BMS312 Global Outreach Research: People Groups & Countries: Data and Databases

     Travel Facts   |   Country Summary

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  Travel Facts  |   Country Summary

COUNTRY FAUX PAS

DO: Shake hands with your right hand only. To pass things politely, touch your left hand to your right elbow and pass the object with your right hand. Dress conservatively by covering your knees, shoulders, stomach, back, and cleavage. Remove your hat and/or shoes when entering someone's home. When you meet someone, it is polite to remove your hat, bow slightly, and put your hands together in a 'prayer' position. This is particularly important when you meet monks and elders. If you're not sure how to greet someone, it's usually good to simply respond with the greeting you're given. People are usually addressed with the title "lok" for men and "lok srey" for women, followed by the first name or both the first and last name. Understand that haggling is commonplace in Cambodia, but if there's a display sign with a price on it that means the price is probably fixed. Direct eye contact should be made with people when talking to them, but only if they are your social equal. If not, you should avoid eye contact. Aside from monks, elders are given the highest level of respect in Cambodia. Always acknowledge an elder's status by allowing them to control the conversation, walk first, begin eating first, and take the lead. Before eating, wait to be told where to sit at the table. When sitting on the floor, women typically tuck their legs to the side and behind them while men sit cross-legged. You should not stretch out your feet and legs in front of others.

DON'T: Wrap a gift in white paper as white is associated with death and some consider it to be an unlucky color.  Display the soles of the feet or touch somebody with your shoes. Don't shake someone's hand with your left hand or pass food at the table with your left hand. (The left hand is usually used for cleaning yourself after using the toilet.) Don't touch anyone's head, as the head is seen as sacred. Don't step over someone who is sitting or lying down. Don't point with your index finger (it's considered rude). Instead, gesture with your right palm with all the fingers straight. No public displays of affection, although hand-holding is okay. Displays of affection, such as hugging or even hand-holding, between people of the same gender are acceptable, as they are seen as a sign of friendship. Generally, tips are not expected in restaurants or taxis, although if they're working in the tourist industry they might expect tips. Avoid criticizing or embarrassing people in public, as this may cause them to "lose face," which is seen as extremely important in their culture. Face can be given by paying someone compliments publicly. Don't begin eating until your host has taken a bite first, and wait until the eldest person has taken a bite. When seated, you should never attempt to sit higher than the eldest person in the room. When posing for a photograph, a younger person should not place their hand on an elder's shoulder. Don't bring up subjects such as war, politics, violence, or the Khmer Rouge*. Cambodia has a hard history, and many of the people might be sensitive about it. In the same vein, avoid wearing T-shirts and clothing that depict war or violence. Don't demean their culture or outdated infrastructure by cracking jokes about them. Don't equate Cambodia with other nearby countries.

*The Khmer Rouge was the name popularly given to the followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea and by extension to the regime through which the CPK ruled in Cambodia between 1975 and 1979. The name had originally been used in the 1950's by Norodom Sihanouk as a blanket term for the Cambodian left. Wikipedia

COUNTRY FACTS

Country Name: Kingdom of Cambodia; Kampuchea

Etymology:  The English name Cambodia is an anglicization of the French Cambodge, which is the French transliteration of the native name Kampuchea.

Capital: Phnom Penh

Nationality:  Cambodian(s)

Government Type: Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy

Chief of State: King Norodom Sihamoni (since Oct. 29, 2004)

Head of Government: Prime Minister Hun Sen (since Jan. 14, 1985)

Ethnic Groups:  Khmer 95.4%; Cham 2.4%; Chinese 1.5%; Other o.7% (2019-20 est.)

Languages: Khmer (official) 96.3%; other 3.7%

Religions: Buddhist (official) 97.1%; Muslin 2%; Christian o.3%; other 0.5% (2019 est.)

Major Infectious Diseases:

Degree of risk: very high

Food & Water-borne: Bacterial Diarrhea, Hepatitis A, and Typhoid Fever

Vector-borne: Dengue Fever, Japanese Encephalitis, Malaria

Time Difference: UTC +7 (15 hours ahead of Los Angeles, during Standard Time)

Telephone Country Code: 855

Internet Country Code: .kh

Climate:  Tropical; Rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season (December to April);  little seasonal temperature variation.

Source: CIA World Factbook

Last updated January 2023.

Travel Facts   |   Country Summary

Did You Know?

• Canada borders three oceans: the Atlantic, to the east; the Pacific, to the west; and the Arctic, to the north.
• An overwhelming majority of Canada's population lives within 100 miles (161 kilometers) of the U.S. border.
• In February 2013, the Canadian government stopped making and distributing pennies.
• Canada stretches across six time zones.

