Job Discussion Forums

Buraimi · Joined: 06 Sep 2004 Posts: 24 Location: Canada

Hi -

I'm teaching a new course next semester and would like to be able to provide real-life examples of instances in which people inadvertently offended or behaved "inappropriately" because of cultural differences. Would anyone like to share their most embarrassing moment?

Thanks very much!

Truman · Joined: 24 Oct 2003 Posts: 50

Many years ago ... as an American exchange student in Australia, I declared, at the end of a very satisfying family meal, "I'm stuffed!"

I did not get the reaction that I expected. Shocked

joshua2004 · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 8:27 pm Post subject:

What does that expression mean in Australia?

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Use your imagination...

Tonester · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 11:42 pm Post subject:

As an Australian I can tell you that the word "Stuffed" is the same as the word "F**ked" or in simpler terms "Tired".

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

To me, a very awkward situation: here I was, being the guest of a Russian citizen of Uzbekistan and as such highly visible among ythe crowd of Muslim wedding guests.
This happened in Samarkand, a lively and lovely ancient city full of medresses and inhabited by something like a hudnred different nationalities, the majority of whom Muslims.

So this guy - labouring under the mind-dulling influence of some vodka which was served at this Muslim event! - came up to me and asked me in Russian (which I didn't understand) to join him for a dance a deux...
I really felt like he was making a joke, and potentially, a fool of me, so I declined it.
To my astonishment, he got really angry and had to be restrained by a number of other guests.

I had offended him by not doing his bidding! Dancing with another man? You must do it - or die!

Twisting in the Wind · Joined: 20 Oct 2003 Posts: 571 Location: Purgatory

I was in an English-speaking church in the U.S. on Mother's Day 1989 with a Chinese friend from the mainland. The pastor had arranged for flowers to be given to each lady present in honor of the day, mothers or not.

A look of horror came over my Chinese friend's face as the white flowers were handed out, one by one. I asked her what was wrong. She whispered in my ear:

"White flowers mean Mother has died."

I almost wet my pants laughing so hard!!!!!!

mcNug · Joined: 12 Jun 2003 Posts: 83 Location: HK

Lyov · Joined: 24 Jul 2004 Posts: 43

I don't know if this is exaclty what you mean by a cultural difference or if it is exactly appropiate to teach but in the western world the sound of pain is oww which in Mongolian means 'father' in Mongolian they use the sound 'yeah.' This has caused alot of confusion, especially during sex.