A topic that our students really like is the strange habits of the Portuguese. Students who study offline can observe them firsthand and check our further statements. Students who study online do not have the opportunity to observe the behavior of the Portuguese every day. Therefore, although the topic is entertaining, it is useful when you are building relationships in Portuguese society.
Do not take off your shoes at home
In many northern and Asian countries, there is a habit and even a tradition of taking off your shoes. In the Nordic countries, this is due to the climate. Rain and snow form mud on the streets. Nobody wants this dirt to end up on the floor in the house. In Asian countries, shoes are removed for release reasons. For example, in Sri Lanka you need to take off your shoes even in a cafe.
In Portugal, there is more freedom in this regard. In their own home, the Portuguese may wear their street shoes. And if they take it off, then this is not necessarily a matter of hygiene and cleanliness, but often personal comfort for the feet. If you come to visit a Portuguese person and he does not take off his shoes, you can safely leave yours on. If he takes off himself, it would be logical for the guest to take off his shoes too. However, the situation would be completely strange if the Portuguese himself did not take off his shoes at home and ask you to take off your shoes. If this happens, think about how well you know the person and whether it is dangerous to be on their territory. Of course it’s a joke!
Meal Hours
There are certain hours for lunch and dinner in Portugal. This means that it can be difficult to eat outside of this time. Of course, cafes and restaurants are open, but the number of available dishes from the menu may be limited.
When you come to a restaurant on the second half of lunch period, perhaps all tables are already occupied. In most of restaurants, even smaller ones, is also possible to reserve a table by phone. This is annoying for those clients who see empty table, but still cannot seat there because they are reserved. Especially frustrating for those who work and their lunch hours are not limited by the schedule.
Dinners can be a worse story, especially in tourist areas. If you arrive a little earlier than dinner time, then cafes and restaurants can simply be closed, and if you are late for 30 minutes, then all the tables will already be occupied. Since tourists are not in a hurry in the evenings, the chance that they will vacate a table before the restaurant closes is reduced to zero. In order not to go hungry, book a table in advance for dinner at popular establishments.
Most often, the Portuguese live according to a certain routine in terms of food. Perhaps over the years, habits practiced have become a kind of biological rhythm. And it doesn’t matter at all what would be much more convenient to eat in a cafe when there are no crowds of people. But, alas, it is almost impossible.
Transfer ticket
Not all foreigners notice this feature of the Portuguese mentality. Perhaps because it is not possible to be in such a situation. Sometimes at the bank, for example, you need to get a ticket with a number in line. If you have to wait a long time and some person from the queue decides to leave, he does not throw away his ticket, but leaves it somewhere in a conspicuous place so that a new visitor can take it, and not take the queue on his own, or simply give the ticket to the one who is standing last. On the one hand, this seems humane, because someone is lucky not to spend in line for an hour, but to get the service in a few minutes.
On the other hand, this is unfair to those who have been in line for a long time and could wait less if the person who left did not transfer his place in line to someone who does not deserve it.
You can relate to this habit of the Portuguese in different ways, but the fact remains.
Do not answer
In the Portuguese mentality, it is perfectly normal not to answer a call, text or email right away. But that’s okay, a person can be busy. What is sometimes more annoying is that the Portuguese may not call back and never answer. This does not mean at all that you are not important to them or that they do not respect you. No need to take it personally and be offended. Write and call again and again, do not be shy!
The same goes for working hours. If you order some services, wait for a delivery, or arrange a business meeting, be prepared not to be disappointed if all this does not happen the first time, but drags on for some time. Sometimes, foreigners get the impression that the Portuguese are slow and do not like to work precisely for these reasons.
Call “doutor”
Previously, the profession of a doctor was very respected. There were no engineers, designers, lawyers, but doctors were among the first to appear. “Doctor!” sounded very proud. With the development of society and education, a lot of professions have appeared. Instead of a name in Portugal, you can address a person as ” engenheira”, for example. But how to find out in advance what profession a person has in order to contact him? But no way! Now in Portugal, everyone can be called “doutor”.
Stop at the roundabout
What infuriates not only foreign drivers, but also some Portuguese, is when locals stop or park right on the roundabout. Anyone who drives in or leaves the rotunda is forced to go around these obstacles. What drives these people is unknown. It is much more convenient to stop on a straight stretch for all road users, but some Portuguese people have such a strange and illogical habit.
This may not be related in any way, but it is important to be prepared for this. We all have our personal oddities!
Conclusion
It is quite difficult to notice these features when you yourself are Portuguese. Our foreign students pay attention to a lot. They tell us about it, we analyze it and make it into an article. Who knows, maybe you, having come to our classes, will become the ideological inspirer for the next article!