Tanmoy, the being

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1519023.cms has interesting stories like this one..

"On the first day Arvind joined a firm in Japan as senior manager, he was asked if he would like to pick up his recruitment letter and other forms. "It seemed like a suggestion, so I said I would do so later."
This casual remark lost him goodwill in office. Suggestions are meant to be interpreted as commands in Japan, he learned later. "

"Preeti was preparing to receive her husband's Chinese boss for dinner. She ordered special Chinese lanterns to welcome him.
But when he arrived, he took one look at the lanterns, bowed and took leave. Preeti ruefully recalls, "The Chinese use different lanterns for different social occasions. I had decorated my home with funeral lanterns!"


This is a daily dilemma for everyone around here..

Your behaviour = Own culture response + Adaptation to other culture

So how can?

- Stand up for your own cultural practices
- When interacting with other cultures, communicate and assume nothing

Still some open questions ..
- How to consistently prevent misinterpretation?
- How to respond when someone does a 'Preeti' on you?