Source: CultureGrams, ProQuest.

DOS and TABOOS

DO: Always be polite. Remove your shoes when entering someone's household.
DON'T: Pay with pennies (round up to the nearest nickel)—minting halted in 2013.  Pointing at someone with the index finger is considered rude; using the entire hand to motion to someone is considered more polite.  The "thumbs down" gesture used in the U.S. to indicate "no" is offensive in Quebec.

COUNTRY FACTS

Country Name:  Canada

Etymology: the country name likely derives from the St. Lawrence Iroquoian word "kanata" meaning village or settlement

Capital:  Ottawa

Government Type:  federal parliamentary democracy (Parliament of Canada) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm; federal and state authorities and responsibilities regulated in constitution

Chief of State:  King Charles III (since 8 September 2002); represented by Governor General Mary Simon (since 6 July 2021)

Head of Government:  Prime Minister Justin Pierre James TRUDEAU (Liberal Party) (since 4 November 2015)

Ethnic Groups: Canadian 32.3%, English 18.3%, Scottish 13.9%, French 13.6%, Irish 13.4%, German 9.6%, Chinese 5.1%, Italian 4.6%, North American Indian 4.4%, East Indian 4%, other 51.6% (2016 est.)

Languages:  English (official) 58.7%, French (official) 22%, Punjabi 1.4%, Italian 1.3%, Spanish 1.3%, German 1.3%, Cantonese 1.2%, Tagalog 1.2%, Arabic 1.1%, other 10.5% (2011 est.)

Religions:  Catholic 39% (includes Roman Catholic 38.8%, other Catholic .2%), Protestant 20.3% (includes United Church 6.1%, Anglican 5%, Baptist 1.9%, Lutheran 1.5%, Pentecostal 1.5%, Presbyterian 1.4%, other Protestant 2.9%), Orthodox 1.6%, other Christian 6.3%, Muslim 3.2%, Hindu 1.5%, Sikh 1.4%, Buddhist 1.1%, Jewish 1%, other 0.6%, none 23.9% (2011 est.)

Time Difference:  UTC-5 (Ottawa is 3 hours ahead of Los Angeles)

Telephone Country Code:  1

Internet Country Code:  .ca

Climate: varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north

Source: CIA World Factbook

Last updated January 2023.

Travel Facts   |   Country Summary

COUNTRY FAUX PAS

DO: Make sure that you greet everyone at a social/family gathering. Any kind of large gathering of friends or family should be started by greeting every person present (oldest first if possible), and making sure to say goodbye upon leaving. This rule is more relaxed in a group of young people. When meeting a person, make sure to refer to them by ‘senor’ or ‘senorita’ along with their surname. Usually, only family members or close loved ones refer to each other by their first names. It is customary, and even expected, for you to arrive about 30-45 minutes late to events. All food should be eaten with utensils, even if the food's normally considered to be a finger food, including fruit. It's considered good manners to leave a small amount of food on your plate after you've finished eating (it means that you are full; if you clean your plate, people will assume you want more).

DON'T: Give someone the O.K. sign. It's the equivalent of giving someone the middle finger. Don't yawn in public, as it's considered rude. Fidgeting with your hands or feet, or pointing at people is considered impolite. Ecuadorians may point by puckering or pursing their lips. If you're trying to call someone over, curling your index finger toward yourself or flapping your hand toward yourself palm up is seen as seductive. If you're trying to demonstrate the height of a person, hold your hand sideways with your pinkie finger facing the ground; where the pinkie finger falls is the height that you are indicating. If you demonstrate a person's height with your palm down it means that you're showing the height of an animal.

COUNTRY FACTS

Country Name:  Republic of Ecuador; Republica del Ecuador. 

Etymology:  The country's position on the globe, straddling the equator, accounts for its Spanish name.

Note:  Includes Galapagos Islands

Capital: Quito

Nationality: Ecuadorian(s)

Government Type:  Presidential Republic

Chief of State:  President Guillermo Lasso Mendoza (since May 24, 2021)

Head of Government: President Guillermo Lasso Mendoza (president is both chief of state and head of government).

Ethnic Groups: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 71.9%, Montubio 7.4%, Amerindian 7%, White 6.1%, Afroecuadorian 4.3%, Mulatto 1.9%, Black 1%, other 0.4% (2010 est.)

