Culture Shock in Greece

Recently arrived expats need to make several cultural adjustments The Greeks are an infectiously warm people who enjoy affection, laughter and straight talk. They do not understand the self-effacing irony of English speakers, and often consider expats from English nations aloof and pretentious. The Greeks as a rule are loud and boisterous at social events, expecting anyone who wants to be heard to make themselves so. They are also dedicated smokers, and asking anyone to put out their cigarette may result in a little verbal backlash.

 

When greeting Greek men one is expected to shake hands firmly and warmly making eye contact. However someone who has become a friend will expect to embrace, and a kiss on either cheek is common.

 

The Greeks will take almost any excuse to get together and eat. New business contacts are usually established over lunches. Informality is the rule, however a modicum of distance is important at the beginning of any new relationship. It is important to note that the Greeks like to do business with people they know, and they may take up to three business meetings feeling out a prospective partner before conducting any hard business talk. Appointments should be made one to two weeks in advance, and confirmed the day before, however making a same day appointment is not out of the question. Greeks also do not consider that arriving thirty minutes late for a meeting is overly rude. The Greeks largely desire to do business with people they know, and have a propensity to hire family members and friends in business.

 

The Greeks are a proud people, and good advice for doing business in Greece is never to directly contradict a statement that someone has put forward. The Greeks are reputedly hard bargainers with contracts, though having established a personal contact through previous meetings often the contracts are simple with both sides expected to make concessions in extenuating circumstances.

 

There are some sensitive topics of conversation in Greece. Classifying Greece as part of Eastern Europe is a social gaffe, especially as Greece was never part of the Soviet bloc. Additionally, discussing the Turks can make for heated conversation. While the Turks and the Greeks are at peace, in fact Greece is on of Turkey’s loudest supporters for entry into the EU, the Greeks and the Turks have a long history of conflict.