A few questions for the Lebanese?

I have been assigned your country to research for a college course. I have a few questions and would really appreciate your help. I don't need real long answers or anything. Thanks





2. How do people greet each other –(shake hands, bow, embrace, other)?


3. As a visitor to the country, would you exchange gifts at the first meeting? What gifts are considered appropriate? If flowers, what kind?(Some have special meanings.)


4. How are children educated? At what age do they begin school? Do boys and girls generally go to separate schools, or are they separated by sex in the same school? Do they usually wear uniforms?


5. What is the literacy rate for the country?


6. How is garbage collection dealt with?


7. What is the normal dress for men and women?


8. What foods, if any, are generally not eaten or possibly considered taboo?


9. Are there gestures or movements that would not be acceptable in polite society?

A few questions for the Lebanese?
2. How do people greet each other –(shake hands, bow, embrace, other)?





shake hands, then embrace, then 3 kisses on the cheek ... :)





3. As a visitor to the country, would you exchange gifts at the first meeting? What gifts are considered appropriate? If flowers, what kind?(Some have special meanings.)





i don't get this question but when the Lebanese travel they usually take gifts that are "made in Lebanon" usually some traditional foods or Lebanese sweets, or some antiques or something with the Cedar or Baalbeck Temples on it ...





Chocolate and Sweets is the appropriate gift to take to your hostess when visiting for the first time or invited for lunch or dinner ... some people bring wine or champagne ...








4. How are children educated? At what age do they begin school? Do boys and girls generally go to separate schools, or are they separated by sex in the same school? Do they usually wear uniforms?





school age is about 5-6 but most people send their kids to pre-school or kindergarten at the age of 3 ... there are both public and private schools ... private ones are expensive but the level of education is better although some public schools have achieved very good results lately .. some private schools belong to certain institutions (whether muslim or christian) ... there are no limitations on religion, gender, ethnicity or color ... most schools are mixed but some are for boys only or girls only .. if the school accepts both genders the n there's no separation in the same school ... most schools have uniforms up until the 9th grade or High School ....





5. What is the literacy rate for the country?





i cant answer that .. it depends on the demography ... some areas have more literacy rate than others ... try Google ... but there's a HIGH literacy rate in general (+- 85% )....





6. How is garbage collection dealt with?





most Garbage in Beirut is collected by a special company called "Sukleen" .. in other areas the Municipality is responsible for that ... however the problem lies in treating the wastes as we don't have Re-cycling yet so some is burnt, some is dumped into the sea, ... .etc ...





7. What is the normal dress for men and women?





American - European style ... Lebanon is a leader in the Middle East when it comes to the latest Fashions ... and there're lots of famous designers like Elie Saab, Abed Mahfouz, etc ... some people in the mountains called "Druz" still dress in the Shirwal (traditional black pants) ... in the more rural areas where nomads live, the Arabic traditional dress is worn by men and women (it has no identity, just like its wearer ... those nomad Arabs come and go from different areas around Lebanon and usually live in tents and move around) ....





8. What foods, if any, are generally not eaten or possibly considered taboo?





ummm ... Muslims don't eat pork ...


but other than that everything else is okay !!!...





9. Are there gestures or movements that would not be acceptable in polite society?





well of course, belching, farting, impolite hand movements are all frowned upon ...
Reply:2- shake hands %26amp; Kiss %26amp; sometimes hug .





3- I dont get this one!!





4- ya , children are eduacated, I think starting from 4 years old , I think both boys %26amp; girls go to the same school , and I think not separated except of some schools,





5- Literacy rate , Abt 86%





6- By garbage company as I can remember.





7- Normal dress like europe for example , (some religions have their own dress , like Druz) .





8- Pig/Pork meat for Muslims only .





9- I don't know.





I hope my answer will help u , wish u the best , take care.
Reply:The above gave you accurate information, here's a little more info:





1- where is Q1?


2- Shake hand and embrace.


the only think worth noting is that it is normal for men when greeting to embrace and kiss in our culture while in the western world it is not.


3- exchanging gifts is a personal thing and depends on the relationship. flower giving and type of flowers are very similar to the rest of the world.


4- School starts at 3 years ( 2 years of Kindergarten) most school are mixed, there are government, private and religious based schools. most have uniforms, especially the younger classes.


5- Education is unfortunately not compulsory and some parents remove their kids from school very very young.


6 - Garbage is collected by garbage collectors and garbage trucks.


7- Dress varies a lot, most follow western fashion while others opt for more modest. especially in the moslem communities some wear head gear for religious purposes.


8- Nothing in Christian families, Islam forbids the contumption of pork meat and alcohol and requires other meats be slaughtered in a certain way ( halal)


9- yes, there are rude gesture and socially unacceptable things to do in public.
Reply:where's 1. ?





I agree with Angelo and Reiko