陳豪在ABC美國公司工作了幾個月。今天他要第一次去參加財務委員會的定期會議。在走廊上,他見到公司的美籍華人Mary。
(Office ambience)
M:Good morning, 陳豪。嘿,你一手拿著咖啡,一手拿著面包上哪兒去呀?
C:我去參加財務委員會的定期會議。這是我第一次參加。早上沒時間吃早飯,所以把早飯帶去。
M:等等。這個會議是由負責財務的副總裁召開的,Do you know the protocol of the meeting?
C:Protocol? 你是說P-R-O-T-O-C-O-L, 那外交部禮賓司那個詞里邊有這個字。
M:沒錯,但是我這里說的是公司內部大家都遵循的一些做法。Protocol refers to the unspoken rules you follow to show courtesy and respect to other people。
C:嗯...unspoken rules you follow!這跟我的咖啡有什么關系呀?
M:你要知道有的老板每次開會都備有咖啡和點心。It won't be polite to bring your own。
C:That's true。不過今天的會議是Mr. Smith召開的,你知道有沒有咖啡點心呀?
M:不知道。要是你不知道,會議通知也沒提, you'd better leave your breakfast behind。
C:看來只好餓肚子了。好,我走了。
******
M:陳豪,會開完啦?I'm going out lunch, want to join me?
C:不行,我開會時吃了好多點心,水果,午飯吃不下了。Besides, Mary, something made me very embarrassed today。
M:什么事呀?
C:我在吃得高興的時候,他們要我讓座位。
M:Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot to warn you。這種比較高層的會議,定期參加會議的人一般都有固定的座位。你第一次去,進了會議室最好先問一下。Ask where to sit before you take a chair。
C:可是我不知道嘛!一進會場看見有吃的我就很高興。拿了咖啡,點心就近找個位置上就坐下了。誰知道那是Mr. Smith的助手Laura的位置。
M:Laura asked you to change the seat?
C:No, no! Laura當時還沒到??墒牵髞頃嬍倚聛淼腟arah一進會議室就往那位置上坐。
M:She has to change her seat too, right?
C:Of course。她很難堪。
M:沒關系,你和Sarah下回就知道了。So remember: Protocol refers to the unspoken rules you follow to show courtesy and respect to other people. Any time you don't know the protocol for a meeting, it's best to ask, just to make sure if it's OK to bring you own coffee and which seat is appropriate for you.