| Multiculturalism is a reality in North
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| | male client kisses you on the cheek, you
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| America and for those of us who do
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| | know you've made the short list.
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| business globally. The US has more legal
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| | Immigrant men from the Middle East often
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| immigrants yearly than all the other
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| | shake hands with a slight nod or bow and
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| countries in the world combined. Also
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| | then exchange kisses on both cheeks. Men
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| there are vast cultural differences among
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| | from the Middle East usually don't shake
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| "native" North Americans living in the US
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| | hands with women, nor do they introduce
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| and Canada for several generations, as
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| | the woman with them. Do not attempt to
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| you know if you've done business with a
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| | shake hands with a Middle Eastern woman
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| New Yorker (better be quick!) or with a
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| | unless -- and here's where the EQ comes
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| Texan (better stand at a 90degree angle
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| | in -- she extends her hand to you. Men in
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| to your male companion).Culture is not
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| | Eastern Europe, Portugal, Spain and Italy
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| ethnic or racial. It is learned and of
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| | will often kiss male friends on the
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| course each culture is different. Treat
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| | cheek.7. Pakistanis (largely Muslims)
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| everyone like a unique individual, as you
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| | greet with salaam, which is the
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| would like to be treated, don't get hung
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| | equivalent of our "hello."The salaam is
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| up on stereotypes. Develop your emotional
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| | done by bowing with the palm of the right
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| intelligence so you can be more intuitive
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| | hand on the forehead. Salaam means
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| about how to communicate with, negotiate
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| | "peace" or "Peace be with you."8.
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| with, and provide services and products
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| | Postures also have meaning.Ready to
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| for people from cultural backgrounds
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| | settle in with your Middle Eastern
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| other than your own. I offer some tips
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| | client? You may be most comfortable
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| below, and yet they are not universal in
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| | sitting back in your chair and crossing
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| these cultures.1. I repeat, do not
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| | your legs. Well, don't! In the Middle
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| expect everyone in a culture to be the
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| | East, one of the most insulting things
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| same!2. In South Texas, if you're talking
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| | you can do is sit with your legs crossed
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| to a male, they will often stand at a 90
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| | so the bottoms of the feet are pointed in
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| degree angle to you.If you move to
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| | the other person's direction. The foot is
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| reorient, a "dance" will begin. This is a
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| | the dirtiest part of the body and the
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| markedly non-intimate position, and often
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| | sole of the shoe is the dirtiest of the
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| the eyes are cast down to the floor or
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| | low. To show someone the bottom of your
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| out across the floor. South Texans
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| | foot or shoe means you're looking for a
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| generally say "Pleased to know you,"
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| | fight!9. Even handshaking cultures do it
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| while Mid Westerners say, "Pleased to
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| | differently.Many Britian's prefer a brief
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| meet you" or "Pleased to make your
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| | but firm handshake. The French prefer a
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| acquaintance." In social settings in
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| | light grip while sharing a single gentle
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| South Texas, it is not customary to shake
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| | shake that's quickly withdrawn. Germans
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| hands with women. Other San Antonio
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| | will give a very firm handshake -- just
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| cultural customs -- in San Antonio
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| | one "pump" then quick withdrawal. More
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| society, we have the haute hug - two
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| | than one shake with Germans or French is
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| women will parody a hug, not touching any
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| | considered aggressive. Italians will
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| part of their bodies, and just patting
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| | shake hands and then hug friends or kiss
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| one another lightly on the back. As a
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| | them on both cheeks.10. Bear in mind the
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| sign of affection, when you shake hands,
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| | other person may be trying to accommodate
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| sometimes you cover the other person's
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| | your culture, so don't assume they will
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| hand with your left hand and pat or
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| | use their traditional greeting.For
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| squeeze with warm eye contact. This is
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| | example, if you start first, for instance
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| particularly done with respected older
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| | bowing, and then see a hand extended for
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| people.3. Be aware that most of the world
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| | a shake, and switch to that, the other
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| does not greet by shaking hands.4. People
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| | person will then have switched to a bow
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| from Asian cultures bow in greeting, but
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| | and this becomes awkward. For many
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| the bows are different.People from
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| | cultures such "awkwardness" will kill the
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| Cambodia and Laos bow with both hands
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| | relationship early on, which means the
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| together in front of the chest, as if
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| | deal is off.11. Greetings are critical
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| praying. In Japan, the depth of the bow
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| | first moves in relationships.Begin with a
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| signifies the level of respect for the
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| | polite word or two, such as "Mr. and Mrs.
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| other party. Many Koreans prefer bowing
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| | Takida, it's so nice to meet you at
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| and if they shake hands, the right hand
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| | last," and then hesitate for a moment to
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| is supported at the wrist by the left
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| | see what they want to do and are
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| hand to show respect. Thais bow with
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| | comfortable with. Then mirror their
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| palms together about chest-high with
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| | gesture, be it bow, hand shake, abrazo
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| their fingers outstretched. And, there
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| | (hug) or nothing! Use your intuition!
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| are exceptions. The Taiwanese usually nod
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| | When in doubt, err on the side of
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| the head in recognition rather than
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| | conservatism.I look forward to the day
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| bow.5. Some cultures naturally greet by
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| | when we abandon our collective need for
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| hugging.Native Hawaiians hug each other,
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| | safety through homogeneity and reclaim
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| exchanging breaths. The custom is called
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| | our natural curiosity about what is not
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| "ha." Ancient Hawaiians, incidentally,
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| | like us. We then will no longer need to
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| actually bumped heads together. Mexicans
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| | "manage" diversity, and will have no need
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| use the abrazo. Greeks and Italians often
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| | other than to engage it and open
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| hug with or without shaking hands
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| | ourselves to receive its gifts.
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| first.6. Some cultures kiss!If your Cuban
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