If your travel itinerary includes Mexico, here’s some helpful tips and insights into the culture and customs of Mexico to keep you on the right foot

• Mexicans enjoy small talk when meeting and when saying good-bye. They also delight in verbal word play, peppering their speech with double entendres, turns of phrase and quotations.

• Mexicans do not make extended eye contact. When someone is talking he or she may make intermittent eye contact. The listener, though, primarily looks away.

• Mexicans emphasize spiritual and humanistic values, focusing on the inner qualities of an individual. They tend to be a spiritual people and will talk freely of a person’s soul (alma) or spirit (espíritu).

• The family is Mexico’s most important institution, and people maintain strong family bonds. When among family, Mexicans feel secure and confident, for family members provide each other with material and moral support. People see the family as an essential safety net, providing help and protection when needed. And a person’s responsibilities to his or her family are given high priority.

• Mexican extended families go beyond bloodlines to include compadrazgo — godfather relationships. A child’s godfather is called compadre — co-father, the godmother comadre — co-mother. Many Mexican families use the system of godparenting to expand their support system. Being a godfather is much more than an honor. The compadrazgo creates a complex relationship of rights and obligations.

• Friendships are also important to Mexicans. People may call a friend “brother” or “sister” (hermano or hermana). Close friends are referred to as hermano/hermana de alma — soul brother/sister. Mexican men may enter into a special relationship with a male friend or group of male friends sharing a common interest. These friendships are called cuate (from the Nahuatl word for twin brother). Women may also create comparable associations.

• In Mexico’s traditional open-air markets, in some shops and with street vendors, bargaining is the rule. If you pay the first price the vendor asks, in Mexican eyes you will appear foolish.

• To clarify the degree of punctuality associated with a particular time, ask if the time is a la gringa (punctuality expected) or a la mexicana (punctuality not expected).

For more information on Mexican culture and customs, read Culture Briefing: Mexico.