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Sunday, May 30, 2010

Facts and Statistics

Location: Central Europe, bordering Austria 366 km, Croatia 329 km, Romania 443 km, Serbia and Montenegro 151 km, Slovakia 677 km, Slovenia 102 km, Ukraine 103 km

Capital: Budapest

Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers

Population: 10,032,375 (July 2004 est.)

Ethnic Make-up: Hungarian 89.9%, Roma 4%, German 2.6%, Serb 2%, Slovak 0.8%, Romanian 0.7%

Religions: Roman Catholic 67.5%, Calvinist 20%, Lutheran 5%, atheist and other 7.5%

Government: parliamentary democracy

The Hungarian Language

The official language of Hungarian is spoken by 98% of the 10.3m population. Minority languages have become more prominent in recent years, and they include German, Croatian, Romani, Slovak, Romanian, Serbian and Slovene. Attempts are being made to protect these languages, as many members of the ethnic groups actually do not speak them.

Hungarian Society & Culture

Nation of Horsemen

. The Ancient Hungarians lived in the Euro-Asian nomadic pastoral region, where the keeping and use of horses played an important role in their lives.
. Therefore it is not surprising that the horse and horse riding has a central place in Hungarian History, leading to Hungarians being regarded as the nation of horsemen.
. Invitations to foreigners for horseback riding are not uncommon.

Family in Hungary

. The family is the centre of the social structure.
. Generations of extended family often live together.
. The grandparents play an important role in helping raise the grandchildren.
. The family provides both emotional and financial support to its members.

Get Person

. Hungarians expect friends to share private and intimate details of their personal lives.
. If you ever feel you are being asked personal questions, this is simply meant as part of the getting-to-know-you process.
. Hungarians will even enjoy sharing details of their romantic life with you!

Etiquette & Customs in Hungary

Meeting EtiquetteEtiquette in Hungary

. Both men and women greet by shaking hands, although a man should usually wait for the women to extend her hand.
. The older generation may still bow to woman.
. Close friends kiss one another lightly on both cheeks, starting with the left cheek.
. In the business context is safest to address people by their titles and surnames.

Gift Giving Etiquette

. When visiting a company it is not necessary to bring gifts.
. If invited to a Hungarian's home for a meal, bring a box of good chocolates, flowers or Western liquor.
. Do not bring wine as the Hungarians are proud of the wines they produce.
. Flowers should be given in odd numbers, but not 13, which is considered an unlucky number.
. Do not give lilies, chrysanthemums or red roses.
. Gifts are usually opened when received.

Dining Etiquette

If in the rare case you invited to a Hungarian's house:

. Arrive on time if invited for dinner, although a 5-minute grace period is granted.
. If invited to a party or other large gathering, arrive no more than 30 minutes later than invited.
. You may be asked to remove your outdoor shoes before entering the house.
. Do not ask for a tour of the house.

Table manners are formal in Hungary.

. Table manners are Continental -- the fork is held in the left hand and the knife in the right while eating.
. The hostess will wish the guests a hearty appetite at the start of each course.
. Do not begin eating until the hostess starts.
. Do not rest your elbows on the table, although your hands should be visible at all times.
. Hospitality is measured by the amount and variety of food served. Try everything
. If you have not finished eating, cross your knife and fork across your plate.
. Indicate you have finished eating by laying your knife and fork parallel across the right side of your plate.
. The guest of honour usually proposes the first toast which generally salutes the health of the individuals present.
. At the end of the meal, someone toasts the hosts in appreciation of their hospitality.
. An empty glass is immediately refilled so if you do not want more to drink, leave your glass ½ full.
. Never clink glasses if drinking beer.

Business Etiquette and Protocol in Hungary

Relationships & Communication

. Although Hungarians are transactional and do not require long-standing personal relationships in order to conduct business, being introduced by someone they know and trust can often help
. Hungarians pride themselves on using proper etiquette in all situations and expect others to do the same.
. Socializing is an important part of the relationship building process.
. Expect many invitations to dinner or cultural events. If you have the time, reciprocate invitations.
. Hungarians prefer face-to-face meetings rather than more impersonal vehicles of communication such as letters.
. Hungarians are emotive speakers who say what they think and expect you to do the same.
. They do not like euphemisms or vague statements.
. Hungarians often use stories, anecdotes, and jokes to prove their points.
. Hungarians are suspicious of people who are reticent and not willing to share their innermost thoughts.
. Hungarians view eye contact as indicative of sincerity and believe that people who cannot look them in the eye while speaking have something to hide.

