Global Etiquette
International behavior awareness
makes your travel more pleasurable,
whether business or personal. My
interest piqued on this topic in
the 80s when traveling to S.E.
Asia, while working on my Master’s
degree. I continued to ask, read and
learn more on the topic. It is our
hope with this monthly column
to cover dining etiquette, gestures,
gifting, greetings, and customs
in general.
It is my hope that our readers
will share some of their own
experiences, as that is what really
brings the importance of this issue
to life. Etiquette could can make
or break a business deal or
social connection.
We also know several consultants
who teach etiquette and protocol
courses and hope they will
contribute to this column
in the future.
Etiquette and customs vary from
culture to culture, state to state, as
well as within generations. Dining
etiquette has as many variables and
gestures require a great deal of
knowledge or caution.
Manners were drilled into my head
from the time I was a small child.
So let’s start with gestures, as
that is where I made my greatest
faux pas. I talk with my hands
a lot and never thought much
about doing so.
It was in the early 90s and I was in
Fortaleza, Brazil, meeting with the
Governor of Ceara. My goal was to
bring some Brazilian and American
investors together. There were
about fourteen of us in the room
including a reporter and cameraman.
The two-ho