Greetings Etiquette

These are obviously fundamental and critical to making a good first impression in any culture. The handshake accompanied with eye contact and a smile is the most common physical greeting in Côte d'Ivoire. Stories of shaking hands for ten minutes while asking questions about each member of the other person's family are exaggerated unless you're going to a village. Handshakes, on the other hand, are an important ritual not only the first time you meet someone, but every day. Take the time to shake everyone's hands when you arrive at work in the morning.

As you get into slightly friendlier relationships, women-to-women and men-to-women greet with French-style cheek kisses; three alternative pecks, starting by heading right (touching left cheeks). For men, you may arrive at the male-to-male version of this – touching alternately the upper sides of your head, but this is for very close friendships and used infrequently or in more traditional settings.