Languages:  Spanish (Castilian) 93% (official), Quechua 4.1%, other indigenous 0.7%, foreign 2.2%.  Note: (Quechua and Shuar are official languages of intercultural relations; other indigenous languages are in official use by indigenous peoples in the areas they inhabit) (2010 est.)

Religions:  Roman Catholic 68.8%, Evangelical 15.4%, Adventist 1.2%, Jehovah's Witness 1%, other 1.3%, agnostic or atheist 1.4%, none 10.1%, don't know/no response 1% (2020 est.)

Major Infectious Diseases: 

degree of risk: high

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria

note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)

Time Difference:  UTC-5 (3 hours ahead of Los Angeles during Standard Time);  Ecuador has two time zones, including the Galapagos Islands (UTC-6)

Telephone Country Code:  593

Internet Country Code:  .ec

Climate:  Tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands.

Source: CIA World Factbook

Last updated January 2023.

Travel Facts   |   Country Summary

COUNTRY FAUX PAX

DO: Always use please, thank you, and sorry, as manners are highly valued. Do your best to be discreet; drawing attention to yourself or being loud is seen as rude. Be very polite while "queuing" (waiting in line); be patient, don't complain about the length of the line, and absolutely don't cut. Tip a lower amount for waiters and waitresses than you would in the U.S. Tipping too much can look like you're showing off. Understand that pubs are not the same as bars, and are really more like social gathering places than a place to drink.

DON'T: Give someone the "V sign" with the palm facing toward yourself. This is the equivalent of giving someone the middle finger. However, if you do the sign with the palm facing outward it's perfectly acceptable, and is interpreted the same way as our "victory" sign. When you haven't heard someone correctly, don't say "what?" when you've misunderstood, as it's considered rude. Instead, say "excuse me," "sorry," or "beg your pardon." Don't try to make small talk with a stranger on the subway, and don't stand on the left side of an escalator, as that side is intended for walking. Don't attempt to mimic a British accent. Don't be afraid to jaywalk, as it is legal in England, and it's quite common.

COUNTRY FACTS

Country Name:  United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; United Kingdom; UK

Etymology:  self-descriptive country name; the designation "Great Britain," in the sense of "Larger Britain," dates back to medieval times and was used to distinguish the island from "Little Britain," or Brittany in modern France; the name Ireland derives from the Gaelic "Eriu," the matron goddess of Ireland (goddess of the land)

Note: Includes Rockall and Shetland Islands; the island of Great Britain includes England, Scotland, and Wales

Capital:  London

Nationality:  Briton(s); British

Government Type:  Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Chief of State:  King Charles III (since 8, Sept. 2022); Heir Apparent Prince William

Head of Government:  Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (Conservative; since 25,October 2022)

Ethnic Groups:  White 87.2%, Black/African/Caribbean/black British 3%, Asian/Asian British: Indian 2.3%, Pakistani 1.9%, mixed 2%, other 3.7% (2011 est.)

Languages:  English

Note: the following are recognized regional languages: Scots (about 30% of the population of Scotland), Scottish Gaelic (about 60,000 in Scotland), Welsh (about 20% of the population of Wales), Irish (about 10% of the population of Northern Ireland), Cornish (some 2,000 to 3,000 people in Cornwall) (2012 est.)

Religions:  Christian (includes Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist) 59.5%, Muslim 4.4%, Hindu 1.3%, other 2%, unspecified 7.2%, none 25.7% (2011 est.)

Major Infectious Diseases: NA

Time Difference:  UTC 0 (8 hours ahead of Los Angeles during Standard Time)

Telephone Country Code:  44

Internet Country Code:  .uk

Climate:  Temperate; Moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast

Source: CIA World Factbook

Last updated January 2023.

Travel Facts   |   Country Summary

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Did You Know?

• "I love you" in Georgian is Me shen mig'varkhar.
• A common Georgian saying goes Vardi ueklod vis moukrepavs (Who has ever plucked a rose without spikes.)
• Walnuts are used extensivley in Gorgian cuisine.
• Georgian' alphabet is on the world's most ancient surviving alphabets.
• Both birthdays and name days (a personal holiday that commemorates the saint after whom a person is name) are celebrated.

Source: "Georgia." Culture Grams Online Edition, ProQuest, 2020.

COUNTRY DOS AND TABOOS

Sloppy or careless dress is considered improper, even in casual situations. Jeans are popular among all segments of society.

People sometimes express appreciation for something by raising a "thumbs up."

Chewing gum in public, especially when talking, is impolite.

Legs may be crossed at the knee, but feet never touch the furniture.

People usually stand when an elderly person enters a room.

