Tahiti

Intercultural Business Communication

Professor: José de Jesús Urzúa López

Members:

Adriana Yazmin Hernández Huizar

Karla Fabiola Sanabria Salazar

Contenido
Executive Summary
COUNTRY’S INTRODUCTION
General Information
Flag
Climate
Religion
Currency
Time zone
LOCAL CULTURE
History and process of enculturation
Norms, Rules, Roles and their impact
Subcultures and Subgroups
Local communication barriers
UNIVERSAL SYSTEMS
Economic Systems
Political Systems
Educational Systems
Marriage and Family Systems
CONTRASTING CULTURAL VALUES
Values of Tahiti
Semantic differences
The perception about Mexico
Attitudes toward women
Sociopolitical Organization
Attitudes toward ethics
Religious influences
CULTURAL SHOCK
LANGUAGE
Tahitian alphabet and pronunciation
 Forms of verbal interaction
COLLOQUIAL EXPRESSIONS
Tahitian Phrases
ORAL AND NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION PATTERNS
Fine Arts in Tahiti
Traditional Dances and Music from Tahiti
World Heritage of Tahiti
GLOBAL ETIQUETTE
Greetings
Business Card Exchange
Dining Practices
Tipping
Gift Giving
BUSINESS AND SOCIAL CUSTOMS
Customs
Male/female relationships and workplace equality
Office customs and practices
Taboos
Superstition
Customs associated with holidays
Special food
INTERCULTURAL NEGOTIATION PROCESS
Business
Communications
Duty free
Steps in the negotiation process
Rules for a good negotiation
Mistakes commonly made during negotiation
References
Executive Summary
Think black pearl and vanilla bean farms, and overwater bungalows above eletric
blue water. Think tropical sunshine and coconut-based cocktails. You’re thinking
about Tahiti. You’re thinking about Paradise on earth. This island, Tahiti, is one of
the most beautiful in oceania. Tahiti or the Islands of Tahiti, which is officially
known as French Polynesia, consists of five island group.

Actually the political System is Parliamentary representative democratic French

overseas collectivity. The actual president is Édouard Fritch.

Tahiti and her islands covers a huge ocean surface covering some 4 million KM²,
which is the same area as europe.

Doing business here is very friendly and easy going. There is not a lot of
commerce, their principal activity is the tourism and ocean resources; black pearl.
COUNTRY’S INTRODUCTION
General Information
Tahiti or the Islands of Tahiti, which is officially known as French Polynesia,
consists of five island group. Tahiti is French Polynesia's largest and most
glamorous tropical island, located in the southern Pacific Ocean with a population
of around 240,000 people. Geographically, Tahiti consists of two round-shaped
areas, which are connected by a thin, narrow isthmus called the Plateau of
Taravao. The north western area is called Tahiti Nui ('big Tahiti'), while the smaller
area to the south east is known as Tahiti Iti ('small Tahiti').

The capital is Papeete, and is situated on the north west coast of the island with a
population of 82,703 (July 2015 est.) About 75% are Polynesian; 15% European
and about 10% Chinese.

Covered by lush rainforests, the interior areas of Tahiti are home to a wealth of
beautiful trees, ferns and flowering plants with gushing waterfalls, flowing rivers
and deep valleys. The coastal areas of Tahiti are dotted with tall palm trees and
fields of tropical flowers. The main cash crops here are copra, vanilla, sugarcane
and tropical fruits. (Tahiti Guide, 2015)
Flag

A Polynesian canoe rides on the wave pattern; the canoe has a crew of five
represented by five stars that symbolize the five island groups; red and white are
traditional Polynesian colors. (IndexMundi, 2016)

Climate
Tahiti is located in French Polynesia and enjoys warm, tropical weather year-
round. Cooled by the gentle breezes of the Pacific, the climate of these islands is
sunny and pleasant. The average ocean temperature is in the low 80’s. Because
Tahiti and her Islands are below the Equator, the seasons are the reverse of those
in the Northern Hemisphere. There are two seasons: from November through April
the climate is warmer and more humid, with daily high temperatures of about 85°F
and lows of 70°F at night. More rain falls during the warmer season, but there are
also many lovely sunny days with refreshing trade-winds during these months. In
fact, during the period of November through March Tahiti still averages more
sunshine hours than Honolulu. From May through October the climate is cooler
and drier with daily high temperatures of about 82°F and lows of 70°F at night.
Most people divide the year into two climate periods - the Dry Season and the
Humid Season.

The Dry Season - (also called Austral winter) taking place between April and
October brings an expected coolness, July and August being the coolest months of
the year due to southeast trade winds called maraamu.

The Humid Season - (also called Rainy season) starts in November and ends in
March. It brings mugginess, humidity as well as heavier and more frequent rains
than in the dry season. During that season, tropical storms may occur.
Religion
Most of the tahitians population is protestant church (45% of the population)Once
known as the Evangelical Church of French Polynesia (or ECFP), it is now the
Maóhi Protestant Church. This particular sect differs from most Protestant sects by
the fact that it adopts the theology popularised by Duro Raapoto that places Maóhi
identity, the return to the land and to tradition, at the centre of faith. God is
presented as the same deity as Ta'aroa (the god of creation in Tahitian
polytheism). All Maóhi parishes read from the text, Faraite moa haapaeraa maa no
te Hau (liturgy of Good Friday, the day of fasting for peace), which focuses on
Maóhi identity, the earth and the placenta.

The Catholic Church (39% of the population. There is a strong community of

Catholics, which is particularly well-represented in the Marquesas. Polynesian
Catholics have merged Polynesian traditions and religion into their faith by
translating and adapting scripture and song and organising cultural events with
music and dancing.

