greeting customs |
dinner customs |
The most common form of greeting is a handshake. If you are meeting someone that you are very familiar with, the handshake is longer. If you are greeting an elder person or a person of high status, you grab their right wrist with your left hand to show respect. After the handshake, it is expected you ask the person about their health, family, business, etc. Instead of shaking hands, some close female friends will give hugs and kisses on the cheek. It is considered very impolite to point. Instead, extending your arm with your palm facing down is used to summon people.
|
If you are invited to dinner, then it is polite to bring dessert or flowers for the host. NEVER bring alcohol unless you are certain that the host drinks alcohol. It is good etiquette give gifts using your right hand or both hands. It is disrespectful to give the gift with your left hand, or do anything with your left hand for that matter, because the left hand is thought to be used for unhygienic purposes. You do not start eating at a meal unless the oldest male has started. It is not customary to drink during a meal at a Kenyan home because Kenyans think it is rude to drink and eat at the same time, so drinks are served at the end of the meal. It is respectful to finish all of the food that is served to you.
|