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Cultural Etiquette
Cultural Dos and Taboos
1. Shake hands, firmly but briefly, with everyone (including children) when introduced. It is also customary to shake hands once again upon your departure. Men should wait to see if women extend their hands in inter-gender meetings. In formal settings, local men may kiss the hands of women in greeting, but the replication of this practice by foreigners may not be well received. Note that it is impolite to reach over someone else's handshake. Also, avoid keeping your left hand in your pocket while shaking hands with your right.
2. The decision to address each other by first names may be decided by mutual consent, although the best practice is to err on the side of formality and use titles and surnames when first meeting someone.
3. The common verbal greeting is "How do you do?"
4. To get someone's attention, you should raise your hand, with your palm facing out and with the index finger extended. Waving or beckoning should be avoided, as well as placing feet upon any furniture other than a footstool.
5. Politics and other complicated issues, such as religion and culture, are acceptable topics of discussion in most European countries. The Czechs, like other Europeans, tend to be well informed about politics and to have their own opinions. While conversation on such issues is not discouraged, visitors should not expect Eastern Europeans to be entirely approving of Western concepts, ideas and political viewpoints.
6. Sports, such as soccer, ice hockey, hiking, and cycling are very popular and make good topics of conversation. Other suggested topics include music, sightseeing, local culture and travel. Also, in the Czech Republic where the pilsner beer was first created, beer is not a bad subject for extended conversation as well.
7. In business endeavors, expect a lengthy decision-making process. Many countries in Europe, like the Czech Republic, have adopted the German tendency to use methodical and painstaking care with all business planning, and to consider all business dealings with meticulous specificity. One should be prepared for a lengthy timeline and attention to microscopic detail.
8. Western business practices are quickly becoming the norm across Europe, including such things as business lunches. One should not, however, enter into business discussions without some light introductory conversation, politesse and other such niceties. In this regard, it is acceptable to ask about your counterpart's family. If the lunch or dinner meeting is your idea, you should insist on payment being your responsibility.
9. When invited to dinner at a Czech home, bring a bouquet of unwrapped flowers (if you can find some) for your hostess. Red roses are reserved for romantic situations in many cultures, while lilies are often associated with funerals.
10. When eating, always use utensils. Note that very few items are eaten with the hands. Also, adhere to the European standard of the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right hand. Avoid the Americanized "cross over" where one uses the knife only to cut meat, while using the fork in the right hand otherwise. Place your utensils together on one side of the plate when you have finished eating. The best practice is to place your knife and fork together in the 4 o'clock position on your plate. Meanwhile, if you wish to pause between courses, cross your utensils on the plate.
11. During meals, the host may invite you to eat additional portions. It is traditional in many European cultures to turn down the first invitation.
12. Generally, Czechs dress in a casual but conservative manner, except at dinners or other more formal engagements. Conservative suits (dark in color with ties and white shirts) are usually worn by businessmen, while women's business attire consists of dark skirts and dresses. Discretion is advised in the realm of business, while trendy fashions may be more acceptable in other less formal domains of life.
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