Tuesday, September 29, 2009

The Day

Today woke up late..
LOL

actually i woke up 5+ to switch off my lappie + wishing my sis good luck
then
went back sleep again..
since holiday, i woke up around 10+ everyday..
2day wanna wake up at 8 for my 10am class..
holy shit..=.='''

but at last..i also wake up at around 9
i thought i will be late to class d..
who knows..i m the 1st 1..LOL

they are always late..F3

and the most geram 1 is..
CLASS CANCELED
@.@

then we went library to wait for 2pm class
and, i borrowed 3 books!!!
ahahaha..=D
my 1st 3 boooks in UMS library..^^

The books

who call LimChinTong commented on my paper
said "there is no any in-text citation and referrence
so this is not a term paper"..

so,
i have to find books for the in-text citation and references
hope i can finish the books
and finish the references and in-text citation

wanna prepare for tomorrow tutorial questions d
and the only tutorial i pay attention..XD


CHAOS




*jeing, 29/9/09, 6.45pm*


Monday, September 28, 2009

Busy Monday..

woohoo
Release a lot today..
done all what i need to do
just left 1 more assignment to go..
but
that assignment not so fast wanna pass up
=p

LimChinTong's class for tonight
reading test I get quite low marks..LOL
but still okay lah..
got more than 50%..F3
and
we got our reading test II today..
hope get better lah.,XD
then
next week wanna present the essay d..
OMG
how i gonna say those FANTASTIC vocabulary?
@.@
God Bless..


ohyar..today SWC said crap again..
he always find excuses for himself that he is always right..
SWC in LimChinTong class already famous of his "kapsiao-ness"
but he blame that is LimChinTong teaching too boring then make him wanna talk to others..XD (quite true actually..hehe)


just a short post about my busy Monday..

Lastly!!

that's important!!!

today!!!!!
my beloved dear dear birthday!!!hahahaa


hahaha..
the only picture in my lappie lah..
din have your solo pic..XD

next time go back must take lots of your picture
and beauty too lah..^^


damn miss u all..muacks muacks

ILOVEYOU
<3

*jeing, 29/9/09, 11.37pm*

teehee..LIM CHIN TONG!!!!

Title: Cross-culture Issues in Business Communication

Introduction

When travelling in other countries, we often perceive differences in the way people live and work. In the United States dinner is commonly eaten around 6.00pm; in Spain, it’s not served until 8.00 or 9.00pm. In the United States most people shop in large supermarket once or twice a week; Italians tend to shop in smaller grocery stores nearly every day. Everybody has their own culture so businesspeople must keep in mind of their client’s culture. This paper exploring the aesthetics, values and attitudes, manners and customs and language of cultural will affect business practices and national competitiveness.

Background Paragraph

Cultural can be grouped into two kinds, such as nation-culture and subcultures. Nation-states support the concept of a national culture by building museums and monuments to preserve the legacies of important events and people. Nation-state also intervenes in business to help preserve their nation cultures. Most nations, for example, regulate culturally sensitive sectors of the economy, such as filmmaking and broadcasting. France continues to voice fears that its language is being tainted with English and its media with U.S. programming. To stem the English invasion, French laws limit the use of English in product packaging and storefront signs. At peak listening times, at least 40 percent of all radio station programming must be reserved for French artists. Similar laws apply to television broadcasting. The French government even fined the local branch of a U.S. university for failing to provide French translation in its English-language site on the World Wide Web. A group of people who share a unique way of life within a larger, dominant culture is called a subculture. Companies must be mindful of subcultures when formulating business strategies. For instance, the customary portrait of Chinese culture often ignores the fact that the total population of China is comprised of more than 50 distinct ethnic groups. Decisions regarding product design, packaging and advertising must consider each group’s distinct culture.

Body 1: Aesthetics

Aesthetics is what a culture considers to be in “good taste” in the arts, the imagery evoked by certain expressions, and the symbolism of certain colours. Aesthetics played an important role in business communication when a firm considers doing business in another culture. Firms must control on selection of appropriate colours for product packaging, advertisement, workers uniform and even the website design to make way of success in their business. For example, red is the favorite colour for Chinese. They believe that red will bring luck to them while for Malays, they love green. Across much of Asia, on the other hand, green associated with sickness. Most of the countries taking black colour as the colour of death and mourning while Japan and most of Asia, it is white. Shoe manufacturer Nike experienced firsthand the importance of imagery and symbolism in international marketing. The company emblazoned a new line of shoes with the word “Air” written to resemble flames or heat rising off blacktop. There were other names given to the shoes such as Air Bakin’, Air Melt, Air Grill and Air B-Que. But what Nike did not realize that the squiggly lines of the “Air” logo resembled Arabic script for “Allah”, the Arabic name for God. Under threat of worldwide boycott by Muslims, who considered it a sacrilege, Nike recalled the shoes and agreed to build several playgrounds in Muslim communities as part of its apology. The importance of aesthetics is just a great when going international using the Internet. When going global an internet presence, the more a company localizes the better. For example, a black-and-white Web site is fine for many countries, but in Asia visitors may think you are inviting them to a funeral. So, the web designer must beware and take concern on choosing colour scheme. Finally, music is also deeply embedded in culture and should be considered when developing promotions. When used correctly, music can be clever and creative addition to a promotion; if used incorrectly, it can be offensive to the local population. The architecture of buildings and other structures should also be researched to avoid making cultural blunders attributable to the symbolism of certain shapes and forms.

