On studying for our outreach to Togo we studied a pretty interesting thing about warm climate cultures vs. cold climates cultures. We studied how in northern places, like Europe, Russia, North America, everything revolves around time and efficiency; while in southern areas, like Africa, South America, parts of Asia, things revolve around relationships. Washington of course is a cold culture, so you'll probably notice in our culture its really important to do things as quickly and efficiently as possible, or you at least need to be fast. We tend to focus a lot on business and being successful. While on the other hand we don't have a very relational culture. We tend not to be very open in public, or towards strangers. Hospitality to strangers is pretty rare. During street evangelism here in Switzerland people are usually in a rush. Most people are usually to busy to stop and talk. Some people just get freaked out when we try and talk to them.
On the other hand, we talked about how in warm climate cultures things tend to move much slower. You can't politely just walk up to someone and ask them to do some. I'm told I need to practice my small talk. You need to ask them how they are first, how their family is doing, so on and so forth, and then maybe you might get around to asking them to do chore for you. I'm told in Togo its much easier to talk to people on the streets, its common to invite strangers to your front porch (they still don't trust complete strangers in their house all the time).

We learned a few other interesting things about Togo culture. You use your left hand very little. If you shake someone's hand, wave at someone, hand something to someone with your left hand, it's a way of cursing them. You can still use your left, but if you're doing thing with meaning or anything interactive (as in waving or shaking hands) you most do it with your right hand. Luckily we don't have any lefties on our team. We also found out that public displays of affection are rare, however, it is perfectly acceptable for people of the same gender to hold hands. This may not be that horrible for you girls, but it includes guys too. Its an act of friendship, so I have been warned some guy I've known for less than a week might randomly grab my hand and walk around with me for a while...... yeah.