culture differences between french and american
...hen his meeting with a high-ranking official is not held in a closed office and is constantly interrupted. He starts wondering if the official is as important as he had been led to believe, and he starts to doubt how seriously his business is being taken. Example 5: “A Japanese businessman wants to tell his Norwegian client that he is uninterested in a particular sale. So he says "That will be very difficult." The Norwegian eagerly asks how he can help. The Japanese is mystified. To him, saying that something is difficult is a polite way of saying "No way in hell!". Dave Barry tells the story of being on a trip to Japan and working with a Japanese airline clerk on taking a flight from one city to another. On being asked about it, the clerk said "Perhaps you would prefer to take the train." So he said "NO, I want to fly." So she said "There are many other ways to go." He said "yes, but I think it would be best to fly." She said "It would very difficult". Eventually, it came out that there were no flights between those cities.” There are some different ways people look at American’s England peoples say’s- Americans are stupid and unsubtle. And they are fat and bad dressers. Kenyan people say’s- Americans are distant. They are not really close to other people -- even other Americans. Colombia peoples say’s- In the United States, they think that life is only work." Indonesia peoples say’s- In the United States everything has to be talked about and analyzed. Even the littlest thing has to be 'Why, why why? Ethiopia peoples say’s- The American is very explicit. He wants a 'yes' or 'no'. If someone tries to speak figuratively, the American is confused. Cultural differences between a American and a Frenchman: Americans are highly explicit. Frenchman is highly implicit. Americans are optimist and positive: value present and future; good at action. Frenchman is pessimist and negative: value past; good at analysis and criticism. Americans like what is simple. Frenchman like what is complex. Americans do not lie (it is bad). Frenchman lying is no big deal. Americans want to be loved. Frenchman wants to be independent. Americans social identity is based on the individual. Frenchman based on being a member of a group. Americans law and contracts must be respected; everything is in the contract once it is signed. Frenchman tries not to get caught; signing a contract is just the beginning. Americans a contract is not linked to the relationship. Frenchman the contract is strongly associated with the relationship. Americans process oriented: everything must be clear and documented; reacts as planned. Frenchman like Grey zones and nuances; very creative; very quick to react and sometimes more inventive. Americans try to get a win-win deal. Frenchman if the other one wins, it means that I'll lose. For Americans value is for quality of work. For Frenchman value is quality of life. The way an American can be distinguished from an Frenchman on their Body language: Make him count 1,2,3,4...- the American will start with the little finger and end with the thumb, the Frenchman will just do the opposite. Make him walk: the American will move his arms and take a lot of s...