Odd Etiquette

*note things are only what I have found based on experiences and differ from tribe to tribe, family to family and person to person.

-It is not rude to answer your cell phone during a meeting even if you are the one presenting. It is perfectly acceptable to take the call, have a conversation… “Oh hey hows it going?...dinner tonight, okay… okay… no way that’s really funny… cool okay… I will see you later.” And then continue on with your presentation.

-When talking on the phone no need to say goodbye, simply hang up abruptly. Air time is precious and expensive.

-There are three kinds of handshakes all of which I have awkwardly timed, mixed up or messed up at one point or another.

1. The friendly informal “whats up”: hold the persons hand, precede to have a thumb war while leading in and taping opposite shoulders.

2. The normal shake: three movements, first normal handshake, second shift hand to arm wrestling position, third back to first position.

3. Most formal greeting when meeting chiefs, community leaders or respected people: regular western handshake while holding elbow with opposite hand.

-Over all there is lots of hand holding. The hold on and don’t let go technique: basically the name says it all, hold the persons hand for the duration of the conversation. I still haven’t gotten used to this one and find myself wiggling my hand from their grip or unable to focus on the conversation.

-When eating the more grease on your fingers the better. Lick the chicken bones clean. If on a bus with no napkin it is okay to wipe it on your neighbors clothing.

-Depending on the family it is either totally okay or completely rude to leave food on your plate. When determining how to best tackle the enormous portion of palagee try and find out which one your host expects to see if the twenty minute eat team rule applys. Prepare for excruciating fullness.

-When eating dinner leave the table once you are done. It is considered rushing the others if you sit with them.

-Odd sounds. I’m not quite sure what is with this one yet. I used to think it was only our home stay mom who grunted embarrassingly loud and that perhaps it was only because she is old and in pain. Nope, assumption disproven. Colleagues at the office make the same noise.