Food customs and etiquette in North America

Canadian

Canadians are hospitable. Families and friends usually invite meals at home rather than restaurants, which is considered more friendly. When guests arrive at the host's house, the hostess will arrange seats during meal, or place a card with the guest's name in front of each seat in advance. There is also a more casual way to invite a meal in Canada, which is a "buffet" or "buffet" form. After the host places all the meals on the table, the guests can each take a large plate (or be issued by the host) and take out the food they like. They can leave the table and go to another room to sit and eat at will. In this way, guests and hosts, and guests can have more time to talk. In Canada, people are usually invited to a friend's house for dinner without giving gifts. But if you go to a relative's house for a weekend or stay for a few days, you should bring gifts to the hostess, such as a bottle of wine, a box of sugar, etc. After leaving your host's house, you should immediately write a letter to your hostess telling you that you have arrived home safely and express your gratitude for the hospitality you have received. When visiting relatives and friends during holidays, you usually need to bring some gifts.

Canadians are not as casual as Americans, and most receptions are held in restaurants and clubs. If you are invited to a Canadian's home, you can send or carry a bouquet of flowers to the hostess in advance. But don't send white lilies. In Canada, white lilies are only used at funerals. Hold the open door and let the person behind you pass first. This etiquette will be appreciated.

Smile and say "Hi" to passers-by or strangers you encounter in the elevator to show a friendly attitude.

When we met for the first time, we shook hands and asked each other,"How are you?" How are you?)，Usually this idiom doesn't have to really answer it, just say,"Fine, thank you." "Fine, thanks. ") After a conversation, you usually say," Have a nice day/evening/weekend." ("Have a nice day/evening/weekend") Neighbors, colleagues and others often have informal conversations while waiting in the reception room. Even in business settings, informal conversations are held at the beginning of or after meetings.

Avoid talking or arguing loudly in public places. Even if conflicts occur in public places, such as car accidents, try to remain calm. Talking in another language in front of foreigners will be considered rude. Staring at people is also extremely rude. New immigrants should remain calm and not overreact to the attitude of Canadians. Many reactions that appear to be "racial discrimination" may simply be due to confusion, curiosity, or surprise. Don't immediately think you are offended or jump to racially discriminatory conclusions.

US

Americans don't always dress well like the British, but don't pay much attention to clothes. But in formal occasions, Americans pay more attention to etiquette.

When interviewing, pay attention to clothing and cleanliness. It is better to wear a suit, especially polish your shoes and clean your fingernails. American businessmen rarely shake hands. Even if they meet for the first time, they don't have to shake hands first. They often just nod and smile, and say hello politely. A man should hold a woman's hand gently and not hard. If the woman does not intend to shake hands, the man should not take the initiative to reach out unless the woman takes the initiative. Do not use both hands when shaking hands. Between superiors and subordinates, the superiors first reach out and shake hands. Between elders and young, the elderly first reached out and shook hands. Between the guests, the host reached out first. Men should avoid climbing shoulders and arms with each other. Americans do not like the two sides to be too close when talking and are accustomed to keeping a certain distance between their bodies. Generally, it should be kept between 120 and 150 centimeters, and at least 50 centimeters should not be less than. When invited to an American home or attend a banquet, it is best to bring some small gifts to the host, such as cosmetics, children's toys, national specialties or alcohol and tobacco. When it comes to home furnishings, owners like to hear words of praise rather than asking about prices.

Punctuality and trustworthiness are very important. American businessmen like to express their "informality","easygoing" and "sense of humor." People who can tell a few jokes often are often easily accepted by the other party. Breakfast and lunch date negotiation is popular in the American business world. When you promise to attend a banquet hosted by the other party, be sure to attend the banquet on time. If you cannot make the appointment on time due to special circumstances, be sure to call the host and explain the reasons, or tell the host when you can go. At dinner, when a lady walks into the living room, the man should stand up and sit down until the lady finds a seat. When Americans entertain guests, they mostly use roast beef and roast chicken, because these dishes are popular among ordinary Americans and are both convenient and affordable. As long as it is served with one or two vegetables, taro and cereals, if you are ready to order dessert after dinner, it will be a big meal. Hamburgers are food eaten daily by Americans. According to regulations, the fat content of minced beef in hamburgers should not exceed 30%.

Panama

Panamanians like to keep the two sides closer when talking. They think this will make them appear close and natural, otherwise they will be cold to each other. They use some sign language, such as kissing the fingertips to express praise.

In formal social occasions, they often shake hands when meeting guests, while between relatives and friends, they often hug when meeting. When meeting acquaintances on the street, they nod as a courtesy. When local people answer the phone, they often ask you first. Who are you? This is different from the habit of European and American countries who first announce your name.

