Ann. 在美國公司工作的北京青年陳豪今天早上一邊喝著星巴克咖啡一邊看紐約時報(bào)。公司里的美籍華人Mary剛好走過他的辦公室。
(Office ambience)
M:Good morning, Chen Hao。看紐約時報(bào)呀?
陳:早,Mary,你來得正好。你看這文章說一個在紐約的年輕人因?yàn)椴辉敢夂屠习逦帐侄婚_除。拒絕跟人握手的人的確不多,僅僅因?yàn)椴辉敢馕帐侄婚_除?美國老板就那么小心眼?
M:那倒也不見得。不過拒絕和人握手確實(shí)是對人的一種侮辱 -- To refuse to shake hands is extremely insulting。
陳: 你看,報(bào)上說這人不是拒絕和老板握手,而是他不喜歡和任何人握手。
M:老板可能擔(dān)心這個年輕人會用同樣的態(tài)度對待客戶或同事。He can't afford to have his employee insulting their clients or colleagues.
陳: 我是不會拒絕跟人握手的,and I definitely don't want to be fired。 Well, I have to visit a client. See you later。
M:See you。
******
M:哎,陳豪,回來啦?
陳:回來了。Mary,你記得我們剛才在說握手的事嗎?
M:Yes. Why do you ask? 有誰拒絕跟你握手?
陳:這回是老板。他說:"Mr. Chen, excuse me for not shaking your hand today. I have a bad cold and don't want to give it to anyone else."
M:噢,老板是因?yàn)樗忻岸桓阄帐郑掳巡【鷤鹘o你。他這樣作是很有禮貌,也很體諒別人,絕對不是要侮辱你。He's not insulting you。
陳:我可有點(diǎn)擔(dān)心,開會的時候一直在想是不是老板對我不高興而不跟我握手。
M:I'm sorry, I should have explained。我應(yīng)該告訴你有的時候是不能握手。比如說生病的時候,就像你老板那樣。The key is to explain and apologize right away.
陳:對了,我想起來了,我爸爸有一個老朋友在二次世界大戰(zhàn)中手臂受了傷,連拿筆和筷子都不方便,所以他也沒法和人握手。
M:對,我表哥上星期去滑雪,把手腕骨摔斷了,還掛上了繃帶。他當(dāng)然沒法握手。
但是在這種情況下,必須馬上解釋和道歉 -- an apology and explanation should be offered immediately.
陳: 那就是說,除了生病或受傷,在一般情況下都不能拒絕和別人握手,對嗎?
M:You're right! Exchanging handshakes is a vital part of doing business. Refusing to shake hands is an insult. If you are unable to shake hands because of illness or injury, apologize and explain immediately.
陳:Thank you Mary. Let's shake hands!