Visiting Etiquette
In Somali culture, hospitality plays a major role. Being a horrible host or providing a poor welcome is embarrassing. People treat visitors with the utmost respect and feel obligated to extend whatever hospitality they can. A family must at least offer water to a visitor even if they have no food to offer.
Refreshments, usually tea, are always made available to guests. Accepting any drink that is offered as a sign of friendship is crucial. Even if you aren't actually thirsty, refusing a drink can come across as very disrespectful and lead to misunderstandings about the friendship. Close friends, family, and neighbors may routinely pay one another impromptu visits. Having to set up a time to meet could be a challenge for a Somali.
Building and healing relationships among friends and family members depend greatly on social visiting and entertaining. A prolonged absence from someone is viewed as a symptom of the relationship's insignificance. Another reason people could decide not to see someone is to subtly express their anger or offence over what the individual did.
Remember that a Somali person's house serves as their own place of worship. As a result, it's critical to maintain cleanliness and respect. Unless otherwise instructed, take off your shoes before entering a home. In Somalia, dogs are viewed as dirty and are typically not permitted in areas where people pray (i.e. homes). As a result, having them as pets is uncommon in Somalia and people hardly ever bring them inside their homes. If you have a pet dog, let your Somali counterpart know in advance.
Do not ask them to take a seat in the spot where your dog was just taking a break. For instance, telling your dog to leave the couch and then suggesting another person sit in its place would be considered impolite. Frequently, a complete family will tour a home all at once. Typically, men and women will talk to one other privately while children play in an area apart from the adults.
Women occasionally pay one another home-lone visits. Women occasionally pay one another home-lone visits. Men frequently visit tea cafes when they want to socialize.
Many homes in Somalia have separate living areas for each gender where people can socialize.
Hours can pass during visits. Sometimes, neighbors and other visitors would stop by sporadically to join the conversation. Be prepared for lengthy farewells as individuals say goodbye to one another personally and the host ushers you outside. Sometimes a chat can last a few minutes outside the guest's car.
