“When in Rome, do as the Romans do”, so when you want to do business in France, you have to get to know French culture, to make marketing plans, and to run your business by local laws.

【小题1】 The French take great pride in their language, so anyone who does not speak it may run the risk of being disrespected by his French colleagues or business partners. Also, another reason why learning French is important is that it is a great way to show every possible French business partner that you care and respect their country’s culture and language.

There are obvious ways of greeting people in French. When you meet someone new, it’s usual to shake his hand firmly and always look at the person in the eye. 【小题2】

Dress well. 【小题3】 Your business clothing is a reflection of your success and social status. Always try to be stylish. Women are advised to dress simply but elegantly. Wearing make-up is practiced widely by business women.

The French are passionate about food, so lunches are common in doing business in France, which usually consist of an appetizer, main meal with wine, cheese, dessert and coffee, and normally take up to two hours. 【小题4】

Do not begin eating until the host says, “Bon appetite”. Pass dishes to the left, keep wrists above the table and try to eat everything on the plate. 【小题5】 This may suggest that you find the food tasteless. If eating in a restaurant, the person who invites always pays.

Looking for charming summer celebrations? Then forget parties in Los Angeles — California's small towns have some of the coolest festivals around.

Wanderlust Festival

If summer travel for you is more about the mountains than the beaches, go to the Wanderlust Festival near Lake Tahoe in late July, which is about yoga, music and so much more. There are guided sunset hikes, huge concerts, farm-to-table dinners, fitness lectures, and camping choices at a height of 8,200 feet. If yoga is your thing, you can choose from daily classes like paddle-board yoga, hip-hop yoga, and any other styles you can imagine.

Northern Nights Music Festival

If you love music festivals, the Northern Nights Music Festival in late July is your choice. In addition to electronic music, the festival has yoga classes, galleries, a campsite in the woods and a silent disco. But the best part has to be the lively stage set up next to the two big swimming holes where visitors float, dance, and play in the river all day. Don't forget yow sun cream.

Mammoth Festival of Beers and Bluesapallooza

Mammoth Lakes, near Yosemite National Park, take this festival to a whole new level. Their four-day Beer and Bluesapallooza Festival in early August has more than 80 beer factories offering tastings and two stages of music with major blues performance. With daily festival buses, no-cash payment systems and local food vendors (小贩), this is a must-visit festival when traveling in California.

Ventura Surf Rodeo

It may not come as a surprise to see a surf festival on a list focused on California, but this one is a bit different: it's a surf rodeo (竞技表演).It's totally focused on fun. And competitors will be randomly given an old surfboard to see how long they can ride the biggest waves. If you prefer to stay on land, you'll be treated to live music, beer tasting, and different fun competitions.

The traditional American school year begins in late August or early September.It ends in May or June, followed by summer vacation.【小题1】Because long ago, young people had to help their families harvest summer crops. At least this is what people today may think.【小题2】A recent report from an education policy center at Indiana University explored the historical roots of the traditional school calendar.In the early days of the United States, children were not required to attend school .School calendars depended on local needs.【小题3】They worked on family farms during the other months. City schools were often open much longer, some for eleven months of the year.After the Civil War, more and more people saw the need for a system of required education.【小题4】Many city schools wanted a shorter year and a longer summer break. The schools were often crowded. There was no modern air conditioning. Hot days would make it difficult to learn. Many rural educators, however, pushed for a longer school year. They thought it would keep children safe from industrial dangers when there were few child-labor laws.So the traditional school calendar was a compromise (折中). The average school year used to be one hundred and seventy days. Times have not changed much.【小题5】But some experts think the traditional school calendar needs to change because the needs of the nation have changed. This thinking has led some schools to keep students in class longer.