International travel can be exciting and enriching — but it’s important to do some homework and learn a few basic rules before visiting an overseas country either for leisure or business. Blindly trying to integrate yourself in a foreign country can turn out to be cringe-inducing or a deal-breaking experience.
Contemplate this. A high-flying Western executive walks into a company in Tokyo and introduces himself to his host who presents his meishi (business card). The visitor apologizes and says that he had arrived only the previous night and didn’t have any cards on him. He then proceeds to tear in two the card had just received, scribbles his name and phone number on one half and hands it back to his shocked host.
Exchanging meishi is a formal and important part of Japanese business culture. There’s even an unwritten procedure on how to present meishi. It should be held face up and presented to the receiver. The receiver should accepts the meishi with two hands, read it and then thank the giver. He could hardly have committed a bigger gaffe, and not surprisingly, he failed to close the deal. If only he had known that, in Japan, business cards have almost sacred properties.
Not giving elders proper respect is a huge no-no in Asian countries. These cultures revere older people and paying proper respect to them is extremely important. When greeting an older person, it is proper to stand up and greet him or her formally. To stay seated would be insulting.
In Thai culture for example, Buddha images are held sacred and sacrilegious acts are punishable by imprisonment — even if committed by foreign visitors.
Thailand’s lèse-majesté law is one of the strictest in the world. Any act or speech that criticizes, insults, or shows a lack of reverence towards the monarch and queen of Thailand carries a jail sentence of up to 15 years.
Also in Thailand, one should never touch a person’s head, nor ruffle his hair. The head is considered the noblest part of the body and a sincere apology should be offered immediately should you touch someone’s head unintentionally. Also, when in Thailand, be aware of your feet. Never place your feet on the table while sitting and never ever use your foot to point things out or to touch any part of the body of anyone. All of this is considered shockingly rude.
Singapore is one place whose laws you should really study. For example, you won’t be able to find chewing gum. It is banned; it is not sold in Singapore, and chewing it carries a fine of at least $500. Another is if you might be a forgetful flusher. Yes, be very aware. Forgetting to flush the loo can land you a find of up to $750. This particular rule comes under Singapore’s Environmental Public Health Regulations, and it’s worth noting officials have the right to conduct random checks on public toilets to ensure these rules are adhered to. This is emblematic of how strict Singapore’s laws are.
Littering in Singapore can also result in a hefty fine. Offenders face being landed with a fine of over $1,000 and if you’re caught multiple times, it could increase to over $7,000. Believe it!
Fortunately, a lot of international companies now recognize the importance of fostering cultural awareness and spend significant amounts of money in an effort to avoid these icebergs of misunderstanding.
Some put staff through crash courses in foreign languages, and arrange seminars on cross-border cooperation. Others hope to increase international understanding through mentoring.
Whatever measures we take, we should be sensitive and respectful of the unique differences other cultures have. Knowing how to decode other cultures, we can avoid those easy-to-fall-into traps and avoid needless misunderstanding.
Sue Quigley writes regularly for the Hernando Sun. She can be reached at [email protected] or at 727.247.6308.
