international relations
international relations
(OP)
At the moment, there is a delegation from Arab Nation X (Bedouin rather than Levantine culture, and that's as specific as I'll get) over on the other side of the building. My understanding is that they are here to learn from us; we're not trying to get anything from them. Nonetheless, information was circulated containing cultural do and don't with regard to Arab Nation X, and most of the employees (male and female) on that side of the building have been told to wear lab coats today so that they don't have to single anyone out in particular for immodest clothing that might offend the delegation. (Nice way to avoid sexual harassment claims, I suppose. Fortunately the "eating with left hand" issue only affects a small and elite group appointed to dine with the delegation.)
All this got me wondering--I'm sure if I went to Arab Nation A, they wouldn't be adapting much to my cultural habits; I'd be expected to adapt to accomodate my hosts. But surely somewhere out there are "How to deal with Americans" leaflets warning people wishing to do business with us about various cultural pitfalls?
Does anyone have one of these? What does it say with regard to proper care and feeding of United Statesians?
Hg
All this got me wondering--I'm sure if I went to Arab Nation A, they wouldn't be adapting much to my cultural habits; I'd be expected to adapt to accomodate my hosts. But surely somewhere out there are "How to deal with Americans" leaflets warning people wishing to do business with us about various cultural pitfalls?
Does anyone have one of these? What does it say with regard to proper care and feeding of United Statesians?
Hg
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RE: international relations
But there must be a limit to how much you can accomidate someone. Bad example: driving from the airport over across the pond, you would not expect them to change the side of the road they drive on to accomidate us.
But a little accomidation should be seen as a point of respect. And we or they should appreaciate that show of respect.
However it would be difficult to wright such a book because there are so many different subculures in the US.
RE: international relations
I also remember a horror story from a collegue who was to hungry at lunch -- he was out with a client in the bible belt, and got caught off guard with a mouthful of food when the client asked who was going to say the grace.
RE: international relations
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KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...
RE: international relations
Do we serve pork, or corn, or horse duvers?
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and how much !
RE: international relations
KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...
RE: international relations
"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."
Have you read FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies to make the be
RE: international relations
- Steve
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http://www.atsc.army.mil/crc/
"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."
Have you read FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies to make the be
RE: international relations
Hg
Eng-Tips policies: FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
RE: international relations
A: We didn't want to embarass them by drinking them under the table/them getting drunk trying to keep up.
B: The perception is that many Americans still have a bug up their but about drinking so we didn't want to offend.
Also, at least in our little bit of the Defence Industry, the Americans where far more PC than us, so we'd try and be on best behaviour.
I will say most of the Americans were open to the near room temperature beer rather than the fizzy; near absolute zero; served in a frozen glass gnats pi$$ that passes as beer in the US (or much of europe for that matter).
Foodwise too most of the ones that came over weren't too picky, they'd go to an Indian or to a nice pub with equal pleasure.
Another one was generally don't ask them a technical question outside of their area of core competancy. Where as we in the UK would say our best guess/understanding with the preface that we'd need to check back in the office, many US Engineers refused to even comment and would just tell us who to ask. Once we got told to talk to the wrong person, for some reason this person actually helped us up to a point, we then finally talked to the right person and he was very upset we'd been talking to the other guy (who sat in the same office, I think across the desk).
KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...
RE: international relations
You people back East don't appreaciate good Tex-mex food.
Where as we don't like bland foods.
RE: international relations
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http://www.worldbiz.com/bizusa.html
This looks free, though I didn't read too deeply for content.
http://www
"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."
Have you read FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies to make the be
RE: international relations
The beer selection is good here in the US these days - probably better than the UK actually. I still go to some restaurants though that list off a total of 20 budweiser type beers with no other options in site, but you get that everywhere.
RE: international relations
Mango--cool, I think that's what I was looking for. Just from curiosity.
Hg
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RE: international relations
Though in fairness I'm still not well travelled in the US, however except for one place down on the board walk in Long Beach all the beers have been served very cold, even the British style ones get served cold.
KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...
RE: international relations
RE: international relations
KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...
RE: international relations
Lots of foreigners try to make some "cultural accomodation" when they visit the US, as best they can. Canadians included. We learn to let our US guests start bashing Dubya before we tag in, for instance. And we at least wait until they've had a few beers before we start talking about Rick Mercer's "Talking to Americans" sketches on the CBC- like the one where Mercer catches Dubya thinking that our then-current prime minister's name was Jean Poutine (poutine is a crazy Quebecois concoction of french fries, cheese curds and brown gravy), or the one where former presidential candidate Huckabee is on video congratulating Canada for preserving its National Igloo...
Some Japanese were taking "What you need to know before visiting the US" courses before going on their American holidays, after a Japanese exchange student got shot because he didn't know what "freeze!" meant when shouted by a person with a gun in hand...
By the way: I love Americans- they're great folks- I just can't stand their federal government and hate their foreign policy. That makes me very little different than the average American, from what I can gather!
RE: international relations
rb1957, If you dont mind my asking what part of the US are you from? I moved to a part which uses the word "POP" (soda,coke) with much pride.
about the Central European Use of the racial words.. I have have learned to give a lesson on American pop culture vs. reality when guests visit. And then I show them the news and yes people do get held up at gun point in some parts of this city for their groceries.
In my area there is a chain of stores which proudly have over 200 types of beer! I have tried to drink them all but its harder then you think...and i live only a block from one of the stores!!
moltenmetal, I have been on youtube for the last hour cuz of Rick Mercer. funny stuff! however some US people do know Ottawa. Some even know the Rideau canal... It helps that I would drink there when I was 19...
Cheers
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He did one where he asked people on a street in New York City what they thought of the fact that a recent study had shown that 7 out of 10 Canadians couldn't name their state capitals. A lady replied that she thought it was a shame and we'd better do a better job of educating our kids etc. etc., but her ~10 year old kid said, "Hey Mom- Canada doesn't have states- it has provinces! We learned it in social studies..." Mercer's just exploiting the natural tendency of people to not want to appear ignorant by saying "I have no idea what you're talking about". Instead they want to offer an opinion...This isn't unique to Americans, but it makes for some funny TV!
Yeah, some Americans know a lot about Canada, or at least about Montreal's bars and strip clubs...Real cultural ambassadorship! I had no idea that Ottawa, or probably Gatineau (Hull) across the river was a destination for under-age Americans too. There's plenty of Ontario traffic on the bridge, since the bars in Hull close at least 2 hrs later than the ones on the Ottawa side...vive les quebecois(es)!
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I have to agree that you could probably pass for an average 'merican today. More and more love their country but hate their govt.
We love Canada too, but it gets much too cold for many of us.
When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. - Thomas Jefferson
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<<A good friend will bail you out of jail, but a true friend
will be sitting beside you saying " Damn that was fun!" - Unknown>>
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- Steve
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You can't judge American beer based on Budweiser or Pabst Blue Ribbon any longer! It used to be that the only decent stuff you had a chance to find in a restaurant was Sam Adams, but that's years ago now. The Colorado mini- and microbrewries alone could keep you in good suds longer than your liver would hold out...
I'd hope you don't think that Molson Canadian is the limit of Canadian beers, without having tasted Creemore or some of Sleeman's or Upper Canada's products at least, not to mention the thousands of good microbrews...
RE: international relations
<<A good friend will bail you out of jail, but a true friend
will be sitting beside you saying " Damn that was fun!" - Unknown>>
RE: international relations
Hg
Eng-Tips policies: FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
RE: international relations
RE: international relations
Hg
Eng-Tips policies: FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
RE: international relations
<<A good friend will bail you out of jail, but a true friend
will be sitting beside you saying " Damn that was fun!" - Unknown>>
RE: international relations
RE: international relations
On second thought... as long as they share I'll say nothing!
<<A good friend will bail you out of jail, but a true friend
will be sitting beside you saying " Damn that was fun!" - Unknown>>