Cultural Dos and Taboos
1. A handshake is an appropriate form of greeting, although women do not often shake hands with other women. Close friends and relatives will often embrace and kiss each other on the cheeks as they greet each other. People shake hands for the greeting and at departure at social gatherings.
2. More formalized forms of address is customary in this country. Titles or insignias denoting authority or rank, such as "Professor," "Minister," "Doctor," or "Mr." And "Mrs.," are almost always used, unless explicitly invited to do otherwise.
3. The same sort of attention to authority and designations is also attributable to written correspondence. Letters, faxes and emails must adhere to the strictest standards of tradition, even if personal relations may be more relaxed.
4. Most of the North American hand and facial gestures will be understood.
5. Good topics of conversation include sports, travel, family, and culture. Avoid the topic of international politics. Referring to Fidel Castro as "a dictator" is also highly ill-advised. .
6. Boasting of personal wealth is not appreciated.
7. Elbows on tables, feet on furniture (or anywhere other than the floor), are considered inappropriate reflections of "para-language" (or non-verbal commuication).
8. Dining is Continental style with the fork steadfastly in the left hand and the knife in the right hand. Elbows should remain off the table and flatware should be placed in the four o'clock position when eating is finished.
9. One should eat the food served to them. Cuba has suffered from food shortages in the past due to embargos and such, so wasting food is a taboo.
10. When invited to someone's home, it is customary to take a gift. Flowers or quality liquor are suggested gifts. Rum is plentiful here, making a bottle of imported vintage wine, sherry or port preferable. Fine souvenirs or ornaments from one's own country are also suitable.
11. Dress appropriately; although casual self-presentation is customary here, slovenly dress, a lack of footwear in public places, walking in public without a shirt, and beach apparel in any venue other than on the beach, is inappropriate.
12. One should always ask permission before taking pictures of people.