I posted this link in the GQ references thread earlier today, but since I’ve been enjoying it so much I thought I would post it in here as well.
The Window on the World site is filled with neat little cultural synopses for about fifty different countries. It’s business oriented but still gives a good description of the overal social culture for each country. It’s super cool!
International Dopers, I’m curious if you strongly disagree with any of the statements made about your country or believe any of the generalizations to be inaccurate. Of course everyone else is encouraged to sound off as well.
The section on The Netherlands is fairly accurate. A few comments.
With respect to greetings, these days people often introduce themselves with their first name besides their last name.
Their description of the crazy sign is correct. It’s nice that they add: “This gesture is very rude.” Small touches like these make good advice.
You normally don’t call a waiter anything, you just say what you want.
I’m not used to waiting with sittin until all the women are seated, but this may be a generational difference. That may account for other differences as well: for a second serving I put fork and knife in a 9:15 position, not an X, and to signal that I am ready I put them in a 3:15 to 4:20 position. I do not consider it to be rude to go to the bathroom during dinner, though it is advisable not to do so too early.
They say you should stand when a woman enters the room. I wonder whether they are confusing women with priests, who also wear frocks.
Really? I went there expecting the usual abominations, but the Japan entry is pretty much on target for business purposes. I don’t think, based on my experience, that there’s a single bad advice. In a business context, that is.
The Canadian page, though, is pretty bad. A serious series of WTF? moments.
I thought the UK section was horribly out of date - “…you may be invited to the regatta…” - hmmm, you may also be invited to go hang-gliding, but it’s pretty bloody unlikely. Corporate entertainment would more often take place at a golf course or football ground. “Ties are important symbols. School, army, university or club ties are worn” - yeah, by seventy-year-old Colonel Blimps maybe.
In fact, the US section was more applicable to Britain, IMO. But even then - “remove your hat when indoors.” Hat? What is this, 1950?
The German section for the business part seems pretty accurate - especially this:
Germans produce massive written communications to elaborate on and confirm discussions.
I never understood that penchant for printing everything out and keeping it in large file holders around the office.
The “Dining and Entertainment Section” however, has some strange things in it:
Use a knife and fork to eat sandwiches, fruit, and most food.
I mean I could see using cutlery to eat sandwiches in fancy restaurants (if that type of restaurant serves sandwiches), but fruit? And what’s “most food”? Isn’t “most food” consumed with knife and fork in all countries that have cutlery?
Do not leave any food on your plate when you are finished eating.
That’s a strange suggestion. Am I supposed to hide left-overs under my napkin? Push them off the plate onto the table? Drop them onto the floor and say “Oops”? Put them in my handbag and rejoice about the snack for the afternoon?
Let’s not get started about the manners section - I seem to be hopelessly behind with my education on manners. Let me just point out that if you ever visit me, a gift of wine is not considered inappropriate
My sister’s been working in the City for two years now - she’s been to at least three regattas (or other yacht and sailing related events) on ‘company business’, and is trying to learn golf so as not to miss out on golf-course transactions.
I saw a news program not too long ago where Indian upper class were threatening untouchables for not taking their shoes off while passing them in the street. Maybe the error isn’t such an error from the perspective of other peoples’ customs?
Small touches like these make good advice.
