Friday, April 14, 2006

Mind Your Manners When Traveling Abroad Part 3: References for Business and Cultural Information

In the first part of this three-part series we looked at some advice on how to foster a better, more intelligent, educated and respectful image when you travel abroad. In part 2 of this series, we looked at what to say and how to say it when traveling abroad. In this final part of the series, we’ll go to some sites to see just how to get preview information on speech and conduct before traveling abroad.

References for Business and Cultural Information
An excellent starting reference site for business and cultural information is the Doing Business Guide website with business and cultural information online for 36 Countries at:

http://www.executiveplanet.com/

Topics included at this site address such areas as:

Let's Make a Deal!
What you should know before negotiating

Prosperous Entertaining
Entertaining for business success

Appointment Alert!
Making appointments

Gift Giving
Selecting and presenting an appropriate business gift

First Name or Title?
Respectfully addressing others

Public Behavior
Acceptable public conduct

Business Dress
Guidelines for business dress

Conversation
Welcome topics of conversation

At this site extensive business and cultural information are available for Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Denmark, Egypt, England France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, United States, and Venezuela.

If the country you’re interested in does not appear here try the country’s Embassy site online or go to the CIA’s information site for in-depth country information and profiles at:

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/index.html


So when traveling, whether for business, pleasure or vacation, it truly pays to mind your manners. Don’t contribute to an ugly American stereotype or add fuel to increasing anti-American sentiments. You have the opportunity to promote yourself, your business or company and provide a positive influence while abroad if you keep these aspects in mind before, during and after your business or vacation travel abroad.

Please feel free to contact me with comments or questions at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com

Mind Your Manners When Traveling Abroad Part 2: Religion is Taboo, Politics are Out

In part 1 of this three-part series we looked at some advice on how to foster a better, more intelligent, educated and respectful image when you travel abroad. In this article, part 2 of a three-part series, we’ll look at what to say and how to say it when traveling abroad.

Watch what and how you speak
Your speech is reflective of who and what you are. It can be a useful tool for the melding of cultures or a battering ram of discontent. Don’t create resentment by continuous babbling about your “affluence”, power, business or social status. People don’t care to hear how “inferior” their way of life may appear to be to you. Dale Carnegie in his classic book “How to Win Friends and Influence People”, said, “If you want to gather honey, don’t kick over the beehive”. While you’re at it, remember to lower your tone and volume. A loud, overbearing voice is considered to be inappropriate or boisterous in many cultures which favor a calmed, controlled form of speech. Control your tone. You want to avoid coming off as a braggart or imperialist.

Absolutely avoid the use of vulgarity, profanity, ethnic or stereotypical jokes of any kind. Refrain from any derogatory remarks or insults as well no matter how “harmless” you may think they might be. “Humor” can be a quick-sand-laden area for the business or casual traveler. Be wary of it.

Slow down
In France, people often eat half the food Americans do, and the French may take nearly twice as long to do it. Many Latin countries too, operate at a much more leisurely pace. True, life is short. But that doesn’t mean you should do everything at breakneck speed. “See 10 countries in only 14 days” the ads claim. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Americans, in particular, may eat, speak and even live at an accelerated rate, but many cultures do not. In France, to wolf down your food can be a great insult to the cook or family. In effect you might be saying something like, “The food was so bad that you hurried up and got rid of it so you could get away.” Slow down and enjoy the foreign cultural offerings. Smell the flowers. Taste the food. Chat leisurely with the locals. Really take some time to learn how others live. Remember, you can always “speed back up” when you get home.

Religion is Taboo, Politics are out
You know the old saw about avoiding religion and politics as conversation topics. Well it’s still true. Today, more than ever before, religion is not a suitable topic of conversation in public. It’s all too easy to stir up trouble much too quickly. To be on the “safe” side, avoid this topic with all but close associates. Another “land mine” topic area is politics. “Do you agree with what your president is doing?” These and other similar “hot button” questions will invariably come up. Avoid an argument at all costs. You can say that you don’t agree with their point of view without getting into dramatics or an unsightly “firefight”. Change the subject and move on. When I’m asked, “Do you agree to the extradition of drug traffickers from Colombia?”, I give a brief explanation of the effects of drug trafficking in major U.S. inner cities and move on to other topics before things ever get out of hand.

An excellent reference site with business and cultural information for 36 Countries is available online. If the country you’re interested in does not appear here try one of the other sites listed. In the final, part 3 of this series, we’ll go to some sites to see just how to get preview in-depth information on speech and conduct before traveling abroad in: “Mind Your Manners When Traveling Abroad Part 3: References for Business and Cultural Information”.

