Culture Shock! Nepal: A Guide to Customs & Etiquette (Paperback)

~ (Editor) "The founder of modern Nepal, King Prithvi Narayan Shah, referred to the country as a yam stuck between two boulders..." (more)
Key Phrases: Middle Hills, Kathmandu Valley, Indra Jatra (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

You'll never feel intimidated and awkward about the customs and etiquette of another country again. With the insights provided in this CULTURE SHOCK! Guide, you'll learn to see beyond the stereotypes and misinformation that often precede a visit to a foreign land. Whether you plan to stay for a week or for a year, you'll benefit from such topics as understanding the rules of driving and monetary systems, religious practices and making friends. There are tips on political traditions, building business relationships, and the particular intricacies of setting up a home or office. Great for the business traveler, the foreign exchange student, or the tourist who makes a sincere attempt to cross the bridge into a new and exciting culture.

Product Details

• Paperback: 283 pages
• Publisher: Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company (December 12, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558680764
• ISBN-13: 978-1558680760
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #715,578 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #64 in	Books > History > Asia > South Asia
  #74 in	Books > Travel > Asia > Nepal

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This book may answer some of your questions about Nepal, February 3, 2002

By A Customer

If you've visited Nepal but are left with more questions than answers, or if you plan to work or live in the country, this is a good book to read. The first 100 pages are a somewhat dry description of the many Nepali tribes and castes, their traditions, differences, and origins.
The next chapter "The Nepali life cycle", is fun to read, and enlightening, also in what concerns the status and life style of Nepali women. Take the following example: Hindu tradition poses high responsability on fathers to watch over their daughters; to sidestep this burden, the Newar people invented a trick. Surprising as it is, by marrying their daughters at the age of seven to the god Vishnu, and thus reducing any subsequent marriage to the status of "secondary marriage", there is no shame for the family if the daughter is not "pure" before marriage, and also divorce is possible for her. Also aspects of schooling and courtship are discussed.
The chapters are "Dealing with Nepalis" and "Close encounters", reflect the author's experience with handling projects in Nepal and may be very useful if you wish to set up a project in Nepal and to keep it running smoothly.

3.0 out of 5 stars Fun, but out of date, November 13, 2009

By	Sean Crago "seancrago" (Kansas City, MO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I spent more time with this than any other travel or culture guide prior to arrival, and really enjoyed reading through it. It painted a picture of a country far less developed and westernized than you see in modern Pokhara or Kathmandu, however. Well worth checking out if you're going to be out in the middle of nowhere, but the book needs a substantial update before it'll be a decent prep for life in the capital city.

6 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars a manual with no soul..., January 11, 2000

By A Customer

Dry information: a description of Nepali's and their customs written as if they were apples, oranges and pears. Not completely uninteresting, but I will certainly suppliment this book with others