Our workplace is truly more global. Many people have the opportunity to travel on business. Many others travel for pleasure. When traveling, though, it is important to remember that the world is a very diverse place.
While we may view some business and social interactions as customary or acceptable in the United States, when traveling or doing business in other countries, people might view things very differently.
To help you start to understand those differences, we have taken some questions from the Web site for “Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands” (www.getcustoms.com), a site dedicated to providing information for international travelers.
Keep in mind that the answers refer to a culture in general and may not always apply to every individual from that culture. But that’s what makes each individual so unique.
At any rate, this will be a fun way to start to learn and make you aware that there are very diverse perspectives when traveling throughout the world. The answers appear at the bottom of the quiz.
"Did you Know?"
The Customs Quiz
The Customs Quiz
1. United States executives are generally comfortable standing with about two feet of space between them. True or false: The normal speaking distance in much of Latin America is less than one foot.
2. Linguists have catalogued an astonishing 192 living languages used in Brazil. True or false: Spanish is the official language of Brazil.
3. True or false: In India, it is important to thank your host at the end of a business meal.
4. "You're never fully dressed without a smile" is a familiar phrase in the United States. True or false: A smile is a universal expression of genuine pleasure.
5. True or false: A gift should always be wrapped in its country of origin.
6. Because the Russian Federation is so vast, when making calls to a Russian client it is important to remember in what part of Russia that client lives. True or false: Russia spans eleven time zones.
7. A distinguished Hispanic executive hands you a business card that looks like this: Miguel Eduardo Cela y Banderas. True or false: You should call him Señor Banderas.
8. You are at a social gathering in Italy. True or false: To make conversation, it is appropriate to ask someone you have just met about his or her profession.
9. True or false: It is a social mistake to arrive on time for a dinner party in Mexico City.
10. Suffering from a miserable cold, you travel to Japan. True or false: It is appropriate to use a handkerchief as discreetly as possible during your meetings.
11. True or false: In China, your host at a business meal expects you to start eating first.
12. True or false: In Germany, it is good business to compare your products to a competitor’s product in your advertisement.
Answers:
1. True. In many South American countries, some executives will stand approximately six inches away from each other when speaking.
2. False. Portuguese is the official language. Most Brazilians do not consider themselves to be Hispanic and do not appreciate being spoken to in Spanish.
3. False. Do not thank your host at the end of the meal. Saying “thank you" for a meal is often viewed as insulting because the thank you is considered a form of payment. Returning the meal by inviting the host to dinner shows that you value the relationship.
4. False. In much of Asia, a smile can be used to cover up embarrassment, shock, or fury.
5. False. It is the wrapping paper of the recipient's native country that is important. And, airport security may ask that you unwrap the package.
6. True.
7. False. Many Hispanics have two surnames: one from their father, which comes first, followed by one from their mother. Sometimes the two surnames are separated by "y," which means "and" in Spanish. Miguel Eduardo Cela y Banderas' father was Señor Cela, so you would call him Señor Cela.
8. False. To do so is considered tacky, even insulting.
9. True. Guests commonly arrive an hour late for dinner.
10. False. The Japanese find the custom of preserving mucous in a carefully folded handkerchief to be grotesque. Use disposable tissues.
11. False. Never begin to eat or drink before your host.
12. False. Like many things in Germany, advertising is highly regulated. It is illegal in an advertisement to compare your product to that of a competitor’s product.
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