Comments

prejudice n упередження;

digestion n травлення;

chrysanthemum n хризантема.

4. Germany

Conversation. Take note: the person who speaks the most softly in a meeting usually is the person who has the most authority. Even if you are not fluent in German, "Guten tag", "Danke" and "Bitte" should be part of your conversational repertoire. Appropriate topics for conversation include hobbies, football, the places you have travelled in Germany, and the duration of your stay. Topics to avoid include World War II and personal questions, such as, "How many people are there in your family?"

Punctuality. Being prompt is of the utmost importance when interacting with Germans.

Public manners. It is considered impolite to put your hands in your pockets. Gum chewing in public is also considered rude. Germans may not use a smile as a nonverbal cue that they are pleased about something. During an official meeting, expect the doors to be closed. Be sure to walk to your contact’s left. By doing so, you will be giving the person a position of respect. Sit down only after you have been offered a seat.

Business entertaining. When inviting a German to eat with you, do so for lunch rather than for breakfast. If business is going to be discussed, do so prior to eating or after your last course.

Gift-giving. Appropriate gifts include unwrapped flowers in a quantity other than 13. Your choice in flowers should be those other than lilies (which are reserved for funerals) or roses (which have a romantic connotation, regardless of their color).

Comments

connotation n підтекст;

business entertainment n ділова зустріч (вечірка);

repertoire n репертуар;

utmost adj граничний, найбільший.

5. Finland

Business entertaining. Although often admired by outsiders, the Scandinavians are not always completely understood. Here are some comments from foreigners about working in the region.

"I found it really hard to get them to talk".

"Those endless discussions to try to reach a consensus drove me mad".

"I was really surprised to find that they wanted to continue the meeting in the sauna".

Such comments can easily lead to sophisticated stereotypes, but they can be useful in helping people who are going to work in Nordic countries. The sauna is an entrenched part of the Finnish culture, so, if you have Finnish companions, you have to do what they do. If you have known each other for a certain time, the Finns would invite you to the sauna.

Conversation. The Finns pay a lot of attention to personal communication. At the beginning of every serious project they want to have a face-to-face meeting during which they maintain eye contact. The Finns have a very direct communication style – they tell it like it is. Finnish people are usually reserved, somewhat taciturn and approach everything rationally. They take people at their word, and mean what they say. During the meeting the Finns do not show any emotions. They like to discuss everything in great detail. They try to get to the root of the issue. But if they reach a conclusion, you can be sure that everything will be carried out exactly as agreed upon.

Public manners. The Finns are generally introverted. Expect a bare minimum of small talk, if any, before getting down to business. They do not discuss their private life and rarely invite you into their homes. You will never be questioned about your private life. The Finns are extremely law-abiding people. They do not accept shady practices, everything must be in compliance with Finnish laws, which are very strict. Finns firmly believe that laws are made in public interest.

Punctuality. The foreigners dealing with the Finns claim the Finns are a bit laggard. Nordic countries are countries that have a very stable society and economy. That explains why they have a culture of long-term planning. Outsiders may make a mistake of interpreting their cautious approach as sluggishness. But Finland has some of the most innovative companies in the world.

Gift-giving. There is a high degree of equality between the sexes in Finland. Just look at the large number of women holding key positions in politics. Treating woman equally is a normal practice; a woman offers her hand first for handshaking. But bringing flowers as a gift is not customary. If you give a bouquet of flowers to a Finnish woman, she will be surprised. Women are also independent in financial matters. If you have lunch together with a Finnish woman, she will offer to pay her share of the restaurant bill. It’s polite to accept it – even if it is a date.