Cross-Cultural Communication: Grin and Jump In!

Multiculturalism is a reality in North America and for those of us who do business globally. There are vast cultural differences among “native” North Americans living in the US and Canada for several generations, as you know if you’ve done business with a New Yorker (better be quick!) or with a Texan (better stand at a 90degree angle to your male companion).

Culture is not ethnic or racial. It is learned and of course each culture is different. Treat everyone like a unique individual, as you would like to be treated, don’t get hung up on stereotypes. Develop your emotional intelligence so you can be more intuitive about how to communicate with, negotiate with, and provide services and products for people from cultural backgrounds other than your own. I offer some tips below, and yet they are not universal in these cultures.

1. I repeat, do not expect everyone in a culture to be the same!

2. In South Texas, if you’re talking to a male, they will often stand at a 90 degree angle to you.

If you move to reorient, a “dance” will begin. This is a markedly non-intimate position, and often the eyes are cast down to the floor or out across the floor. South Texans generally say “Pleased to know you,” while Mid Westerners say, “Pleased to meet you” or “Pleased to make your acquaintance.” In social settings in South Texas, it is not customary to shake hands with women. Other San Antonio cultural customs - in San Antonio society, we have the haute hug - two women will parody a hug, not touching any part of their bodies, and just patting one another lightly on the back. As a sign of affection, when you shake hands, sometimes you cover the other person’s hand with your left hand and pat or squeeze with warm eye contact. This is particularly done with respected older people.

3. Be aware that most of the world does not greet by shaking hands.

4. People from Asian cultures bow in greeting, but the bows are different.

People from Cambodia and Laos bow with both hands together in front of the chest, as if praying. In Japan, the depth of the bow signifies the level of respect for the other party. Many Koreans prefer bowing and if they shake hands, the right hand is supported at the wrist by the left hand to show respect. Thais bow with palms together about chest-high with their fingers outstretched.

5. Some cultures naturally greet by hugging.

Native Hawaiians hug each other, exchanging breaths. The custom is called “ha.” Ancient Hawaiians, incidentally, actually bumped heads together. Mexicans use the abrazo. Greeks and Italians often hug with or without shaking hands first.

6. Some cultures kiss!

If your Cuban male client kisses you on the cheek, you know you’ve made the short list. Immigrant men from the Middle East often shake hands with a slight nod or bow and then exchange kisses on both cheeks. Men from the Middle East usually don’t shake hands with women, nor do they introduce the woman with them. Do not attempt to shake hands with a Middle Eastern woman unless - and here’s where the EQ comes in - she extends her hand to you. Men in Eastern Europe, Portugal, Spain and Italy will often kiss male friends on the cheek.

7. Pakistanis (largely Muslims) greet with salaam, which is the equivalent of our “hello.”

The salaam is done by bowing with the palm of the right hand on the forehead. Salaam means “peace” or “Peace be with you.”

8. Postures also have meaning.

Ready to settle in with your Middle Eastern client? You may be most comfortable sitting back in your chair and crossing your legs. Well, don’t! In the Middle East, one of the most insulting things you can do is sit with your legs crossed so the bottoms of the feet are pointed in the other person’s direction. The foot is the dirtiest part of the body and the sole of the shoe is the dirtiest of the low. To show someone the bottom of your foot or shoe means you’re looking for a fight!

9. Even handshaking cultures do it differently.

Many Britian’s prefer a brief but firm handshake. The French prefer a light grip while sharing a single gentle shake that’s quickly withdrawn. Germans will give a very firm handshake - just one “pump” then quick withdrawal. More than one shake with Germans or French is considered aggressive. Italians will shake hands and then hug friends or kiss them on both cheeks.

10. Bear in mind the other person may be trying to accommodate your culture, so don’t assume they will use their traditional greeting.

For example, if you start first, for instance bowing, and then see a hand extended for a shake, and switch to that, the other person will then have switched to a bow and this becomes awkward. For many cultures such “awkwardness” will kill the relationship early on, which means the deal is off.

