Manners in TAAF
Learn about cultural etiquette and manners of this country
Greetings
- Handshake
- Bise (light kiss on cheek, often omitted in limited environments)
Etiquette
- All contact with and feeding of organisms prohibited by Antarctic Treaty and environmental protection laws.
- Shoe sole washing mandatory on islands to prevent introduction of alien species.
- Research base formal address "vous" in French is standard, as in metropolitan France.
- All waste must be returned to metropolitan France; burning or disposal prohibited.
- Photography inside military and research facilities requires prior permission.
- Always carry cold weather gear and emergency food due to sudden weather changes.
- Shared dormitory cooking and cleaning follow rotating duty system.
- Radio communications follow base schedule allocations.
- Drinking allowed but moderation required; intoxication is a disciplinary violation.
- Circadian rhythm management important in Antarctic Circle with 24-hour light/dark seasons.