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Portuguese culture can be vastly different from what you
are used to in your own country and you may feel at a
disadvantage if you don't speak Portuguese when you
first arrive in
Portugal.
The laws governing personal and business
relationships, trade unions, driving, personal freedom,
internal travel, buying and selling and other aspects of
daily life quite challenging until you become accustomed
to life in Portugal.
Portugal is still very
much a male dominated country and although the feminist
movement is alive and kicking as a female
you may indignant when conversations are held with your
husband or boyfriend instead rather than you.
The culture of
Portugal
is divided
between the traditional rural cultural events and the international
culture of Lisbon.
Portugal
has its own theatrical tradition (revista)
and also has many small museums and galleries with the best known being
Gulbenkian foundation in Lisbon. This foundation also sponsors an
orchestra.
Most towns have a cinema which usually shows English language films with
Portuguese subtitles.
The regions have their own fairs and “festas”.
This tradition is probably strongest in the north where Celtic drums and
bagpipes play and the villagers, wearing traditional “traje” regional
costume dance in the Celtic fashion. The style of singing in the north
and also the “fado” of Coimbra and
Lisbon is “an acquired taste”. |
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The people in Portugal |
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The Portuguese as a
nation are usually reserved and understanding. The Portuguese are traditionally conservative and not embrace very easily the change and innovation. The Catholic Church has a strong influence on people’s lives. The family is the basis of Portuguese life. Life is simple specially in rural areas. The Portuguese entertain mostly on weekends. |
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Corporate Culture in Portugal |
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Portuguese do not take punctuality for business meetings, but they expect that you will be on time. Be prepared for your Portuguese counterparts to be 15 – 30 minutes late.
Although many younger
Portuguese speak English, it is appreciated if you have correspondence translated into Portuguese, plan on hiring an interpreter for business meetings. |
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Dining and entertainment in Portugal |
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Food is family style. The guest of honour serves himself first. Fish is eaten with a special knife and fork. When finished eating place knife and fork (tines up) side by side on your plate. It is polite to leave some food on your plate on finished eating. When offered a drink by a colleague (coffee, soda, alcohol) accept it. In Portugal it is common to drink wine during the meals.
Seafood is very popular in Portugal. One of the best dishes is “caldeirada”. Soups are especially good. Portugal is known for its excellent wines, the most known is “Porto” wine.
Smoking after a meal is quite normal in restaurants or in private houses.
There are good facilities for water sports, football, golf, tennis, gyms, health clubs, etc. in the main towns, where also are plenty of opportunities for cultural and artistic activities.
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