11. Greetings are critical first moves in relationships.

Begin with a polite word or two, such as “Mr. and Mrs. Takida, it’s so nice to meet you at last,” and then hesitate for a moment to see what they want to do and are comfortable with. Then mirror their gesture, be it bow, hand shake, abrazo (hug) or nothing.

I look forward to the day when we abandon our collective need for safety through homogeneity and reclaim our natural curiosity about what is not like us - there is no need to study that. We then will no longer need to “manage” diversity, and will have no need other than to engage it and open ourselves to receive its gifts.

Are there any multi-cultural issues involved in online dating for teen? Well, some info is really useful to know.

Were you aware that most laptop insurance policies will disregard water damage from their coverage ? It’s the truth, no matter how problematic it is to get your laptop replaced or how important the material on it is, if your laptop was damaged by liquids most laptop insurance uk providers will simply refuse to enter into your claim request . The key term here is most and very luckily for me, not all!

Last spring I was staying at my parents’ home for a few weeks while my own apartment was being modernised . I remember being pleased that I had finally bought a brand new laptop to replace the clunky old desktop that I had been hauling around since my university days and that I could bring my laptop out to my parents’ place and use it there. Of course, I hadn’t counted on there not being any broadband , so my laptop sat in the boot of my cay for most of my stay.

The night before I was due to leave I wanted to show my mum some writing I had done so I got it up on the screen for her. She loved my new laptop and all of the functionality that it could bring and she was even thinking of having my father look into it as something that they could get for themselves . She had been thinking about buying a new computer system as theirs was now 11 years old.

The next morning, I awoke to a chill in the room and a general feeling of clamminess in the air. Even before I woke up fully , I knew that something was not right and then finally, as my eye site focused I could see what a swamp my desk was with water. There had been some serious leaking through the open window in the night and now my desk, which sat directly underneath the window, was soaked, including my brand new laptop. I forgot to shut the window tight, my parents had warned me about this problem! It sure is lucky I had decided to take out Laptop Insurance Uk, as it would not even boot up. Equally important was that one of my work colleagues had told me to check that the Insurance will cover me for liquid damage, this I had done and it was actually the third Laptop Insurance website I visited before the right policy for my laptop was found.

At the end of the day, there was nothing to do but to call the company that had provided me with the Laptop Insurance. The representative was happy to hear my concerns and asked me plenty of questions about the nature of the problem. I sat on the phone nervously, waiting to hear that this wasn’t covered.

I was extremely grateful, then, to find that it was definitely covered and that I could expect to see a resolution in no time at all. My problem with water damage, something that Laptop Insurance policies are notoriously reluctant to take care of, was well in the range of what could be covered and true to their word, I had the repairs taken care of very promptly.

Useful tips about Feng Shui in the bedroom - read and implement.

Since we are spending one-third of our time in our bedroom; therefore, it is wise to think about Feng Shui in bedroom.

Here are 8 important secrets to making sure our bedroom is fitting the best Feng Shui.

1. Do not put mirrors in the bedroom. It is believed that mirrors can bounce energies back and forth and thus create an unlimited source of moving energies, which is not ideal in the bedroom where one is supposed to be taking a rest. So, if the functionality of a mirror is desired, have it covered when it’s not in use and only open the cover to use the mirror when necessary.

2. Make sure the lighting in the bedroom is neither too much nor too little. When it’s too much, then the Yang energy is too dominant. It makes it hard for anyone to fall asleep when too much Yang energy is available. When it’s too dim or dark in the bedroom, then such condition is symbolic of too much Yin energy, which makes it hard for anyone to function in the bedroom either. Therefore, tune the lighting to its most optimal level and get some good Feng Shui in the bedroom.

