Sometimes people are too busy to learn about other countries. However when you travel and start to know people, culture and customs from other countries, you want to know more about the countries in the world. This is a way to enrich your own culture and to value what you are and where you come from.

Venezuelans have mixed race heritage of Spanish, African and American Indian. The influence of the indigenous people and their culture on the modern Venezuelan life is found in typical staples of the country, such as arepas and cachapas, in the geographically names and in the vocabulary. The African influence is limited to a few words of vocabulary and gastronomy, but it is particularly apparent in the music with musical instruments like the drum. Since the most of the colonial people came from the Spanish regions of Andalucia and Extremadura, the influences of these regions can be found in food, music, language, art and religion.

The 19th and 20th century brought to Venezuela immigrants from other European countries, including Italy, France, Portugal and Germany, whose cultural tradition has mixed with Venezuelan. The fact that Venezuelans like baseball and have many fast food restaurants clearly means that the country hasn’t been spared of the US influences too.

Lifestyles. Venezuela is a country where modern and traditional lifestyles are mixed together. For many Venezuelans, family life is of most importance. Although the tradition has started to change recently, the country seems immune to generation gap. Children live with their parents even after they get married and take care of them. Few Venezuelans leave their parents to live by themselves when they get to their legal age.

Communication styles. In general, Venezuelans are open and friendly, sometimes maybe too noisy, but usually kind to strangers. Venezuelans are characterized by their outgoing and gregarious nature. This extroverted behavior is visible in the traditional forms of greeting and in people’s body language. When meeting somebody, even if it is for the first time, it is common to give a kiss on the right cheek; women greet men and women this way, while men only kiss women. Between men a strong-gripped handshake is the custom and many times this is accompanied by the placing of the other hand on the side for greater emphasis. A hug is also used between men, especially if the men have not seen each other for a while.

Body language between Venezuelans is also much more fluid and pervasive. People stand very close to each other while talking and will gesticulate with their hands and bodies to make a point. It is also common for people to touch each other to even further emphasize what it is that they are saying.

Religion. Freedom of religion is guaranteed by the Venezuelan constitution. Most Venezuelans—at least 90 percent of the population—are Roman Catholic. Others are Evangelists and Adventists, and to a lesser degree, Mormons. There are also significant Jewish communities in Caracas and Maracaibo. Venezuela also has a smaller number of Islamic practitioners.

Most indigenous religious practices were lost with the decimation of the Native American population and the few surviving indigenous populations practice their religious traditions in complete isolation from the national culture.

Gender. People are quite right when they say that Latin-American men often discriminate against women at work (machismo). In Venezuela, this has changed. Every day, women are demonstrating they can be as competitive as men at any position, if not more. Women business executives, medical doctors, judges, engineers, and architects are common. In some professions such as lawyers, women actually outnumber men. You can also find many women working as Ministers, Senators, Members of Parliament, etc.

Meeting Etiquette. A firm handshake, with direct eye contact and a welcoming smile are the standard greeting. People always use an appropriate greeting for the time of day – ‘good morning’, ‘good afternoon’, or ‘good evening’. When leaving, people say good-bye to each person individually. Business cards are exchanged during introductions with everyone at a meeting.

Punctuality. Venezuelans are generally punctual for business meetings, especially if they are accustomed to working with international companies. However, if you are invited to a dinner or party, people always arrive 30 to 60 minutes later than invited. Arriving on time or early shows that you are too eager, which is interpreted as greedy.

Formality. Since this is a formal culture, people address to others by their academic or professional title and their last names until invited to move to a first- name basis, for example engineer Martinez, doctor Rogers, or by Mr. or Mrs.

Business Dress Etiquette. Men wear good quality, conservative, dark colored business suits. Women wear stylish suits or dresses. Women always look elegantly dressed, including make-up, jewellery and manicures.