Case 1 A Canadian
The shipping agent(代理) is serving the customers in the way that is considered efficient in Venezuelan(委内瑞拉) culture. To the Canadian, however, this is unfocused activity(活动) that is not nearly as efficient(有效地) as it would be —particularly from her point of view — if the agent simply dealt(处理) exclusively(专门) with her scheduled(计划) appointment. In Canada, businesspeople typically(通常) write appointments and activities into the day’s agenda(议程) every day. They then work sequentially(顺序) through the agenda until they have completed each task or the day is over. In other words, Canadians prefer to do one thing at a time, while the South Americans, including Venezuelans, tend to do a few things simultaneously(同时).
Case 2 A dozen
As a Westerner, the American visiting professor(客座教授) does not quite understand the collective ownership(集体所有制) of information in some other cultural environments. What made her annoyed(恼火) is a different attitude toward information about people. In the United States, it is generally assumed(认为) that personal matters are private(隐私). Teachers go through elaborate(精心) procedures(设计) to assure that students do not have access(接触) to each other’s grades. In business it is the same. Evaluations(评估) are confidential(保密的).
Case 3 When
As a matter of fact, the American woman was not being disrespectful(不敬). However, it is clear that her way of showing respect and welcome was different from the ancient tradition of keeping physical distance from superiors(上级), which is still widely observed(遵守), especially when royalty(皇室) is involved(有关的).
Paul Keating, the Australian prime minister(总理), may have intended(打算) to suggest by his gesture(姿态) that Australia would no longer accept the queen as head of state but just as one of their honored guests. Obviously, the British would not like it at all.
Sometimes, such seemingly(表面上的) trivial(琐碎的) things can influence relations between countries. That’s why protocol(协议) is taken seriously and people who are to hold diplomatic(外交) posts(公告) will be given detailed and careful instructions(指示).
Case 7 A female
When the Canadian young man said, “Who took my peanut butter(花生酱)?”, what he really meant was “Where is my peanut butter? I can’t find it.” The Chinese doctor felt upset because in Chinese culture questions like this, especially expressed in the way the young Canadian man did, often imply(暗示) that someone is to blame(罪魁祸首). Chinese culture prohibits(禁止) direct accusing（指责）unless a person has been targeted for shame. However, true(忠诚的) to her learned cultural behavior of never