3. Only put your favorable objects in the bedroom - those that remind you of fond memories and experiences and will bring a smile to you face when being thought of. Do not allow anything that represents unresolved issues that are bothersome by nature in the bedroom because as it is well understood now that everything carries their own vibration, and that physical objects do store memories energetically too.

4. By all means, avoid creating “clutters” and always aim to “de-clutter” on a regular basis. These “clutters” are those big piles of things that are left sitting or standing somewhere in the room. Often times, when people are going through their daily lives so busily, they’d tend to overlook the importance of keeping the space tidy and devoid of “unattended’ structures. When these structures start to grow up on their own, they turn into “blockages” or “obstacles” that “stand in the way” in physical as well as metaphysical sense. When these “clutters” are formed, “obstacles” are created that will block the smooth flow of energies physically and metaphysically. Therefore, when things are not working out the way they should, start to “de-clutter” as this is one sure-fire way to right the wrong when it comes to reclaiming the good and smooth flow of energy. This is so much more true when it comes to creating good Feng Shui in bedroom.

5. Choosing the right color scheme is very important for getting good Feng Shui in the bedroom as well. Since the bedroom is mostly used for resting our body, mind and spirit, softer color scheme is much preferred to those that are dynamic by nature. Since every color has its own intensity, always choose the low intensity version of the colors to be applied.

6. It is always a good Feng Shui idea for the bed to have a headboard with it. Yes, many a bed does not have any headboard because of its special styling. But those that do have headboard are more preferred when it comes to creating good Feng Shui in the bedroom because this insignificant feature provides the most needed “back support” - “backup” - that is very important in terms of good Feng Shui.

7. The bed should be located in the bedroom in such a way that it gives you a secured, stable and comfortable feeling when you’re sleeping on it. It should be leaned right against the wall and there shouldn’t be any space between the headboard and the wall. This is also for the “solid” support that any good Feng Shui setup will have. Never leave any space in between the headboard and the wall or else one will wake up feeling “spacey” and “not grounded” during the day.

8. The bedroom should be located as far away from the main entrance as possible because in authentic Feng Shui practice, the functionality of the Yin and Yang is very carefully configured. In this case, the Yin aspect of the house is our bedroom, and thus it needs to be not mixed up with its counterpart, the Yang, which is the main entrance of the house. The truly amazing power of Feng Shui will be made more evident when the Yin and Yang functionalities are clearly defined and put to work. Therefore, in order to create good Feng Shui in the bedroom, one is to try arranging the overall setup of the house according to this requirement as much as possible right from the beginning stage of building the house.

Read more about Feng Shui bedroom.

For practical recommendations and suspended ceiling how to - watch this video.

You have recently become engaged, and now that the excitement has subsided a little, the next step is to start planning the wedding! You have so many different options availablewhen it comes to planning your wedding, but one way to make it particularly memorable for everyone involved is to have a theme wedding!

Holiday Weddings Make for Wonderful Theme Weddings
Say, for example, that you and your fiancé adore the holiday season, and Christmas in particular. So, why not celebrate both the holiday season and each other by having a Christmas-themed wedding! It is important to note that you should probably not have the wedding ceremony on Christmas or Christmas Eve, since the wedding party and your guests might have other plans.

So, it is a good idea to have your Christmas-themed wedding 7 to 10 days before Christmas. Now, the next step is thinking about a unique way to arrive at the wedding. If, for example, that time of the years is always snowy, why not arrive in a sleigh! The sleigh can be decorated with red and gold ribbons for a festive effect.

The same can be done for the wedding decorations. Christmas is a holiday that lends itself well to lgorgeous decorations, so it will certainly be easy to decorate the reception area for the themed wedding! For example, if you are having the reception in one large room, get four Christmas trees, and place one at each corner. You could decorate each of the trees with white wedding ornaments.

Another thing you will need to think about is how the bridesmaids and groomsmen should look. It is essential that they should complement each other some way. An interesting idea is to have the groomsmen wear red velvet vests under their black tuxedos and ties, and the bridesmaids wear red velvet dresses.