Business Meeting Etiquette

. Appointments are necessary and should be made 2 in advance in writing.
. It is often difficult to schedule meetings on Friday afternoon or from mid July to mid August. Also avoid scheduling meetings from mid December to mid January.
. Punctuality for all social situations is taken extremely seriously. If you expect to be delayed, telephone immediately and offer an explanation. It is considered extremely rude to cancel a meeting at the last minute and could ruin your business relationship.
. Initial meetings are scheduled to get to know each other and for your Hungarian colleagues to determine if you are trustworthy.
. Expect some small talk and getting-to-know-you conversation before business is discussed. Do not move the conversation to business yourself.
. Do not remove your suit jacket without asking permission.
. If you have an agenda, it may be used as a springboard to further discussion and not followed item by item.

Business Negotiating Etiquette

. Business is conducted slowly.
. Deals in Hungary cannot be finalized without a lot of eating, drinking and entertaining.
. Hungarians are very detail-oriented and want to understand everything before reaching an agreement.
. Contracts should be clear and concise.
. Contracts function as statements of intent. It is expected that if circumstances change, the contract will accommodate the revised conditions.
. Hungarians are skilled negotiators.
. Avoid confrontational behaviour or high-pressure sales tactics.

Dress Etiquette

. Business dress is formal and conservative.
. Men should wear dark business suits with a white shirt and tie.
. Women should wear either business suits or elegant dresses, complimented with good quality accessories.
. Jeans are standard casual wear. Shorts are uncommon in the city.
. Business wear is appropriate for all formal occasions.

Business Cards

. Business cards are exchanged without formal ritual.
. Have one side of your card translated into Hungarian.
. The Hungarian side should list your surname before your first name, Hungarian style.
. Include any advanced university degrees on your business card.
. Include the founding date of your company on the card.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Facts and Statistics

Location: Western Europe, islands including the northern one-sixth of the island of Ireland between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, northwest of France

Capital: London

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

Population: 60,776,238 (July 2007 est.)

Ethnic Make-up: white (of which English 83.6%, Scottish 8.6%, Welsh 4.9%, Northern Irish 2.9%) 92.1%, black 2%, Indian 1.8%, Pakistani 1.3%, mixed 1.2%, other 1.6% (2001 census)

Religions: Christian (Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist) 71.6%, Muslim 2.7%, Hindu 1%, other 1.6%, unspecified or none 23.1% (2001 census)

Government: constitutional monarchy

Language in the UK

The United Kingdom does not have a constitutionally defined official language. English is the main language (being spoken monolingually by more than 70% of the UK population) and is thus the de facto official language.

Other native languages to the Isles include Welsh, Irish, Ulster Scots, Cornish, Gaelic and British Sign Language.

Immigrants have naturally brought many foreign languages from across the globe.

British Society, People and Culture

The United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is comprised of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It is important not only to be aware of these geographical distinctions, but also the strong sense of identity and nationalism felt by the populations of these four nations.

The terms 'English' and 'British' do not mean the same thing. 'British' denotes someone who is from England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. 'English' refers to people from England. People from Scotland are 'Scots', from Wales ‘Welsh’ and from Northern Ireland ‘Irish’. Be sure not to call someone Welsh, Scots, or Northern Irish ‘English’.

Map of British Isles

The Class System

Although in the past few decades, people from varied backgrounds have had greater access to higher education, wealth distribution is changing and more upward/downward mobility is occurring, the British class system is still very much intact although in a more subconscious way. The playing field is levelling but the British still seem to pigeon-hole people according to class.

Class is no longer simply about wealth or where one lives; the British are able to suss out someone’s class through a number of complex variables including demeanour, accent, manners and comportment.

A Multicultural Society

Formerly a very homogenous society, since World War II, Britain has become increasingly diverse as it has accommodated large immigrant populations, particularly from its former colonies such as India, Pakistan and the West Indies. The mixture of ethnic groups and cultures make it difficult to define “Britishness” nowadays and a debate rages within the nation as to what now really constitutes being a Briton.

The Stiff Upper Lip

The British have been historically known for their stiff upper lip and “blitz spirit” as demonstrated during the German bombings of World War II. This ‘grin and bear’ attitude in the face of adversity or embarrassment lives on today.

