|
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. Close friends may embrace, and cheek to cheek contact on the left cheek followed by the right cheek may also ensue between locals.
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.
3. In Hungary, the surname is listed usually before the first name, however, foreigners should adhere to their own cultural standards.
4. 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, although in Hungary, relations with surrounding nation states or amidst the "Gypsy" population is apt to be controversial.
6. Suggested topics of conversation include Hungarian food, wine, sports, travel and sightseeing are good topics to discuss. Hungarians also have a deep love and appreciation for horses, so any interest in these animals would be appreciated by the average local.
7. Punctuality is expected for both business meetings and social occasions.
8. In business endeavors, expect a lengthy decision-making process. Whereas some Western European countries have adopted the German penchant for details, in Hungary, the lengthy business process is more attributable to the cultural penchant for socializing. Business deals will not likely be successful without attention to the personal and social aspects of life. Note that most restaurants usually have musicians or entertainers in the evening.
9. 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 substantial attention to social 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. Your Hungarian counterpart may even argue with you over who gets to pay the bill.
10. At meals, Hungarian toasts are often made and should be returned. The usual toast is egészségünkre (pronounced ay-gash-ay-gun-gre), meaning 'your health'.
11. If you are invited to dinner at a Hungarian home, bring a bouquet of flowers (if you can find some) for your hostess. (Note that housing shortages are the norm in Budapest, so one should not expect such an invitation.)
12. 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.
13. During meals, the host may invite you to eat additional portions. It is traditional in many European cultures to turn down the first invitation.
14. Generally, Hungarians dress in a casual but conservative manner in business, and with more of a fashionable orientation 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.
|