Manners For A Global Student

In America, you have to be on time...even for parties: There is UK punctuality and Australianpunctuality but the degree of American punctuality is the highest. Americans are so damn punctual thatthey don’t even want you to come late for parties. Just in case you get late, you have to inform the hostsso that you are not welcomed with a frown. At max, someone will wait for you for 15 minutes, post thatit’s late. Says Avneet: “In America, even when you are going out with friends at night, you have to be punctual.Australians too take punctuality seriously. Punctuality in the UK differs from situation to situation. Onething to keep in mind is never to arrive too early. Either be on time or at a max, arrive 15 minutes lateafter the stated time. rnDID YOU KNOW? 6 hours late is on time in Ghana High five isn’t the best way to meet and greet the Brits: We have heard a thousand Britscomplain about how some people find it really cool to pass a high five every now and then, and why it isthe worst thing to do. Also, for Brits, a peck is acceptable only if you are meeting friends oracquaintances after a very long time. NO! A WEEK ISN’T THAT LONG TO KISS.  Says Avneet: “The English culture demands a sense of formality while addressing someone, which isrnwhy the same is done with terms like ‘sir’ or ‘ma’am.’ Politeness, reserve and restraint are admired inrnsomeone they are meeting for the first time. Most Americans believe in equality and thus end uprndeferring usage of overtly formal words like sir, and ma’am and call people by their first names unless itrnis someone of a senior rank. This applies especially to the Northern and Central sections of therncontinent. In Australia, the greeting system is informal and people commonly greet each other with anrninformal ‘Hi’ , Hello or ‘Good day.’ In all three of these countries however, it is considered appropriaternto address people in a respectful way with a ‘Mr’ or ‘Ms.’ Remember that when you visit a friend’srnparents, ‘uncle’ and ‘aunty’ are not terms that are recognised in their culture. This happens only inrnIndia! It is always appropriate to address a lady as Ms., irrespective of her being married or not. If she’drnlike to be addressed as Mrs. wait for her to tell you. In Australia, don’t visit someone without a gift: You parents already do that in India, and sornshould you when you move abroad. ‘Khaali Haath’ is just not cool in Australia. You have to carryrnsomething which is preferably of your country. So, the next time you visit an Australian family, gift themrna scale size replica of Taj Mahal, and not of Sydney Harbour. rnSays Avneet: “It is considered etiquette to bring a small gift when invited to someone’s home preferablyrnsomething that is native to your country, but even a bottle of wine or flowers is appreciated. Americansrnusually don’t have any qualms about gifting. They are particular about RSVP’s to plan socialrnengagements accordingly. In the UK thank you notes are considered very polite. Never ever kiss or hug a Brit in public: Even if you know them. If you are meeting them at a publicrnplace or at a formal gathering, a firm handshake is what you should aim at. Just make sure that yourndon’t crush the lady’s hand like you want to take squeeze some juice out of it?rnSays Avneet: “The British are not overly affectionate, they mark their personal space evidently and onernshould be wary of hugging, kissing and general show of affection in public. Americans are veryrnparticular about personal space. Keep your distance while having conversation as they mayrnautomatically step back if they feel you are invading their personal space. Australians are friendly, butrnextremely particular about personal space too. 1-3 arms distance is the key! You don’t show a victory sign to Australians: How many times do you flash a ‘V’ sign during arnday? 5 times atleast? Don’t do it when you are in Australia? They consider it vulgar. Why just America?rnYou should just not flash your local gestures when you are not in your country because you never knowrnwhat it stands for in a foreign land.rnSays Avneet: “’V’ sign is assumed to be a very vulgar gesture. It does not communicate peace in theirrnculture. The thumbs up sign, which is used very casually across the world, is also considered obscene inrnAustralia. British desire privacy and it is thus considered rude to pry into their personal lives or askrnquestions about how much they earn. Certain terms or words to describe different races are a hugerntaboo in all three countries and completely unacceptable as racism poses as a serious problem.rnNever address the waiter as ‘boss’: No it isn’t cool and if you call someone with such names, mostrnlikely, you will be loathed for it. Also, you can’t use both your hands to eat. It isn’t done!rnSays Avneet: Americans and Australians usually practice eating with a style known as Switch and Switch.rnIt involves you having to cut your food one morsel at a time. The concept behind this style of eating isrnthat a person should be involved with their food as well the people they are dining with. Americans raiserntheir index finger silently to make contact with the server. In Australia and England diners don’t call outrnto the servers in restaurants but summon them with a quiet hand motion instead. Usage of terms likernboss, hero, 'chote' is inappropriate. Work etiquette: Consider yourself lucky that your parents don’t ask you to fend for yourself when yournare in need to money, abroad it isn’t the case. Most of the students, once they reach a certain age, workrnto take care of their need, and that’s why you need to know a lot about work etiquettes.rnSays Avneet: “Student life in America and the UK is extremely expensive – even more so than in Australia.rnBut in all three countries, students tend to get part time jobs, which is why understanding the basics ofrnwork etiquette is imperative. Anything that isn’t a corporate job in America or Australia will have a semirnformal setting and pay employees a minimum wage or on an hourly basis. So one tends not to get toorntied down or attached to the work place. In the UK however, even student jobs are taken seriously andrnone must maintain good, formal work etiquette. In a business situation, men and women are equals.rnThe men need not hold the door for a lady; hold her chair to get seated etc. Save the chivalry for yourrndate. However, don’t treat all the ladies like your best buds either. Respect one’s personal space atrnworkplace; maintain 1-3 arms distance. While making presentations, present your business case withrnfacts and figures. Emotions and feelings are not important in any business climate. rnA few more things you need to consider rnHow to introduce one person to another? Often, there is confusion as to how to introduce people in arnsocial and work setup. In a social setup, introduce the younger person to the older person. At workplace,rnintroduce a person of lower rank/status to a person of higher rank/status. Do not introduce based onrngender. Ladies are not always first. In a social setup, when two people are of similar age and rank,rnintroduce the one you know better to the other person first. rnBody Language: Australians are more open or ‘chilled out’ about back slapping, or hugs, or even justrnshaking hands; that is true for Americans too as long as it is outside of a professional setting. Bodyrnlanguage is important for personal presentation on the whole and is not particularly subjective torncountries. Respectful, yet friendly body language will go a long way in any circumstance. Make sure yourrnhandshakes are firm. Limp and lousy handshakes project under confidence. rnDressing: In the modern world, this shouldn’t surprise you as India has taken western fashion to thernnext level. Formal and informal wear will be the same except more pants and less salwars on women.rnJewellery should be small and minimal. Avoid chunky gold jewellery that cause distraction. rnTelephone etiquette: The simple rule you have to follow with a person in the UK is to be polite andrnconcise while addressing them over the phone. In Australia and America, being slightly informal overrnthe phone is fairly acceptable. The terms ‘English’ and ‘British’ do not mean the same thing. ‘British’rndenotes someone who is from England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. ‘English’ refers to peoplernfrom England. People from Scotland are ‘Scots’, from Wales ‘Welsh’ and from Northern Ireland ‘Irish’.rnBe sure not to call someone Welsh, Scots, or Northern Irish ‘English’. rnInside and outside voices: It’s not a great idea to be too loud around people or in a conversation. Butrnagain, your behaviour has a lot to do with your environment. The British, as mentioned before, arernextremely polite – remember to maintain that conversationally. Being too outspoken or too loud will notrngo down well with them.