Panamanians eat rice and corn as their staple foods. The food they make is well-known for its five flavors. The more famous ones are rice and boiled red beans with meat. Panamanians like a food called Sankcho very much, and locals often entertain guests with this. Costa Rica

In Costa Rica, men usually shake hands when meeting, and hug those who have an unusual relationship. When a man saw a woman he was familiar with, he would kiss her gently on the right hand or on the face. When dealing with people you meet for the first time, you cannot laugh or ask about the other person's age and ethnicity. When addressing you, you can add Mr. or Ms. after the name.

In Costa Rica, coffee and bananas are extremely abundant, with exports accounting for half of the total, and these two things have become indispensable beverages and foods in their daily lives. When visiting local people's homes, they usually serve snacks or drinks. Guests should not refuse, otherwise it will embarrass the host. Mexico

Mexicans usually greet each other by smiling and shaking hands, and kissing and hugging are also performed between relatives and friends, but kissing each other between unfamiliar men and women is taboo. Mexican names generally consist of three parts: religious name, father's name, and mother's name. In general situations, the acronym can be used, that is, only the religious name and the father's surname are used. After marriage, a woman changes her husband's surname. A German character must be added before the husband's surname to indicate subordination.

Traditional foods in Mexico are corn, beans and peppers. People say corn is the bread of Mexicans. Mexicans can make a variety of foods from corn. In addition, Mexico has the reputation of the country of cactus. Local people like to eat cactus. They juxtapose it with pineapple and watermelon as a fruit and use it to make various home-cooked dishes. Mexico is also the world's largest consumer of insects.

Cuban

When two people meet each other, they always say hello to anyone who has met each other or who wants to negotiate with them. In addition to greetings, there is also a question of address. Men call them Mr. and women call them Miss. Cubans have simple personalities. When meeting guests on social occasions, they are generally accustomed to shaking hands as a courtesy. When friends or relatives meet each other, hugging is often used as a courtesy. Generally, hugging can be carried out between men and women.

In Cuba, most people believe in Catholicism, and basically eat Western food. Usually breakfast is bread and butter, lunch is more sandwiches and milk, and dinner is more carnivorous and vegetables. Cubans like yellow rice very much, and their most famous dish in terms of diet is Ahiaco. This is made of pork with clivia, taro, and yam. Cubans generally don't like mutton and seafood. Cuba is rich in fruits, so people cannot live without fruits. They squeeze the fruit into juice as a regular drink.

Guatemala

When meeting guests on social occasions, local men often shake hands. If they are relatives and friends, they can still hug them. When women meet as friends, they hug each other gently and kiss each other on the face.

Guatemala has corn, wheat and rice as its staple foods. Nowadays, the diet is basically Western food, which likes to eat bread, sandwiches, etc. The local area is rich in coffee. People drink coffee every day. Most people need a cup of coffee for lunch. Locals eat lunch, and dinner usually starts after 8 p.m.

Dominica

The national character is open-minded and open-minded, giving people the feeling of being easy to get close and friends. Living in this kind of country, even nervous people will naturally relax, and people who are already gentle will become closer. The only concern is that people may become loose.

Dominica's business habits, don't make the other party unhappy, but know how to make some kind jokes. If there are other people in the same room, say hello to the person you want to visit, otherwise you will not be able to get their help. There are no special local taboos. Note when traveling that in hotels outside Santo Domingo, remember to bring mosquito coils when checking in. Amber, black coral rings and accessories on women are interesting specialties.

Costa Rica

The country mainly exports coffee, cocoa and agricultural products. Industries are relatively developed among Central American countries, mainly light industry. The per capita output value is more than 1020 US dollars. The main export commodities include coffee, cocoa, bananas, raw sugar, etc., imported primary products, rice fuel oil, machinery and equipment, etc. Mining gold, silver and salt mines. Costa Rican men shake hands when meeting. If women are friends or relatives, kiss on the cheek.

For Costa Ricans, the daily diet of ordinary families mainly includes corn, beans, rice, bananas, etc. On Sundays, bananas and pumpkins are used to make broth. The more common fruits include various palm fruits and palm hearts. The most common ingredients are coffee, rum brewed with thick sugar, sugar liquor, etc. Black residents mostly eat clivia, cassava and several locally grown stem foods. Indians basically eat corn and bananas, but rarely eat fish and meat.

Honduras

You should be careful when dealing with Honduran businessmen. Honduras and El Salvador are at odds, so you should be careful when you speak. The people in this country are complex and people have a high interest in politics. Local businessmen have strong self-esteem, so business is not easy. Once you have a friendship, business will be easy. Negotiating business often requires a lot of time, and blindly engaging in business will often lead to unexpected failure. After becoming close friends with local merchants, every transaction must be concluded and credit investigation must not be neglected. Otherwise, once a dispute arises, it will be too late to regret it. As for credit investigation, you can entrust a lawyer to handle it, but you must find someone who is powerful and well-established in government agencies to obtain acceptable information.