As we all know, behavior and words sometimes are interpreted differently in some countries or areas, which is generally called cultural differences. For example:

Shaking the head in a horizontal direction in most countries means "no", while in India it means "yes".

Showing the thumb held upwards means in Latin America, especially Brazil, and in many other countries, including China, everything is "OK", while it is understood in some Islamic countries as well as Sardinia and Greece as a rude sign.

Laughing is connected in most countries with happiness — in Japan it is often a sign of confusion, insecureness and embarrassment.

In the UK and Ireland, the word "compromise" has a positive meaning(an agreement where both parties win something); in the USA it may rather have negative meanings (both parties lose something).

In Mediterranean European countries, Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa, it is normal, or at least widely tolerated, to arrive half an hour late for a dinner invitation, but in Germany and Switzerland this would be extremely rude. If invited to dinner, in many Asian countries and Central America, it is well-mannered to leave right after the dinner: the ones who don’t leave may indicate they have not eaten enough. In the Indian subcontinent, European and North American countries this is considered rude, indicating that the guests only wanted to eat but wouldn’t enjoy the hosts’ company.

In Africa, saying to a female friend who you haven’t seen for a while that she has put on weight means she is physically healthier than before or had a nice holiday, while this would be considered as an insult(侮辱) in Europe, North America and Australia.

Decision-making can be extremely difficult. 【小题1】

In any approach to a problem and in any negotiations, the Western world turns to the "I to you" approach while Japan, the "you to you" approach. The former means both sides present their arguments openly from their own point of view. Naturally, often comes a confrontation （冲突） situation, which Westerners are very skillful in dealing with.【小题2】Thus, the direction of the meeting is a mutual （相互的）attempt to reduce confrontation and achieve harmony.

Besides, Western decision-making goes mostly from top management and often does not consult middle management or the worker. 【小题3】Based on "bottom-up direction" , ideas can be created at the lowest levels, travel upward through an organization and have an effect on the final decision.

【小题4】 The Japanese business person works to achieve harmony, even if the deal falls through, and will spend whatever time is necessary to determine a "you to you** approach, communicating personal views only indirectly. They put a thorough job above the Western deadline approach. So the Japanese are thorough in their meetings. 【小题5】 Where the American is pressing for a specific decision, the Japanese is trying to think up a rather broad direction.

On the other hand, once a given agreement is made, it is the Japanese who sometimes wonder at the slow pace at which Westerners carry out the decision. The Japanese are eager to move forward and Westerns, perhaps, lag behind as they take the time for in-depth planning.

Many Americans buy an evergreen tree for Christmas. They put the tree in their home and hang small lights and colorful things on it. The evergreen is usually a pine or a fir tree (冷杉树). It remains green during the cold, dark months of winter in the northern part of the world. So it is a sign of everlasting life.

Early long ago, Romans probably planted evergreen trees during a celebration in honor of their god of agriculture. The Christmas tree may have developed from a popular play performed hundreds of years ago in what is now Germany. Traditionally, the play was on December 24th, the day before Christmas. The play was about the first people that God created—Adam and Eve. People put apples on an evergreen tree to represent the tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden.

By the year 1600, some Germans began bringing evergreen trees into their homes. They put fruit, nuts and sweets on the trees. They gave the food to the family members and friends after the holiday season. Some people say the German religious reformer (宗教改革者) Martin Luther was the first person to add lighted candles to the tree. They say he did this to show how wonderful the stars had appeared as he travelled one night.

In the early 1800’s, German settlers in the state of Pennsylvania were the first to celebrate the holiday with Christmas trees in the United States. The Christmas tree tradition spread to many parts of the world. Today, some form of the Christmas tree is part of most Christmas celebrations.