The Mormon Church or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (7% of the
population). Like other Western religions, the Mormons tailored their message to
Polynesian cultural heritage as they went about spreading this pro-American
ideology (they commemorate pioneer life from the days of John Smith with log
sawing contests). Minority religions include theSeventh-Day Adventist Church (5%)
and the Sanitos (or Community of Christ or Reorganised Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints (3.5% of the population). Historically linked to the Mormons, this
famous church broke off from the main sect to move closer to mainstream
Protestantism.

Popular beliefs and practices

The Maóhi culture and belief in mother earth have been revived through tattooing,
ti'i or tiki (ancestral statues that often inspire fear) and restored or contemporary
marae (sacred ceremonial sites). On Tahiti, the Arahurahu marae is used to re-
enact weddings and investitures of chiefs (Ari'i). On Ra'iātea, the Taputapuatea
marae complex is now visited by Maoris. The Maoris organised a pilgrimage there
in 1980, 1990, 1995, when a large gathering of sea-going outrigger canoes took
place in March, and in 2000, when a tattoo festival was held in the month of April.
Kava ceremonies, traditional dance, haka (borrowed from the Maori) and tributes to
traditional gods during Matariki festivals take place on some islands. To the delight
of tourists, traditional marriage ceremonies are even celebrated by tahau (Tahitian
priests). Lastly, the custom of placental burial, widely observed, stems from the
islanders' strong attachment to the earth: it marks an essential connection between
the child and “mother earth” (French polynesia now, 2015)

Currency
The official currency in Tahiti is the French Pacific Franc. The symbol for the
money is $b and it is divided into 100 cents (centavos). There are $b1, $b2, $b5,
10, 20, 50 coins and $b10, $b20, $b50, $b100, $b200 banknotes (cf. XE currency,
2015). (Frommers, 2016)
Time zone

(WorldAtlas, 2016)
LOCAL CULTURE
The Tahitians of the modern era maintain their heritage and traditions of their
Maohi ancestors. Oral history recounts the adventures of gods and warriors in
colorful legends where javelin throwing was the sport of the gods, surf riding was
favored by the kings, and Aito strongmen competed in outrigger canoe races and
stone lifting as a show of pure strength. The Tahitian culture is rich in the islands,
welcoming visitors from all over the world

History and process of enculturation

The Tahitians of the modern era maintain their heritage and traditions of their
Maohi ancestors. Tahitian culture is rich in the islands, welcoming visitors from all
over the world.

HISTORY OF TAHITI

Tahiti now called the “Polynesian Triangle” and includes Hawaii to the north, Easter
Island to the south.

East, and New Zealand to the southwest. As a result of these migrations, the
native Hawaiians and the Maoris of New Zealand all originate from common
ancestors and speak a similar language collectively known as Maohi.

The era of European exploration began in the 1500s when “ships without
outriggers” began to arrive. In 1521, Magellan spotted the atoll of Pukapuka in
what is now the Tuamotu Atolls and, in 1595, the Spanish explorer Mendaña
visited Fatu Hiva Island in the Marquesas. More than 170 years later, Captain
Samuel Wallis and the H.M.S. Dolphin was the first to visit the island of Tahiti
during his journey to discover terra australis incognita, a mythical landmass below
the equator thought to balance the northern hemisphere. Wallis named the island
of Tahiti “King George III Island” and claimed it for England. Soon after and
unaware of Wallis’ arrival, French navigator Louis-Antoine de Bougainville, landed
on the opposite side of Tahiti and claimed it for the King of France.

European fascination with the islands grew as news spread of both the mutiny of
Capt. William Bligh’s crew aboard the H.M.S. Bountyand of tales of tropical beauty
and the warm nature of the Tahitian people. Knowledge of Tahiti and the South
Pacific continued to grow as Capt. James Cook brought back thousands of
illustrations of Tahitian flora and fauna as well as the first map of the islands of the
Pacific. In the 1800s, the arrival of whalers, British missionaries, and French
military expeditions forever changed the way of life on Tahiti and created a French-
British rivalry for control of the islands. The Pomare Dynasty ruled Tahiti until 1847
when Queen Pomare finally accepted French protection of the islands of Tahiti and
Moorea.

In 1880, following the queen’s death, King Pomare V was persuaded to cede Tahiti
and most of its dependencies to France. In 1957, all the islands of Tahiti were
reconstituted as the overseas French territory called French Polynesia. Since
1984, a statue of autonomy was implemented and, in 1998, French Polynesia
became an overseas country with greater self-governing powers through their own
Assembly and President. With these powers, the country is now negotiating
international agreements with foreign states in matters of commerce and
investment. (Tahiti Tourisme North America)

Subcultures and Subgroups

The Maóhi culture and belief in mother earth have been revived through tattooing,
ti'i or tiki (ancestral statues that often inspire fear) and restored or contemporary
marae (sacred ceremonial sites). On Tahiti, the Arahurahu marae is used to re-
enact weddings and investitures of chiefs (Ari'i). Kavaceremonies, traditional
dance, haka (borrowed from the Maori) and tributes to traditional gods during
Matariki festivals take place on some islands. . Lastly, the custom of placental
burial, widely observed, stems from the islanders' strong attachment to the earth: it
marks an essential connection between the child and “mother earth”. (Tahiti
Tourisme North America)

Local communication barriers

A majority of the residents speak both French and Tahitian, the dominant
Polynesian language. On the more isolated islands, older residents continue to
speak a local Polynesian language; and in the isolated Austral Islands, languages
differ from island to island. These languages have become more homogeneous,
and Tahitian is beginning to replace local languages. Older Chinese residents
speak the Hakka dialect, but younger generations speak French and often
Tahitian. (Tahiti Tourisme North America)
UNIVERSAL SYSTEMS

Economic Systems
After the establishment of the CEP (Centre d'Experimentation du Pacifique) in
1963, the standard of living in French Polynesia increased considerably and many
Polynesians abandoned traditional activities and emigrated to the urban centre of
Pape'ete. Even though the standard of living is elevated (due mainly to French
foreign direct investment), the economy is reliant on imports. At the cessation of
CEP activities, France signed the Progress Pact with Tahiti to compensate the loss
of financial resources and assist in education and tourism with an investment of
about US$150 million a year from the beginning of 2006.

