Asia

China China is very traditional. It is considered very important to follow their customs when you are there. Like all places they have there own kind of eating habits. Such as: . The Chinese prefer to entertain in public places rather than in their homes, especially when entertaining foreigners. . If you are invited to their house, consider it a great honour. If you must turn down such an honour, it is considered polite to explain the conflict in your schedule so that your actions are not taken as a slight. . Arrive on time. . Remove your shoes before entering the house. . Bring a small gift to the hostess. . Eat well to demonstrate that you are enjoying the food! Table manners: . Learn to use chopsticks. . Wait to be told where to sit. The guest of honour will be given a seat facing the door. . The host begins eating first. . You should try everything that is offered to you. . Never eat the last piece from the serving tray. . Be observant to other peoples' needs. . Chopsticks should be returned to the chopstick rest after every few bites and when you drink or stop to speak. . The host offers the first toast. . Do not put bones in your bowl. Place them on the table or in a special bowl for that purpose. . Hold the rice bowl close to your mouth while eating. . Do not be offended if a Chinese person makes slurping or belching sounds; it merely indicates that they are enjoying their food. . There are no strict rules about finishing all the food in your bowl.

Chinese people have their own certain way of greeting people, just like there very unique eating habits. . Greetings are formal and the oldest person is always greeted first. . Handshakes are the most common form of greeting with foreigners. . Many Chinese will look towards the ground when greeting someone. . Address the person by an honorific title and their surname. If they want to move to a first-name basis, they will advise you which name to use. . The Chinese have a terrific sense of humour. They can laugh at themselves most readily if they have a comfortable relationship with the other person. Be ready to laugh at yourself given the proper circumstances. People often wander if it is appropriate to come to china with regular clothes… afraid that they may stand out of the crowd and feel awkward…..especially if they are there for business matters… What to Wear? . Business attire is conservative and unpretentious. . Men should wear dark coloured, conservative business suits. . Women should wear conservative business suits or dresses with a high neckline. . Women should wear flat shoes or shoes with very low heels. . Bright colours should be avoided. Source: www.kwintessential.co.uk

Devin

New Zealand was the last significant land mass to be inhabited by humans, both in terms of indigenous settlement and European colonization. This, combined with geological youth and geographical isolation, has led to the development of a young, vigorous nation with a well-travelled, well-educated expatriate population of 1,000,000. 1 in 4 born New Zealanders and 1 in 3 between ages 22 and 48 have left their place of Birth for more favourable locations. The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about 800 AD. Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, in 1642, was the first European to see New Zealand, and his mapped coastline appeared on Dutch maps as "Nieuw Zeeland" from as early as 1645. British naval Captain James Cook rediscovered, circumnavigated and mapped the islands in 1769. A few people, mostly sealers, whalers, traders and missionaries, settled during the next 80 years and the islands were administered by the British colony in New South Wales. In 1840, with the assistance of missionaries, the Maori agreed to accept British sovereignty over the islands through the Treaty of Waitangi. More intensive settlement began that same year. A series of land wars between 1843 and 1872, coupled with political manoeuvring and the spread of European diseases, broke Maori resistance to land settlement, but left lasting grievances. In recent years the government has sought to address longstanding Maori grievances, and this is a complicated process. In 2005, the Maori Party was formed, in part in response to the Government's law on the Foreshore and Seabed but also to promote an independent Maori perspective at a political level. When the six British colonies federated to form Australia in 1901, New Zealand decided not to join the federation. Instead, the British colony of New Zealand became a dominion in 1907. It was offered complete independence under the 1931 Statute of Westminster, although it did not adopt this until 1947. All remaining constitutional links with the United Kingdom were severed with the passing of the New Zealand Constitution Act by both parliaments in 1986, though the British queen remains the Head of State with an appointed Governor-General as her representative in New Zealand. However the Constitution of austalia permits New Zealand to join as another Australian state. New Zealand supported the United Kingdom militarily in the Boer War of 1899–1902, as well as both World Wars. It also participated in wars in Malaya, Korea and Vietnam under various military alliances, most notably the ANZUS treaty with Australia and the United States. New Zealand's population has strongly opposed the testing and use of nuclear weapons. Nuclear armed warship visits meant that the Parliament enacted anti-nuclear legislation in the mid-1980s. This led to the abandonment of New Zealand's commitment to the ANZUS defence alliance. Brittany