· When meeting someone for the first time, a nod of the head is sufficient. Show respect by bowing slightly with your hands at your sides and your feet together.
· With younger or foreign-educated Taiwanese, a handshake is the most common form of greeting. The standard Asian handshake is more like a handclasp; it is rather limp and lasts for some 10 to 12 seconds (as opposed to a westerner handshake which lasts only 3 to 4 seconds). Sometimes both hands will be used.
· Chinese women will rarely shake hands. Western men should not try to shake hands with Chinese women. Western women will have to initiate a handshake with Chinese men.
· Elderly people are very highly respected, so it is polite to speak with them first. A compliment on their good health is always appreciated.
· Do not be surprised if you are asked if you have eaten. This is a common greeting, originating during the famines of feudal times. This phrase is comparable with “How are you?” A polite response is “yes”, even if you have not eaten.
· Wait to be introduced to another at gatherings and parties. Avoid introducing yourself. Instead, employ a third person if there is someone you wish to meet.
