We are the way we are! But is that good?

Yesterday at lunch with friends and extended family I went through a bizarre five minutes. This lady, a geriatric, amidst the lunch, got into a loud & lively conversation with whom I perceived to be a family member of hers on the cell phone. The conversation meandered on & on and left many of us writhing in discomfort, unable to enjoy our meal.

This incident followed, my stop at a traffic signal, where a gentleman in a 'Corolla' quite nonchalantly threw a couple of biscuit wrappers on to the road. Out of curiosity, I maneuvered my car next to his & was surprised to see a well dressed gent of about 65!

Some people tend to speak with an increased volume when they want to demonstrate authority, make a point or simply show friendship. It is not unusual for a superior to raise his voice with his staff or for a group of buddies to be boisterous in an otherwise quiet restaurant. In some offices, employees talk about private matters so loudly on the phone that colleagues can overhear them. For them, a high pitch may convey strength, sincerity or warmth-- values that people cherish. In comparison, a soft voice may imply weaknesses or indecisiveness.

As such, when these people talk loudly in a restaurant, hotel or office, they may not be aware that they are creating noise that might invade other people's space. Some tourist guides have said that what annoys foreigners most is when Indian tourists speak loudly and make noises in public.

Respecting another person's personal or private space is anathema to most Indian's and what till recently was a well kept secret is quite common knowledge as India take centre stage as a nation of importance.Currently, uncouth behaviour including spitting, littering, jumping queues and talking loudly has already stigmatized Indian's both inside and outside of India.

So much so, that the United Kingdom, says that it is going to henceforth teach immigrants to stand in a 'Q'. Culturally, in the UK, people are taught to wait for their turn & they find it very disconcerting when ' a Johnny come lately' wanders in & takes a place ahead of him/her in a 'Q'.

A while ago, the government of China issued an etiquette guide asking Chinese travellers, who number in the millions, to heed common etiquette and hygiene standards while on holiday at home and abroad. There has been empirical evidence that Chinese overseas tourists have improved their behaviour, with less spitting and littering.

Personally, I believe spitting, littering and most other unhygienic habits can be effectively controlled in the next couple of years by government intervention and having public figures as well as schools, chipping in on this aspect.

It is also important that corporates brief their staff on country specific cultures before they send their employees abroad on projects or as long term expatriates.Improving one's Cultural intelligence & Cultural Quotient is very important when heading overseas.It could be the difference between expat failure & success and how your bottom line looks..........