The main trading partners are France for about 40% of imports and about 25% of
exports, the other main trading partners are the US, Japan, Australia and New
Zealand.

Tahitian pearl (Black pearl) farming is also a substantial source of revenues, most
of the pearls being exported to Japan, Europe and the US. Tahiti also exports
vanilla, fruits, flowers, monoi, fish, copra oil, and noni. Tahiti is also home to a
single winery, whose vineyards are located on the Rangiroa atoll

Unemployment affects about 13% of the active population, especially women and
unqualified young people.

Tahiti’s currency, the French Pacific Franc (CFP, also known as XPF), is pegged to
the Euro at 1 CFP = EUR .00838 (approx. 106 CFP to the US Dollar in January
2015). Hotels and financial institutions offer exchange services.

Sales tax in Tahiti is called Taxe sur la Valeur Ajoutée (TVA or value added tax
(V.A.T.) in English). V.A.T. 2009 on tourist services is 10% and V.A.T. 2009 on
hotels, small boarding houses, food and beverages is 6%. V.A.T. on the purchase
of goods and products is 16%. (Oceania, 2016)

subsistence and Commercial Activities. Tahitians were horticulturalists raising a

variety of tree and tuberous crops as well as plantains, all of which, except sweet
potatoes, originated in southeast Asia or Melanesia. Domesticated animals
included pigs, dogs, and chickens. Fish, caught by a variety of techniques, were a
dominant source of protein. Contact with Europeans resulted in the addition of
several American and Old World plants and domesticated animals. During the
early nineteenth century a successful pork trade with New South Wales was
carried on and this was followed later by exports of coconut oil, sugarcane, and
arrowroot. Provisioning of European ships became a major nineteenth-century
source of income.

Industrial Arts: Decorated bark cloth was a major aboriginal industrial art created
by women and used as clothing, as formal gifts, and for export trade. Bark-cloth
production continued into the twentieth century, but such cloth is no longer
manufactured.

Trade: Regular aboriginal trading was carried on with the leeward islands of the
Society Archipelago and the western atolls of the Tuamotus. The principal item for
exchange was bark cloth, to which was an added provision in the case of the
Tuamotu atolls. With the arrival of Europeans, iron became the dominant item
traded to those atolls. In exchange, Tahitians obtained dog hair, pearls, and pearl
shells from the Tuamotus and coconut oil and canoes from the Leeward Islands.

Division of Labor: Traditionally, general construction work and manufacturing of

tools, weapons, canoes, and fishing gear was men's work, as was fishing, major
ritualism, and warfare. Women created bark cloth, wove mats, and fashioned
clothing from both materials. Farming was shared by both sexes.

Land Tenure. At the time of contact landownership with the right of inheritance was
recognized for those of the chiefly and commoner classes, with only the lower
class, known asteuteu, being excluded. Such lands were subject to taxation in kind
by the ruling chiefs who could banish an owner if such taxes were not forthcoming.
Missionary activity in the nineteenth century seems to have resulted in at least
some of the teuteu class obtaining land rights.

Political Systems
Political System: Parliamentary representative democratic French overseas
collectivity.

President: Édouard Fritch.

Dependence: overseas lands of France; overseas territory of France from 1946-

2003; overseas collectivity of France since 2003, though it is often referred to as an
overseas country due to its degree of autonomy. (Tahiti tourisme , 2016)
Educational Systems
Educational system follows the French model. Public education is financed by the
government.

Primary Education

Children begin at primary school as young as age 5, and remain there for 6 years.

II. Secondary Education

Secondary schooling takes a further 7 years through to age 17. Public schools are
fully financed by the government, which also subsidizes some private schools
owned by churches.

III. Vocational Education

There are several vocational training institutions and agricultural schools by the
government, and a variety of private colleges too.

IV. Tertiary Education

The University of French Polynesia based in Outumaoro was established in 1999

and is an autonomous public scientific, cultural and professional education and
research institution.

Marriage and Family Systems

Marriage: Residents recognize several kinds or degrees of marital union. At one
end of the continuum is the union of a couple instituted by civil (French) and church
ceremonies and celebrated by wedding feasts for relatives, officials, and friends. At
the other end are couples that live and eat together without a civil ceremony who
are committed to raising a family together and are considered by their neighbors to
be married.

Domestic Unit: The most important residential unit is the nuclear family. Many
nuclear families include adopted children. Most often couples initially live with the
parents of the man or woman and later establish a separate domestic unit.

Inheritance: People recognize bilateral kinship units that control the use of land.
Individuals must demonstrate their connections to one of these units in order to
claim use rights to plots of family land. Those rights are inherited by one's children.
Kin Groups: All of the mother and father's' relatives are considered kin. Although
not an important corporate or social group in an individual's life, one's bilateral kin
group is an important source of mutual aid, and through membership in a kin
group, individuals acquire use rights to land. (Every Culture Guide ,2016)

CONTRASTING CULTURAL VALUES

Values of Tahiti
Reciprocity, generosity, and hospitality are central values. When guests are invited
for a meal, the hosts are not necessarily expected to eat. Tahitians greet each
other by shaking hands and/or exchanging kisses on the cheek. Unless there is a
large number of people in the room, it is considered impolite not to shake hands
with all of them. It also is considered impolite to keep one's shoes on when
entering another person's home.

The perception about Mexico

Tahitians believe that people in Mexico are very friendly, happy, love music and
dancing but also they are lazy and have the belief that their food is good .
Mexicans love to party and like alcohol.

