We know that going to a country you have never
been to can be a joy but it can also be a headache. Why do we say this? Because
there could be some cultural aspects that might not correspond to those of the
own culture. This post will address the issue of meeting a Chilean for the
first time and hopefully it will give you some hints about what is generally
accepted in our country and what might seem awkward.
The first aspect is greeting. As part of the
western world there aren’t so many differences as there would be with eastern
cultures. Handshakes are relatively the same all over the world. A short but
firm handshake opens the way for confidence and understanding. If you are to be
received by a Chilean contact with whom you’ve been frequently communicating,
he/she may give you a hug as a welcome gesture. However, in business relations
etiquette is the keystone, thus this hug might be reduced to a formal
handshake. A kiss on the cheek is the standard for greeting women in Chile.
However, businesswomen might prefer a handshake for a first time greeting.
Therefore, don’t feel rejected if a woman offers you her hand and not her
cheek; this could change the second time you meet or simply be her style. Some
things you may want to avoid are never-ending handshakes, kissing a woman in
the cheek if she offers you her hand or any type of vows.
The second aspect that we would like to comment
on is the first talk. This could be defining for the future of the relation.
However, it must be clear that the focus is not on what you say but in how you
say it. Although there are many professionals that are very fluent in English,
this is not the average in Chile. That is why it is so important to count with
experts in language facilitators or cultural guides, such as the members of
Translate-in-Chile. Yet if you don’t know if the person that will pick you up
at the airport speaks English fluently, it is always better to speak slowly, clearly
and using as much physical language as necessary. You don’t want to be
misunderstood because that might have consequences even for the rest of your
visit. Nevertheless, don’t be afraid of saying what you need, how you feel or
any doubts you have, because Chilean people are famous for their kindness and
helpfulness.
To sum up, if you come from a western culture,
there shouldn’t be much to adjust. The main aspects to look at are a firm
handshake and a simple, not overwhelming first talk. You should also consider
that these aspects are just hints and not rules, and that tolerance is an
important value in business relations around the world. Finally, if you would
like to receive more specific information about our culture or hire a cultural
guide, please send us an e-mail to translateinchile@gmail.com and we will be pleased to help you.
By Horlando San Martín
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