I think it’s much less an issue with people who have relocated and spent a few years adapting to us, but to succeed with foreign cultures you have to know how d

I think it’s much less an issue with people who have relocated and spent a few years adapting to us, but to succeed with foreign cultures you have to know how directly they prefer to communicate. Dave Barry tells this story: (Beth) “… and then we want to take a plane from Point A to Point B.” (Japanese travel agent) “I see. You want to take a plane?” “Yes.” “From Point A?” “Yes.” “To Point B?” “Yes.” “Ah.” “Can we do that?” “Perhaps you would prefer to take a train.” “No, we would prefer to take a plane.” “Ah-hah. You would prefer to take a plane?” “Yes. A plane.” “I see. From Point A?” This mystified his wife but apparently between Japanese this is virtually screaming “THERE IS NO PLANE, YOU ZITBRAIN!”