Attitudes toward women

The ability of men to earn money became an essential part of their breadwinning
role. After the 1960s, a close association developed between income-earning
ability and household decision making. Men's predominance in income-earning
activities and greater income were translated into greater control over household
decision making. This authority is not supported by an ideology of male superiority.
Belief in the interdependence, complementarity, and equality of men's and
women's activities and capabilities exists in urban and rural settings.

Sociopolitical Organization
Social Organization: During the eighteenth century, there were basically three
social classes: the ari'i, or chiefs; the Commoners, variously known as manahuni or
ra'atira; and the laboring and servant class known as teuteu. Only the last group
could not own land. By the beginning of the nineteenth Century, perhaps because
of European influence, a fourth class called titi,consisting of slaves derived from
warfare, had been added.

Political Organization: In the early years of European contact Tahitian tribes were
grouped into two major territorial units. One constituted the larger northwestern
portion of the island and was known as Tahiti Nui, while the other consisted of the
southeastern Taiarapu Peninsula and was known as Tahiti Iti. Each maintained a
paramount chief of socioReligious power. Below this highest position were chiefs
who ruled over what may be likened to districts. These were Divided into smaller
units and managed by inferior ranked chiefs. A paramount chief's power was not
unlimited, since important matters affecting most or all of his region were decided
by a council of high-ranking chiefs. Paramountcy was not totally preordained, as
wars and kinship alliances served to maintain such a status. It was with European
aid and combinations of these factors that the Pomare paramountcy was
maintained well into the nineteenth century.

Social Control: Fear of divine retribution was a major Control, while human
sacrifice and a variety of corporal punishments for secular antisocial behavior were
also used as sanctions. Justice in the latter cases was determined by a district
chief, and the right to appeal to one's paramount chief was available.

Conflict: Confusion regarding tribal territories and overindulgence of chiefly

demands for products and services were sources of irritation. At the time of
European contact, warfare for chiefly aggrandizement, rather than territorial
acquisition, was dominant. By the close of the eighteenth century the European
tradition of warfare for territorial gain had been added to the traditional theme of
warfare. Minor interpersonal conflicts were resolved by each antagonist being
allowed to exhibit publicly his strong resentment of whatever indiscretion had
caused the conflict, after which both parties soon reconciled. However, more
important conflicts were settled by a district chief, the antagonists having the right
to appeal his decision to the paramount chief if not satisfied. (Encyclopedia of
World Cultures, 1996)

Religious influences
The conversion of residents to Christianity occurred after the London Missionary
School sent evangelical Protestant missionaries to Tahiti in 1797. Catholicism was
introduced much later by the French. The Catholic population lives primarily in the
Gambier and Marquesas archipelagoès.Protestantism predominates in the Society,
Austral, and Tuamotu island groups. Today 49 percent of the population is
Protestant, 33 percent is Catholic, 5 percent is Mormon, 5 percent is Sanito, and 4
percent is Seventh-Day Adventist.

Before Western contact, people believed in a pantheon of distant gods and a host
of local and family spirits that affected daily life.

Many residents believe in ancestral spirits. These spirits gather around the village
and are encountered as the ghosts of formerly living people.
In Protestant areas, the Christian faith, the church, and the pastor are central
features of village life. Pastors preside over the religious activities of the
community, conduct Sunday school, teach the Bible, conduct weddings and
funerals, and provide communion. The village pastor is also a protector of
community morality and can affect political decision making. Elders have an
important power base in the church, and one of their primary roles is to assist the
pastor in enforcing social control. Some contemporary villages have indigenous
practitioners (primarily male) who use their knowledge and control of spirits and
ghosts to heal people who have a spirit-caused disorder.

Individualism and collectivism

There is not such an number in the HOFSTEDE dimension because it haven’t
been measured. (The Hofstede Centre)

CULTURAL SHOCK
Language
Most of the Tahitians have learned English as their third or fourth language. For
example, most of them grew up speaking Tahitian or another island dialect such as
Tuamotu, then learned French in school.

The official languages of the islands are Tahitian (Reo ma’ohi) and French,
however, Most people speak English in tourism locations.

French (official) 61.1%, Polynesian (official) 31.4%, Asian languages 1.2%, other
0.3%, unspecified 6% (2002 census)

Tahitian is a Polynesian language spoken in French Polynesia by about 125,000

people. Most speakers of the language live in the Society Islands (Îles de la
Société) and some islands in the Tuamotus including the Mihiroa group. It is also
spoken in New Caledonia, New Zealand and Vanuatu, and is closely related to
Rarotongan and Hawai'ian.

Until the early 19th century Tahitian was a purely oral language. A Tahitian spelling
system using the Latin alphabet was developed by John Davis, a Welsh historian
and linguist, and proposed on 8th March 1805. Davis produced the first printed
book in Tahitian, an ABC called Te Aebi no Tahiti, in 1810. Most of the written
material published since has been of a religious or educational nature.
Tahitian alphabet and pronunciation

Every syllable in Tahitian ends in a vowel. There are no silent letters. There are no
consonants clusters, but vowel clusters are common. In such cases, each vowel is
pronounced as a separate syllable. A macron (ā, ē, etc.) lengthens a vowel.

Sample text in Tahitian

E fanauhia te tā'āto'ara'a o te ta'atātupu ma te ti'amā e te ti'amanara'a 'aifaito. Ua 'ī

te mana'o pa'ari e i te manava e ma te 'a'au taea'e 'oia ta ratou ha'a i rotopū ia
ratou iho, e ti'a ai;

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed
with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of
brotherhood.(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights) (Omniglot,
2015)

Forms of verbal interaction

Haitians are very friendly and they like to feel the people close, they like to touch
and keep contact with them.