For the free download to read highly informative part 3, E-mail me at your convenience at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com

If You Think English is Difficult Try Mandarin – Part 2

… continued from part 1 …

A couple of students confuse a pronunciation with the name of a Kung Fu TV series actor. The teacher doesn’t get it. They talk about Jackie Chan as the mood of the class lightens. We try a few numbers that are simple to write in Chinese. One, two, three, four, ten, one thousand. Not bad at all, but I’ll definitely need those flash cards and a pronunciation tape. Then comes five, six, seven, eight, nine. We continue with eleven, twelve and twenty. Twenty one and creating multiples of numbers follow. Actually, it’s not difficult at all. Some of the higher numbers are childishly simple to create in both speaking and writing. The class continues creating more numbers by combining characters in Chinese. I glance at my watch. My fist Mandarin class will end in twenty five more minutes. The final number is one thousand three hundred million – the population of China.

The class is interesting, with its musical language, and fun at times, but impractical. Where will we practice? Who is there to talk to? Is anyone, besides me, even thinking of going to China? Where in China is Mandarin spoken? What are the other principal forms of Chinese? These are only some of the questions that pop into my head during the class.

If I intend to have any success with this Mandarin class I realize that some learning and study aids are going to be needed such as:

Recordings of pronunciations
Drilling practice flash cards
Reference sheets of class work
Background information on China’s culture, history, people and geography
Focused practice with functional language (that I could use during a trip to China)
Graphics applied to the materials as a memory aid
Extra tutorials to help me over the “rough spots” in learning the language
Photos and realia for an extra added touch
Study projects on the people, culture, geography, and history of China

An idea of what motivates the other students might be interesting and helpful too. So I’ll try to chat with a couple of them before and after class. Several factors make learning Chinese a considerably more formidable task than learning another Germanic or Romance languages. It should be an interesting experience over all though. I’ll keep you posted of interesting developments. Wish me luck.

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Mind Your Manners When Traveling Abroad Part 1: They must be Americans

They must be Americans
It was a hot day, so when the couple finished a morning stint at the beach, they opted for a little shopping – in their swim wear. Wrapping a see-through, flimsy scarf around her bikini bottom, and he in his flip flops and sloganed t-shirt, they sallied into a sheik little shop on the main thoroughfare. Onlookers gasped and stared. Mothers covered the eyes of their gawking children. Mature men and women snickered or shook their heads. “They must be Americans”, one salesclerk whispered knowingly to another. Unfortunately, she was right.

When traveling, whether for business, pleasure or vacation. It pays to mind your manners. Americans especially are becoming increasingly known for their disrespectful behavior while abroad. Did I say becoming? The image of the “Ugly American” is already far too widespread. The stereotype of the loud talking, wise-cracking, inappropriately dressed, wealth-flaunting American foreigners who flaunt their lifestyle while traveling is unfortunately, all too real in some aspects in far too many cases. With anti-American sentiments growing worldwide, international corporations from Microsoft to McDonald’s and business publications like the Wall Street Journal have addressed the theme time and again. Here is some advice on how to foster a better, more intelligent, educated and respectful image when you travel abroad.

Know the local geography
Planning a trip abroad? First order of business – get a map and study it. Have an idea of how the city and its environs are laid out. Know important sites and landmarks. Many good travel guides provide essential information on getting around. This can be especially important if the local language uses a non-western alphabet writing system. On a recent trip in Colombia my wife and I listened in amusement as a foreigner explained to his family the compass directions – incorrectly. He had the directions of north and south reversed despite having the Pacific Ocean sunset in plain view.

Dress moderately
Not enough can be said about paying attention to local dress code and customs. In many countries it is disrespectful for women to dress casually, showing bare skin or body parts, in public. Bare hairy chests or legs on display, even for men, can be considered offensive in many cultures. If you’re not sure what’s appropriate, ask discretely or check informative websites for information on local customs. A useable rule of thumb is no bare legs, torso, back or arms when in public places. Emulate the dress of the locals to be sure you’re being respectful of their cultural norms. Embera Indian women, normally topless in their culture, cover up with a colorful wrap when they visit non-Indian towns and villages along South America’s Pacific Coast so that they are respectful of the social norms of their neighbors. Embera men, with their normal thong loin cloths, wear T-shirts and pants outside their villages for the same reasons.

Watch what and how you speak
Your speech is reflective of who and what you are. It can be a useful tool for the melding of cultures or a battering ram of discontent. Don’t create resentment by continuous babbling about your “affluence”, power, business or social status. People don’t care to hear how “inferior” their way of life may appear to be to you.

In part 2 of this three-part series, we’ll look at what to say and how to say it when traveling abroad in: “Mind Your Manners When Traveling: Religion is Taboo, Politics are Out”.

Please feel free to e-mail me with comments or questions at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com