Arabsconsideritextremelybadmannerstostarttalkingbusinessimmediately.Eventhebusiestgovernmentofficialalwaystakesextratimetobepoliteandofferrefreshments(茶点).Nomatterhowbusyyouare,youshouldmaketimeforthis.
TheconferencevisitisawayofdoingbusinessthroughouttheArabworld.Frequently,youwillhavetodiscussyourbusinessinthepresenceofstrangers,whomayormaynothaveanythingtodowithyourbusiness.Donotbesurprisedifyourmeetingisinterruptedseveraltimesbypeoplewhocomeintotheroomunannounced,whisper,orspeaksoftlytothepersonwithwhomyouaretalking,andleave.Actasthoughyoudonothear,andnevershowdispleasureatbeinginterrupted.
MakingdecisionsquicklyisnotanArabcustom.Thereisavagueness(模糊)indoingbusinessintheMiddleEastwhichwillpuzzleanewcomer.Giveyourselflotsoftimeandasklotsofquestions.
WhenanArabsays“yes”,hemaymean“maybe”.Whenhesays“maybe”,heprobablymeans“no”.Youwillseldomgetadirect“no”fromanArabbecauseitisconsiderednotpolite.Insteadof“no”,hewillsay“inshallah”,whichmeans“ifGodiswilling”.Ontheotherhand,“yes”doesnotnecessarilymean“yes”.Asmileandaslownodmightbelikeanagreementbutinfactyourhostisbeingpolite.AnArabconsidersitrudetodisagreewithaguest.
小题1:Themainpurposeofthisarticleistoexplain_________________.