How do you greet someone who is obviously from another culture but you don't know which one?

Question

Say you invite over company, and someone bring a guest. You greet them at the door, and find out (from visual cues, accent, etc) said guest is from a totally random place, whose unknown arriving-at- a-stranger's-house customs are probably wildly different from your own. How do you greet them, when you haven't had a chance to ask where they are from?

Allow me to clarify -- If you greet your friend with a hug, what do you do for the company? You have yet to say, "Where are you from," and so are shooting in total darkness.

Interesting barb, Woz, and well-placed...... What if my friend and I kissed on each cheek, and the guest was a Muslim man? Wouldn't that be over-the-top, asking him to kiss some random female? If you demand equal participation on the grounds that you'd do it yourself, you're making an awfully big assumption that signals nothing more than a lack of insight.

Answer 1

A warm smile is always the best way to go. After that the other person's body language will tell you all you need to know.

I'm Greek. A few months ago an American friend of mine residing in Greece brought her sister to my house for a visit. This lady was a little bit overwhelmed by her expectations of encountering a "different cullture" and asked a random Greek person in a store how do Greek people greet each other. She was told "they kiss on both cheeks". As soon as she entered my home she practically fell on me and kissed me on both cheeks. Suffice to say, I was stunned. Kissing is only among good friends and there is no lip-to-cheek contact. Just a slight touching of the cheeks. Some other Greeks might disagree with me though. I've said all this to show that one must not rely solely on other people's advice even if they belong to the same culture. Just see what the other person does first and follow.

Answer 2

I think a smile would be okay for a guest, since I'm assuming you don't know the guest. Regardless of culture, it would be awkward to hug someone you've never met. So it is fine to hug your friend, and smile at the guest, greet them, say your name, and ask questions about where they're from, etc.

Answer 3

Where do you live? In American culture, it is not considered rude to greet people differently, depending on how well you know them. If you greet your friend warmly and a stranger with a "hello", it's normal practice in American culture. It might actually make good dinner conversation later -- "How do people usually greet each other in your culture? Do you like it when Americans do that?" and so forth.

Answer 4

You just need to ask. I have found that you must be as polite as possible when asking. Start of by being very interested in their accent. Say something like, "I really like your accent, where are you from." If they say where they are from then ask them to explain some of their culture to you. Be captivated by what they are saying, this will give you a better understanding of how to greet them. Also if you get a chance welcome them to America, to you state, or to your home. Maybe this helps.

Answer 5

If they're enjoying your hospitality, they should observe your greeting ritual. If you go to their place as their guest, you should observe theirs. it's kind of you to think of them, but you are doing THEM the favor of extending your home and company and food, and they should be grateful for it. You wouldn't go to another country and demand that they observe your rituals/customs/language etc, would you?

Honestly. People have lost all sense of identity and value in their own culture in this country.

Answer 6

I have hosted people from all over the world in my home. From every culture imaginable.
I just say, " Welcome to my home, I am happy to have you here." Later on, when we are all seated around the dining table I ask as many questions as I wish, to learn about them.
Most people are happy to talk about themselves. Don't let the fact that some one is from another country throw you.
People are basically the same , no matter where they are from. Every one wants to be liked, and every one is always flattered when someone else is interested in them and their life.
Talk to them the same as you would anyone else from this country.
Your main duty as a hostess is to make your guests feel welcome and comfortable in your home, no matter if she or he is American or from another country, just be a gracious.

Answer 7

I believe that a very friendly and earnest smile would perfectly do the job in any culture around the world.

Answer 8

Make them wait to greet you.

Answer 9

i would greet them like i do anyone else throw them a beer and tell them to get naked. lol

Answer 10

greet how you greet, then let them explain to you how they greet.