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International
Savvy at Home:
Handling Foreign Guests
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*A
monthly column devoted to helping women and men
be their best and most confident in any situation.
Topics include dress, body language, attitude and
etiquette.
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Victoria Seitz, PhD
Image Expert |
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The world has truly shrunk in size given electronic mail, air
travel, and the influence of world economies on our homeland.
Business is global these days, sourcing for merchandise outside
our own boundaries to make products and create services that are
sold in America and around the world.
One of the reasons why the Japanese were so successful in business
in the 70’s and 80’s was due to how they handled the people their
met in the global community.
Here
some tips to help you at home with foreign guests.
- Read about the country and get an understanding of
the culture. This will enhance your sensitivity and appreciation
for the differences between cultures and better prepare you
for business.
- Have an open mind about people from different cultures
and avoid stereotyping them one way or another. For example,
all Asians are not the same: Thai people are very different
from Vietnamese; and Chinese are very different from Japanese.
- Whether your foreign guest is staying at your home
or at a hotel, make an impression by having a basket of fruit
or flowers placed in their room. When choosing flowers, avoid
white or yellow if your guests are Chinese or Middle Eastern.
If dealing with Europeans, avoid chrysanthemums since they are
linked with death.
- Consider helping your foreign guests when they are
making arrangements to visit by recommending or handling restaurants,
hotels, airports, and transportation accommodations.
- When someone visits you from another country, don’t
assume that they will want to eat their country’s food during
their stay. Rather, choose restaurants that have a continental
menu that pleases most palates. Although we consider squid or
sea urchin strange foods abroad, many foreigners consider corn
on the cob, grits, and hot dogs strange. Other foods that considered
strange include sweet potatoes, pumpkin and pecan pies, and
marshmallows.
- If entertaining people who are Muslim or Jewish, depending
on the extent that they follow the rules of their religion,
operate from the standpoint that they are orthodox or conservative
and follow their religious beliefs closely regarding food and
other practices. For example, Muslims do not normally drink
alcohol and they do not eat foods such as lobster, pigs, goats,
and birds. Moreover, they don’t eat foods prepared with oils
or other parts of these animals. Jews cannot have mild and meat
in the same container. Further, meat and fowl must be kosher,
which means it is prepared under religious guidelines.
- Also be aware that your foreign guests operate on
a different meal plan compared to Americans. For most Americans
the main meal is at night. For many countries abroad the main
meal is at noon with a light meal late in the evening such as
9 or 10 o’clock. Ask them how they want to schedule their meals.
- If dealing with business people from Latin America,
Asia or the Middle East, include your family in selected activities
outside business. Getting to know the family is part of building
trust in the relationship and subsequently closing the deal.
Compared to conducting business with other Americans, foreign
business deals take more time and effort to allow the relationship
to grow.
- You will find that people from such countries as Brazil,
Spain, Saudi Arabia will stand close to you and perhaps hug
you. Don’t step back.
- Avoid propping up your foot so that sole of your shoe
is showing. This is considered rude in most Asian and Middle
Eastern countries. Also try to limit your hand gestures to avoid
mishaps.
- When deal with guest from Scandinavian countries,
Canada, Germany, or Switzerland, business is conducted in a
similar fashion to Americans.
- When greeting foreign guests be aware of the differences
that exist in our culture and theirs. In America we extend our
hand and shake the other person’s while looking straight into
their eyes. You may consider looking above their eyes since
most foreigners, such as Asians, avoid direct eye contact. You
may also want to incorporate a slight bow to the head to accompany
your handshake when dealing with Japanese guests.
- When entertaining foreign guests, avoid taking them
to places of questionable taste such as a strip joint. Consider
instead ticket to a sports event or a world-renowned singer
such as Julio Iglesias. If you live near a casino, gambling
is not an option. Moreover, don’t invite them to church unless
they invite themselves.
- Many times guest will bring a present and offer it
to you as a way of saying thank you. Please accept it graciously.
However, if dealing with someone from an Arab country, they
will expect a gift in return so be prepared. Make sure to give
it to them in front of their associates so the gesture is not
construed as a bribe.
- If handling foreign guest who don’t speak English
at all or very well, hire a translator. Usually they will be
listed in the Yellow Pages or you can contact the local embassy
or consulate for guidance.
- Also if you conduct business with people of one specific
foreign country you may consider having your business cards
made up with an English version on one side and the other language
on the other.
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Victoria
Seitz, PhD is a professor of Marketing at California
State University, San Bernardino and is author of Your
Executive Image, AdamsMedia, Inc, 2000 and Power
Dressing, DonJon Publishing, 1991. In addition to teaching,
Dr. Seitz was a fashion coordinator for Burdines, Florida
and in retail management for Saks Fifth Avenue, Phoenix,
AZ. Clients of Dr. Seitz have included Abbott Laboratories,
Northern Telecom, Texas Instruments, Yellow Freight Systems,
Sally Beauty Company, the United States Armed Forces, Travellife
magazine, YWCA and Accountants Overload, in addition to
law firms, hotels, newspapers, universities, banks, credit
unions, national and local community and professional organizations
nationwide.
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To learn more about Dr. Seitz please visit her website at www.cbpa.csusb.edu/vseitz.
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