Peru

Greetings

Man greeting Man - Men shake hands when greeting one another and maintain direct eye contact. At a first meeting a firm 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 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 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. It is best to avoid overly direct eye contact during initial meetings as it may be misinterpreted.

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.

• Most people are very concerned with appearances and do not want to say anything that might reflect badly on them. Therefore, they are diplomatic in what they say and will not always say what they are thinking.

Personal Space & Touch

• Peruvians are generally very open and are comfortable being close during conversation, especially when among family and close friends.

• Peruvians 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

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

• It is important to show that you are listening to the speaker, so occasional eye contact is important, however, one should not hold the gaze for too long.

Gestures

• People beckon one another by extending an arm (palm down) and making a scratching motion with their fingers.

• It is common for men to walk arm in arm with other men, same goes for women with other women. This is purely a sign of friendship.

• Slapping the bottom of one elbow with the open palm of the other hand means someone is cheap.

• The thumbs up sign is used to show approval or congratulations.

• Bringing your fingers together to your lips and miming a kiss is a way to say a girl is very pretty.

• Making a “hang-ten” sign with your thumb and pinky extended means “let’s go grab a beer”.

• Lifting the arm up, pointing the index finger down and waving it in a circle means you will be right back.
• People often point with their lips if you ask which direction something can be found.
• When someone gets "burned" with words, or yelled at in some way, they put their hand out to the side, the palm and fingers flat, and move the hand up and down.

Views of Time

• Peruvians tend to place more emphasis on people and relationships than to the strict adherence of set schedules.

• While the bus, train, and plane schedules will be adhered to for the most part, showing up late to a party or social function is quite common. Expect guests to show up at least 30 minutes late for drinks or dinner.

• Even in business situations, being late does not mean the end of the world.

Gender Roles

• Peruvian culture is still known as being rather macho, with the men being the bread earners and the women staying at home with the cooking, cleaning and kids. However, it is becoming more and more acceptable for women to work outside the home and women can be found in any professional field.

• It is very rare that the husband will cook meals, often leaving all the cooking to the wife.

• Work opportunities for women are varied and available depending on social class although salaries still tend to be lower

• Women are still expected to do most if not all of the cooking, cleaning, and child rearing.

Taboos

• It is extremely rude to refuse a dinner invitation. It is also rude to refuse to eat something when you are the guest.

• Avoid putting your feet up on a chair, desk or table.

• Avoid resting your elbows on the table while eating; using your wrists is the way to go.

• Avoid crossing your legs by resting the ankle of one leg on the knee. Cross your legs at the knee is the way to go.

Law & Order

• The official drinking age is 18. However, drinking generally starts around the age of 15.

• Beer is by far the most popular alcoholic drink.

• Most Peruvians enjoy partying, socializing and having fun and alcohol is an accepted part of life, even with parents drinking with kids etc.

• Being in possession of small quantities of drugs will be subject to fines. However, a foreigner could be deported or sent to jail depending on the situation. If you are caught trying to take drugs in or out of the country, the penalties are more severe.

Dress

• Peruvians respect and appreciate those who dress well. When in doubt, stay conservative and formal.
• For Men: conservative, blue, grey 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.

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.
• 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. One usually has to wait longer depending on the seniority of the person they are meeting.
• 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.
• Avoid talking about politics, religion, terrorists, and a person's ancestry.
• Good topics include soccer, family, places to visit in Peru, and local food.

Negotiations

• Avoid hard selling and any sort of conflict or confrontation. Peruvians respond much better to the soft sell.
• The issue of saving face is important in Peru, 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 Peruvian home, it is appropriate to bring flowers (avoid black & purple), wine, good quality liquor, or chocolates.
• Make sure that gifts are nicely wrapped and expect that they may be opened right away.
• Avoid gifts like a letter opener, knives, and or scissors as they can mean a severing of relations.

In the Classroom

• Most schools start in March and end in December.Summer vacation is from December through February and holidays include all Catholic holidays, such as Easter, All Saints Day etc. Independence Day is July 28th and nobody works either the 28th or the 29th.

• At most universities, students can dress as they like, generally in a very American or European style.

• Grades are usually based on a scale from 0-20 with 20 being the highest.

Other Observations

• Driving is an adventure throughout the country and one should be aware of chaotic driving situations.

• About half of the population lives in the mountainous regions, which remain quite underdeveloped. There are two ethno-linguistic groups, the larger of which speaks Quechua, while the smaller group speaks Aymara. East of the Andes is the jungle region, which is home to about 5% of the Peruvian population. The rest of the population is concentrated along the Pacific coastal region.

• It is also very important to present one’s daughter to the public when she reaches the age of 15. This is a rite of passage from girlhood to womanhood and also provides a new topic for gossip.