Karamel was just in Egypt on business, and we talk about a couple of cultural barriers that happened along the way. Talking about what's called international English, or simplified English, we discuss how it's a necessity when traveling the world as Karamel does with Women Travel Abroad! A simplified form of English free of regional slang and idioms helps best ensure that other English-speaking people in other countries can understand you.

However, we also talk about international business practices and how that is also somewhat of a language of its own that can be easily misunderstood. As Karamel stresses, any time you are looking to do business outside of the country, it's mandatory that you figure out how that country does its business, or else you run the risk of being offensive. Karamel recounts several examples of conduct being different on her recent trip and a few conflicts that arose as a result.

At the end of the day, what we want you to take away from this episode is to be sure that you learn the standard ways that a business is done in another place before you go there! We really hope that this conversation is helpful for you, and we would love to hear from you, so please be sure to reach out to us via the contact info provided in the show notes. We really appreciate you listening to CEO Chronicles and hope to see you next time!

 

Time Stamps

[0:31] – Michele and Karamel discuss international English.

[1:14] – Karmel gives examples of misunderstood phrases in Egypt.

[3:28] – Michele and Karamel talk about Karamel's card getting stuck in a machine in Egypt.

[6:26] – Karamel reveals whether or not she needed an interpreter in Egypt.

[8:46] – Michele prompts Karamel to touch upon how people approached time on her trip.

[11:49] – Karamel points out some derogatory comments that she heard on her trip.

[14:42] – We learn about accommodations that had to be made for Karamel on her trip.

[16:21] – Karamel explains why she changed plans for where they were going to eat.

[19:21] – Michele describes a business practice that she does not like.

[22:02] – We are advised to have patience in foreign countries.

[24:13] – The United States is the only country with the mindset that the customer's always right.

[27:12] – Michele summarizes that we have to know about a country's practices before going.

 

Resources

CEO Chronicles – Website

Email CEO Chronicles: [email protected]

Email Michele: [email protected]

Email Karamel: [email protected]

Women Travel Abroad - Website