商務禮節美語第199期:玩轉文化差異(上)

Jim和Emily是一家跨國公司從中國聘用的新僱員，公司人事部的Paul對他們進行文化差異的培訓。

Paul: Hello and good morning. I'm Paul Higgins and I've been asked to help prep all of you for your new positions.

J&E: Good morning.

P: Well, let's get right down to business, shall we? Each of you will be traveling to business meetings, attending Fairs and exhibitions as well as receiving clients from abroad. It's therefore very important that you make a good impression. Let's start with how to greet people.

Paul自我介紹後，馬上展開培訓get right down to business. Paul說的，to prep someone for his or her new position，指就職前的培訓。做爲跨國公司僱員，要經常出去開會，參展，接待外國客戶，因此給別人的第一印象很重要：It's important to make a good impression.

P: Yes, Emily?

E: Why do some Europeans kiss each other when they say hello? I've even seen men kiss each other!

P: Yes, in some places in Europe such as France, people do give each other a light kiss on the cheek. It's considered friendly and is not sexual in any way.

J: But Americans wouldn't do that, would they?

P: No, it's highly unlikely that an American would offer a kiss.

歐洲人見面喜歡在臉頰上蜻蜓點水地親一下，a light kiss on the cheek. 那美國人呢？ Paul說，It's highly unlikely that an American would offer a kiss. 就是說美國人幾乎絕對不可能這樣做。

J: But Americans seem to like to hug each other frequently.

P: That's true. In recent years it has become more popular to hug. But usually it's people who have met before and perhaps haven't seen each other in a while that might hug. At a first meeting, a hug would be very unlikely.

E: Hugs kind of creep me out! I don't really like to be touched by strangers.

美國人似乎很喜歡擁抱。Paul解釋說，其實，只有很久不見的熟人才會彼此擁抱，初次見面一般不會。Emily說自己不喜歡陌生人碰她。Hugs kind of creep me out! 擁抱讓她渾身不自在。

P: Fair enough. I'd say hugging is not usually appropriate in a business situation. Some people are a bit overly friendly.

But if the person initiates it, I'd recommend you grit your teeth and go along with it, otherwise people might think you are rude.

J: So the same rule would apply to getting a kiss from a European: if they initiate it, just go along and be friendly, right?

P: Yes. As the saying goes: "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." In other words: follow the local customs.

Paul也承認，擁抱並不適合商業場合，但有些人確實會overly friendly，過份友好。在這種情況下，她建議員工to grit your teeth and go along with it. 咬咬牙，硬着頭皮去應和。 Grit is spelled g-r-i-t. 常言說，When in Rome, do as the Romans do. 入鄉隨俗。