Chapter Eighteen: Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands consist of two large islands—East and West Falkland—and about 200, mostly uninhabited, smaller ones. With a combined area slightly smaller than the state of Connecticut, the islands are rocky outcroppings that lie about 300 miles southeast of Argentina in the South Atlantic Ocean. Much of the country’s surface is hilly and bleak. Other than grasslands and a few trees, there is little vegetation. Not suitable for farming, the land provides layers of dark, rich peat used for fuel. Discovered by an English explorer in 1592, the Falklands have at one time been claimed by France, Spain, and Argentina. Although Argentina still lays claim to the Falklands, the islands have been a colony of Great Britain since 1833.

What Time Is It in the Falkland Islands?

The Falkland Islands are two hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. When it’s 10 a.m. in Washington, D.C., then it’s 12 noon in the Falkland Islands.

People

Not having a native people of its own, the Falkland Islands are made up almost entirely of British descendants. About two-thirds of the islands’ residents live in Stanley, the capital and main town. The remainder live in "camp"—all countryside outside Stanley—where the major occupation is sheep farming. It’s said that sheep outnumber humans by about 340 to 1. The Falklanders have a reputation for resourcefulness. Once almost completely isolated from the rest of the world, modern islanders have access to air travel; television, which was unknown before 1982; central heating; and shops stocked with a variety of imported goods. Also, students wishing to attend British universities receive an all-expense-paid education, including a monthly living allowance.

Doing Business in the Falkland Islands

If you’re planning to do business in the Falkland Islands, then here are a few tips you might want to know.

Greetings

• Handshaking is customary. Men should wait for a woman to extend her hand first.
• When addressing a Falklander, use the last name with a title (Dr., Mr., Mrs., Miss). Even though Falklanders may be a little less formal than their counterparts in England, don’t use first names until invited to do so.

Gestures

• Don’t use your finger to point at anything. Instead nod or indicate direction with your head.
• Touching is considered inappropriate. Also, don’t stand too close when talking; keep a healthy "comfort zone" between yourself and the other person.

Protocol

• It’s important to be punctual.
• The British keep their emotions in check, so behave conservatively. Avoid the hard sell.
• Use complete sentences. The U.S. habit of speaking in fragments annoys the British.

Want to know more about the Falkland Islands?

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