| |
The Portuguese are often described as lazy. However, work and especially hard wok, is highly appreciated in the Portuguese culture. If you earn a lot of money but you don't work people don't respect you in Portugal, for example. So, most people in Portugal have a lot of work, usually two jobs minimum, although I always had 3 or 4, in which they earn little but they feel proud. The Portuguese seem lazy because they leave everything for the last minute and then, as they try do do everything in this last minute, they can’t and fail. Also, they don't sleep enough, so they work slowly and have poor results because they're just tired and they don’t use their time properly. So, in fact laziness is just an illusion. To prove what I say here, is worth noticing that the Portuguese that work in other countries are known and respected for being very serious, committed and hard working people, in opposite to what they seem in their own country. The reason is the same. As in the new culture the organization is different, and they are used to work a lot, they adapt and end up working more than the natives. And that is why we have so many Portuguese at the top of the world: Best football players, best football coaches, best Olympic runners, etc.
Let us also remember that the Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive in China and Japan. Not the French, or the English or the Germans. So, they do have a very strong culture, with meaningful values. But I think they forgot to have balance. So the culture became too serious and heavy. In fact they are the worse in what requires organization - law and governmental issues. Other things worth knowing about the Portuguese culture are the following:
• Don’t speak about yourself but always ask questions about others: The Portuguese rarely speak about themselves and see that in others as a way of showing arrogance, especially if you’re addressing your qualities and achievements;
• Smile to everyone but be friend of nobody: Smiling in the Portuguese culture is a basic requirement for socializing, but that doesn’t mean your enemies won’t smile too. In Portugal, they do as much as anyone else. Hiding that you have resentment against someone is very normal in the Portuguese culture;
• Judge actions and body language more than words: Portuguese lie a lot, even when claiming to be your best friend. Never trust what is said, but what is done;
• Give to the one that is superior to you: The Portuguese culture is very strongly hierarchical. Everything operates in that way, and people often more quickly respect authority than their own friends and family;
• Never say no: The Portuguese will resent a no, even if they themselves rather give you an excuse not to meet you or reject an offer instead of saying no to it;
• Never fight and never argue: Portuguese are very sensitive to public demonstrations of antagonism and will resent it, even if you have been a victim of injustice;
• Always be near the one in power: Portuguese are more kind to those they fear than those they respect;
• Do what you say but never say what you do: Trust in the Portuguese culture is seen when you match your words, but expressing your thoughts can often lead to jealousy and competition;
• Judge with your eyes every time you aren’t seen: The Portuguese express themselves more honestly when they think they’re not being observed;
• Use humor to put others down, and know your enemy: The Portuguese like sarcasm the most, and their favorite jokes are usually about people they know. However, you must be careful about being the target of their jokes, because they use them to destroy your reputation. Brazilians tend to be even better than the Portuguese in that;
• Use food to build relationships: Portuguese are more friendly to those that invite them to eat and drink in their home;
• Always talk from a superior point of view: Portuguese don’t respect humble people and see them inferior;
• Never talk about what you don't know. Change subject instead: The Portuguese tend to judge people and criticize them the most when noticing a mistake. They don’t forgive easily any simple mistake;
• Do not offer anything before knowing the other person’s needs: In the Portuguese culture, helping isn’t common, therefore, people tend to associate a person that helps with someone seeking to benefit or take advantage from the interaction;
• Be friend of your enemy’s enemies: The best way to know who you are with in Portugal is by knowing the enemies of your enemies;
• Use the same subject to ask the same question to different people: Portuguese obsess easily with trends. Pay attention to what they speak to know what to speak back with them;
• Never accept responsibility for your bad actions (express as if others made you do it): Portuguese are horrible at accepting responsibility and don’t respect those that do it. It’s better to not even talk about it or blame someone else instead, as they do all the time in Portugal. Whenever you confront anyone with incompetence, a Portuguese will always blame something or someone else for it;
• Don't be afraid to suffer and embrace pain: Portuguese respect the most those that accept the consequences of their fate;
• Persist until you reach your goals: The Portuguese culture is individualist and highly competitive, and the more you persist inside it, the easier it is for you to accept it;
• Change position and hide to confuse your enemies: The Portuguese never confront anyone directly. If you try that, the will cowardly hide, but hit you back when you least expect;
• Obey without questioning, while searching for opportunities to reach power: The Portuguese only respond to power, not honesty or humility, or even competency. It’s better to obey if you seek power and recognition inside this culture;
• Be what others want you to be and adapt to their values: The Portuguese have very low tolerance to different personalities and tend to be xenophobic, racist and homophobic. Whatever makes you different, it’s always better to be discreet about it when in Portugal, either you’re dealing with men or women.