Italy

Italy Geography Capital: Rome Terrain: Rugged and mountainous Climate: Mild Mediterranean; Cold northern winters

People Ethnic groups: Primarily Italian, but there are small groups of German, French, Slovene, and Albanian-Italians Religion: Roman Catholic Language: Italian

Government Type: Republic

Doing Business- Etiquette
 * good manners and courtesy are appreciated
 * when meeting and leaving; shake hands
 * moving away and keeping your distance; unfriendly and cold
 * address people using 'Signor' (m) or 'Signora' (f) followed by their surname. 'Dottore' (m) or 'Dottoressa' (f) is used for those who have graduated
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">what you wear, speaks about who you are

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Doing Business- Punctuality <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Doing Business- Business Entertaining
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">being late with a good excuse is okay, but doing just because if considered sloppy and taking peoples time for granted
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">hospitality plays a big role
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">invitations to lunch and dinner are expected
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">if you plan to cook, ask the oldest Italian contact who you should invite
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">if your dining out; the most honoured guest should sit at the middle or next to the host
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">host always pays
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">pass dishes to the left
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">keep your knife in the right hand and fork in the left
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">do NOT answer phone calls at the table

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Doing Business- Meeting and Negotiations
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">preferably with someone they know
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">use contacts and networks to introduce yourself before you meet personally
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">to arrange a meeting write (in Italian) first
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">follow up with a phone call, fax or e-mail
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">best times; 10-11 a.m. and after 3 p.m.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">avoid August because they have barely any staff and its a slow season
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Negotiations are normally slow
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">urgency= weakness
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">at the begining of a meeting have small talk
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">topics- Italian culture, food, wine, football (soccer)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">near the 11th hour, change demads drastically to test them; but remain firm

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Introductions and greetings
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">introduced by a third party if possible
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">introduce the women and older people for
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">shake hands with a firm grip
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">say "buon giorno" during the day
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">at night say "buona sera"
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">if you know the person give them a hug, if you dont know them, do not

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Conversations and behavior
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">italians use hand gestures when talking, its a way of emphasizing a point
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">holding hands or linking arms together is very common
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">they have little personal space compared to Americans
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">eye contact is important; it shows if you are interested or not
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">looking away shows rudeness or boredom
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">hand on the stomach means you dislike that person

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Public transportation and Gatherings
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">children should give up their seat to older people and men should give up their seat to women
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">wait for host to tell you where to sit

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Eating and Drinking > Shopping
 * Cappuccinos should only be drank in the morning
 * expressos can be drank at anytime
 * when you eat, you must sit
 * unless eating a gelato
 * "buon giorno" (Good Morning) or "buona sera" (Good Afternoon /Evening) and "arrivaderci" (Goodbye)
 * if you know the cashier, it is common to see someone walk up to the front of the line
 * Dont read through magazines in front of a newstand
 * dont touch things on window display, instead as a sales associate

Rude Behavior
 * a gesture is considered as rubbing your chin with your fingertips and propel them forward
 * making devil horns pointed outward is an obscene gesture
 * opposite gesture is warding away evil
 * pointing with your pinky finger and your index at someone means you are wishing them bad luck
 * its offensive if you slap an arm about the elbow and thumbing your nose
 * offensive to chew gum, lean or slouch in public

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sources:

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1. [] Bureau of Public Affairs, December 3, 2010 <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2. []

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