Going Dutch in BeijingThe International Guide to Doing the Right ThingMark McCrumISBN 1861971702ISBN 13 9781861971708July 2008Price £7.99Paperback, 272 pp.Buy this book at amazon.co.ukView quote sheetSubject: Humour |
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In China your host will lose face if he does not pick up the tab In Tokyo, ‘Chin-Chin’ is slang for ‘small penis’. In Sardinia a raised thumb means ‘sit on this!’ – try that in a traffic jam in Cagliari. The world is not, in fact, flat; and as travel becomes ever easier, understanding the way things are done in other societies becomes ever more crucial. Going Dutch in Beijing aims to help its readers avoid minor international incidents by offering a light-hearted but informative look at everything from first greetings to last rites, covering key minefields of misunderstanding along the way. If you want to know what not to say, what not to wear and what not to do when you are invited round for dinner, all around the world, it’s as well to get up to speed before you find yourself in the local police station.
‘A delight to read, and full of funny, helpful and thought-provoking information. Airline staff should hand a copy out with each boarding-pass they issue; that way we might all understand more about the places we travel to, and do a little less damage.
’ ‘[A]n invaluable look at global etiquette. ’ |
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