As a nation, the Brits tend not to use superlatives and may not appear terribly animated when they speak. This does not mean that they do not have strong emotions; merely that they do not choose to put them on public display. They are generally not very openly demonstrative, and, unless you know someone well, may not appreciate it if you put your arm around their shoulder. Kissing is most often reserved for family members in the privacy of home, rather than in public. You'll see that the British prefer to maintain a few feet of distance between themselves and the person to whom they are speaking. If you have insulted someone, their facial expression may not change.

The British are very reserved and private people. Privacy is extremely important. The British will not necessarily give you a tour of their home and, in fact, may keep most doors closed. They expect others to respect their privacy. This extends to not asking personal questions. The question, “Where are you from?” may be viewed as an attempt to “place” the person on the social or class scale. Even close friends do not ask pointedly personal questions, particularly pertaining to one’s financial situation or relationships.

There is a proper way to act in most situations and the British are sticklers for adherence to protocol. The British are a bit more contained in their body language and hand gestures while speaking. They are generally more distant and reserved than North and South Americans and Southern Europeans, and may not initially appear to be as open or friendly. Friendships take longer to build; however, once established they tend to be deep and may last over time and distance.

British Etiquette and Customs

Meeting and Greeting

  • The handshake is the common form of greeting.
  • The British might seem a little stiff and formal at first.
  • Avoid prolonged eye contact as it makes people feel uncomfortable.
  • There is still some protocol to follow when introducing people in a business or more formal social situation. This is often a class distinction, with the 'upper class' holding on to the long-standing traditions:
  • Introduce a younger person to an older person.
  • Introduce a person of lower status to a person of higher status.
  • When two people are of similar age and rank, introduce the one you know better to the other person.

Gift Giving Etiquette

  • The British exchange gifts between family members and close friends for birthdays and Christmas.
  • The gift need not be expensive, but it should usually demonstrate an attempt to find something that related to the recipient’s interests.
  • If invited to someone's home, it is normal to take along a box of good chocolates, a good bottle of wine or flowers.
  • Gifts are opened when received.

Dining Etiquette

  • Unlike many European cultures, the British enjoy entertaining in people their homes.
  • Although the British value punctuality, you may arrive 10-15 minutes later than invited to dinner. However, if going to a restaurant be on time.
  • Table manners are Continental, i.e. the fork is held in the left hand and the knife in the right while eating.
  • The fork is held tines down so food is scooped on to the back of the fork. This is a skill that takes time to master.
  • Remain standing until invited to sit down. You may be shown to a particular seat.
  • Do not rest your elbows on the table.
  • If you have not finished eating, cross your knife and fork on your plate with the fork over the knife.
  • Indicate you have finished eating by laying your knife and fork parallel across the right side of your plate. Toasts are given at formal meals.
  • When in a pub, it is common practice to pay for a round of drinks for everyone in your group.
  • If invited to a meal at a restaurant, the person extending the invitation usually pays. Do not argue about the check; simply reciprocate at a later time.

Business Etiquette and Protocol

British etiquette business

Greetings

  • A firm handshake is the norm; there are no issues over gender in the UK.
  • People shake upon meeting and leaving.
  • Maintain eye contact during the greeting but avoid anything prolonged.
  • Most people use the courtesy titles or Mr, Mrs or Miss and their surname.
  • Wait until invited before moving to a first-name basis. People under the age of 35 may make this move more rapidly than older British.
  • Business cards are exchanged at the initial introduction without formal ritual.
  • The business card may be put away with only a cursory glance so don’t be offended if not much attention is paid to it.

The British Communication Style

The British have an interesting mix of communication styles encompassing both understatement and direct communication. Many older businesspeople or those from the 'upper class' rely heavily upon formal use of established protocol. Most British are masters of understatement and do not use effusive language. If anything, they have a marked tendency to use ‘qualifiers’ such as 'perhaps', ‘possibly’ or 'it could be'.

When communicating with people they see as equal to themselves in rank or class, the British are direct, but modest. If communicating with someone they know well, their style may be more informal, although they will still be reserved.

Written communication follows strict rules of protocol. How a letter is closed varies depending upon how well the writer knows the recipient. Written communication is always addressed using the person's title and their surname. First names are not generally used in written communication, unless you know the person well.

E-mail is now much more widespread, however the communication style remains more formal, at least initially, than in many other countries. Most British will not use slang or abbreviations and will think negatively if your communication appears overly familiar.

