I was born and raised in Minnesota, the USA, but as an adult I have mostly lived in Europe and Africa. I teach cross-cultural management at the International Business School near Paris. For the last 15 years, I've studied how people in different parts of the world build trust, communicate, and make decisions especially in the workplace.

    While traveling in Tokyo recently with a colleague, I gave a short talk to a group of 20 managers. At the end, I asked whether there were any questions or comments. No hands went up, so I went to sit down. My colleague whispered to me, “I think there actually were some comments, Erin. Do you mind if I fry?” I agreed, but I guessed it a waste of breath. He asked the group again. “Any comments or questions?”

    Still, no one raised a hand, but this time he looked very carefully at each person in the silent audience. Gesturing to one of them, he said, “Do you have something to add?” To my amazement, she responded “Yes, thank you.” and asked me a very interesting question. My colleague repeated this several times, looking directly at the audience and asking for more questions or comments.

After the session, I asked my colleague, “How do you know that those people had questions?” He hesitated, not sure how to explain it, and then said, “it has to do with how bright their eyes are.”

    He continued, “In Japan, we don't make as much direct eye contact as you do in the West. So when you asked if there were any comments, most people were not looking directly at you. But a few people in the group were looking right at you, and their eyes were bright. That indicates that they would be happy to have you call on them.”

    I thought to myself I would never have learned from my upbringing in Minnesota. Since then, I try to focus on understanding behavior in other cultures I encounter, and keep finding the bright eyes in the room.

The Best and Worst Things to Buy in March

Frozen food

    Grocery store ads aren't the only places to find deals on freezer-section treats. To take advantage of the deepest discounts, combine coupons (优惠券) from sponsoring brands, such as Dole, Green Giant and Tyson Foods, with grocery store sales. Plus, look for printable savings on Coupons.com and EasyHomeMeals.com. Brands participating in National Frozen Food Month will offer more than 180,000 coupons that make frozen food among the best things to buy in March.

Boxed chocolates

    If you desire to give a gift to a friend in March, consider chocolate. Two minor holidays in March provide the perfect excuse: National Chocolate Caramel Day on March 19 and National Chocolate-Covered Raisin Day on March 24. You can discover chocolate deals online as well as in stores. Head to sites like RetailMeNot.com to find discount coupons for boxed chocolate savings of 10 percent or more.

New cars

    With the latest car models filling dealers' lots, you'll have a hard time finding discounted models from the year before. Car dealerships are less motivated to offer steep discounts from March through May. Instead, plan to buy your car during the fall or winter. You should also research the auto you want at TrueCar before heading for the dealership. The site offers information on what people in your area paid for vehicles equipped with the options you want.

Spring clothing

    When warm weather makes you want to head outdoors, resist the urge to do so wearing the latest fashions. You won't find March deals on swimsuits, Easter dresses or other spring items. To find discounts on clothes of this spring, hold off until Memorial Day weekend. You can also look for online and in- store savings at Amazon, Macy's, Saks Fifth Avenue and other retailers.

    Some people have a very poor sense of direction. Unluckily, I am one of them. I have visited a place many times but I may still get lost there the next time.

    When I was a little girl, I never dared to ask strangers the way. And so I used to walk around in circles and hope that by chance I would get to the place I was going to.

    Now, I am no longer too shy to ask people for directions, but I often receive helpless or even wrong information. So I try to avoid giving people wrong directions. If anyone ever asks me the way somewhere, I would say, "Sorry, I am a stranger here."

    Once on my way to work I was stopped by a man. He asked me if I could tell him the way to the Friendship Building. I gave him my usual reply. But just as I walked on only a few steps, I realized that he had asked the way to my office building. However, I had no time to turn back and look for him. I was rushing to meet with someone at my office and I didn't want to keep him waiting.

    When I just got to my office, the secretary(秘书) showed in the man who had asked me for directions. Imagine how embarrassed I was and how surprised he was when we saw each other at the first sight.

    Yinqixing Indoor Skiing Site, formerly known as Hokkaido Indoor Ski Resort, is the first indoor skiing site in Asia, which covers an area of 100.8 thousand square meters and the ski track is 380 meters in length and 80 meters in width, with the maximum drop of 42 meters. There are three sections of snow runs and a huge platform for practicing, which are suitable for skiing enthusiasts of various skiing degrees. The temperature in the skiing site maintains below -2℃ all the year round. Snow thickness ranges from 30 cm to 50 cm.

    Solo Adventure Tips:

    Location: No, 1835, Qishen Road, Qibao Town, Shanghai

    How to Get There?

    Public Bus: 91,92,803,953

    Free Scheduled Bus:

    Location: North Square, Xinzhuang Station, Subway Line I

    Departure time: from 9:00 to 21:00, operating every half an hour

    Ticket Price:

    Adults: ¥138; Children: ¥80 (Ordinary time)

    Adults: ¥158; Children: ¥100 (On weekends)

    Opening Hours:

    9: 30 to 22: 30 from Monday to Thursday and Sunday; 9:30 to 24:00 on Friday and Saturday;

    It will stop selling tickets after 21:00.

    More Tips:

    Bathing fees: ¥6 per person

    Stay overnight: ¥20 per person

    Private room of 2 people: ¥58 per person

    Private room of 3 people: ¥68 per person

    Meal: ¥50 per person

    For more information, you can click here Yinqixing Indoor Skiing Site or directly call 021-64788666/021-63816698.

    I have been surprised each time my child has come home from school with a message saying his teacher wants to see me.

    I know my son seems very naughty(淘气的). He cannot concentrate(专心)on reading, he makes silly mistakes in his homework or often fails his exams.

    Whenever such things happen, his teacher shouts," Ask your parents to come here." And then I have to go with my tail(尾巴) between my legs to find out what's going on with my son and to listen to the teacher scold(训斥)him.

    I really feel sorry for my son's mistakes and usually feel personally responsible.

But I can't help feeling angry with him after a meeting with his teacher.

    Gradually, I have realized that anger will do him no good, and that actually he needs my help.

    On the other hand, I think that to educate our "little emperors(皇帝)",there needs to be more understanding and cooperation(合作)between teachers and parents to help him find his mistake.

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