1c
From Ibc
Notions of personal space in Lithuania / Portugal.
People who are from different cultures may not understand how to talk to other people, how to act in the right way, or how to understand other people's feelings or actions.
Lithuanians prefer to keep distance during a business meeting. It is normal to keep about 0,5 m distance standing in front of each other, sitting or walking. Looking each other into the eyes is necessary, but not too long, as it could look suspiciuos to others. The greeting in Lithuania is not as warm as in Portugal. A handshake is perfectly appropriate and acceptable, and people tend to meet others with a seriuos face.
Touching unknown persons shoulders, hands or something can be sustained as abuse or impolite, suspiciuos actions. People shouldn`t touch other persons'' things without asking or permission, because every person has his/her own individuality and don`t want that anyone interference in their life.
The working space in the companies are getting modernized, it is getting usual to work all employees in a wide, one space with all conveniences. After all Lithuanians are still working in small, not spaciuos cabinet, with their individual space to work.
In Portugal, people touch each other very much, but when they are in a business meeting they always use a handshake to meet the other person. Sometimes people meet someone with a kiss, normaly when it is between two women.
In Portugal people do not avoid keeping close distance during the verbal communication. People do not lose the eye-to - eye contact during the conversation. Even in metro station during peak hours, when everybody comes from their work, sometimes it is possible and common to catch unknown person looking straight at eyes.
Portuguese people use not so much space as Lithuanians. If we take a glance in the streets and parking places in Lisbon there are a lot of traffic in the center, but people use the space usefully – car by car is parked almost without any space between them.
In Lithuanian companies person would prefer to have his/her own individual cabinet and enough space in his/her workplace, but nowadays the workplace is becoming narrower.
