Greetings in Italy

When you’re introduced to an Italian, you should say ‘good day’ (buongiorno) and shake hands (a single pump is enough). ‘Hello’ (ciao) is used among close friends and young people, but it isn’t considered polite when addressing strangers unless they use it first. Women may find that some men kiss their hand, although this is rare nowadays.

When being introduced to someone in a formal situation, it’s common to say ‘pleased to meet you’ ( molto lieto). When saying goodbye, you should shake hands again. It’s also customary to say ‘good day’ or ‘good evening’ ( buonasera) on entering a small shop, waiting room or lift, and ‘good day’ or ‘goodbye’ (arriverderci or, when addressing only one person, arrivederla) on leaving (friends say ciao).

Buongiorno becomes buonasera any time after the lunch break (around 1pm), although if you choose buonasera(or buongiorno), don’t be surprised if the response isn’t the same. Good night ( buonanotte) is used when going to bed or leaving a house in the evening.

Titles should generally be used when addressing or writing to people, particularly when the holder is elderly.Dottore is usually used when addressing anyone with a university degree ( dottoressa if it’s a woman) and employees may refer to their boss as director ( direttore) or presidente. Professionals should be addressed by their titles such as professor ( professore), doctor ( dottore), engineer ( ingegnere), lawyer ( avvocato) and architect ( architetto).

If you don’t know someone’s title, you can use signore (for a man) or signora (woman); a young woman may be addressed as signorina, although nowadays all women tend to be addressed as signora.

Greeting Customs Of Thailand

• When being introduced or greeting someone, men say Sawatdee-krap and women say Sawatdee-kah.
• Thais greet each other with a "wai." Foreigners are not expected to initiate the wai gesture, but it is an insult not to return the wai. If a wai is not offered to you, shake hands with men and smile and nod to women. A Thai businessperson may shake hands with a foreigner. Offer a wai only to a person of equal or greater status. Subordinates should offer a wai first.
• Wai (why) - a person places the palm of his or her hands together, with their fingers extended at chest level close to their body and bows slightly. The higher the hands are placed, the more respect is shown. Subordinates might raise their fingers as high as their nose. However, the tips of their fingers should never be above eye level.
• A wai can mean "Hello," "Thank you," "I'm sorry," or "Goodbye." A wai is not used to greet children, servants, street vendors or laborers. Never return a wai to a child, waiter, clerk, etc. Simply nod and smile in response.
• Monks do not return a wai.
• Thais say "Where are you going" rather than "Hello." A polite response is "Just down the street."
• Introductions are common only in a formal situation. Introduce yourself by your first name. Feel free to introduce yourself or ask for someone's name. When introducing your business partner to an important Thai, mention your partner's name first.
• The inferior or lower-status person is always addressed first in an introduction. Thus, a child is introduced before its parents, a secretary is introduced before her boss.

Greeting Customs Of Japan

 Greeting Customs Of Japan

People in Japan greet each other by bowing. When you meet a person you should bow and that way show respect. When doing so your palms should be on your thighs or at the lap. Your heals should be put together. According to the angle the body makes there are three types of bowing – “eshaku” or greeting bowing – 5 degrees, “futsuu rei” or respect bowing – 30 degrees and “saikei rei” or highest respect bowing – 45 degrees. Longer and deeper bowing is present at more formal occasions.

Japanese women bowing

A bow of 45 degrees is believed to be proper for any occasion. The bow should last for some two seconds. Like in every rule there are exceptions. A person praying will stay bowed until he/she is finished his/her prayer.

Let's imagine the situation when you meet someone several times a day. You should bow every time you meet the person. When you are attending some informal meeting a nod or lifted either hand will do just fine. It has to be said that there is no physical contact between you and the person you are greeting.

Bowing is present to only as form of greeting. The Japanese perform it as an act of apology. If someone causes a serious offence he/she should bow deeper and more frequently. When a person wants to express the deepest apology he/she makes a kneeling bow when his/her forehead touches the floor.

You should always address a person as Mr. or Mrs. This is done by adding word San to the surname. This is not done with children. Women call each other by their name if they are friends, co-workers or at the informal meetings. Men do it only if their relation is personal or in informal situation. As result of western influence young people or generally people in cities also use handshake or which is more common combine it with a bow. Never offer a handshake. Wait for the other person to offer it.

Reference:http://traditionscustoms.com/lifestyle/japanese-greeting-customs

Greeting Customs of PERU.

 Greeting Customs of PERU.

When entering a shop or home, always use an appropriate oral greeting (Buenos días, or good day; buenas trades, or good afternoon; buenas noches, or good night). Similarly, upon leaving, it is polite to say goodbye (Adios or Hasta luego), even to shop owners with whom you've had minimal contact. Peruvians often shake hands upon leaving as well as greeting.

Read more: http://www.frommers.com/destinations/peru/686145#ixzz4BMw8O1M0