Etiquette in Latin America - Generalizations

Generalizations

There are several definitions of Latin America, but all of them define a huge expansive of geography with an incalculable amount of different customs. However, some generalizations can be made:

• As every definition of Latin America connotes a shared cultural and linguistic legacy with roots in Spain and Portugal, and to a lesser extent France, many points of etiquette in Europe are applicable, especially those specific to those nations.
• Some countries in South America, primarily Argentina and Uruguay have more European cultural traits and influences.
• Compared to much of the English-speaking world, people from areas of Latin America may demonstrate more relaxed and casual behavior and be more comfortable with loud talk, exaggerated gestures and physical contact.
• In addition, many Latin American people have a smaller sense of personal space than people from English-speaking cultures. It may be rude to step away from someone when they are stepping closer.
• In addition to varying greatly from one individual to another and along various demographic lines, this tendency towards comparatively warm and relaxed behavior does not necessarily hold true among many communities of indigenous peoples, including those who have adopted Spanish or Portuguese as their primary language.
• At some finer restaurants, it may be considered rude for the staff to bring a customer the check without the customer first requesting it.
• Getting the last snack or canape left in a plate without offering it around first makes the person seem rude/greedy.
• It is considered impolite to "toss" objects to people instead of directly handing it to them.
• At the workplace, indiscretions, errors or overall poor performance should be pointed out in private. Mentioning them in front of other colleagues (such as in a meeting) is perceived as hostile.
• The American "come here" gesture of palm upwards with the fingers curled back can be considered a romantic solicitation.
• Throughout Latin America, there are communities of people with strong ethnic and cultural ties to other parts of the world. One example is the 1.5 million strong Japanese Brazilian community for whom certain points of etiquette in Asia may be applicable. Some of these same points of etiquette would apply in Chinatowns in Latin America. Argentina has large communities of German Argentines, Irish Argentines, and so on.
• In many instances, points of etiquette applicable to Latin America will also hold true with Latino people in the United States.
• Phrases like "in America" or "I'm from America" (especially when speaking Spanish) when referring to the United States is confusing or offensive to Latin American people as America is a continent, not just the United States. Therefore, all people born in the American continent are Americans. People from the United States of America are referred to by their nationality, "estadounidense" or "Norte americano" (lit. "United-Statian" or "North-American"). (But of course "North-American" is problematic for exactly the same reason just mentioned. Canada and Mexico are also part of the North American continent.)
• Many elements of U.S. American culture left an imprint on life in Latin America, but it is ill advised to bring up topics or discuss subjects about the impact of U.S. Foreign policy.
• Avoid talk of racial issues: Latin Americans have a history of the merger of the European and indigenous races into the mestizo, while other nations like Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama, Colombia and Venezuela have large percentages of African and mixed race African/Caucasian ancestors. In Costa Rica and Chile, many of the inhabitants rather identify themselves as "white" or castizo, a variant of the colonial casta system no longer in official practice, but each Latin American country has a unique different identity of their own. A few like Guatemala and Paraguay have a larger racial Amerindian minority and most inhabitants speak an indigenous language.
• Religion is not to be taken lightly; many Latin Americans are devoted to their faith, especially the Roman Catholic Church from its Spanish and Portuguese colonial past, which is a major force in life in the majority of countries' polity and social life. Festivals and holidays dedicated to patron saints and holy figures of Catholic Christianity are celebrated. A few nations: Argentina, Cuba and Uruguay are comparably more secular, where nominal church membership but irregular attendance is a common trait and even a stronger sense of the separation of church and state (same goes with post-revolutionary Mexico), though all of Latin America governments guarantee the right of or had granted the freedom of religion.