Guests bring gifts on special occasions, but flowers or sweets are a common and welcomed gesture at any time. Bringing presents for the children is always appreciated.

Guests might not ask for seconds and can decline offers of such without insulting the hosts. However, guests are expected to eat everything on their plates and compliment the hosts on the food.

COUNTRY FACTS

Country Name: Georgia

Formerly: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic

Etymology: The Western name may derive from the Persian designation "gurgan" meaning "Land of the Wolves"; the native name "Sak'art'velo" means "Land of the Kartvelians" and refers to the core central Georgian region of Kartli.

Capital: Tbilisi

Nationality: Georgian(s)

Government Type: Semi-Presidential Republic

Chief of State: President Salome Zourabichvili (since December 16, 2018)

Head of Government: Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili (since February 22, 2021).

Ethnic Groups: Georgian 86.8%, Azeri 6.3%, Armenian 4.5%, other 2.3% (includes Russian, Ossetian, Yazidi, Ukrainian, Kist, Greek) (2014 est.)

Languages: Georgian (official) 87.6%, Azeri 6.2%, Armenian 3.(%, Russian 1.2%, other 1%; note - Abkhaz is the official language in Abkhazia (2014 est.)

Religions: Orthodox (official) 83.4%, Muslim 10.7%, Armenian Apostolic 2.9%, other 1.2% (includes Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Yazidi, Protestant, Jewish), none 0.5%, unspecified/no answer 1.2% (2014 est.)

Major Infectious Diseases: 

Time Difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Telephone Country Code: 995

Internet Country Code: .ge

Climate: Warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast.

Source: CIA World Factbook

Last updated February 2023.

Travel Facts   |   Country Summary 

Did You Know?

• The first Olympics were held in Olympía (Olympia) in 776 BC.
• Ochi Day commemorates the day in 1940 that the Greeks said ochi (no) to the Axis Powers and entered World War II on the side of the Allies.
• Mount Olympus is the highest point in the country, at an elevation of 9,570 feet (2,917 meters).
• Athens (Athína) is the oldest European capital city. According to tradition, the city is named after Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom; in actuality, the appellation probably derives from a lost name in a pre-Hellenic language.

COUNTRY FACTS

Country Name: Greece (Hellenic Republic)

Etymology: The English name derives from the Roman (Latin) name Graecia (Greek: Γραικία), meaning 'the land of the Greeks', the Greeks call their country "Hellas" or "Ellada".

Capital: Athens

Nationality: Greek

Government Type: Parliamentary Republic

Chief of State: President Ekaterini Sakellaropoulou (since March 13, 2020)

Head of Government: Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (since July 8, 2019

Ethnic Groups: Greek 91.6%, Albanian 4.4%, other 4% (2011 est.)

Languages: Greek (official) 99%, other (includes English and French) 1%

Religions: Greek Orthodox 81-90%, Muslim 2%, other 3%, none 4-15%, unspecified 1% (2015 est.)

Major Infectious Diseases: NA

Time Difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Telephone Country Code: 30

Internet Country Code: .gr

Climate: Temperate: mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers

Source: CIA World Factbook

Last updated January 2023.

Travel Facts   |   Country Summary

Did You Know?

• The Olancho Forest Reserve, a pine forest preserve in northeastern Honduras, is about the size of the U.S. state of Connecticut.
• The great Maya Empire flourished in what is now Honduras until about AD 800.
• Touching the finger below the eye indicates caution.
• The Honduran currency, the lempira, is named after the native chief Lempira, who fought against Spanish conquerors.

Source: CultureGrams, ProQuest

DOS & TABOOS

Do: A handshake is an appropriate greeting for men. Urban women are usually greeted with a kiss on the cheek, except in business settings, where a handshake may suffice. Rural women greet one another by placing one hand on the upper arm of the other woman.  Waving the index finger to say “no.” Clasping both hands indicates strong approval. Touching the finger below the eye warns caution, and a hand placed under an elbow usually means someone is thought to be stingy. People commonly point with their lips or chin because  Beckon by waving the hand with the palm facing down. Snap your fingers to express enthusiasm or hurry.  When dining keep both hands (but not elbows) above the table. At finer restaurants, a 10 to 15 percent tip is appropriate; tips are not necessarily expected at less formal restaurants. One usually says Buen provecho (Enjoy your meal) at the table before a meal. A person approaching or passing a table in a restaurant may also say Buen provecho to the people at the table.

Don't:  Pointing or beckoning with the index finger is rude.