When the greet each other, this is what they normally do:

 Direct Eye Contact During Conversations

 Greet everyone present
 Handshake
 Kiss on the cheek
 Handshake
 Hug
 Inquire about health and family
 Maintain eye contact
 Pat on back
 Smile
(WanderBat, 2016)
 (Gerlach, 2015)

COLLOQUIAL EXPRESSIONS
 Patu-tiki, which means "hitting images", a revealing expression referring to
tattoos.
 In tahiti the phrase is used “fa'a ta'i” to say that he is playing some
instrument.
 The ti'i or tiki (ancient statues often inspire fear)
 the tahua (Tahitians priests)

(Kanake .D, 2015.)

Tahitian Phrases
Here are a few Tahitian useful words you could pick up from a conversation:

Aita---------No

E------------Yes

Fare---------House

Ma'a---------Food

Maeva--------Welcome

Maita'i------How are you?

Mauruuru-----Thank you

Pape---------Water

Tama'a-------Let's eat

Tiare--------flower, emblem of Tahiti and her Islands

Hello.

ia orana

How are you? Maita'i oe? (Informal, literally, " you good") E aha to oe huru?
(literally)

"what is your state of being?")

Fine, thank you

Maita'i vau (Mauruuru)

What is your name?

? (O vai to oe io'a?)

My name is ______ .

O____ to'u i'oa. (lit. O____ my name) O signifies a proper noun like O Tahiti.
Please. No real word "na" softens requests/commands

Thank you. (Mauruuru) lit. "satisfied".

You're welcome. No real word "aita pe'ape'a" commonly used.

No problem.

Aita pe'a'pe'a.

Yes.

. E, oia

No.

. Aita

Excuse me. no real word "na" commonly used

I'm sorry. No real word, "ua hape vau" lit. "I made a mistake"

Goodbye

Nana (women only!) Men say: a parahi (those leaving, lit. "sit") Haere ra (those
staying, lit. "go")

Goodbye (informal)

Until later. ("Araua'e )

I can't speak name of language [well].

Aita vai parau _____ or Aita vai i ite reo _____

Do you speak English? (Ua ite oe i te parau Marite?) or "Parau Marite"

Help!

A tauturu ia'u! "A" signifies a command, "tauturu" is help, "ia'u" me.

Look out!

Ha'apa'o maita'i

Good night (to sleep)

. ('taoto maitai' )
I don't understand.

. (Aita i papu ia'u ) Usually shortened to ("Aita papu")

Where is the toilet?

? ( E hia te fare iti?) Or, Tei hea te fare ite (lit. "where is the small building")

me

vau, ia'u

you

'oe (one), orua (two), 'outou (three or more)

Numbers

1 - ho‘e, tahi

2 - piti, rua

3 - toru

4 - maha

5 - pae, rima

6 - ono

7 - hitu

8 - va'u

9 - iva

10 - ho'e 'ahuru (usually 'ahuru)

11 - ho'e 'ahuru ma ho‘e

20 - piti 'ahuru

50 - pae 'ahuru

100 - ho‘e hanere

200 - piti hanere

500 - pae hanere

1000 - ho'e tauatini

2000 - piti tauatini

5000 - pae tauatini

10000 - ‘ahuru tauatini

100000 - ho'e hanere tauatini

1,000,000 - ho‘e miriona

(WikiTravel, 2016)

Oral And Nonverbal Communication Patterns

Fine Arts in Tahiti
Literature.Nearly all fiction is written by expatriate European and Americans.
Indigenous Polynesian genres such as storytelling, political and religious oratory,
and song writing continue to be popular.

Graphic Arts.French Polynesia attracted many European painters and continues

to support painters of island landscapes and residents. Indigenous graphic arts
such as sculpturein wood, stone, and coral; the creation of hats, mats, and
baskets; tattooing; the making of patchwork quilts; and decorative shell work
continue to thrive. The practice of decorating bark cloth has largely disappeared,
but several artists are attempting to revive this ancient art form.

Performance Arts.Musical performance genres range from highly stylized hymn

singing, to humorous storytelling songs, to popular ballads and local rock and pop
music. In addition to "classic" local songs, new songs and music are performed
and distributed locally. Musical performance is widely practiced, and a favorite
activity is to sit with friends and family after supper and sing old classic ballads as a
group, accompanied by ukulele, guitar, and spoons. Traditional drumming is widely
practiced, often as an accompaniment to dance performances.

Modern ("disco") dance, local variants of ballroom dances, and traditional

Polynesian dance are popular. Traditional dance is performed by many amateur
and professional troupes.

(EveryCulture, 2016)
Traditional Dances and Music from Tahiti
In Tahitian dancing today
there are four types of
dance.

The Otea : this must

have been originally a
somewhat military dance,
reserved for men. It has
become the most famous
of the Tahitian dances. It
is choreographed around
a theme and its musical
accompaniment is performed on percussion and made up of rhythmical motifs
called pehe.

The Aparima :in this dance, the hands of the dancers mime history. The aparima
can be either vava (silent) and consist of pantomime, generally performed while
kneeling and accompanied by percussion or it can be sung,aparima himene, and
the movements are in time to the chant which is accompanied by stringed
instruments.
The Hivinau : during this choreography, male and female dancers wend round in a
circle and a male soloist voices a phrase that the choir takes up. The orchestra is
made up of various drums and the pace is maintained by the dancers’
songs.(Tourism Tahiti ,2016)

World Heritage of Tahiti

Polynesian culture has its roots deep in the mythical origins of great ancestral
seafarers who settled in the islands 3,000 years ago. It was passed on from
generation to generation by sacred word. The oral tradition continued it through the
centuries, sometimes forgotten by everyone, to rise up again just when it was
thought to have disappeared. In this centuries-old tradition, today's singers chant
the magnificent accents of songs, sacred or secular, losing their echoes in the
constant murmurs of the ocean over the coral reef. It is in this tradition that men
and women dancers find inspiration for their extravagant choreography. It is in this
tradition that enthusiasts of va'a (traditional outrigger sailing) discover the art of
building and sailing their fine outrigger canoes over the ocean and lagoons! From
tradition comes the art of audible percussion from the big, deep pahu and the
rattling to'ere, the art of beautiful, complex tattoos, as well as the art of wood
sculpture of the Marquesas. Offspring of the great tiki, these stone statues are still
standing among the lava of the marae in the bottom of the secret valleys.

