Cultural Confusion!

I get confused in multi-cultural environments. Handshaking can become a problem. There is no

such thing as just sticking out your hand, it being received, released, and it’s over and done.

No. No, it is not!

I learned this is not true in Africa. Different tribal groups within the same country may have

different ways of shaking hands. Distinctly different ways of doing so! Have you ever

experienced the vast differences there are in regional greetings? And not necessarily just in the

shaking of hands?

How are we to respond when we have messed up from the start simply because we did not

know?

I usually smile, own the error, thank them for their gracious greeting, and ask about their culture.

What do you do (What else is there to do)?

#culture #Namibia