DON’T GET LOST IN TRANSLATION

We noticed that our citizens have an insatiable hunger doing something that matters and making a difference. It’s because they’re open minded and non-judging. So, next time you’re having a chat in our hotel lobby with somebody from Tanzania, Stockholm or Sydney, just know that we’re utterly proud. Because that’s what citizenM is all about.

We heard a story of an American businessman who gave four antique clocks wrapped in white paper to a prospective client in China. He didn’t realize that the words in Mandarin for clock and the number four are similar to the word for death, and white is a funeral color in many Asian countries. The symbolism was so powerful that the man lost the deal.

In Japan you may greet with a hand shake but the bow is the traditional Japanese greeting. Bowing in Japan is considered extremely important. Children learn this from a very young age: informal (fifteen degree angle), formal (thirty degrees), and very formal (deeper). In Italy, Mexico, Latin America and Spain women may kiss you on both cheeks after knowing you awhile. And in Belgium, don’t be surprised to get one kiss on the cheek at  parties or informal meetings. If you’re a friend of their friend it’s the way to go. Observe how locals meet and greet and maximize your cross-cultural communication.

We came across a small guide on ‘How to Eat Sushi’ and discovered the nuances of Japanese dining. Discover the sushi etiquette and dine like a local in canteenM.

So imagine…  finally you meet your Arab counterparts. They showed up late and all they wanted was to chit chat. And you, the punctual American/European/Asian/whatever are surprised…, how rude! They are late and don’t talk about business! On the contrary, Arabs develop a relationship through ‘small talk’. These rituals carry great significance, like the Japanese ritual of scrutinizing your business card. It may take time, but it builds ties that bind.

Most customary gestures have radically different meanings depending on the cultural context. For instance the way you look. Intense eye contact is often considered rude in Vietnam whereas many Arabs and Latin Americans use direct eye contact. And while Chinese noisily slurp their soup (a cacophony in local eating houses) it’s considered very rude in other cultures. The market is flooded with information about the (business) customs of various cultures. It’s all about ‘etiquette’, the French word, first appeared in English in 1750.

In Kenya, giving a gift with just your left hand, is considered wholly inappropriate. To avoid unhappy faces or worse, travel to TravelEtiquette, a reference point on etiquette advice and information for worldwide (business) travel.

How do you prevent messages to get lost in translation? Try to be sensitive to cultural differences in communication with your global peers. Consider this as your continuous journey. Because if you want to come up with global ideas, it’s all about listening, observing, problem solving, making connections, communicating and asking the right questions.

“Let us drink to the success of our project! Давайте выпьем за успех нашего дела!” The average Russian has a high tolerance for alcohol. He, and even she, can drink the average foreigner under the table. Never refuse to drink because that’s definitely an offense to the host. Expect to be pressured to continue drinking. Once a bottle is opened, Russians like to say, it must be finished. The name ‘vodka’ is a diminutive of the Russian voda (‘water’, or ‘little water’), so that might explain the abundance…

Drinking parties, typically held at restaurants and izakaya, play  an important role in Japanese society. Japanese are so circumspect in their behavior, they believe it’s impossible to really get to know people without drinking with them. Because sober people will always hold back and never reveal their true character. So, many glasses are raised in the traditional salute as everyone shouts ‘Kampai!’ (Cheers!). Please avoid using ‘chin chin’ when making a toast, since in Japanese this expression refers to the male genitalia.

Visit CultureCrossing.net. A database of cross-cultural information on 200+ countries. Also try wiki Executive Planet, a business culture guide for the international traveller.

A small side note about city life and etiquette’s. Original ‘rules’ keep changing and every era seems to have its own morals, manners and communication style. Especially in crowded cities like New York. Please read The Urban Etiquette Handbook and find answers to your questions like Where Do I Know You From? Who pays the bill on a date? All the answers are in this New York Times article. It’s originated from 2006 but not at all dated, so we would like to share it with you.