Body 2: Values and attitudes

Values are important to both individuals and groups. Values are ideas, beliefs and customs to which people are emotionally attached. Values include things like honesty, marital faithfulness, freedom and responsibility. While, attitudes mean to positive or negative evaluations, feelings and tendencies that individuals harbor toward objects or concepts. Attitudes reflect underlying values. Cultural knowledge can help managers decide whether promotions must be adapted to local attitudes in order to maximize the effectiveness of promotional efforts. For instance, it is often believed that people around the world respond similarly toward technological products, so advertising agency Euro RSGG Worldwide surveyed consumers about their attitudes toward technology and their use of technological products in purchasing situations. Among other things, the survey revealed that consumers in the United Kingdom were far more likely to purchase online than Italian and German consumers. It also found that Web sites were useful in Finland as a source of information on technological products but were considered not at all useful by Italians. There are three important aspects of life that directly affect business activities which is attitudes toward time, work and achievement, and cultural change. Examples for attitudes toward time, people in Latin American and Mediterranean cultures are casual about their use of time if compare to the people in Japan and the United States. The Latin, they maintain flexible schedules and would rather enjoy their time than sacrifice it to unbending efficiency. In contrast, people in Japan and the United States typically arrive promptly for meetings, keep tight schedules, and work long hours. For attitudes toward work, people in southern France like to say, “We work to live, while people in the United States live to work.” Work, they say, is for them a means to an end. In the United States, they change; it is an end in itself. Not surprising, the lifestyle in southern France is slower-paced. People tend to concentrate on earning enough money to enjoy a relaxed, quality lifestyle. Businesses practically close down during August, when many workers take month-long paid holidays, usually outside the country. In contrast, this attitude is unheard of in many Asian countries, including Japan.

Body 3: Manners and Customs

Understanding others manners and customs helps managers to avoid embracing mistakes and improve the ability to negotiate in other cultures, market products effectively and manage international operations. Appropriate ways of behaving, speaking, and dressing in a culture are called manners. In Arab cultures from the Middle East to northwest Africa, one does not extend a hand to greet an older person unless the elder first offers the greeting. In going first, a younger person would be displaying bad manners. Moreover, because Arab culture considers the left hand the one used for personal hygiene, using it to pour tea or serve a meal is considered very bad manners. Good manners are just as important internationally as when doing business in the home market. Conducting business during meals is common practice in the United States. In Mexico, however, it is poor manners to bring up business discussions in Mexico typically begin when coffee and brandy arrive. Likewise, toasts in the United States tend to be casual and sprinkled with lighthearted humor. In Mexico, where a toast should be philosophical and full of passion, a lighthearted toast would be offensive. When habits or ways behaving in specific circumstances are passed down through generations, they become customs. Customs differ from manners in that they define appropriate habits or behaviors in specific situations. Sharing food gifts during Islamic holy month of Ramadan is a custom. Although giving token gifts to business and government associates is customary in many countries, the proper type of gift varies. A knife, for example, should not be offered to associates in Russia, France, or Germany, where it signals the severing of a relationship. In Japan, gift must be wrapped in such a delicate way it is wise to ask someone trained in the practice to do the honors. It is also Japanese custom not to open a gift in front of the gift giver. So, businesspeople must always keep in mind to their clients’ customs to avoid making embarrassing mistakes or offending people.

