Country Nam e Flag

Italy

Spain

Canada

The People

Cultural achievement is Italy's greatest source of pride. Inventiveness, imagination, intelligence and education are prized. Personal relations are scrupulously maintained with loyalty highly valued, especially in families.

Personal pride and individualism are highly valued, as are character and breeding. Modesty is valued over assertiveness. Flaunting superiority, intelligence and ability is not appreciated. People strive to project affluence and social position. Personal appearance, image and human relationships are very important.
hake hands with everyone present-men, women and children--at a business or social meeting. Shake hands again when leaving. Men may embrace each other when meeting (friends a and family only). Never touch, hug or back slap a Spaniard you do not know well, unless a

The vast majority of Canadians claim European ancestry. Four in nine Canadians claim some British ancestry and a little less than one in three have some French ancestry. Eighty percent of the residents in Quebec have French ancestry. Eighty percent of native French speakers live in Quebec (the others are mostly in New Brunswick, and parts of Ontario and Manitoba). Other European groups include Italians, Germans and Ukrainians (especially in the prairie states).

Meeting and G Greeting

When being introduced during a business or social meeting, shake hands with everyone present -- men, women and children. Shake hands again w when leaving. Ladies should extend their hand first to men. m

Body l language

Maintain eye contact while talking. Otherwise Italians might think you are hiding s something.

n general, Canadians are more reserved and polite than Americans, and take matters of etiquette a little more seriously. Shake hands and introduce yourself when meeting Canadians for the first time. Always shake hands firmly when meeting or departing. Eye contact is important. When a woman enters or leaves a room, it is polite for men to rise. Men normally offer their hands to women. Generally speaking, Canadians are more reserved than Americans. Canadians generally don't touch very much when

Angel Vizcarra
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culture

H Helpful

Hints

Italians take punctuality for business meetings very seriously and expect that you will do likewise; call with an explanation if you are delayed. Deliberate lateness in business is viewed as sloppy. Business cards are used only in business, not socially, unless r requested. Italians are open, curious and tolerant of others uniqueness and manners. They will tolerate lateness, inefficiency and sincere mistakes, but dislike arrogance and rudeness. Italians enjoy a lot of good humor and can b be self-deprecating.

Spaniards do not take punctuality for business meetings seriously, but expect that you will be on time; call with an explanation if you are delayed. Spain is not a meeting culture. Meetings are to communicate instructions or to save time.

Punctuality is demanded for business meetings and social occasions. If a conflict arises, you are expected to let your Canadian counterpart know immediately. That said, Canadians are not as obsessed with time as Americans.

Expect to be interrupted when speaking. Be patient. Nothing is done in a hurry. Spanish trademarks are procrastination and d delay.

Do your homework about Canada. Most Americans are appallingly ignorant of Canadian history, culture a and geography. Recognize that important regional differences exist in Canada and prepare to adapt. When in Quebec, learn a little French; Qubcois greatly appreciate it when you take the effort to talk to them in their native language.