COUNTRY FACTS

Country Name:  Republic of Honduras

Etymology: the name means "depths" in Spanish and refers to the deep anchorage in the northern Bay of Trujillo

Capital:  Tegucigalpa; note - article eight of the Honduran constitution states that the twin cities of Tegucigalpa and Comayaguela, jointly, constitute the capital of the Republic of Honduras; however, virtually all governmental institutions are on the Tegucigalpa side, which in practical terms makes Tegucigalpa the capital

Nationality: Honduran(s)

Government Type:  presidential republic

Chief of State:  President Iris Xiomara Castro de Zelaya (since 27 January 2022)

Head of Government:  President Iris Xiomara Castro de Zelaya (since 27 January 2022)

Ethnic Groups: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%, Amerindian 7%, African descent 2%, White 1%

Languages:  Spanish (official), Amerindian dialects

Religions:  Evangelical/Protestant 48%, Roman Catholic 34%, other 1%, none 17% (2020 est.)

Major Infectious Diseases:

Degree of risk:  high (2020)

Food & Water-borne:  bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

Vector-borne:  dengue fever and malaria

Time Difference:  UTC-6 (Honduras is 1 hour ahead of Los Angeles)

Telephone Country Code:  504

Internet Country Code:  .hn

Climate: subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains

Source: CIA World Factbook

Last updated January 2023.

Travel Facts   |   Country Summary

COUNTRY FAUX PAS

DO: Remove your shoes and hats when entering someone's household or a temple. Greet family elders at a gathering and address them with salutations. When addressing an elder or a stranger, use the formal version of the pronoun, "AAP" (formal you), rather than the informal "TUM" or "TOO" (you). When greeting someone, place your palms together and say "Namaste." Always accept hospitality; eat whatever has been offered to you, and when the host insists on a second helping say yes, otherwise they assume you do not like the food. Take photographs of people or objects only after receiving permission. Women should always dress with their shoulders and legs covered; pants are okay, but not shorts, unless they cover the knee. Refrain from wearing extremely figure-hugging or skin-baring clothes. Men should always wear a shirt in public and avoid shorts away from beach areas.

DON'T: Eat or shake hands with the left hand, and don't give or receive anything with the left hand. Typically, the left hand is used for cleaning yourself after using the restroom. Never point with your index finger. Instead, motion with your chin or extend your hand, palm flat and skyward, at the object you're referencing. The feet are considered unclean, therefore: Don't display the soles of the feet or touch somebody with your shoes. If you accidentally touch someone with your feet, apologize immediately and touch your heart, then your forehead with your right hand. Don't step over a person sitting or lying on the floor, and don't put your feet on tables and chairs. No public displays of affection. Traditionally, women don't touch men in India when meeting and greeting them. It's okay for people of the same gender to hug socially, but not if you're the opposite gender. Don't call an "elder" or a "stranger member of the opposite sex" with just his name. While using public transport, be mindful of offering your seat to elderly people or those traveling with young children. Don't be surprised or offended if someone asks you how much you earn for a living and a host of other intimate questions, all upon first meeting. What's more, you should feel free to ask these type of questions in return. When eating or drinking you should not let your lips touch other people's food, and when drinking out of a cup or bottle to be shared with others, don't let it touch your lips, but rather pour it directly into your mouth.

COUNTRY FACTS

Country Name:  Republic of India; Bharatiya Ganarajya; Bharat

Etymology:  The English name derives from the Indus River; the Indian name "Bharat" may derive from the "Bharatas" tribe mentioned in the Vedas of the second millennium B.C.; the name is also associated with Emperor Bharata, the legendary conqueror of all of India

Capital:  New Delhi

Nationality:  Indian(s)

Government Type:  Federal Parliamentary Republic

Chief of State:  President Droupadi Murmu (since 25 July 2022)

Head of Government:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi (since 26 May 2014)

Ethnic Groups:  Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and other 3% (2000)

Languages:  Hindi 43.6%, Bengali 8%, Marathi 6.9%, Telugu 6.7%, Tamil 5.7%, Gujarati 4.6%, Urdu 4.2%, Kannada 3.6%, Odia 3.1%, Malayalam 2.9%, Punjabi 2.7%, Assamese 1.3%, Maithili 1.1%, other 5.6%

Note: English enjoys the status of subsidiary official language but is the most important language for national, political, and commercial communication; there are 22 officially recognized languages: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu; Hindustani is a popular variant of Hindi/Urdu spoken widely throughout northern India but is not an official language (2011 est.)

Religions:  Hindu 79.8%, Muslim 14.2%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.7%, other and unspecified 2% (2011 est.)

