14 DAY TRIAL // 1. When you greet somebody, shaking his hand, accompany the greeting with a smile, which must not compete Mona Lisa's. It must be just natural, spontaneous, outspoken, devoid of artificiality.
2. Do not stretch the hand first to a woman, an elder person, a superior or a boss. The man should not be the first to stretch the hand, nor the younger or the subaltern. In these situations, it is enough to bend slightly the head and wait for the person to stretch the hand.
3. The rigid attitude of the man is incorrect if, wanting to kiss a woman's hand, he raises her hand to the height of his lips. He must bend slightly to the level of the hand of that woman. When the woman stretches the hand, this must not be ostentatiously raised to be kissed. The hand is offered normally, and the man wanting to do the gesture will raise it gently, while bending. The kiss must not be loud, nor wet. It is obsolete and incorrect for the woman whose hand has been kissed to thank for it.
4. When shaking hands, always offer the right hand, as a whole, not fragmentary, like one-two fingers.
5. Do not gesticulate, fluttering the hands through the air, while counting a story. Moreover, you are not more convincing if you grasp at the clothes of your interlocutor while speaking.
6. Amongst friends, hand shaking must be heartily, but not brusque or violent, giving the impression that you want to pull off the other's hand. Also, do not manifest your forearm muscle power by constricting the other's hand until his bones crack. When shaking hands with a woman, the man has to take care to do it gently. Shaking hands flabbily, devoid of tonus, is an impersonal gesture for both men and women.
7. It is impolite and incorrect to prolong hand shaking, keeping the other's hand captive into yours, both when it is about a woman or a person which you must respect. The gesture is even worse if the person remains sequestrated, impeded to exert his/her protocol obligations towards other persons there. When introduced to somebody, tell your whole name (including your family name), not just your surname. When somebody is introduced to you, display a protocol smile and stretch your hand.
8. While talking to someone, even of your age, do not put your hands in your pockets, forgetting to take them out, both on hot or freezing weather. It is a serious impoliteness to do this while talking to an elder person or a woman.
9. When showing something to someone, you do not have to show your knowledge, pointing objects with your finger. Any remote object can be revealed with discretion.
10. The man must carry most of the luggage. The opposite (woman transformed into a porter while the man transports nothing) is gross.
11. When raising your hat/cap, make the complete gesture. Do not greet with two fingers touching the brim of the hat. The hat will be raised for a couple of seconds of the head and you ought to look at that person.
12. Do not lean your hands and elbows on the table when eating.
13. Do not shake hands with gloves on, even when they are fantasy gloves.
14. Do not hurry to shake hands with everybody when presented to a circle of persons. It is enough to bend your head and greet politely.
15. Beware whose hand you're asking for! And whom you offer yours!