1. Portuguese Language — Besides Portugal, many other countries also speak Portuguese! For example, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, East Timor… These countries were once discovered by Portuguese navigators and were ruled for a long time. The Macau region in China also uses Portuguese. It is the fifth most spoken language in the world, with over 200 million speakers. Mastering Portuguese requires effort. Before going abroad, some people believe that they will easily overcome the language barrier in a foreign language environment. Immigration to Portugal.
2. Social Etiquette — When Portuguese men meet, they generally greet each other with a warm hug and a pat on the shoulder. Women usually greet each other with kisses on both cheeks. They are also familiar with handshakes in social settings.
3. Business Etiquette — When scheduling meetings with business professionals, avoid setting appointments between noon and 3 PM, as all activities cease during this time. It is essential to schedule appointments in advance. If invited to a banquet, it is not necessary to bring a gift; a customary practice is to invite your host to a restaurant for a meal. Guests should avoid discussing politics and government. Polite topics include family life, personal interests, etc., but excessive curiosity during conversations is considered impolite.
4. Dining Etiquette — Portuguese people often treat visiting guests with their hometown specialty, “roasted pig intestines.” They enjoy drinking wine and are particular about the timing of drinking; generally, an aperitif wine is served before meals, a digestive wine after meals, white wine with seafood dishes, red wine with meat dishes, rosé wine with cold cuts, and sparkling wine with desserts. They possess culinary skills comparable to the French, and throughout the year, they can prepare delicious national dishes in various ways — such as dried fish. They enjoy dining out and savoring delicious cuisine. They typically prefer Western cuisine but also appreciate Chinese food. They use knives and forks during meals.
5. Portuguese People — Portuguese individuals are open-minded and cheerful, with sincere and delicate emotions. They are warm and honest in their interactions and prefer straightforward communication without beating around the bush. They favor the carnation flower, viewing it as a symbol of revolution and victory, and often use it to congratulate each other, metaphorically referring to it as the national flower. They also like lavender and geraniums, as these plants have both ornamental and economic value, bringing joy and happiness to people.
6. Beliefs and Taboos — The vast majority of Portuguese people are Roman Catholic, with a minority adhering to Protestantism and Judaism. They have superstitions regarding the number “13” and “Friday,” which are feared as symbols of misfortune and disaster. They are sensitive about inquiries regarding their age, marital status, and income, considering these personal matters that others should not interfere with. They are wary of people who stare at them for too long, perceiving it as a sign of ill intent. They prefer not to discuss political or governmental issues.
7. Currency Exchange — Portugal has joined the European Union and uses the Euro. In the currency exchange market in Portugal, 1 Chinese Yuan is approximately equivalent to 0.12 Euros, 1 British Pound is approximately equivalent to 1.6 Euros, and 1 US Dollar is approximately equivalent to 0.8 Euros. There are many currency exchange points in Portugal, making it easy for foreign tourists to exchange for Euros. Every city has ATMs that operate 24 hours, and both VISA and MasterCard are widely accepted in Portugal, along with the convenient use of traveler's checks.
8. Smoking — Smoking is allowed in many public places in Portugal, except in certain areas such as airports where it is completely prohibited. Some public places in Portugal also have designated smoking areas, and smoking is permitted even during events or sports matches.
9. Emergency Phone — Portugal has a national emergency number: 112, which is used for police, fire, and other emergencies.
10. Education — Portugal implements 12 years of compulsory education, including basic education (4 years of primary school, 2 years of preparatory middle school, and 3 years of junior high school) and secondary education (3 years, equivalent to high school in China). Higher education lasts 4-5 years at universities. The budget for compulsory education in 2005 was 4.791 billion Euros, while the higher education budget was 1.734 billion Euros. Among individuals aged 25 to 64, only 20.6% have received secondary education. In 2007, the illiteracy rate was 5.1%, making it one of the countries with a high illiteracy rate in Europe. Major higher education institutions include the University of Lisbon, University of Coimbra, University of Porto, Lisbon Polytechnic Institute, University of Minho, University of Aveiro, University of Évora, and the National School of Public Administration. Among them, the University of Coimbra has significant global influence. Portugal has 289 various museums, 1960 libraries, 347 cinemas and theaters, and 306 galleries or exhibition halls.
