Good Example Of Culture Case Study

When at a party in Saudi Arabia, the first thing that is of great importance is that Saudi Arabians love to share. In their company, I understand that refusing to take part in sharing a meal may be considered rude by the party hosts. Knowing this, the first thing I will do is to ensure that I accept the invitation to partake in any meal that is provided for us. Also, I am aware that the food is not served in the conventional manner. Sharing means eating from the same bowl and passing around meat. Therefore, I will happily join in sharing the food in a common bowl as I try to make small talk with the host and other people in the party. I would also ensure that I do not ask for an alcoholic drink as the Islamic religion prohibits Muslims from taking alcohol. If I have a vegetarian friend, I will advise him that for Saudi Arabians, eating together is more than actually taking the food. Sharing in the whole process of passing around the bowl or meat is very important. Therefore, I would advise him to participate in the process even without eating meat. This is a sign of respect to the hosts.
At a party with the Chinese, taking part in drinking is not a matter of choice but a necessity. Every person takes part in the drinking regardless of their seniority within a company. In fact, there is an expectation that I will be drinking during the party, hence there is no problem with the presence of superiors when it is a company party. Getting totally drunk during a Chinese party is perfectly normal and leaving the party early in order to avoid getting too drunk may be interpreted as being rude by the superiors who held the party. Also, proposing “ganbei” which literally translates to ‘drying the cup’ is considered a respectable habit and in fact, not participating in the game is considered to be a sign of being disrespectful. After a Chinese party, it is unlikely that I will leave without taking part in the famous Karaoke. I will thus be expected to sit through all the performances no matter their poor quality. I am also expected to participate and sing something since failing to sing is considered to be a rude gesture.
When entertaining a Chinese or a Saudi Arabian, it is expected that I should be a good host and ensure that they experience our American culture. When entertaining a Chinese, it is okay to take him to a McDonald’s outlet or a Starbucks and enjoy one of the dishes on the menu. After enjoying the dish, for the Chinese, I will take him to my favorite bar in order to enjoy cold beers. The amount of beer we drink will be heavily dependent on the ability of my guests to hold his liquor. When with my Saudi Arabian guest, there are several conventions that I must observe. Since he is a Muslim, I must guarantee that if there is meat in the food it is ‘halal’ meaning slaughtered in a way acceptable to the Muslims. Secondly, the Islamic religion does not allow drinking alcohol. Therefore, instead of taking him to a bar, it would be best to take him to a Starbucks outlet where we will enjoy a cup of coffee.