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Gift Giving
Giving gifts across cultures takes a blending of sensitivity, research and personal knowledge. It is always best to research specific cultural gift giving practices so that you don't send the wrong signal by mistake. For example, giving a desk set that includes a knife (letter opener) to a Chinese colleague symbolizes the severing of the friendship, a bottle of wine for a Muslim friend doesn't drink alcohol is inappropriate and Guatemalans only give white flowers for funerals. In many cultures, the presentation of the gift is just as important as what the gift is, so research when is the appropriate time and how best to present your gift. Everyone loves to get a present, just make sure that you are sending the right message the next time you give a gift.

Seasons Greetings
It is the holiday season and with it the annual tradition of offering seasons greetings to friends and colleagues. As the United States has become more diverse, we have increased our sensitivity to the meanings behind our holiday greetings. When you know the person's faith, it is appropriate to offer them a greeting for the holiday that they celebrate such as Merry Christmas for Christians, Chag Sameach (which means "happy holiday") for Jews, and Happy Kwanzaa for African Americans celebrating Kwanzaa. If you don't know a person's faith, wishing them a Happy Holidays offers an appropriate greeting for the season without making an assumption about their faith or religious practices.

Houses of Worship
America is a predominately Christian culture but with our increasingly diverse society, it is important that we understand how our language around religion impacts people of other faiths. If you ask someone "where do you go to church" for example, we are implying that they are religious and more specifically Christian. But, if you use religion neutral language such as "What is your faith?" it gives the person an opportunity to share their spiritual orientation. Different faiths call their houses of worship by different names. The Jews attend a synagogue, Muslims a mosque, Hindus a temple, Buddhists a temple or a shrine and some faiths such as the Unitarian Universalists may use the term church, or they may use meeting house or congregation because of the Christian association with the term church . As we seek to promote acceptance across religions and faiths, using the correct terminology helps to build the bridge of understanding.

Exploring Diversity Terms
Language evolves over time and the language of diversity has evolved too. In a multicultural workplace, it is important that people understand the differences in terms that are being used. We see an evolution in the US census which now uses the phrase Black /African American as a category. People completing the census can choose black as a racial category even though they have no connection to the phrase African American which also carries an ethnic meaning as well. For example an immigrant from Somalia could be racially black, but have no identification with the term African American.   Listen to the terms that people use to refer to themselves. If in doubt, ask the person what terms they use to describe their racial/ethnic affiliation. Be willing to discuss your own description of your racial/ethnic affiliation as well. When working in a cross cultural environment, choose your terms carefully to ensure that you are using the appropriate words.

The Art of Saying No
In the USA we generally have a very direct conversation style which means that we will typically say no if we are unable to comply with a request or deadline. But for many cultures to say no directly is socially inappropriate. In Japan if you need to say no you might say instead "that would be difficult." In Honduras you might reply with "we will see" instead of saying no directly. Within cultures, people understand the nuances of what is being said and what is being implied indirectly. But, when crossing cultures, often these nuances are missed. When interacting with Americans foreigners learn about our direct conversational style, but they will typically keep their own style (which is often more indirect) when answering us. When communicating across cultures remember that people may not tell you no directly and therefor you need to listen for other clues that might tell you what they are really trying to say.

Immigrants Reach 17% of the Massachusetts Workforce
In a study released last Monday, MassInc. reported that as of 2004, foreign-born workers had reached a record high of 17% of the Massachusetts workforce, up from 8.8% in 1980. Nationwide 15% of our workforce is foreign-born, a percentage which is also climbing. Here in Massachusetts we are 8th in the country for the percentage of immigrants in our workforce. Larry Fish, CEO of Citizens Bank in remarks at an event discussing the report remarked "Immigrants are the biggest marketing opportunity in Massachusetts today." Top countries for new immigrants in MA are: Brazil, El Salvador, India, Japan, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Working in a multicultural workplace means knowing where people are coming from and how your marketplace is changing. Research key demographics for your business and then ensure that you are reaching all of your potential customers with quality products and services that are culturally appropriate.

Comfort Foods Around the World
Mention "comfort food" to someone and images will immediately come to mind. Food takes on a certain meaning for us based upon our cultural and family backgrounds. For Americans comfort food might include ice cream, macaroni and cheese or chicken noodle soup. For someone from Vietnam it might be pho (a rice noodle soup), for someone from Scotland it could be oatmeal and clotted cream, for a Swiss national it might be chocolate or if you are from the Caribbean it could be fried plantains. Conduct your own survey of what comfort food means to the people surrounding you. You might be surprised at the differences and the similarities.

Happy Birthday!
Birthday celebrations vary around the world and are a great way to gain a glimpse into another culture. In Greece, where most people are named after a Greek saint, people share sweets with friends who come to visit typically on the nameday for their saint instead of on their birthday. Among cultures that follow a lunar calendar, turning 60 signifies the completion of one complete lunar cycle and it is a time of rebirth and the mark of transition into old age. Some cultures may not celebrate particular birthdays - the Chinese don't celebrate the fortieth birthday because of the death connotations connected to the sound of four. In Argentina children receive pulls on the earlobe for their birthday. Traditionally, they get one pull for each year of their life. With the birth of spring around us, share your family traditions and inquire about other ceremonies. You may find something you want to add onto your own.

