At the suggestion of a family friend whose daughter traveled abroad before, I picked up Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands (2nd Ed.) by Terri Morrison and Wayne Conaway. This guide for international business etiquette was last updated in 2006. Twelve years later, the world has drastically changed, especially in regard to technology, and assigning certain characteristics to countries with millions of people of all different backgrounds and experiences is extremely difficult. Keeping this in mind, I decided to look at the countries I will most likely have a chance to visit during my year abroad to gain a better understanding of each country’s history and culture. I have picked out the information I considered the most useful or interesting of Morrison and Conaway’s thorough text.
Belgium
· Belgium has three official languages, French, Dutch, and German, though up to eight are spoken in the country (40).
· In Belgium, people tend to have a ridiculous, even “self-deprecating sense of humor” (42).
· “Belgium is one hour behind Greenwich Mean Time (G.M.T.-1). This makes it six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Standard Time (E.S.T. +6)” (43).
· It is seen as rude or improper to talk with hand in your pockets, using toothpicks in front of others, pointing with your index finger, and snapping with both hands (44).
Denmark
· One of the most famous authors in the world, Hans Christian Andersen, called Denmark his home and is now regarded as the country’s international storyteller (132).
· Denmark’s official language is Danish, though English is taught to children as well (133).
· Dane’s say the greeting “heij” pronounced like “hi” when both coming and going (138).
· At a showing, take your seat by facing the people seated in your row. It is considered rude to move past people with your back to them (138).
France
· When visiting France, it is considered proper to acknowledge your inability to speak French before asking someone for information (169).
· “French people are very proud of their language” and consider it superior to other languages (171).
· At times, “French interviewers do handwriting analyses of job candidates. The French use graphology to determine predominant work characteristics” (172).
· While dining, keep both hands on the table at all times (175).
Germany
· When speaking, the most important word is the last one. Always speak in complete sentences (178).
· Don’t be late! Punctuality is extremely important to Germans (182).
· In Germany, a twenty-four-hour clock is used, and midnight is called null Uhr (zero hour) (183).
· “When identifying a half-hour, the usage in German is unlike the usage in English. Where an Englishman might refer to 9:30 A.M. as “half-nine,” a German may call the same time “half-ten”” (183).
Ireland
· Irish people talk freely with friends and strangers. It would be considered rude to not talk to anyone while waiting somewhere (248).
· Many people go on vacation in July and August in Ireland (252).
· “Never praise England or use any British symbolism during your negotiations with the Irish” (253).
· In a pub, order your drink at the bar. Don’t expect table service (253).
Netherlands
· The Netherlands is often mistakenly called Holland, which actually refers to a specific area in the Netherlands (322).
· Planning is very important to the Dutch and arriving even a few minutes late signals incompetence or untrustworthiness (326).
· “When eating, always use utensils; very few items are eaten with the hands. Many Dutch even eat bread with a knife and fork” (329).
· “Upon introduction, repeat your last name while you are shaking hands” (329).
United Kingdom
· When starting a conversation, avoid asking personal questions since it might be seen as too invasive (541).
· “The British apologize often, for even small inconveniences. They also have a habit of adding a question to the end of a sentence; for example: “It’s a lovely day, don’t you think?”” (541).
· “If you give the “victory” sign (a V with two fingers), do so with the palm facing outward” (543).
· “Don’t make jokes about the royal family” (542).
I hope you found these little tidbits of information as interesting as I did!
As always, wishing you warm drinks and new adventures,
Maria
Morrison, Terri, and Wayne A. Conaway. Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands: The Bestselling Guide to Doing Business in More Than 60 Countries. Avon, Mass: Adams Media, 2006. Print.
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