简宁

导读：任何一个地方都有当地的风土人情、民俗习惯，那么到哥伦比亚，又有什么要注意呢？

Colombian people are open and friendly， so if youre ever not sure of something， just ask them.

Its Colombia， not Columbia. Dont spell it with a “u”.People may get confused because Columbia is the District of Columbia in the USA （as in， Washington D.C.）.

Greetings. Allow extra time for greetings， as it shows respect for those you are meeting. Handshakes are used both when you arrive and leave. If you already know the person you are meeting， a kiss on the cheek is expected. Its also expected to say hello to people if youre entering a store， or a taxi， or passing someone.

Gestures. The“OK” sign with your hand isnt very common in Colombia， and actually if you do that with your hand on top of your nose，you will be considered rude. So the best way is just say okay！

Timing. Punctuality isnt as important in Colombia as it is in other cultures. If youre meeting someone for dinner， dont be surprised if they show up 30 minutes to an hour late. As a foreigner， however， you will be expected to arrive on time. Also， expect the meals to last a few hours.

Conversation. Unless you know someone really well， dont discuss politics and Colombias drug history with them. You can talk about culture and coffee. If you have bad feelings about Colombian culture， its best to keep them to yourself.

Dining. Usually， whoever made the dinner invitation pays for the meal.During a meal， make an effort to try everything you are served. Also， it is considered polite to leave a small amount of food on your plate when you are finished.

There are some other things you should keep in mind. If you are invited to someones home， it is polite to bring a gift. Its not common to take your shoes off， so keep them on your feet！

Vocabulary

confuse v. 迷惑，困惑

punctuality n. 守时

（What other dos and donts do you know about Colombia？）