Body 4: Personal Communication and Body Language

People in every culture have a communication system or a body language to convey thoughts, feeling, and information. Understanding a culture’s spoken language gives us great insight into why people think and act the way that they do. Understanding a culture’s body language helps us avoid sending unintended or embarrassing messages. A lingua franca is a third or “link” language that is understood by two parties who speak different native languages. The importance of understanding the local language in business is becoming increasingly apparent on the internet. English is the language of roughly two-thirds of all Web pages on the Internet. That is why software solutions providers are assisting companies from English-speaking countries in adapting their Web sites for global e-business. Advertising slogans and company documents must be translated carefully so that messages are received precisely as intended. There are many stories of companies making terrible language blunders in their international business dealings. General Motors’ Chevrolet division made perhaps the most well-known blunder when it first launched its Chevrolet Nova in Spanish-speaking markets. The company failed to notice beforehand that “No va” means “No go” in Spanish. Body language communicates through unspoken cues, including hand gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, physical greetings and the manipulation of personal space. For example, navigating all-important handshake in international business can be tricky. In the United States it is a firm grip and can include several pumps of the arm. But in the Middle East and Latin America a softer clasp of the hand with little or no arm pump is the custom and some country, like Japan, people do not shake hands at all, but bow to each other. Bows of respect carry different meanings, usually depending on the recipient. Associates of equal standing bow about 15 degrees toward one another. But proper respect for an elder requires a bow of about 30 degrees. Lastly, bow for apology is about 45 degrees.

Conclusion

Essentially, we are experiencing differences in culture which the set of values, beliefs, rules, and institutions held by a specific group of people. Culture is a highly complex portrait of a people. It includes everything from high-tea in England, to the tropical climate of Barbados, to Mardi Gras in Brazil, to segregation of the sexes in Saudi Arabian schools. Every country got theirs aesthetics, values and attitudes, manners and customs and personal communication and body language. Businesspeople must be always sensitive to the local culture, so that, they will be success in their business in international.

End


woohoo...released a lot d after finish this assignment..although i haven't find the reference..hahaha..we are the 1 didn't find the reference and start to write then now headache about how about the reference..2ml work hard on finding the references then..if cannot found, then give some marks to LIM CHIN TONG then..=p

LALALALA!!!i m happy..but not satisfaction after finish the assignment..LOL

2ml going back my "home"..IP!!!!i m coming back...woohoo!!!!i MISS everything there..hahaha..miss my bed, my fan, my broadband, my chair, even my hard pillow..hahaha..i now no scare to be alone?maybe?hehe..cause i m not alone..=p



Enjoying My Life






*jeing, 28/9/09, 1.13am*

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Final Exam is around the corner..

Just checked my final exam timetable

OH GOSH..
others take 4 weeks to finish their subject..
i only got 2 weeks..=.='''

here the timetable


2 weeks..busy week..

Gambate Jye Yng!!!
JYJY..JyeYng JiaYou..^^

and
1more thing most kek sim 1..
i booked 26th ticket to go back..
can i make my ticket earlier?to 15th??
2 week earlier woh?

or
stay in KK to walk around?
then go back for 1 month..as usual?

actually go back also don't know wanna do what..
at 1st, still got a lot planning and scare there are not enough time to stay with u
but now, i go back just for papa mama n 2 ginna..
hahahaa

HEY!
u wanna me walk around KK 1st or go back earlier woh??

YES!!
i asking U!!!
the 1 sleep beside me for past 18 years 1..hahahaha

Just to post my timetable here lah..XD
continue my LIM CHIN TONG assignment 1st..hehe

CHAOS!


*jeing, 27/9/09, 9.02pm*

Tired + busy yet i am happy


Today, we going to work d..as i mention before..in Shangri-La hotel..there got so much rules to work as a waitress..LOL..we need to tied up our hair, make-up.....me and mao mao started to prepare around 12pm..and i don't know how to tie my hair, i don't know how to makeup..@.@..Yunlih help me tie the hair while mao mao help me make up..hahaha..thanks ya!

The preparation

After changing into OL..LOL


We were late to the bus-stop and we missed the bus..so Paisei nia..wanna the bus "uncle" turn back to fetch 2 of us..thanks ya!hehe. we take around half and hour journey to reach our venue, which located in Tanjung Aru, around the Airasia airport..XD


Many people huh?

Random-LaoYang + lekMon

Rupa-rupanya is a wedding dinner..hehe..rich people wedding..F3..we need to do the preparation for the night and serve the guests in the ballroom..

The ballroom which we need to serve at night..


Hehe..my job is taking the flowers put on each table..XD

and, check whether there are 10 sets setting and 10 chairs for each table

The Menu..handwriting 1 leh..


The vege menu..(tsk..i serving vege dinner..DIU)

the wedding cake..wonder that can be eaten or not

we had our dinner at around 430pm..LOL..go the stuff canteen for the dinner...the queue damn long..eat also wanna wait for so long..

The queue

They in pilot uniform..hahaha
or can say is the lobby boy uniform?hahaha

They busy eating, while me and mao mao so pity waiting to take the food..

