Here are some final tips for travelers.

In France you shouldn’t sit down in a cafe΄ until you’ve shaken hands with everyone you know.

In Afghanistan you should spend at least five minutes saying hello.

In Pakistan you mustn’t wink. It is offensive.

In the Middle East you must never use the left hand for greeting, eating, drinking, or smoking. Also, you should take care not to admire anything in your hosts’ home. They will feel that they have to give it to you.

In Russia you must match your hosts drink for drink or they will think you are unfriendly.

In Thailand you should clasp your hands together and lower your head and your eyes when you greet someone.

In America you should eat your hamburger with both hands and as quickly as possible. You shouldn’t try to have a conversation until it is eaten.

Comprehension check

Read the article again and answer the questions.

Discuss the questions.

1. Which nationalities are the most and least punctual?

2. Why did the British think that everyone understood their customs?

3. Which nationalities do not like to eat and do business at the same time?

4. An American friend of yours is going to work in Japan. Give some advice about how he/she should and shouldn’t behave.

5. Imagine you are at a party in (a) England (b) America. How could you begin a conversation with a stranger? Continue the conversations with your partner.

6. Which nationalities have rules of behavior about hands? What are the rules?

7. Why is it not a good idea to…

…say that you absolutely love your Egyptian friend’s vase.

…go to Russia if you don’t drink alcohol.

…say ‘Hi! See you later!’ when you’re introduced to someone in Afghanistan.

…discuss politics with your American friend in a McDonald’s.

Discussion

1. Do you agree with the saying ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do’? Do you have a similar saying in Russian language?

2. What are the ‘rules’ about greeting people in Russia? When do you shake hands? When do you kiss? What about when you say goodbye?

3. Think of one or two examples of bad manners. For example, in Britain it is considered impolite to ask people how much they earn.

4. What advice would you give somebody coming to live and work in your country?

VIII

1) Complete the sentences below (1-7) with the correct country or region from the box. Some countries can be used more than once. Use your own knowledge.

1. In ……… and ……. , people stand about 50-70 cms from each other.

2. In …………., ………. and ………, people tend to stand closer to each other.

3. These cultures also prefer more direct eye contact, but in most parts of ………people prefer minimal eye contact.

4. In ………., you shouldn’t touch people on the head.

5. In …………, ………., and………, the business culture is more task-oriented.

6. In ………. and …….the business culture is based more on personal relationships.

7. In………and……….., people tend to feel that “ time is money”.

Asia China Europe Germany Latin America the Middle East northern Europe Scandinavia southern Europe Thailand the UK the USA

3. Read the interview with Philip Baker. He runs a consultancy called CALDA which gives advice and training on cultural awareness. Check your answers.

Interviewer: I have with me Philip Baker from CALDA, a consultancy which advises business executives on cultural issues. Philip, tell us a bit about what you deal with on your courses.

Philip: Well, cultural issues are a very big subject. I can really only give you a general idea. OK, one thing is body language which varies a lot from culture to culture. One difference here is how close people stand when they talk to each other. In the UK and northern Europe, the distance is about 50-70 cm. But in southern Europe, Latin America and the Middle East, people tend to stand quite a bit closer, between 20 and 50 centimetres. Eye contact is different. The cultures which stand closer also tend to make more direct eye contact. On the other hand, many people in Asia prefer minimal eye contact, less than the northern Europeans. How much you can touch the person you are talking is another difference or where you can touch them. For example, in Thailand, you don’t touch people on the head, as that is considered the highest part of the body, spiritually.

Interviewer: But business people travel so much these days. Aren’t we all becoming more used to each other? After all, if I’m doing business in another country, people know I’m a foreigner. They don’t expect me to behave just like them.

Philip: They don’t expect you to copy them but you still need to be aware of what might give offence. Besides, every country has its own business culture which is a part of the overall culture and that will affect the way business is carried out.

Interviewer: Can you give us some examples?

Philip: Again, a huge subject, but one important difference is the task versus relationship question. Some cultures are more task-oriented so the focus is on getting the job done and not so much on building up a personal and professional relationship with your colleague. That would be the Anglo-Saxon cultures like…the UK and Germany, and the Scandinavians.

Interviewer: And what would be the opposite?

Philip: At the other end of the spectrum you get cultures which are much more concerned with creating and keeping up business relationships. There will be more time spent on entertaining, more gift-giving, and business practices like references are likely to be done in a more personal way rather than, say, just by matching people’s performance to a job description. The Middle East is an example of that kind of culture and so is China.

Interviewer: Interesting!

Philip: Attitudes to time is another big area of difference. In Europe and the USA we tend to have the attitude that “time is money”. In general, in the more relationship-oriented cultures, time schedules are more flexible. Delays are more common and there is more time spent on building up relationships and small talk.

Interviewer: Philip, it’s been fascinating talking to you. It’s a shame we have to stop here but, if you are interested in attending one of CALDA’s training courses…

IX Giving gifts

1. If you go on a business trip, it is often a good idea to take a present for your

host. Which of the following verbs (1-8) do not collocate with a gift or a present?

1 give 5 close

2 receive 6 wrap

3 accept 7 unwrap

4 open 8 fasten

2. Read this email written by a new sales representative to her line manager, asking for advice about taking presents to clients on her next sales trip.

“I often have very little space in my luggage and I don’t want to carry a gift from my country as well. Couldn’t I just buy my clients some flowers after I arrive?”

3. Now read the beginning of her line manager’s reply.

“ It’s doubtful whether flowers make a good gift generally for a business client…”

Why do you think flowers might not make a good present for business clients?

4. Read the rest of the line manager’s reply to see if your ideas are mentioned.

Are there any reasons different from the ones you thought of?

“…A good business present is something which will remind your client of your company. Flowers won’t do this, of course, because they only last a few days.

Another problem with flowers is that different countries have different traditions about them. For example, in France or Italy, you should not give chrysanthemums as they are associated with funerals. It really is better to try to find space in your luggage for something from your country, even if it is only small.”