[speaker001:] Matthew, do you know much about body language in countries around the world?
[speaker002:] Sure, I've picked up a few things from travelling around for work. Why?
[speaker001:] Well, I had a meeting today with a woman from Japan and she wouldn't stop bowing! I didn't know what to do!
[speaker002:] Did you bow back?
[speaker001:] No, I tried to shake her hand, but her hand was so limp I was a bit offended.
[speaker002:] Well, Japanese businessmen and women typically bow to greet each other in Japan. She might have been offended by your strong handshake.
[speaker001:] But she was in America! Shouldn't she have known that strong handshakes in America signify confidence and respect?
[speaker002:] Things are different in Japan. You know, in some countries, making eye contact with others is considered rude.
[speaker001:] Is that why she wouldn 't look at me in the meeting?
[speaker002:] I think it's highly possible, yes.
[speaker001:] The meeting really didn 't go down well at all. I think I need to read up about intercultural communication before I have another meeting with someone from another country.
[speaker002:] That's a good idea. When you don 't know much about other cultures, the simplest thing can offend someone.
[speaker001:] That's so true. It's great that we see eye to eye on this.