episode 03 exercise answer 02

Part 2: Solution

Let's see how well you answered the questions.

Understanding Indian Culture

Pauline is meeting with a very important potential client, Rajiv Vaidya. He is from India, and Pauline wants to be respectful of his culture. Help Pauline prepare for her meeting by answering the following questions. You may have to do some research at the library or on the Internet to answer these questions.

	1.	Pauline knows that gestures have different meanings in different cultures. All of the following are true of the Indian culture except
		a. never touch someone else's head. Do not even affectionately pat the head of a child.
		b. to point, use your index finger.
		c. express sincerity or repentance by grasping your ears.
		d. beckon someone toward you in this manner: hold your hand out, palm facing down, and make a scooping gesture toward yourself.
		Your Answer:
		Correct Answer: b
		Indians consider pointing with the index finger to be rude. Rather, Indians prefer to point with the chin. Because many Indians consider the head to be the location of the soul, touching someone else's head is offensive. Since the ears are sacred appendages, touching your own ears is sign of sincerity. In many countries of the world, a "scooping" motion to beckon is much preferred over crooking of the finger, which may be considered rude.

	2.	Pauline would like to greet her clients with the traditional Indian greeting "namaste." To do so, Pauline should
		a. hug her clients and kiss them lightly on each cheek.
		b. bow deeply from the waist and say "namaste" three times.
		c. hold her hands together below her chin, nod or bow slightly, and say "namaste."
		d. shake hands with her clients while saying "namaste."
		Your Answer:
		Correct Answer: c
		The traditional namaste requires that Pauline place her hands under her chin as though she were praying and nod or bow slightly while saying "namaste." Indians of all ethnic groups disapprove of all public displays of affection, so to hug and kiss her clients would likely cause them to feel uncomfortable.

	3.	At lunch with her clients, Pauline should not
		a. eat only with her right hand.
		b. insist that her clients taste her food from her plate.
		c. wash her hands both before and after the meal.
		Your Answer:
		Correct Answer: b
		Pauline should never insist that an Indian client taste food from her plate because food is considered unclean to others once it is placed on another person's plate. She should eat only with her right hand since the left hand is often considered unclean. Finally, washing her hands both before and after the meal shows respect for Indian custom.

	4.	When she chooses her clothing for the business lunch meeting with her clients, Pauline should keep in mind that
		a. in Indian culture, women keep their upper arms, chest, back and legs covered at all times.
		b. she can wear whatever she wants since she is an American in America.
		c. she should wear a sari, the traditional Indian women's attire, to demonstrate her knowledge of the Indian culture.
		d. she should avoid wearing a striped suit.
		Your Answer:
		Correct Answer: a
		To demonstrate respect for Indian customs of modesty, Pauline should choose clothing that covers her upper arms, chest, back, and legs. A suit would be very acceptable. There is no stigma about wearing a striped fabric. However, to wear a sari may be overkill and unnecessary. It may also be perceived as inappropriate if worn incorrectly.

	5.	Pauline would like to give her clients a small gift. In choosing her gift, she should know that all the following are true except
		a. she should not expect her clients to open the gift in her presence.
		b. leather goods, such as wallets or purses, may be unacceptable gifts.
		c. money should be given in odd number amounts.
		d. she should wrap the gift in black or white.
		Your Answer:
		Correct Answer: d
		Black and white are considered unlucky colors. Therefore, gifts should not be wrapped in black and white. Instead, Pauline should wrap their gifts in green, red or yellow—all of which are considered lucky colors. Many Hindu Indians revere cows, so a gift of leather could be seen as inappropriate. Money should be given in odd number amounts.

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