常见的跨文化尴尬
Common Dilemmas Across CulturesBillions of business dollars are lost each year because executives don't understand the
customs and traditions of their guest country. As an international manager who has conducted
more than 1,000 deals in 51 countries, I have observed numerous cultural differences and how
they can impact on business and personal lives. While you cannot know the customs of every
country you visit, you can be sensitive to basic cultural preferences and taboos.
在商界，因为公司主管们不熟悉客户所在国的风俗习惯和文化传统，每年就损失掉好几十亿美元。我是一名主管国际业务的经理，在51个国家谈成过1000多笔交易。我注意到了许多文化差异的存在及其对商业和个人生活的影响。虽然你不可能了解你所到访的每个国家的风俗习惯，但是你对基本的文化偏爱和禁忌要敏感。
One of the most common dilemmas of international etiquette is what to bring as a gift when
you're invited to someone's home for dinner. In France,if your first thought is a bottle of
wine--think again. You risk insulting your French host by insinuating his cellar is inadequate.
国际交往中最常见的一个窘境是：当你应邀到某人家中去赴晚宴时，应带何种礼物。在法国，如果你首先想到的是带瓶酒的话--你得三思。你冒的危险是：这可能对你的法国主人是一种羞辱，因为送酒暗示他的酒窖中无好酒待客。
Well then, how about a bouquet of flowers? That selection may show poor judgment as well.
First,your host doesn't want to search for the right size vase in the midst of all his or her
other duties. Second, you must remember to bring an uneven number (except that 12 is acceptable,
but never the unlucky 13), avoid chrysanthemums (funeral only), red roses (which signify you
are having an affair with your hostess), and yellow flowers (they imply your host is having an
affair with someone else). My suggestion? Take a box of very best chocolates you can find.
那么，是否可以带上一束鲜花？这种选择同样表明你缺乏判断力。首先，你的主人不想还要为你送的花寻找合适的花瓶，因为他/她忙着要做许多别的事情。其二，你必须记住所送花的朵数要是奇数（除非12朵是可接受的，永远不要送13朵这个不祥的数目），不要送菊花（仅仅参加葬礼时才送），不要送红玫瑰（这意味着你和女主人有暧昧关系），也不要送黄色的花（这暗示你的主人和某人有暧昧关系）。想听听我的建议吗？带上一盒你能买到的最好的巧克力。
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