Beyond Chocolate
Understanding Swiss culture
1st Edition
Published on 1. May 2002
Book
Paperback/Softback
240 pages
978-3-905252-06-4 (ISBN)
Description
Go beyond Swiss chocolate, beyond the initial fun and adventure of a new country and a new career to immerse yourself in the cultural attitudes of Switzerland's fascinating, multi-faceted society. These thought-provoking insights are based on extensive interviews with Swiss and international people who know well the ups and downs of life in Switzerland. These observations enable newcomers to better understand the perspectives of their Swiss neighbours, friends and international business colleagues.
Margaret Oertig-Davidson conducts seminars at international Swiss companies and universities as an expert on relations between Swiss and English-speaking cultures.
This engaging study exposes different attitudes and potential misunderstandings about friendship, neighbourliness, being professional, giving and getting compliments and criticism, parenting, schooling, being polite, entertaining, negotiating, decision making, business etiquette, team work, leadership, making plans, and much much more.
Margaret Oertig-Davidson conducts seminars at international Swiss companies and universities as an expert on relations between Swiss and English-speaking cultures.
This engaging study exposes different attitudes and potential misunderstandings about friendship, neighbourliness, being professional, giving and getting compliments and criticism, parenting, schooling, being polite, entertaining, negotiating, decision making, business etiquette, team work, leadership, making plans, and much much more.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Basel
Switzerland
Target group
Newcomers to Switzerland, such as business people or families, who need and/or want to immerse themselves in the multi-faceted Swiss culture and who try to figure out how life works here and how thy can best get to grips with a new culture.
Illustrations
1
32 s/w Abbildungen, 1 s/w Photographie bzw. Rasterbild
32 black/white illustrations, 1 black/white photograph
Dimensions
Height: 21 cm
Width: 14.8 cm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
348 gr
ISBN-13
978-3-905252-06-4 (9783905252064)
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions
Book
05/2011
2nd Edition
Bergli Books ein Imprint von Helvetiq
€24.00
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Additional editions
Book
05/2004
Bergli Books ein Imprint von Helvetiq
€31.00
Article exhausted; check different version
Persons
Margaret Oertig-Davidson is Scottish and has lived and worked in Switzerland since 1987, training business and professional people to communicate internationally. She has developed and conducted a range of cross-cultural seminars for international companies and universities, with a main focus on business relations between Swiss and English-speaking cultures. She lives near Basel with her Swiss husband and two daughters.
Content
Welcome to the party;
Section one: What's it all about:
1. The peaches and the coconuts;
2. How people talk;
3. It's not personal;
4. Correct behaviour;
5. Dancing on the phone;
6. Language of the heart;
Section two: Settling in locally:
7. Good fences make good neighbours;
8. Join the club;
9. Think local;
10. Entertaining;
11. Rules and social control;
Section three: Children and culture:
12. Fostering self-reliance;
13. Self reliance and school;
14. Talking up space;
Section four: The world of work:
15. English in international companies;
16. Plain speaking as an ideal;
17. Consensus and internal politics;
18. Understatement;
19. Business etiquette;
20. Small talk;
21. The 'Du' virus;
22. Ropes and networks;
23. Switzerland works;
24. Leadership;
25. Sticking to the plan;
26. Project team work;
After the party;
Appendix: Historical reasons for politeness;
Notes;
Index;
About the author
Section one: What's it all about:
1. The peaches and the coconuts;
2. How people talk;
3. It's not personal;
4. Correct behaviour;
5. Dancing on the phone;
6. Language of the heart;
Section two: Settling in locally:
7. Good fences make good neighbours;
8. Join the club;
9. Think local;
10. Entertaining;
11. Rules and social control;
Section three: Children and culture:
12. Fostering self-reliance;
13. Self reliance and school;
14. Talking up space;
Section four: The world of work:
15. English in international companies;
16. Plain speaking as an ideal;
17. Consensus and internal politics;
18. Understatement;
19. Business etiquette;
20. Small talk;
21. The 'Du' virus;
22. Ropes and networks;
23. Switzerland works;
24. Leadership;
25. Sticking to the plan;
26. Project team work;
After the party;
Appendix: Historical reasons for politeness;
Notes;
Index;
About the author