Naturally, you will have to think about the overall climate in your area, since velvet can tend to be very hot. Also, if there is not any snow on the ground, then you will have to rethink the sleigh idea. Therefore, you need to have other alternatives available, and that can easily be done with the correct research.

For more information on themed weddings in general, start by going to your local bookstore and getting various wedding planner magazines. These magazines will be very helpful to you, as they can provide links to websites that you might not have found otherwise. So, have patience, and enjoy [pin]orgainizing|planning[/spin] your wedding - a themed wedding that is sure to be memorable!

Other articles
Wedding mc duties
How to mc a wedding
Wedding master of ceremonies
Here you’ll find lots of practical guidance of the role of themaster of ceremonies at your reception. Invaluable if you are asking a family member of friend to performthese duties.

Non-profit organizations or charities operate ambulances whenever there are emergency calls and patients need to be transported to another hospital. This kind of service is known as volunteer ambulance service. This is the same with volunteer fire brigades and other volunteer services. Many volunteers can also use their private vehicles to get to a call, in this situation it is important to have Vehicle Emergency Lights and Sirens. Organizations that are offering volunteer service are catering to certain areas, both local communities and private owned communities. There are some voluntary fire services that provide volunteers during medical or fire disasters. On the other hand, some charities concentrate on supplying ambulance services for local areas. They may also provide ambulances during private events such as sports festivals. The most common example of a voluntary medical and ambulance service is Red Cross, which offers its service all over the world.

While Red Cross caters to worldwide communities, there are also some small organizations that are providing similar services within nearby areas. One example is St. John Ambulance. This group gives support and assistance to ambulance crews, in the event of medical emergencies. There are some organizations that hire paid staff, together with their volunteers. These individuals provide full-time service. If you would like to become a volunteer, there are several opportunities waiting for you. Among these are ambulance unit, standby services, highway emergency assistance, non-emergency ambulance transport, charity projects, ambulance support, and other voluntary services. Again be sure to get Visor Emergency Lights and Police Light Bars for your vehicle to ensure you own safety when responding to a call in your own vehicle.

The Good Things that You Get Out of Being a Volunteer

There are several benefits that you can obtain from signing up as a volunteer. These are comprised of the following:
1. You get to experience the satisfaction of being able to help someone, especially during medical emergencies.
2. You get to learn new skills, both medical and practical, which you can apply to your daily life.
3. You can apply your learning to assist other people.
4. Most volunteer organizations provide free training to their members. You will get to learn about first-aid and CPR.
5. You will be able to meet with other people your age.
6. You might discover that a profession within the area of medicine is what you want.
7. The best benefit of being a volunteer is the experience.

The Support Services of Volunteer Ambulance Organizations

Volunteer ambulance groups offer different kinds of services such as the following:

1. Emergency Medical Support or Assistance – They provide assistance during emergency calls. There are some organizations that are demonstrating to other communities the importance of community volunteerism. Volunteer groups provide ambulance service to communities that do not have their own transportation for the patients.

2. Charity Help and Projects – Most volunteer organizations are offering these to local communities, especially those that are in dire need. Most of the volunteer charity help that these organizations are providing are directed towards orphanages and the homeless. There are also some volunteer groups that reach out to seniors and inmates in poor communities.

3. Standby Medical Assistance – This service is typically provided during public events. If you are assigned to this kind of service, you are held responsible for keep the place and the event safe. There is a provision of first-aid kits and other equipments. There are also ambulances in standby.

4. Ambulance Service – There are some volunteer groups that provide ambulance service, together with fire brigades. This goes especially during fire disasters, wherein there are individuals that are hurt.

5. Non-emergency Ambulance Transport Service – While there are ambulance services for emergency cases, there are also ambulance support for non-emergency services. An ambulance transport service transfers a patient from one hospital to another and from the hospital to the patient’s home.