Things To Know About Lao Culture English Language Essay

Things To Know About Lao Culture English Language Essay Laos has its own traditional greeting called Nob. Where palms are placed together as if in prayer and held in front of the chest or face. The person who is socially inferior or younger should be the first to bow, but it is considered polite for the older/socially superior person to respond quickly. There are many levels for showing respect to the person in greeting with Nob. The higher the hands are held and the lower the bow, the greater the degree of respect. During Nob, one should smile and say hello together. Sa Bai Dee is a word used as Hello. Its general meaning is How are you and I am doing good or Im fine. It is common in Laos to ask, Have you eaten yet? after greeting. When person ask this question, he/she does not normally purpose for the answer but to show care. This tells the importance, not unlike many cultures, of offering and accepting hospitality whenever possible. Nation Pride The Lao are truly  happy  being Lao. However, they might not notice themselves. According to the Buddhist Precept, Things are as they are and should be. The Lao  accept  who and what they are. And the Lao are  proud  in their long and well-established traditions. They like when foreigner shows interest in their culture. Never mind Laos is a deeply sensitive culture. They care for other people feeling. Word expressions capture the essence of a culture. One should always bear this in mind before making a strong comment or  taking direct action. Lao has a lot of expressions include the word Chai or heart Two frequently used Lao expressions are Bo Penh Nyang and Tham Ma Dha. These two words have various meaning according to the context. However, all meanings derive from a Buddhist perspective of acceptance of the prevailing situation. Bo Penh Nyang directly means No problem. It also has other meanings as never mind or are you all right?. In some case, Bo Penh Nyang can use for express as I forgive and forget your action.; this is normally used when someone did something wrong. Tham Ma Dha is the word from Buddhist thinking, means everything goes on it way. In everyday life situation, it means average, the norm or proceeding as usual. Religious Culture Similar to other countries in South-East Asia, Lao culture is influenced by Buddhist thinking. This translates to a very patient and accepting attitude. People want to move on to peace and prosperity rather than dwell on the past. Things are as they are and should be and change comes slowly. Body conduct In Laos, as in most Buddhist cultures, head is considered the most precious part of the body as it is the center of the spirit. In the same way, the feet are the least sacred part of the body. There are many manners and aspects that are related to body conduct. It is necessary to remember this conduct whenever in Laos. Dress In big city and urban area, Lao dress the modern cloths in the same way as the western do. However, short and revealing clothes are generally not acceptable in Lao culture. Losing face To lose face, or to cause another to lose face, is serious.   Losing face can make Lao people very sensitive. They are afraid of being insulted. Any form of confrontation for winner and loser must be avoided. Do and Dont Do not offer a kiss in greeting! The Laos word for hello is Sa Bai Dee,usually said with a smile. Hand shaking in public is not common. If you dont know how to greet in Laos tradition way, it is better to bow a little bit and say hello. Touching or showing affection in public will embarrass Lao. Greeting with affection of people with same gender is not widely accepted. Do avoid showing affection Kissing and hugging and hand holding in public is impolite. Handholding in public should be avoided, even for foreigner couple. Men and woman should not touch or have public affection. Please be discrete and show respect to Lao culture. Be clean and neat in appearance whenever possible. Lao people appreciate clean and neatly dressed visitors. Do dress modestly when entering temples, museums, official buildings and government offices; no shorts or sleeveless shirts, tank tops or beach wear. Appropriate dress and behavior when entering places are essential. Lao people are also sensitive with odor. People who have strong body odor should wear perfume however, strong perfume is not appreciated. Do take your hat and shoes off before you enter temple or Laoss home Lao people try to keep their places clean. Taking hat and shoes off also are showing respect to the places. Lao appreciate and expect foreigner to do the same. Do not touch anyone on the head. As head is the most sacred part of the Laos body, touching head is considered as very impolite behavior. Do remember that feet is low Do not point your feet towards people or Buddha images. Using your feet for anything other than walking or playing sport is generally considered rude. Sitting with legs crossed should be also avoided, otherwise, pointing feet at something or someone. When sitting in a temple, keep legs together and to the side in a mermaid position. Do gently crouch down when passing someone who is seated It is polite to gently crouches ones back down when passing someone who is seated. Never, ever step over someone in your path. Do not shout or raise your voice Lao people speak softly and avoid confrontation. Speaking or shouting in loud voice may frighten them. Dont lose your temper in public. Speaking loudly and angrily is often counterproductive. It also consider as uneducated or uncivilized person. People who lose their temper in