How Do You Relate To A Person From A Different Cultural Background?
The US is a melting pot; that’s what we hear all the time. Virtually every country in the world is represented here. Unless you come from a really small city and don’t travel, you are bound to meet a person of foreign descent quite frequently; and it is important to relate to them in a courteous manner. How you relate will depend of course on the setting and the events surrounding your meeting. Let’s assume that you are sitting in a waiting room somewhere. Next to you is seated this guy whom you can tell he is most like from a different country. You want to break the awkward silence; you can either start off yourself or wait for him to start (which probably isn’t going to happen). Make a general judgment of the person based on his dressing, facial expression and what he/she is doing. With this you establish your base. Start with a gentle greeting and look into his/her eyes. Be sure to smile. The key is to be moderate, something like “Hi, how are you?” Gauge if a handshake is fitting be
