PHProfessora Akira
☯️ SôulNinetãiL☯️
Be careful of what you give to Chinese colleagues
While China has opened its doors to the West, the cultural traditions of the Chinese will never be erased. They are one of the oldest civilizations in the world, so you have to understand that their cultural traditions were developed for millennia and handed down from generation to generation. Majority of the Chinese are superstitious as well and attach meanings to various things. When presenting your Chinese friends with flowers, avoid using white, which they associate with ghosts and death,avoid flowers with thorny stems. Other things that are not good gifts for the Chinese are:- Clock. Its name in Chinese (sòng zhōng, meaning send clock) sounds like sòng zhōng or funeral rite. It is also taken to mean that time is running out, or life and relationship can end.
- Handkerchief .–In Chinese, it sounds like a farewell greeting.
- Umbrella. Offering or giving your Chinese friend or colleague an umbrella is a subtle hint of ending a relationship. You can share your umbrella but you have to take it back with you.
- Gifts that come in sets of four. The number 4 is associated with death.
- Straw sandals, shoes. It is also taken to mean that you want to part ways.
- Green hat. Green is considered lucky by other people because it is the color of money. For the Chinese however, a green hat means that the wife is being unfaithful.
Don’t ask for salt when dining in Egypt
In many cultures, like the United States, it is all right to ask for salt to add to your food. But if you are dining with friends and colleagues in Egypt, keep in mind to avoid asking for salt. It is taken as an insult to the host, as Egyptians take it to mean that you are repulsed by the taste of the meal served to youA question of being punctual
The value of being on time depends on the country. In Venezuela, it is actually a norm to arrive about 10 to 15 minutes late for a dinner invitation. Being early for the Venezuelans means the person is either overly eager or greedy.“No” to sharp objects
Do not forget this – giving pointed and sharp objects to your friends or colleagues in the Netherlands is a big no-no. For the Dutch, sharp objects are considered unlucky gifts, while for the Chinese, it means you want to break or cut ties with them.Choose the right occasion to discuss business in Bolivia
If you are in Bolivia to discuss business and your time is limited, it will still be considered rude to discuss business during a dinner party or any social occasion. Bolivians believe that a dinner is for improving personal relationships. If you are invited to a business lunch or dinner, do not bring up the topic of business on the table, unless your Bolivian host is the first to bring it up. Otherwise, simply savor the meal and foster better relations with your Bolivian host by talking about family.A trip to the sauna in Finland
For many people, going to the sauna is a personal thing. A trip to the sauna is a favorable way to relieve stress and relax. It is also one way to socialize. The Finns think the same way, but if your business client or counterpart invites you to the sauna after your meeting, do not be alarmed. This means that your business meeting is successful.Where do you sit when taking a taxi?
In movies and pictures, it is customary to see people taking a ride in a taxicab sitting in the back of the vehicle. Your Etiquette 101 class might have taught you that it is the proper way to ride a taxi if you are the only one in it. But in Australia, it is considered snobbish to sit at the back. Australians often sit in front with the taxi driver.Greeting a magpie on its own in the UK
In many parts of the United Kingdom, it is customary for people to greet a lone magpie to avoid having bad luck.The dangers of remaining single after age 25
In some cultures, it is a tradition for families to marry off their children at a very young age. In several modern countries where people have more freedom, it is up to them to decide if they want to marry or not and at what age. But in some countries, friends and families can be “cruel.” In Germany for example, a person who’s still single at age 25 is showered by friends with cinnamon powder throughout the day. It is worse if the person is still single at 30 because they use pepper instead. In France, people buy funny hats for their 25-year old single friends on November 25, which is Saint Catherine’s Day. In Germany, when a person reaches 25 and is still single, friends will string socks from the celebrant’s home to the birthday party venue, with stops after a few socks while friends encourage the birthday celebrant to have a drink.Shoving your face on your birthday cake
In live action and animated films, shoving one’s face onto a birthday cake elicits a laugh. Some do it as a joke and some do it out of disgust or anger. But in Mexico it is a cultural tradition, so the birthday celebrant does not have any reason to get angry. It even follows a process. The cake is brought out and presented to the person celebrating the birthday. Guests sing the birthday song and the candle is blown. The birthday girl or boy takes a bite of the cake and as expected, someone will definitely shove her or his face on the cake.Choose the flowers you give to a Russian
If you have Russian business associates or friends, be careful of the flowers you give them. Avoid flowers with yellow colors as they represent a break-up of a relationship or deceit. Red carnations are taboo as well because these are flowers presented to veterans who survived the war and on the graves of those who have left this earth.excerpt from worldculture/daytranslations