public might be looked down on from other people. Do ask for the permission first before you take a photo of someone It is better to ask for permission, particularly in villages outside the cities where the people may have superstitions against being photographed. Do not Bathing nude or Semi-nude in public. A lot of travelers bath in the river and waterfall nude or wear bikini. Lao people do not appreciate that behavior as it is contrast to their culture and religious. Do show respect to the temple, monk and religious related things. Foreigner should show respect and dress neatly while in temples and when taking photos around the temple areas. There are many other sacred items and sites in Laos. do not touch these items or enter places without permission. Do avoid involving with illegal stuff The use of drugs is illegal in Laos. The government is serious about this. The illegal sale of wildlife and wildlife products should be avoided. Buying antique Buddha, sacred items and other old artifacts are prohibited. They are not allowed to be taken out of Laos. You might have problem when leaving Laos Sex tourism is illegal in Lao Sex tourism is illegal in Lao and child-sex tourism is a serious crime. Moreover The Lao government prohibits any sexual contact or relationships between Lao nationals and foreigners, unless married under Lao law; penalties may involve heavy fines or imprisonment It is importance to remember how to show respect. When in Laos, try and do as the Laos. Do and remember about body conduct, dress, and public affection and religious manner. Business Value Laos entrepreneurial behavior is culturally influenced by values, beliefs, and disbeliefs. Religion, the caste system, and the family system affected the emergence of entrepreneurship. As Lao is a devoutly Buddhist country, it is important to respect the national religion when conducting business in Lao. Business Value Business culture in Laos is dramatically different from westerners business culture. The expressions of each of the value emphases listed in the following Table.1 for one culture can be found. Table.1 Business value emphasis comparison between Lao and Westerners. Source: Laoletter (2008). Lao Business Culture blog. Relationship Businesses are often based on personal relations developed within social circles. In Lao culture, work and social affairs are woven together in a seamless pattern. Since the emphasis placed on personal relationships is high, having a reliable and well-connected local agent or representative is crucial to the success of a foreign venture. Lao are seeking for accepted, trusted and credible relationships. Relationships progress slowly in Laos with the step-by-step approach. Asking your partner about family, traditions, culture help you understand your partner better and also build the relationship. View of Time Punctuality Do like the locals and keep your sense of time flexible. Expecting punctuality will often lead to frustration. However, punctuality from foreign partner is appreciated Business Hours Official working hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday. In factories and private companies work hours are extended until 5:00 p.m., and work days can be extended to six days. Etiquette Greeting In business, Lao are normally greet with a traditional greeting nob. However, nowadays, handshake is becoming increasingly common during the conduct of business but only for people with same gender. Men and women should avoid public displays of affection. Naming Lao people should be addressed by their first names, preceded by their title Mr//Ms//Madame or Than (in Lao). Dress For men, clothing such as shirt and trousers are appropriate for business meetings. Lightweight suits, tie should be worn, especially in special occasion. Women usually wear long skirts and blouse or sleeveless tops. Its unusual to see bare Lao skin above the elbow. Short skirts and bare bosoms and navels is not appropriate for business dress The Lao pay great attention to personal cleanliness and lack of odour.   Westerners who have strong body odour should wear soft perfumes. Language Official language is Lao. However, English and Fresh are commonly used in Business. Knowledge of French is useful because French is more widely spoken and understood than English, though translators are available Business cards When doing business in Lao, carry lots of business cards.   Business cards should be translated into Lao and printed up locally.   A common practice is to have English version on one side and Lao version on the reverse. Business cards should be given and received using both hands as a sign of respect to the person you are dealing with. The example of the correct way to hold business card during exchange is shown in Figure XX. Exchanging business card with one hand also acceptable, but only exchanging with right hand where left hand lightly wrap around lower arm. When receiving another persons card, always study the card for a few seconds in their details for name and position. Never place it immediately into your pocket or wallet as it is impolite. At meetings, other peoples business cards should be arranged on the table. It is a sign of respect and helps them keep track of names.   Do not play with your Lao colleagues business card since this is disrespectful. Business card should be treated with respect in same degree of respect as you would show the person him or herself. Gift It is not required to give the gift when meeting business partner but giving gift shows consideration to other people and good relationship. Gift can be anything especially, things with your countrys content such as stamp or coin sets, calendars, pens or pins is a big hit. You can offer one for everyone in the party greeting you.   