual in business situations.
• There is usually some form of small talk before getting down to business. It is best to allow your host to begin the business discussion.
• Avoidable topics include: racism, Mayan vs. Guatemalan issues, poverty and politics.
• When a man greets another man it is customary to give a soft, rather than firm handshake.

Negotiations

• Guatemalans value relationship building and harmony so it is important to avoid hard selling, pressure tactics and any sort of conflict or confrontation.
• Guatemalans use and respond best to indirect communication style over direct.
• Decisions are usually from the top down and can be lengthy before they are reached.

Gift Giving

• Gifts are usually not brought to a first meeting.
• If invited to a Guatemalan household, it is appropriate to bring flowers (avoid white ones as they are usually brought to funerals), wine, spirits, or chocolates.

In the Classroom

• The school year in usually begins in January and ends in November.
• Dress at most schools is casual. Students usually wear shirts, sweaters, slacks or jeans most of the time.
• Most university grades are given on a 0 to 100 scale with one hundred being the highest. The minimum passing grade is usually a 51.