In the bountiful, Polynesian islands, all talents converge with natural splendours to
make craftsmanship into an art form. (Tahiti Now)
GLOBAL ETIQUETTE

Greetings
Tahitians use they central values Reciprocity, generosity, and hospitality always
that they meet new people . When guests are invited for a meal, the hosts are not
necessarily expected to eat. Tahitians greet each other by shaking hands and/or
exchanging kisses on the cheek. Unless there is a large number of people in the
room, it is considered impolite not to shake hands with all of them. It also is
considered impolite to keep one's shoes on when entering another person's home.

Business Card Exchange

In Tahiti usually the business cards are exchange during in the beginning of
introductions, must to try and have one side of your business card translated into
French .

Dining Practices
 Eating on streets okay
 No alcohol in public

Tipping
Tipping in Tahiti and the islands is not required - nor expected - as it goes against
local custom where hospitality is paramount. All prices quoted are all-inclusive.
Tipping in Tahiti is not common:

Taxis: Tipping a taxi driver - None

Hotels: hotel porter - None

Restaurants: Service - None

Bars: Like restaurants a service- None

Gift Giving
Tahitians are favorably impressed by gifts. The intention is more important than the
gift itself. As in any country, a gift should be of high quality. If the item is produced
by your corporation, the corporate name or logo should appear discreetly, not be
emblazoned over whole surface.

When you arrive to a new island they give you a flowers crown to say Welcome to
this new Experience in Tahiti.

BUSINESS AND SOCIAL CUSTOMS

Customs
The tahitians are people with a lot of costumes for all the hereditach.The culture in
Tahiti and French Polynesia is relaxed and welcoming, with hospitality and
generosity considered important values. People greet each other with a handshake
or kiss on the cheek, and it is considered impolite not to greet everyone in the room
unless there is a large group. Guests should remove their shoes when entering
someone's home.

Marae

The open-air sanctuaries called Marae were once the center of power in ancient
Polynesia. These large, sacred, stone structures, akin to temples, hosted the
important events of the times including the worship of the gods, peace treaties,
celebrations of war, and the launch of voyages to colonize distant lands.

Heiva i Tahiti

In celebration of ancient traditions and competitions, the annual Heiva festival has
been the most important event in Tahiti for the past 122 years. For visitors, there is
no better place in the world to be during July than surrounded by this pure display
of Polynesian festivity. Tahitians gather in Papeete from many islands to display
their crafts, compete in ancient sporting events, and recreate traditional and
elaborate dance performances.

Tattoo

The word tattoo originated in French Polynesia. The legend of Tohu, the god of
tattoo, describes painting all the oceans’ fish in beautiful colors and patterns. In
Polynesian culture, tattoos have long been considered signs of beauty, and in
earlier times were ceremoniously applied when reaching adolescence.

Music and Dance

The beauty, drama, and power of today’s Tahitian dance testify to its resilience in
Polynesian culture. In ancient times, dances were directly linked with all aspects of
life. One would dance for joy, to welcome a visitor, to pray to a god, to challenge an
enemy, and to seduce a mate. Dance is still accompanied by traditional musical
instruments such as thunderous drums, conch shells, and harmonic nasal flutes.
Modern Tahitian music is enjoyable as well, with a sound that often blends
Polynesian rhythm and Western melody.

Handcrafts

The skills of the ancestors’ artistry are kept sacred and passed on by both the
“mamas,” the guardians of tradition and the matriarchs of Tahitian society as well
as by skilled craftsmen. Items include weaving, quilting, wooden sculptures and
bowls, drums, tapa, carvings, and hand-dyed pareu.

Canoes

Centuries before the Europeans concluded that the earth was round, the great
voyagers of Polynesia had already mastered the Pacific Ocean. Aboard massive,
double-hulled outrigger canoes called tipairua, they navigated by stars and winds.
Today, the canoe still plays a role in everyday Tahitian life and is honored in
colorful races and festivals throughout the islands.

Flowers

Tropical flowers seem to be everywhere on the islands, particularly in the hair of

Tahitians. Hibiscus blossoms are worn behind the ear or braided with palm fronds
into floral crowns. The Tiare Tahiti flower, which can only be found in Tahiti, is used
in leis for greeting arriving visitors and returning family. Tradition holds that, if
taken, women and men wear a flower behind their left ear.(Culture tahiti , 2015 )
Dress and appearance
In Tahiti is common to use informal outfits when doing business and light colors. Is
usual to wear a conservative dress in women.

Do not wear:

 Dark colors
 Formal dress
 Jewelry
 Suit and tie
 Ties
 White shirt

Male/female relationships and workplace equality

Division of Labor by Gender

The gendered division of labor resulted from efforts of Christian missionaries and
French colonial officials to introduce a Western cultural system. In this system,
men were defined as the breadwinners and heads of families and the ideal roles
for women were as helpmates and nurturers. Before the introduction of
development programs in the 1960s, men were responsible for taro gardens, tree
crop plantations, and fishing, and women devoted themselves to motherhood and
household maintenance. Women also assisted their husbands in agricultural
production and fishing. Men tended to dominate the income-earning opportunities
in the processing of copra and vanilla. Rural and urban development schemes after
the 1960s expanded men's opportunities in commercial agriculture and introduced
wage-earning jobs. Although women in some of the archipelagoès were drawn into
wage labor, these opportunities were dominated by men.