At least be sure there is one for the host or person in the highest rank. Gifts are given in the order of peoples importance.   Wrapped gifts will not be opened until everyone has departed.  So if you have a gift that requires explanation,  present it undraped so you can explain Shoes and socks make inappropriate gifts in Laos as the foot is the least sacred part of the body. Green and red are the most suitable colors for wrapping paper in Laos. Avoid the color white, which is considered unlucky. Business Protocol Negotiation Negotiations in the Lao context can be a grinding, slow process. It is highly unstructured and unpredictable. Lao contracts are short, written in simple language, and focus on principles while western contract is obtuse and legalistic. Relationship is important than the terms and conditions of a specific contract. They view the contract as the starting point of relationship and be able to changes later. The agreement may become meaningless if the circumstances change. Good  relationship with your partners helps you in negotiation. If you must break off negotiations, do so carefully.  Do not close the door on future cooperation.   Seeking legal  counsel is public admission that the relationship has failed.   Meeting Meeting in Lao is not well-conducted. Those who attend are not expected to contribute or listen carefully.  People use meetings as opportunities to take a break from their normal work with the speaker at the front of the room drones on, without pausing for discussion.  Some meetings also considered as opportunities to demonstrate group harmony, take a group photo or have a social occasion afterwards. The highest ranking person in the group should lead the way in, and be the spokesperson.   Do not make the  mistake of shaking hands with the interpreter first. There is normally business card exchange before the meeting start. Meetings always begin with informal chit-chat over coffee and/or tea.   Drink the tea that is served before launching in to main topic. A great deal of  discussion takes place before the main topic of the meeting has been raised.   The host will initiate serious talk, and then leave time for you to say a few words in response. Be alert for signals that the meeting should end.   The signals include asking you if you would like more tea, beginning to sum things up, thanking you for coming, and leading you to the door. Table If Lao has invited you to a dinner it is important to return the favor.   Informal occasions such as this are invaluable in terms of building the relationship. Whenever one accept dining invitation, it is important to host next meal. If the meal take place at Laos house, remember to take shoes off before enter the house. Guest should not take seat until host invites to sit. For dining at restaurant, do not ask to share the bill if have dining at restaurant if they propose to pay for you. Instead, accept the invitation and then host the next meal. Communication Writing It is better to have everything translated to Lao. Written documents should be in both Lao and the foreign language. The best way is to have a two column in one page so the  Lao reader can easily cross horizontally from the Lao text to the foreign language to clarify or confirm a  meaning in Lao. And never write in red ink.   It is negative and will displease the recipient. Context and Style Lao culture pays more attention to the interaction process itself. Things are not always what they seem. Body languages are quite reserved. There are little eye contact and few expressive gestures. Lao has indirect communication style. Rather than confront a person with an issue or disagreement, Lao people will often approach a difficulty indirectly through praise, compliments or by moving to another subject. Never ever take yes for an answer. Lao normally say yes to indicate that the message has been heard and understood. Yes means maybe or perhaps or no. Maybe means yes, no, or just maybe. There is really no no. Bad news is often  introduced bit by bit to soften the blow.   Wait for the and., which generally is when the full picture is revealed. Harmony and Conflict Harmony and avoiding the appearance of conflict in relationships are highly valued in Lao society.   Lao have developed very effective non-confrontational ways of communicating disagreement. People are more likely to succeed if avoid anger, confrontation or verbal criticisms which tend to polarize situations and can lead to loss of face. They try to seek an elegant resolution, a subtle way to avoid conflict, and a win-win solution.   It is Lao style to reveal little about ones intentions, goals and needs revelation is perceived as weakness or losing advantage. In order to improve communication with Lao business partner, first thing to keep in mind is Keep it simple, boil the message down to its simplest form. English or French or other not mother language, they might be able to speak but it does not mean that the whole message is correctly understand. Remember to Re-confirm  everything when having conversation with Lao. Ask what you understand in the conversation is correct. Silence is polite. Silence and pause during the conversation in common in Lao. Another important thing in communication is saying Apologize, when necessary, even if you have not done anything wrong.   Lao will apologize because an  unfortunate incident has occurred. And the last advise for communication but most effective Learn to speak Lao.