Major Infectious Diseases:

Degree of risk: very high

Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever

Vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, and malaria

Water contact disease: leptospirosis

Animal contact disease: rabies (2016)

Time Difference:  UTC+5 (13.5 hour ahead of Los Angeles during Standard Time)

Telephone Country Code:  91

Internet Country Code:  .in

Climate:  Varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north

Source: CIA World Factbook

Last updated January 2023.

Travel Facts   |   Country Summary

Did You Know?

• Madagascar is the world's fourth-largest island.
• The majority of the species of plants and animals found on the island cannot be seen anywhere else in the world.
• Malagasy, an official language of Madagascar, is a unique mixture of Indonesian, African languages, Arabic, and some Malaysian.
• Every four to seven years, families participate in a turning of the bones ritual (famadhiana), in which they dig up the bones of relatives who have been buried since the last famadhiana and wrap them in new shrouds or grass mats before returning them to their burial place.
• Throughout the country, people eat with utensils, but some coastal groups eat with the right hand or using folded banana leaves as scoops.

Source: CultureGrams, ProQuest

DOS & TABOOS

Fadys (taboos) vary by village and are taken seriously; they govern such things as which foods to avoid and which days are inappropriate for certain kinds of work.

DOS:  Point with a bent index finger or with the lips.  Beckon with an outward facing palm.  When passing in front of or between people, offer apologies and/or bend slightly as if asking permission.  Eat what is served.

DON'TS:  Step over a floor mat used for eating; It is rude to beckon with an upward-facing palm, a gesture used to call dogs. Don't drop by at mealtimes.

COUNTRY FACTS

Country Name:  Republic of Madagascar; formerly: Malagasy Republic

Etymology: the name "Madageiscar" was first used by the 13th-century Venetian explorer Marco POLO, as a corrupted transliteration of Mogadishu, the Somali port with which POLO confused the island.

Capital:  Antananarivo

Nationality:  Malagasy (singular and plural)

Government Type:  semi-presidential republic

Chief of State:  President Andry Rajoelina (since 21 January 2019) (2019)

Head of Government:  Prime Minister Christian Ntsay (since 6 June 2018 and re-appointed 19 July 2019)

Ethnic Groups: Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran

Languages:  French (official) 23.6%, Malagasy (official) 99.9%, English 8.2%, other 0.6% (2018 est.)

Religions:  Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar/Malagasy Lutheran Church/Anglican Church 34%, Roman Catholic 32.3%, other Christian 8.1%, traditional/Animist 1.7%, Muslim 1.4%, other 0.6%, none 21.9% (2021 est.).  Superstitions are widespread and vary by region, ethnic group, village, and family. Most Malagasy believe in vintana (destiny), which brings good or bad luck based on the time and date of a person's birth.

Major Infectious Diseases:

Degree of risk:  very high (2020)

Food & Water-borne:  bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

Vector-borne:  malaria and dengue fever

Water contact diseases: schistosomiasis

Animal contact diseases: rabies

Time Difference:  UTC+3 (Madagascar is 10 hours ahead of Los Angeles)

Telephone Country Code:  261

Internet Country Code:  .mg

Climate:  tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south

Source: CIA World Factbook

Last updated January 2023.

Travel Facts   |   Country Summary

COUNTRY FAUX PAS

DO: Understand that a casual "yes" in the Philippines is not meant to be taken as binding. Oftentimes they will say yes when the answer is actually no, just to be polite. Be prepared to be asked personal questions by strangers; this is not considered rude and is quite common. Show up a little late to social gatherings; it's rude if you're on time. If there are shoes beside the door of someone's house, remove your shoes before entering. It's customary to greet people with a smile and a handshake, but it's good if you greet the eldest or most important person first. Don't accept an invitation for anything unless it's offered a few times, as the first offer might not be sincere. Wait to be told where to sit at the table, and don't start eating until the host invites you to do so. Keep your hands above the table during dinner. Accept any refreshments offered, as refusing them is considered impolite. To indicate two of something, raise your ring and pinkie fingers.

DON'T: Refer to your host's wife as the hostess, as this has a different meaning in the Philippines. Do not lean on your arms when at the dinner table, as this is rude. Don't stand with your hands on your hips, because this means that you are angry. Never curl your index finger back and forth to beckon. This is an insult. Instead, to beckon, extend your arm, palm down, and move your fingers in a scratching motion. Do not tap someone on the shoulder to attract their attention, instead, tap them lightly on the elbow. Be careful not to insult anyone in public, as verbal assault is actually a crime for which you can be charged.

