Paraguay

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. Good friends and family will engage in a hearty hug or abrazo which is sometimes combined with a few firm slaps on the back.

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 or twice 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 each 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. It’s best to imply what you are saying then actually saying it.
• It is usually best to avoid confrontations and maintain composure at all times.
  
• Paraguayans tend to show a lot of emotion and affections among family and friends, but usually act more reserved in public.

Personal Space & Touch

• Paraguayans 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.
• There is a fair amount of touching between men and men, men and women and women and women while conversing. This includes hand on shoulders, hand on arms, and hand on hands.

Eye Contact

• Paraguayans tend to favor direct eye contact over indirect. Maintaining eye contact creates an atmosphere of trust and respect.
  

Gestures

• People beckon one another by extending an arm and making a scratching motion with their fingers.
• The chin flick; flicking your fingers under your chin signifies not knowing or not caring.

Views of Time

• Paraguayans tend to place more emphasis on people and relationships than to the strict adherence of set schedules.
• Services don't usually run on time and showing up late to a party or social function is quite common.

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.

Taboos

• The inverted American “OK” sign is an obscene gesture.
  
• Avoid putting your feet up on a chair, desk or table.
• Avoid crossing the middle finger and index finger (the American good luck sign) as it is an obscene gesture.

Law & Order

• The legal drinking age in is 18, but it is not heavily enforced.
  
• The legal smoking age is 18 but it is not enforced at all. Cigarettes and cigars are readily available.
• Being in possession of drugs will be subject to fines, jail time, and possibly deportation. If you are caught trying to take drugs in or out of the country, the penalties are more severe.

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.
  
• The traditional Paraguayan formal shirt, the a’o poí, is considered appropriate to be worn to the office or to formal occasions such as weddings.
• 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.
• There is no specific ritual surrounding the giving and receiving of business cards, but be prepared to present business cards to everyone in a meeting.

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. Personal relationships are more important than business relationships.
• Avoid talking about politics and religion if possible.

Negotiations

• Avoid hard selling and any sort of conflict or confrontation. Paraguayans respond much better to the soft sell.
• The issue of saving face is important in Paraguay, 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.

Gift Giving

• If invited to a Paraguayan home, it is appropriate to bring flowers, wine, good quality liquor, or chocolates.
• Make sure that gifts are nicely wrapped and expect that they may be opened right away.
  
• It is not necessary to bring a gift to an initial business meeting.
• Avoid gifts like a letter opener, knives, and or scissors as they can mean a severing of relations.

Other Observations

• ‘Motels’ in Paraguay refer to a rooms for lovers, not a cheap place to spend the night. It is best to use the word "hotel" when asking about places to stay.