Dining Etiquette

Guatemala El Salvador Honduras Nicaragua Costa Rica Panama

Guatemala

• An interview will most likely be conducted over business breakfasts or lunches, which are preferred to dinners.
• An invitation to a Guatemalan home is offered for the purpose of getting to know you personally. This is not the time to discuss business. Spouses are usually invited to such gatherings.
• Good topics of conversation:
  - Guatemalan tourist sites
  - Your family
  - Your job
• Topics to stay away from:
  - Political unrest
  - Violence
  - Cold War in Latin America
  - Communism
  - Guerrilla opposition
• If you speak to a married couple, the man will be the one who will converse or answer your questions.
• The main meal of the day is taken at noon. This will probably include black beans, tortillas or meat, and fruit and vegetables.
• Meals are usually taken “family style” with each person serving her or himself. It is rude to take food and leave it on your plate.
  

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El Salvador

• If you are invited to a Salvadoran home, be sure to compliment the hostess (and her cooks) on the food and hospitality.
• Good topics of conversation:
  - Sports
  - Family
  - Work
  - The natural beauty of El Salvador
• Topics to avoid:
  - Political unrest
  - Violence
  - Religion
  - Intervention by the US in Latin America
• The main meal of the day is at noon. This will probably include black beans, tortillas or meat, and fruit and vegetables.
• In a home each person serves himself or herself. It is rude to take food and leave it on your plate uneaten.

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Honduras

• The best times for business meetings are breakfast and lunch, the main meal of the day.
• If you are invited to a local home or invited to a meal where spouses are also included, so not expect to discuss business. Instead, socialize and get to know the family. Dinner is taken between 8:30 and 9:00 p.m. Arrive about 30 minutes late.
• Good topics of conversation:
  - Honduran tourist sites
  - Your family
  - Your job at home
  - Sports (especially soccer, the national sport)
• Topics to avoid:
  - Local politics
  - Unrest in Central America
• Businessmen will not invite foreign women to a dinner meeting or interview unless spouses also attend. Men will resist letting a woman pay for a meal.
  

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Nicaragua

• Business breakfasts or lunches is preferred to dinners.
• The main meal of the day is at noon. This traditionally includes black beans, tortillas or meat, and fruit and vegetables.
• Good topics of conversation:
  - Nicaraguan sites
  - Family
  - Job
  - Sports
• Topics to avoid:
  - Political unrest
  - Religion
• It would be wise for you to know something about the history of the US involvement in Nicaragua. Nicaraguan opinion of the US varies widely from person to person, and it is useful to understand the sources of any anti-US feeling.
  

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Costa Rica

• Good topics of conversation:
  - Children
  - Families
  - The beauty of Costa Rica
  - Costa Rica’s history of stable democracy
• Costa Rican people enjoy discussing politics, particularly with foreigners. Foreigners should have some knowledge of the political history of Central America in order to speak intelligently on the subject.
• Most business entertaining takes place in the evening, since lunch is the main meal of the day. Spouses are welcome at business dinners.
  
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Panama

• It is typical for businessmen and women to stay at top hotels and entertain their guests at premier restaurants.
• Good topics of conversation:
  - Sports
  - Travel
  - Local cultural events
• Topics to avoid
  - The Canal Zone
  - Local politics
• Men will resist letting a woman pay for a meal
  
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