15% of Workers in the USA are Foreign Born
The face of the American workforce is changing. As the US native population continues on its 20 year decline, we are becoming increasingly dependent upon foreign-born workers to fill jobs. Today, across the nation, 15% of our workers were born in another country. In Massachusetts, all of the growth in the labor force since 1990 has come from foreign born workers. This trend is the result of the low birth rate and the migration of more people out of Massachusetts than into it. If we are to have vibrant and productive companies, communities and organizations, cultural competency is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. Take the time to learn about the cultures that surround you and help to bring that knowledge into your own cultural mosaic.

Exploring Pakistan
I had the pleasure of spending 10 days in Karachi, Pakistan over the New Year. Pakistan (roughly the size of California) came into existence in 1947 when the British Indian Empire was partitioned into two states - one primarily Muslim (East and West Pakistan) and the other Hindu (India). East Pakistan would later become Bangladesh in 1971. After partition, Karachi grew from a city of 500,000 to 12 million people, becoming Pakistan's largest city. Pakistan is a poor country with the average income reaching just $2,100 per year. Despite the challenges of daily life, I found the people to be warm and welcoming. People went out of their way to ask if I was enjoying my trip and I received no negative reactions to being an American. I was surprised at the openness of the press which featured half of a front page in an English paper outlining the pros and cons of President Musharraf's policies in 2004 on New Year's Day. Our impressions of other countries are often greatly influenced by the media. The next time you meet someone from a country often portrayed negatively by the media, ask them to share what life is like for the average citizen. In this way, you can create a more balanced impression of that country.

Greetings Across Cultures
Greetings around the world are as varied as the cultures they are part of. For example, in Asia, little body contact is made between strangers when they meet. The Japanese will bow, in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Thailand people use the namaste greeting (hands in prayer like position in front of the chest) as a sign of respect and in China a verbal greeting with a head nod is used unless you know the person. This distance when greeting people is the opposite of what we find in the Central and South American cultures where people will often hug and kiss and slap each other on the back when meeting. In regions of the world such as the Middle East and other Muslim countries, members of the opposite sex do not normally have any body contact when greeting and this is true of Orthodox Jews as well. While many people who interact with Americans have adjusted to our greetings, watch the body language of the person that you are interacting with to ensure that you are interacting on a level that is comfortable for everyone.

Celebrating Ramadan
The month of Ramadan is currently being observed by Muslims around the world. It marks the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. During Ramadan adults fast and they do not eat, drink, smoke or engage in sex from sunrise to sunset. Fasting also means refraining from negative thoughts or attitudes and Muslims seek during Ramadan to develop a sense of solidarity with those who suffer from want all year long. Ramadan ("high summer") has its origins in the pre-Islamic times when Arab tribes observed a month long truce from all hostilities. Ramadan is the only month the Koran mentions by name, for it is when the scriptures were revealed. Muslims typically break their fast by drinking water and eating dates or figs before their evening meal. The end of Ramadan (celebrated this year on November 14) is marked by the holiday of Eid-Ul-Fitr (the breaking of the fast). During this month of Ramadan, be sensitive to any colleagues who are fasting, and try not to have meetings run late in the afternoon when people want to return home and break the fast. To extend greetings during Ramadan you can use: "Wishing you the blessings of Ramadan" or "Congratulations on the arrival of Ramadan."

What Assumptions Are You Making?
Making assumptions is a natural reaction to interacting with other people. But, even among people we know well, such as our families, our assumptions can get us in trouble. Making assumptions in a multi-cultural setting is even more apt to result in misconceptions and miscommunication. The less we know about the person we are interacting with, the more likely that our assumptions may not be accurate, as assumptions are merely guesses as to why someone acts the way that they do. For example, people assumed when they saw Native American men walking in front of the women that this was a sign of superiority. From the Native American point of view, they were protecting the women from possible danger. To avoid making incorrect assumptions, carefully monitor what assumptions you are making and then stop yourself and ask "is this idea based upon a fact I know to be true or on an assumption I am making?" If it is based on an assumption, ask for clarification. Share the assumptions you are making too - it will help the other person to know where you are coming from.

Making the Eye Connection
As the Arabic adage says "the eyes are the window to the soul." In the dominant US culture, as well as many Western Europe and Jewish cultures, we put a large emphasis on making eye contact with the person we are speaking with. "Look me in the eye" is a phrase many people heard as a child. In these cultures, direct eye contact typically conveys that we have nothing to hide and that we are trustworthy. But, for many cultures around the world, averting your eyes is a sign of respect, particularly if you are interacting with an elder or someone of higher authority. We see this in the Native American culture and many Asian cultures as well. The next time you are interacting in a multi-cultural setting, think about what your eyes are saying and check what assumptions you are making about the other person if they don't make eye contact with you. If they are averting their eyes, it could be out of respect.

Ask About Family
In many cultures around the world, family loyalty and connections are an integral part of daily life. The cultural importance of family is often reflected in ritual greetings. To greet someone and not to ask about their family in the first few sentences is considered rude. By asking about someone's family, you are acknowledging their broader connections in the world and the community. And, you are taking an interest in who they are outside of work. The next time you are interacting in a multicultural setting, ask people about their family. They will be pleased that you asked and it will help to foster a rapport between you.

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