Building Relationships

The British can be quite formal and sometimes prefer to work with people and companies they know or who are known to their associates. The younger generation however is very different; they do not need long-standing personal relationships before they do business with people and do not require an intermediary to make business introductions. Nonetheless, networking and relationship building are often key to long-term business success.

Most British look for long-term relationships with people they do business with and will be cautious if you appear to be going after a quick deal.

Business Meetings

If you plan to use an agenda, be sure to forward it to your British colleagues in sufficient time for them to review it and recommend any changes.

Punctuality is important in business situations. In most cases, the people you are meeting will be on time. Scots are extremely punctual. Call if you will be even 5 minutes later than agreed. Having said that, punctuality is often a matter of personal style and emergencies do arise. If you are kept waiting a few minutes, do not make an issue of it. Likewise, if you know that you will be late it is a good idea to telephone and offer your apologies.

How meetings are conducted is often determined by the composition of people attending:

  • If everyone is at the same level, there is generally a free flow of ideas and opinions.
  • If there is a senior ranking person in the room, that person will do most of the speaking.

In general, meetings will be rather formal:

  • Meetings always have a clearly defined purpose, which may include an agenda.
  • There will be a brief amount of small talk before getting down to the business at hand.
  • If you make a presentation, avoid making exaggerated claims.
  • Make certain your presentation and any materials provided appear professional and well thought out.
  • Be prepared to back up your claims with facts and figures. The British rely on facts, rather than emotions, to make decisions.
  • Maintain eye contact and a few feet of personal space.
  • After a meeting, send a letter summarizing what was decided and the next steps to be taken.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Facts and Statistics

Location: North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico

Capital: Washington, DC

Climate: mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida, arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi River, and arid in the Great Basin of the southwest.

Population: 301,139,947 (July 2007 est.)

Ethnic Make-up: white 81.7%, black 12.9%, Asian 4.2%, Amerindian and Alaska native 1%, native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander 0.2% (2003 est.)

Religions: Protestant 52%, Roman Catholic 24%, Mormon 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 1%, other 10%, none 10% (2002 est.)

Government: Constitution-based federal republic

Language in the USA

The United States does not have an official language, but English is spoken by about 82% of the population as a native language. The variety of English spoken in the United States is known as American English; together with Canadian English it makes up the group of dialects known as North American English. Spanish is the second-most common language in the country, spoken by almost 30 million people (or 12% of the population).

American Society and Culture

Diversity

America is ultimately a nation of immigrants and as a result is a cultural mish-mash in every sense of the word. Not only is the country populated by people from foreign countries but all Americans in one way or another trace their ancestry back to another culture, whether Irish, German, Italian or Scottish. Looking around any major city one will notice the ‘melting-pot’ that it is.

Informal and Friendly

Most people who come to the United States may already know a few things about the people through TV. Although this is of course a skewed reality some of the stereotypes are true, especially American friendliness and informality. People tend to not wait to be introduced, will begin to speak with strangers as they stand in a queue, sit next to each other at an event, etc. Visitors can often be surprised when people are so informal to the point of being very direct or even rude.

Time is Money

The country that coined the phrase obviously lives the phrase. In America, time is a very important commodity. People 'save' time and 'spend' time as if it were money in the bank. Americans ascribe personality characteristics and values based on how people use time. For example, people who are on-time are considered to be good people, reliable people who others can count on.

The Family

The family unit is generally considered the nuclear family, and is typically small (with exceptions among certain ethnic groups). Extended family relatives live in their own homes, often at great distances from their children.

Individualism is prized, and this is reflected in the family unit. People are proud of their individual accomplishments, initiative and success, and may, or may not, share those sources of pride with their elders. 

Customs and Etiquette in the U.S.A

Meeting and Greeting

  • Greetings are casual.
  • A handshake, a smile, and a 'hello' are all that is needed.
  • Smile!
  • Use first names, and be sure to introduce everyone to each other.
Gift Giving Etiquette

  • In general, Americans give gifts for birthdays, anniversaries and major holidays, such as Christmas. A gift can be as simple as a card and personal note to something more elaborate for a person with whom you are close.
  • Gift giving is not an elaborate event, except at Christmas.
  • When invited to someone's home for dinner, it is polite to bring a small box of good chocolates, a bottle of wine, a potted plant or flowers for the hostess.
  • Gifts are normally opened when received.

