Timor-Leste

Greetings

Men greeting Men – A handshake is the most common form of greeting.

Women greeting Women – A kiss on each cheek is the most common form of greeting. This is true even if meeting for the first time.

Greetings between Men & Women – A handshake is common for initial meetings. Sometimes a kiss on each cheek is acceptable depending on how well people know each other.

Communication Style

• Indirect communication style tends to be the norm. Politeness to your face is more important than truth in most situations. A third person may be used as a go between if there is a problem.
• People tend to be more direct with one another when talking within the same group. For example, Timorese and Timorese.

Personal Space & Touch

• Timorese tend to have very big families and are used to being fairly close to each other so less than arms length of personal space is quite common.

• Timorese tend to touch each other a lot more than westerners do during conversations.

• It is not uncommon to see male friends walking along holding hands as a sign of friendship; however boyfriend and girlfriend or husband and wife would not hold hands in public.

Eye Contact

• Direct eye contact is okay in most situations.

Gestures

• Pointing with a finger is okay in most situations.
• Pushing into queues/lines is acceptable in many situations as well.

Views of Time

• Timorese do not tend to be greatly punctual. Rubber time would describe their view of time in most situations. However if they have cooked a meal for you it would be good not to be too late.
• Buses to other towns run at approximate times, buses within towns are small and run frequently so there is no need of timetables.
• Most people give their time freely as many are unemployed.
• In a business situation it may be difficult to get to meet the person concerned but once the meeting occurs they may give you more time than they said they would.

Gender Roles

• Timor Leste is a patriarchal society. Women are number two and are expected to do the cooking, cleaning and raising children, though more women are working since independence.

• Women are expected to not have bare arms, low cut tops or short skirts or wear bikinis, though they seem to be able to wear tight jeans. Foreign women are given more leeway.

• Timorese women do not usually go out alone and single Timorese women probably won’t be allowed to go out alone with a man unless they are related. Timorese who have lived overseas are exceptions.

• Drunkenness is frowned upon, especially for women. Many Timorese women are comfortable spitting in public.

Taboos

• Public displays of affection are considered taboo for the most part, except when greeting.

• Shouting and/or arguing in public is considered rude as is making lewd comments to women.

• Avoid touching people’s heads as this is often seen as disrespectful.

Gift Giving

• Chocolate and casks of red wine are popular and if you give money say that it is for the children otherwise it will not be accepted.

Other Observations

• Take presents. Chocolate and casks of red wine are popular and if you give money say that it is for the children otherwise it will not be accepted.

• Timorese are more likely to socialize at home. Weddings and parties do not have a lot of alcohol.