COUNTRY FACTS

Country Name:  Republic of the Philippines; Republika ng Pilipinas; Philippines; Pilipinas

Etymology:  Named in honor of King Phillip II of Spain by Spanish explorer Ruy Lopez de Villalobos, who visited some of the islands in 1543.

Capital:  Manila

Nationality:  Filipino(s)

Government Type:  Presidential Republic

Chief of State:  President Ferdinand "BongBong" Marcos, Jr. (since 30 June 2022)

Head of Government:  President Ferdinand "BongBong" Marcos, Jr. (since 30 June 2022) (the president is both chief of state and head of government)

Ethnic Groups:  Tagalog 24.4%, Bisaya/Binisaya 11.4%, Cebuano 9.9%, Ilocano 8.8%, Hiligaynon/Ilonggo 8.4%, Bikol/Bicol 6.8%, Waray 4%, other local ethnicity 26.1%, other foreign ethnicity 0.1% (2010 est.)

Languages:  unspecified Filipino (official; based on Tagalog) and English (official); eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan

Religions:  Roman Catholic79.5%, Muslim 6%, Iglesia ni Cristo 2.6%, Evangelical 2.4%, National Council of Churches in the Philippines 1.1%,  other 7.4%, none <0.1% (2015 est.)

Major Infectious Diseases:

Degree of risk: high

Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

Vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria

Water contact disease: leptospirosis (2016)

Time Difference:  UTC +8 (16 hours ahead of Los Angeles during Standard Time)

Telephone Country Code:  63

Internet Country Code:  .ph

Climate:  Tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)

Source: CIA World Factbook

Last updated January 2023.

Travel Facts   |   Country Summary

Did You Know?

• It is believed that Togo was named after the small 15th-century lakeside village of Togodo. In the Ewe language, to means “waters” and godo means “other side.”
• Except among young urban couples, women rarely eat with their husbands.
• For recreation, most Togolese look forward to market day. They can dress up, socialize, and enjoy a festive environment as they shop for needed items or food.
• A zemidjan (motorcycle with no sidecar) is a common form of local taxi.
• Polygamy is legal and widespread, though it is less common among educated and urban women. A hierarchy exists within polygamous families: the first wife is generally given the most respect, while the last wife is at the bottom of the hierarchy.

Source: CultureGrams, ProQuest

DOS & TABOOS

Do:  Men greet one another with a hand shake, which often includes snapping their thumbs and middle fingers to make a light sound. They may greet adult women this way, but not superiors, young girls, or newly married women. When greeting a superior, a person waits for the superior to extend his or her hand first. A person kneels to greet elders or chiefs. The elder claps and offers a verbal response.Ppass items to elders with both hands. Before a meal wash both hands. Eat with the right hand. Express satisfaction when eating meat by breaking the bones and sucking out the marrow.

Don't:  Criticize others in public. Do not gesture, hand an item to a person, or eat from a communal bowl with the left hand (which is traditionally reserved for personal hygiene). Don't interrupt another adult in conversation.  Women do not engage in public discussion unless invited to do so. Young people may not burp, or cross your legs in the presence of elders, nor may they sit in a chair reserved for or just vacated by an adult.  Don't make eye contact with elders or superiors.  Don't visit during mealtime.  Women do not eat with men 

COUNTRY FACTS

Country Name:  Togolese Republic; formerly: French Togoland

Etymology: derived from the Ewe words "to" (river) and "godo" (on the other side) to give the sense of "on the other side of the river"; originally, this designation applied to the town of Togodo (now Togoville) on the northern shore of Lake Togo, but the name was eventually extended to the entire nation

Capital:  Lome

Nationality:  Togolese (singular and plural)

Government Type:  presidential republic

Chief of State:  President Faure Gnassingbe (since 4 May 2005)

Head of Government:  Prime Minister Victoire Tomegah Dogbe (since 28 September 2020)

Ethnic Groups:  Adja-Ewe/Mina 42.4%, Kabye/Tem 25.9%, Para-Gourma/Akan 17.1%, Akposso/Akebu 4.1%, Ana-Ife 3.2%, other Togolese 1.7%, foreigners 5.2%, no response .4% (2013-14 est.)

Note: Togo has an estimated 37 ethnic groups

Languages:  French (official, the language of commerce), Ewe and Mina (the two major African languages in the south), Kabye (sometimes spelled Kabiye) and Dagomba (the two major African languages in the north)

Religions:  Christian 42.3%, folk religion 36.9%, Muslim 14%, Hindu <1%, Buddhist <1%, Jewish <1%, other <1%, none 6.2% (2020 est.)