Dining Etiquette

  • Americans socialise in their homes and ‘backyards’, in restaurants and in other public places.
  • It's not at all unusual for social events to be as casual as a backyard barbecue or a picnic in the park.
  • Arrive on time if invited for dinner; no more than 10 minutes later than invited to a small gathering. If it is a large party, it is acceptable to arrive up to 30 minutes later than invited.
  • Table manners are more relaxed in the U.S. than in many other countries.
  • The fork is held in the right hand and is used for eating. The fork is held tines down. The knife is used to cut or spread something. To use the knife, the fork is switched to the left hand. To continue eating, the fork is switched back to the right hand.
  • If you have not finished eating, cross your knife and fork on your plate with the fork over the knife. Indicate you have finished eating by laying your knife and fork parallel across the right side of your plate.
  • If you are more comfortable eating in the Continental manner, go ahead. It will not offend anyone.
  • Feel free to refuse specific foods or drinks without offering an explanation.
  • Many foods are eaten by hand.
  • Food is often served family-style, which means that it is in large serving dishes and passed around the table for everyone to serve themselves.
  • Do not begin eating until the hostess starts or says to begin.
  • Remain standing until invited to sit down.
  • Do not rest your elbows on the table.
  • Put your napkin in your lap as soon as you sit down.
  • Leave a small amount of food on your plate when you have finished eating.

Business Etiquette and Protocol

Doing business in America

Business Dress

  • What is considered appropriate business attire varies by geographic region, day of the week and industry.
  • In general, people in the East dress more formally, while people in the West are known for being a bit more casual.
  • Executives usually dress formally regardless of which part of the country they are in.
  • Casual Friday is common in many companies. High technology companies often wear casual clothes every day.
  • For an initial meeting, dressing conservatively is always in good taste. Women can wear business suits, dresses or pantsuits. Men should wear a business suit unless you know the firm to be quite casual.

Greetings

  • The hand shake is the common greeting.
  • Handshakes are firm, brief and confident.
  • Maintain eye contact during the greeting.
  • In most situations, you can begin calling people by their first names.
  • Most people will insist that you call them by their nickname, if they have one.
  • In formal circumstances, you may want to use titles and surnames as a courtesy until you are invited to move to a first name basis, which will happen quickly.
  • Business cards are exchanged without formal ritual.
  • It is quite common for the recipient to put your card in their wallet, which may then go in the back pocket of their trousers. This is not an insult.

Communication Styles

Americans are direct. They value logic and linear thinking and expect people to speak clearly and in a straightforward manner. To them if you don’t “tell it how it is” you simply waste time, and time is money. If you are from a culture that is more subtle in communication style, try not to be insulted by the directness. Try to get to your point more quickly and don’t be afraid to be more direct and honest than you are used to. Americans will use the telephone to conduct business that would require a face-to-face meeting in most other countries. They do not insist upon seeing or getting to know the people with whom they do business.

Business Meetings

Arrive on time for meetings since time and punctuality are so important to Americans. In the Northeast and Midwest, people are extremely punctual and view it as a sign of disrespect for someone to be late for a meeting or appointment. In the Southern and Western states, people may be a little more relaxed, but to be safe, always arrive on time, although you may have to wait a little before your meeting begins.

Meetings may appear relaxed, but they are taken quite seriously. If there is an agenda, it will be followed. At the conclusion of the meeting, there will be a summary of what was decided, a list of who will implement which facets and a list of the next steps to be taken and by whom. If you make a presentation, it should be direct and to the point. Visual aids should further enhance your case. Use statistics to back up your claims, since Americans are impressed by hard data and evidence.

With the emphasis on controlling time, business is conducted rapidly. Expect very little small talk before getting down to business. It is common to attempt to reach an oral agreement at the first meeting. The emphasis is on getting a contract signed rather than building a relationship. The relationship may develop once the first contract has been signed.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Culture of Bali

For us, the culture of Bali is the very people themselves, they are just such endearing and gentle folk. If you have not been to Bali, you probably have not even met a Balinese person as they are not great travellers. Apart from most not being able to afford to travel, they are just so content with what they have in life, and I do not mean in terms of assets or wealth either.

Bali girls

THE VILLAGE COMMUNITY

The village community is administered by the Banjar and overseen by the government. The Banjar, (which means Neighbourhood), is a group of about 50 to 100 married men (depending on the size of the village) all from within the community.