The Relative Status of Women and Men.

The ability of men to earn money became an essential part of their breadwinning
role. After the 1960s, a close association developed between income-earning
ability and household decision making. Men's predominance in income-earning
activities and greater income were translated into greater control over household
decision making. This authority is not supported by an ideology of male superiority.
Belief in the interdependence, complementarity, and equality of men's and
women's activities and capabilities exists in urban and rural settings. (Every
Culture, 2016)

Office customs and practices

Some employees, mainly management, like to leave later than the usual in the
evenings. Office working hours are generally from either 8:00 or 9:00 to 12:00, and
from 14:00 to 18:00 from Monday to Friday. Most employees go home for lunch,
although the government has recently introduced straight working hours (mainly at
government level) (Foreign Affairs Canada , 2009) (Culture Crossing Guide, n.d.).

Taboos
Polynesian society has been marked by prohibitions of magical-religious character,
which have given rise to the term Taboo which means prohibited or forbidden.
Ethnologists believe that Taboo is a religious phenomenon that is the negative of
the holy.

Something that respect Haitians are the maraes where gods were worshiped, and
was also a place where certain social events such as war prepared, the
consecration of the leaders, and human sacrifice. There were many types of
marae, some for family events (births, deaths ...), others were royal marae for
major ceremonies could bring several islands.

its here we have the first taboo because for the tahitians don't move a stone of
maraes or tiki (they are carved in stone blocks representing human statues) that
could be carrying Mana(positive energy emanating from the earth) and unleash a
curse. Mana is supernatural force, is magic.

In ancient Tahiti, taboos prevented women generally from eating pigs, dogs,
turtles, albacore, shark, dolphin, whale and porpoise , highly esteemed foods which
were in short supply either seasonally or throughout the year .

Women eat food prepared in the marae precincts where contact was made
between men and the spirit world.
Superstition

The Polynesians were polytheists and very superstitious, they feared spirits. The
main god was Taaroa : the Creator. Many secondary gods hallowed by legends
also existed such as Hiro, god of the thieves ; Hina, goddess of the moon ; Pele,
god of the volcano or Oro, for whom human sacrifices were practiced.

In some dwellings a light is always left on the overnight to fear that tupaupau
(ghosts) or varua ino (malovolent spirits) might be on the prowl.

Christian polynesians continue to respect tapu sites and nothing would persuade a
polynesian to move a tiki o marae stone.

On ocassion a tahua (faith healer) is still consulted and raau tahiti (traditional
herbal medicine) is making a comeback. (Lonely Planet)
Customs associated with holidays
Eating in Family: On Saturday, Polynesian families prepare an earth oven with
traditional foods (fish, pork, taro, breadfruit, sweet potato) to be eaten at large
family gatherings on Sunday. Traditional Polynesian food also is served at wedding
feasts.

The ma'ohi culture and belief in Mother Earth: is reborn in new practices like
tattooing, the ti'i or tiki (ancient statues often inspire fear) and the marae (places of
ceremony) restored and revisited. In Tahiti, the marae Arahurahu is from the
seventies of the last century a place reconstitution wedding ari'i investiture.
Raiatea, Taputapuatea is frequented by Maori who made a pilgrimage in 1980, in
1990 and in March 1995, where the great Polynesian canoe meeting took place
offshore, and in April 2000 a festival of tattoo. On some islands kava ceremonies,
traditional dances or haka (taken from the Ma'ori), the call to traditional deities
during the festival of Matari'i ... And even traditional wedding ceremonies are
practiced are led by the tahua (Tahitians priests) for the enjoyment of tourists.
Finally, the custom of burying the placenta, well practiced, comes from the strong
belief on Earth allows the earth Polynesian become true "earth mother" and that
the child is linked to the land.

Marriage: Residents recognize several kinds or degrees of marital union. At one

end of the continuum is the union of a couple instituted by civil (French) and church
ceremonies and celebrated by wedding feasts for relatives, officials, and friends. At
the other end are couples that live and eat together without a civil ceremony who
are committed to raising a family together and are considered by their neighbors to
be married.

Special food
The cuisine of Tahiti is internationally renowned for its fresh fish, exotic fruits and
vegetables which are prepared with a Polynesian influence and a touch of French
flair.

Who better to serve these delectable dishes than the irresistible Tahitian natives
themselves. Restaurants offer French, Tahitian, Chinese, Vietnamese and Italian
dishes for the discerning palate. The native Tahitians are also known for their
sauces which contain homegrown vanilla beans.
Papeete is considered the food capital of Tahiti. At most resorts throughout the
islands, a Tama’ara’a or Tahitian Feast is held at least once a week. This involves
cooking in a himaa (an oven that has been dug into the ground). Food is wrapped
in banana leaves and the hole is covered with sand making it airtight. Cooking can
take up to several hours but is well worth the wait as the food comes out soft,
tender and fall off the bone ready

One popular dish, Poisson cru (ia ota), which consists of raw fish marinated with
lime juice and soaked in coconut milk, is so delicious and light that it melts in one's
mouth. Chevreffes, another popular Tahitian entree, are tasty freshwater shrimp
which can also be found on the beautiful native islands of Tahiti.

To complete any amura'a (meal), the Tahitians serve Poe, a sweet pudding made
of taro root flavored with banana, vanilla, papaya or pumpkin and topped with
coconut-milk sauce - the ultimate dessert.

Try the mouth-watering French croissants or the tasty biscuit-like treats, kato,
which are made with coconut milk. A cup of the local coffee, which is flavoured with
vanilla bean and served with sugar and coconut cream, complements any of these
delicious Tahitian desserts.