Management Types Essay

There are various management philosophies and types used in the world of business. These types of management differ from one another. In some cases, a few of these management types can be mixed together in order to create something custom for a specific requirement. Management by Objectives (MBO) is one of the frequently used management types. The popularity and the proven results are the main reasons behind everyone adopting this technique for their organization. As valid as it is for many management types, MBO is a systematic and organized approach that emphasizes the achievement of goals. In the long run, this allows the management to change the organization’s mindset to become more result oriented. The Concepts: The core aim of management by objectives is the alignment of company goals and subordinate objectives properly, so everyone in the organization works towards achieving the same organizational goal. In order to identify the organizational goals, the upper management usually follows techniques such as GQM (Goal, Questions, and Metrics). In order to set the objectives for the employees, the following steps are followed. * The management chunks down the organizational goals and assign chunks to senior managers. * Senior managers then derive objectives for them to achieve the assigned organizational goals. This is where senior managers assign the objectives to the operational management. * Operational management then chunk down their objectives and identify the activities required for achieving the objectives. These sub-objectives and activities are then assigned to rest of the staff. * When objectives and activities are assigned, the management gives strong inputs to clearly identify the objectives, time frame for completion, and tracking options. * Each objective is properly tracked and the management gives periodic feedback to the objective owner. * In most occasions, the organization defines processes and procedures in order to track the objectives and feedback. * At the end of the agreed period (usually an year), the objective achievement is reviewed and an appraisal is performed. Usually, the outcomes of this assessment are used to determine the salary increments for year ahead and relevant bonuses to employees. Activity trap is one of the issues that prevent the success of MBO process. This happens when employees are more focused on daily activities rather than the long-term objectives. Overloaded activities are a result of a vicious cycles and this cycle should be broken through proper planning. The Focus: In MBO, the management focus is on the result, not the activity. The tasks are delegated through negotiations and there is no fixed roadmap for the implementation. The implementation is done dynamically and to suit the situation. When to use MBO? Although MBO is extremely results oriented, not all enterprises can benefit from MBO implementations. The MBO is most suitable for knowledge-based enterpriseswhere the staff is quite competent of what they do. Specially, if the management is planning to implement a self-leadership culture among the employees, MBO is the best way to initiate that process. Responsibility of Individuals: Since individuals are empowered to carry out stretched tasks and responsibilities under MBO, individual responsibilities play a vital role for the success of MBO. In MBO there is a link built between the strategic thinking of the upper management and the operational execution of the lower levels of the hierarchy. The responsibility of achieving the objectives is passed from the organization to each individual of the organization. Management by objectives is mainly achieved through self-control. Nowadays, especially in knowledge-based organizations, the employees are self-managers who are able to make their own decisions. In such organizations, the management should ask three basic questions from its employees. * What should be your responsibilities?  * What information is required by you from the management and the peers? * What information should you provide the management and peers in return?

English 101 Paper

Stephanie Semans December 4, 2012 English 101 Mrs. Tietjen Consumers will always disagree about whether the online marketplace is helpful or exploitative, but each individual has the independent responsibility to make the best decision. What comes to mind when someone says privacy? Places where no one can see anything, a place where you’re safe, well guess what, there unfortunally is no place like that. In the book â€Å"Blown to Bits† it explains that no matter where someone is theirs no privacy. 50 years ago, there were no cameras on the street corners or even laptops.On the laptops today there are webcams hooked into them and some turn on the computer on without knowing. I know it’s happen to me before. Even leaving the classroom to go to the bathroom you’re on at least two or three cameras. Internet consumers go online for banking and don’t think about how hackers could steal personal information. Yes it’s convenient and always there but, digital users would rather risk information for easiness and accessibility. But in a way technology and cameras are also good because Hal Abelson says â€Å"After one of the assaults, a victim took out her cell phone.Click! Within hours, a good head shot was up on the web and was shown on all the Boston area television stations. Within a day, Berman was under arrest and charged with several crimes†. (23) Technology isn’t all bad; it can be used for some good. So