Village Banjar in Bali, Bali

Whilst the government is responsible for public services such as schools, hospitals and the infrastructure, the Banjar manage the community, everything in everyday life including discipline and ensuring that their strong family and community values are maintained, the upkeep and appearance of the village, ceremonies and even financial matters. The head of the Banjar is chosen and then submitted to the Gods for approval by way of a spiritualist, although other decisions by the Banjar are made on a unanimous basis.

Farmer in field, Bali

Within the Banjar, are the Subak, of which the head of every family in the village who grows rice must be a member. As rice is the stable diet of Bali, the Subak (which means Water Management), are responsible for the water irrigation systems and ensure that every member receives an equal share of water for their crops.

Each village will have 3 temples, the Pura Puseh (Temple of Origin and facing Mount Agung), where all the important Gods and the founder of the village are worshipped, the Pura Desa (Village Temple in the centre of the village and for the people), used for village meetings and village celebrations and finally the Pura Dalem (Temple of the Dead and facing the sea), where the forces of death are worshipped. This is where a cremation ceremony will be held.

Balinese temple

MOTHER OF ALL TEMPLES

The Besakih Temple, is the Mother Temple of Bali and has stood on the slopes of Mount Agung for over 1000 years. It is a very special place for Balinese people to visit as it being the largest and holiest temple on the island.

Besakih Temple Bali

THE FAMILY HOME

Like rice, family life is the mainstay of the Balinese. In villages you will see the traditional family compound. Even when they are designed and built, it is a very symbolic and deeply spiritual process, from the size of the compound being determined from the body measurements of the head of the family and the direction in which it will face, to having the first brick blessed with holy water, wrapped in white cloth and buried within the grounds. Even the walls are built in order to protect the family personalities and characteristics from evil.

Each walled compound has one entrance and normally about 4 buildings. At the entrance, a plaque is displayed showing how many men and women live within the compound. When a girl marries, she will move to the husband's family compound to live and as the family is extending, so more buildings may be added.

All of the generations share the kitchen and the ceremony pavilion. The pavilion is used for wedding, tooth filing ceremonies and when there is a death in the family, the body is laid here until it is deemed the right time by the Gods for the cremation. The sleeping room is used by the head of the household and the guest house by the next married couple. At the heart of the compound is a thatch roofed open area for families to come together to eat, talk and shelter from the heat during the day.

Bali compound

In a corner of every compound there is the family temple which is dedicated to the families ancestors and will always face Mount Agung, this being the highest point in Bali for the God Ida Sanghyang Widhi, their supreme God.

As the walls are built to keep the bad spirits out of the compound, so the main doors to the compound are closed each evening to ensure that no bad spirits stray in.

Balinese Compound

TOOTH FILING CEREMONY

The tooth filing ceremony is a monumental moment in the life of a Balinese Hindu person and usually happens before they reach adulthood. The ceremony takes place to rid their sins such as anger, greed, envy, arrogance, lust and jealousy and once done, they believe that they are both more attractive and spiritually beautiful and are then allowed to pass through from adolescence to adulthood.

Only the family may attend in the ceremony pavilion of their compound and only in even numbers. The priest who conducts the ceremony, will file down 6 teeth and then fill them (2 eye and 4 incisor), followed by prayers at the family temple.

The ceremony must be done before marriage or before they die as without this, they believe that the soul will never rest.

Tooth filing ceremony in Bali

DAILY FAMILY LIFE

Traditional Balinese family life revolves around deeply held spiritual values and beliefs. Children are taught from the very start to love, respect, honour and to do their duty, sadly something that is something very much lacking in society in the west these days.

Balinese Villagers

The men of the house, will start very early while it is still cool, tending their crops and relax with the family in the heat of the day. The Banjar is a large part of their lives, not just by attending meetings, but also socially, whether it be playing in the temple Gamelan orchestra, cockfighting or gambling. Whilst some of us in the west may find some of these events a little distasteful, these activities are very much part of the Culture of Bali and are also played out in temple ceremonies to appease the Gods.

Bali Laundry

The women of the house, cook, clean and shop for food (something's never change!) Although they cannot belong to the Banjar, they still have a central role to play within the community in the further education of the children including Balinese dancing and the teaching of temple traditions.

Children attend the village school during the day, but when they return home, they will spend it with the grandparents who will devote much of their time to the spiritual upbringing of the children to ensure that the long held traditions and values of the Balinese people are upheld and passed from generation to generation.

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