The legendary breadfruit plant or uru, the coconut, the dozens of varieties of
bananas of which one is the incomparable orange plantain banana or fe'i, the
various root vegetables such as thetaro, the tarua, the ufi or even the 'umara make
up the basis of island cuisine. Papayas, mangos, pineapples, watermelon,
grapefruit, limes with a pod of vanilla are used to prepare tasty deserts.

Fish from the lagoon or from the ocean, ranging from perch, the dolphinfish (mahi
mahi) through to the parrot fish in theTuamotu islands in particular, are also on the
menu for typical Polynesian dishes. They are often eaten raw, sometimes
marinated in lime juice and coconut milk as in the famous recipe for raw fish à la
Tahitienne' that is found all over the globe.

All these tropical foods are found in traditional ahima'a or Polynesian ovens where
fruits, vegetables, suckling pigs, Tahitian chicken fafa (local spinach) and other
delicacies such as po'e or local fruit pastilles cook through. Everything is sprinkled
with fresh coconut oil and deliciously creamy. Numerous tourist services also let
you discover the flavours of the islands on picnics organised on beaches or on a
motu (islet), and tasted while dangling your feet in water.
INTERCULTURAL NEGOTIATION PROCESS

Business
Business etiquette is relatively informal in Tahiti and French Polynesia. French is
the main language of trade, however English is often understood in more touristy
areas. Business hours are generally 8am to 12pm and 1.30pm to 5.30pm Monday
to Friday. (MexlTravel)

Communications
The international dialling code for French Polynesia is +689 and the outgoing code
is 00, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0027 for South Africa). City/area
codes are not in use. There are public phone booths on all the islands, most
operated with phone cards called 'Telecartes', available from the airport, some
bars, magazine stands and the post offices. A GSM 900 mobile network provides
limited coverage on Tahiti. Internet access is available in the larger hotels and
resorts and the main tourist islands all have internet cafes.

Duty free
Travellers arriving in Tahiti do not have to pay customs duty on 400 cigarettes, 1
litre of alcoholic spirits or 2 litres of still wine, a reasonable amount of perfume and
eau de toilette for personal use, and items valued up to CFP5,000 (for adults) or
CFP2,5000 (children under 15 years) for gifts or personal use. The import of food,
weapons or drugs is prohibited. (World Travels, 2016)

Steps in the negotiation process

Lets first define what negotiation means. The Random House Dictionary (2nd
Edition) defines "to negotiate" as: to deal or bargain with another or others, as in
the preparation of a treaty or contract or in preliminaries to a business deal.
Rules for a good negotiation
1. Seek a win-win situation. In a win-win situation, you really want both parties to
feel good about themselves, the deal, and the entire process of the negotiation.
You don't want to be too greedy.

2. Expect to win! Go in with the attitude that you intend to get everything on the
"need" list and some things on your "wish" list.

3. Learn from experience. Negotiation is not a game, because in a game you have
winners and losers. You should go into a negotiation seeking that win/win and
trying to make sure everyone feels good about the whole process.

4. Everything is negotiable, even the process. You can pick the place and whom
you would like present at the meeting. When you start talking to them, try and
recognize their tactics or negotiating styles.

5. NEVER attack the demand, only the rationale behind the demand.!

6. Don't settle for too little. When the vendor makes an offer, check both your want
and your wish lists and review your best options.

7. Be creative...think out of the box. I once negotiated the printing of a newsletter

for a senior citizens group, where pricing was very important! I got the printer to
reduce his rates by offering a quarter-page within the newsletter for him to
advertise his business.

8. Learn to listen. During the process of the negotiation, you might start focusing
too much on what you want to say and stop really listening to the other side.
Listening is one of the most essential aspects of successful negotiating, but one
that's always taken for granted.

Mistakes commonly made during negotiation

They don't listen.

A negotiation isn't simply offering a deal and accepting either a "yes" or a "no" after
a chance to persuade the other side.

"Good negotiators are the ones who walk into a deal in listening mode," Siedel
says. He recommends that you ask plenty of questions to understand where the
other side is coming from and what they're trying to get out of the deal.
You should be trying to gain the upper hand through the accumulation of
knowledge regarding the deal at hand rather than just focusing on the sound of
your own voice.

They get straight to business.

"You need to know the other side before diving in," Siedel says, adding that
Americans traditionally have a harder time than people of other cultures accepting
this.

If you and your team are meeting with representatives of another company,
consider meeting them for drinks or dinner the night before the negotiation. If it's
just you and you're going to see your boss to negotiate a raise, ease into it with
some chit-chat. It's about building trust and easing tension.

Siedel says that his friend moderated a border dispute between Peru and Ecuador.
This friend had the two nations' prime ministers enter a room to talk and two
generals do the same. After a long time passed, the two generals returned looking
upset. They told Siedel's friend that they wasted their time chatting about the
medical condition that both of their daughters had rather than discussing the topic
at hand.

He responded by telling them that their discussion was actually a huge success in
moving the negotiation further, since they realized the other side was human rather
than just a rival.

They go in without a clear sense of what they want.

"The richest people in the world go into a negotiation knowing exactly what they
want," Siedel says.

Before entering the negotiation, determine your target point, which is your ideal
situation. Balance this with a reservation price, which is the point that you won't
cross. If you're in a position to sell, this would be the minimum you're willing to part
with your assets. And if you're in a position to buy, this would be the maximum
you're willing to spend.

Don't be caught off guard by anything the other side proposes, and don't get
manipulated beyond your limits.

They don't have a best alternative prepared.

One of the fundamental aspects of Siedel's course is using your "BATNA" as a

secret weapon. It stands for the "Best Alternative To a Negotiated Agreement" and
refers to what you have to fall back on if the negotiation results in no deal.
Negotiation style

CROSS CULTURAL NEGOTIATION COMPONENTS

14 LAWS AFFECTING INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND TRAVEL IN BOLIVIA

14.1 Laws

14.2 Important informati

References
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