who’s to say that it’s neither good nor bad? Consumers can argue all they want about why it’s good or bad but no one has the right answer. Daniel Burrus of â€Å"is technology good or evil† says, â€Å"So it’s not about whether technology is good or bad; it’s about what we decide to do with technology matters†. CITE) Yes I agree that the privacy and security should be better and cause less heartache but at the same time it can be used for criminals and kidnapped people. For example, the other day my friend got her phone stolen and they pinged it to the locations it was recently at plus it could tell in a 400ft area they could narrow it down to and ended up finding it in someone’s car. Her and her family was happy that she got it back. Without the uses of technology today she wouldn’t have been able to find her phone or catch the guy on the transit.Just imagine the police are reopening cold cases because of the technology to go further in on evidence and details then they did back some decades ago. Like I said I can sit here and say that privacy is good and bad but when it comes down to it, no one has the right answer. If someone has a bad run with technology and it’s done nothing for them then yes their going to say it’s bad and causes trouble, but someone where it has helped them out so much they might say it’s amazing and I’m glad I have it. Some examples of why technology is â€Å"good† a re that the military is using it to help fly planes over the Middle East with cameras to spy.Also, without technology today we wouldn’t be able to help treat cancer with chemotherapy. Some â€Å"bad† examples are that terrorists and criminals have the ability to create bombs and hack computer to steal personal information about someone. In Korea where the woman let her dog go to the bathroom on the subway and they took pictures of her and she was known as â€Å"puppy-poo girl†, â€Å"Blown to Bits† says, â€Å"the pictures wouldn’t of made it worldwide, but the thought that it was posted and stuff is bad enough.The incident was captured by a fellow passenger and posted online. She soon became known as â€Å"gae-ttong-nyue† (Korean for â€Å"puppy poo girl†)†¦ It is unlikely that the story would have made it around the world, and that it would have achieved such notoriety and permanence)†. (Abelson 23) Last night I was look ing at the worldwide cams that are in the book and I looked up a highway near my house and it’s pretty cool because I never knew that there were cameras even hidden there.So to actually see the roads in Maryland kind of freak me out, Just knowing that the satellites can take pictures of your house from space, there really isn’t any privacy at all. Citations: Abelson, Hal, Ken Ledeen, and Harry Lewis â€Å"Naked in the Sunlight. † Blown to Bits, Uppersaddle River, NJ. Addison Wesley. 2008 19-72 print Burrus. â€Å"Is technology good or evil? † The Huffington post. Thehuffingtonpost. com, 24 Aug. 2012. Web. 03 Dec 2012. http://www. thehuffingtonpost. com/daniel-burrus/is-technology-good-or-evil_b_1826270. html.

Crack Cocaine Facts

Crack or crack cocaine is a form of cocaine. It has not been neutralized by an acid to make cocaine hydrochloride, the pure form of the chemical. Crack comes in a rock crystal form that can be heated and inhaled or smoked. It is called crack in reference to the cracking sound it makes when it is heated. Crack cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant. What Does Crack Look Like? Crack looks like irregularly-shaped off-white or white rocks. How Is Crack Cocaine Used? Crack cocaine is almost always smoked or freebased. Freebasing involves heating the crack until it liquefies and inhaling the vapors through a pipe. The vapors are absorbed by the lungs, producing an immediate euphoric high. Why Do People Use Crack Cocaine? Crack is a readily available form of cocaine. Cocaine is used because it produces euphoria, is a stimulant, suppresses appetite, and can be used as a pain reliever. What Are the Effects of Crack Cocaine Use? Users typically feel a rush followed by a sense of alertness and well-being. Cocaine increases levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is associated with pleasure and increased movement. The pleasant effects of crack wear off quickly (5-10 minutes), causing users to feel down or depressed, more than before taking the drug. Some users report being unable to duplicate the intensity of the first exposure with subsequent use. What Are the Risks of Using Crack? Crack is highly addictive, possibly even more than other forms of cocaine. Crack users are at risk for the usual effects of cocaine (dangerously elevated blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature, as well as the risk of seizure and cardiac arrest). They are also at increased risk of  respiratory disorders, such as coughing, bleeding, shortness of breath, and lung trauma. Crack use can cause paranoia and aggressiveness. Where Does Crack Cocaine Come From? Crack cocaine is made by dissolving powdered cocaine in a mixture of water and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) or ammonia. This mixture is boiled, dried, and broken into rock-like chunks. The original cocaine comes from a paste made from the leaves of the South American coca plant. Street Names for Crack Cocaine 24-7BadrockBeat CandyChemical CloudCookies CrumbsCrunch MunchDevil Drug DiceElectric Kool-AidFat BagsFrench FriesGlo GravelGrit HailHardballHard RockHotcakesIce CubeJellybeansNuggetsPastePiecePrime Time ProductRaw Rock(s)ScrabbleSleetSnowCokeTornadoTroop