Venezuela Do’s

  • Shake hands when meeting someone for the first time.‚ (Men shake firmly, women shake softly)
  • Talk about family, hobbies, and vacations
  • Keep eye contact because it shows you are interested in the conversation.‚ 
  • Women kiss once on the cheek, but not the first‚ meeting.‚ 
  • Travel with a group because violence and kidnapping is prevalent‚ ‚ ‚ 
  • Drive with doors locked because of car-jackings at traffic lights.‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ 
  • Wait until everyone has been served before eating.
  • Converse while eating. ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚  ‚ ‚ 

Venezuela Don’ts

  • Talk about politics.‚  People have strong opinions about them.
  • Touch the first time you meet someone; Venezuelans need to trust you‚ before physical contact
  • Give the middle finger or the “OK” sign;‚ they‚ are‚ seen as crude.
  • Turn your back when someone is talking to you because it‚ shows‚ disinterest in the topic.‚ 
  • ‚ Wearing jewelry, carrying large sums of money, or displaying cash, credit cards, phones, etc.
  • Walking at night in most areas.
  • Don’t‚ slurp, belch, or chew loudly.
  • Leave the table before everyone has finished eating.