Major Infectious Diseases:

Degree of risk:  very high (2020)

Food & Water-borne: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

Vector-borne:  malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever

Water contact diseases: schistosomiasis

Animal contact diseases: rabies

Respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis

Time Difference: UTC 0 (Togo is 7 hours ahead of Los Angeles)

Telephone Country Code:  228

Internet Country Code:  .tg

Climate:  tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Source: CIA World Factbook

Last updated January 2023.

Did You Know?

• In 1965, one of the earliest known prehistoric human shelters was discovered in the town of Mezhyrich when a farmer dug up the jawbone of a mammoth.
• At 346 feet (105.5 meters) underground, the Arsenalna station in the Kyiv (Kiev) metro is one of the deepest stations in the world.
• Ukraine has numerous abandoned towns, which were evacuated during the Chornobylʹ (Chernobyl) nuclear disaster in 1986.
• Ukraine is known worldwide for the delicate art of Easter egg painting, called pysanka.
• Traditionally, honored guests would be met with gifts of bread and salt, symbolizing prosperity. While this custom is no longer observed widely, it may be practiced ceremonially when important visitors arrive in the country.

Source: CultureGrams, ProQuest

DOS & TABOOS

DO: Establish eye contact during a conversation but not constantly.  Men open doors for women; carry heavy items and offer seats,  When exiting public transportation, men get off first and offer a hand to women with whom they are traveling. Guests for dinner present hosts with flowers (only odd numbers), cakes, or candy or toys for the children.  Men stand when a woman enters the room.  When eating keep hands (not elbows) on the table. Asking for seconds honors the host; refusing additional servings is seen as a gesture of modesty.

DON'T:  Wear wrinkled or soiled clothes; Pointing the index finger is considered uncultured. To speak with your hand in your pockets or arms folded across your chest is viewed as disrespectful. Smiling at strangers can be viewed as flirtatious or strange. chewing gum while talking is improper. Don't pass an object from one person to another while standing in a doorway.  Guests do not sit on the floor or put feet on furniture. Leave food on the plate, it is considered wasteful. Do not leave hands in the lap when eating.

Source: CultureGrams, ProQuest

COUNTRY FACTS

Country Name: Ukraine; Ukraina.  Formerly: Ukrainian National Republic, Ukrainian State, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic

Etymology: name derives from the Old East Slavic word "ukraina" meaning "borderland or march (militarized border region)" and began to be used extensively in the 19th century; originally Ukrainians referred to themselves as Rusyny (Rusyns, Ruthenians, or Ruthenes), an endonym derived from the medieval Rus state (Kyivan Rus)

Capital: Kyiv (Kiev)

Nationality:  Ukrainian(s)

Government Type: semi-presidential republic

Chief of State: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (since 20 May 2019)

Head of Government: Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal (since 4 March 2020)

Ethnic Groups: Ukrainian 77.8%, Russian 17.3%, Belarusian 0.6%, Moldovan 0.5%, Crimean Tatar 0.5%, Bulgarian 0.4%, Hungarian 0.3%, Romanian 0.3%, Polish 0.3%, Jewish 0.2%, other 1.8% (2001 est.)

Languages:  Ukrainian (official) 67.5%, Russian (regional language) 29.6%, other (includes small Crimean Tatar-, Moldovan/Romanian-, and Hungarian-speaking minorities) 2.9% (2001 est.)

Religions: Orthodox (includes the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC), and the Ukrainian Orthodox - Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP)), Ukrainian Greek Catholic, Roman Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Jewish (2013 est.)

Note: Ukraine's population is overwhelmingly Christian; the vast majority - up to two thirds - identify themselves as Orthodox, but many do not specify a particular branch; the OCU and the UOC-MP each represent less than a quarter of the country's population, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church accounts for 8-10%, and the UAOC accounts for 1-2%; Muslim and Jewish adherents each compose less than 1% of the total population

Major Infectious Diseases: 

Degree of risk: high (2022).  on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Eastern Europe; Ukraine is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, the CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine.

Time Difference:  UTC+2 (Ukraine is 9 hours ahead of Los Angeles)

Telephone Country Code: 380

Internet Country Code: .ua

Climate:  temperate continental; Mediterranean only on the southern Crimean coast; precipitation disproportionately distributed, highest in west and north, lesser in east and southeast; winters vary from cool along the Black Sea to cold farther inland; warm summers across the greater part of the country, hot in the south

Source: CIA World Factbook

Last updated January 2023.