After the dinner, we had a short briefing about the dinner..hehe..we are seperated in few groups as there are 3 wedding dinner in Shangri-La..hahaa..
mao mao and jing chong in 1 group go the the sea-side 1..for buffet
then left me, SWC, aikawa, lekmon, songyong, LaoYang, ken stay in the ballroom..hahaha

the manager seperated us in small group again and i take over table no.3, 4 and 12..serving vegetarian..SIEN!!!!no prawn no fish no meat to see..all vege..
the manager give us a short and simple training on serving chinese set..haha..teach us how to cut the fish, how to take the soup for the guests, how to clear the table, and every single steps..

we need to clear up every small plates and bowls after 1 dish..then wanna check chinese tea, beverage,and drinks then check the chili paste, chili and do watever the guest request..
such as:
Guest:i want a Chivas in Stones
the manager said take the Chivas and go to garden for the stones..haha
Chivas in stones mean ice cube..=p
and alot of those fantastic words for the high-class people..haha the manager said if we are interested in it, we can go for training..hahaha actually quite fun 1..if got, i sure will attend!^^

Me and my partner for the night

I served this table the most..hehe..the ahpo is so funny
she caught my hand and asking me m i tired?
cause i shaking when serving them..LOL
its so heavy is damn heavy the plates..hahaha

The main table..hehe

Every1 is standby to start their job d..^^

The 1st dish i manage to take the picture..and the coming 7 dishes we work like siao po d..walk in walk out take plates, take bowls, take drinks..and the most hate to hear that.."may i have a plain water"..OMG!!!that the hardest drinks..we need go find a clean glass in the kitchen, then wash it, then go another place take the water..I hate plain water..although it seem like so easy to get it..=.='''...and the table i served..want Sprite without ice..but the bar all Sprite with ice..but clever me i can handle it..^^

When the ceremony start, the songs which they played..make me think back a lot of things..the song "U raise Me Up"..i damn love that song..and the song which really raise me up..hahaha then a lot of songs between me n him..lalalaalala....and and, the "music box" hahaha..my kindergarten song..XD..i took a few minutes to wake up..i'm proud of myself too..hahaha..i know how to control my mood..

between the serving time, i am too thirsty..LOL..serve the guests drinks but i didn't touch any water..luckily got 1 time i go out take the dish i saw lekMon with a coke in his hand..muahahaha!!!its cheer me up!!!!XD

we stand a lot, walk a lot..and i feel my feet is going to cacat d..LOL..walk slower and slower and slower..the manager ask me okay or not, the guests ask me okay or not..woah!the world is still warm...hahaha...and the table i serve they help me alot too...after they had the dish, they clean up the small plates n bowls for me..so that i no need to walk around to keep all the plates..thanks aunties~~~^^

when the last dish served...wahh!!!damn happy!!!hahaha..and they are eating behind the ballroom..LOL..i did that too..hahaha..but just cake..liWen n JingWen somemore got prawns to eat..HNG!and saying that the prawns so nice..

After clearing, i drunk 2 glasses of Shandy and 1 glass of Beer..hahahaa..then going to have the short briefing..then we go back loh...damn tired yet happy day..


And have to "thanks" for the purple shoes

for torturing my feet..T-T



"bubbles" everywhere on my feet..T-T


Lastly,



Congratulations!!!!=)



*jeing, 27/9/09, 12.34pm*




Miss Up something.

The visit of Prince of Labuan..

Hahaha..although he come KK for 3 days(if not mistaken), we meet up for just few hours..haha..busy...

We talked a lot..feel i m so lucky get my 1st choice..hahah..cause my 2nd and 3rd choice is in Labuan d..there no water..the most suffer thing..><..but he look so fresh after stay in Labuan for 3 months..hahaha.. and he is the only chinese join the PALAPES...hahaha..cause got allowance..earn alot him!!he said he going to save up and buy a car in Labuan..hehe..Labuan car duty-free mah..jiayou ya Prince!haha

Take care and all the best in Labuan ya!
we will miss u in KK 1..=p
do always come visit us oh..hahhaa..3 hours speed boat only..keke



*jeing, 27/9/09, 10.20am*

Song Yong's Birthday late update..




See??that's Prince of IP..hahaha..i don't where he get this nickname but he was happy with it..XD
and 1 more thing is..when i buying the cake, i have no idea how to write his name..hahaha..and the 王子 that 2 words is written by a Malay girl..hahaha *big CLAP*

Me and maomao..I seem like so black in this photo..LOL

SWC with Penang style go 1borneo

Jing Wen aka Aikawa

The couple and Lek Mon(the bulb)XD


We departed to 1borneo around 3+ if not mistaken..our SWC is torturing by stomachache..hahaha..run for toilet for many times..=D..and JingWen told us a super funny conversation between him and SWC's roomate,Lao Yang..
JingWen: where is Shit people?
Lao Yang: Shitting..hahaha
they used to call SWC as shit people..

and we watched Accident..LAME MOVIE..><.. maybe we have too much expectation on Louis's movie..but,hahahaa..SRY LOUIS!!! yet, u still most "yeng" in my heart..=p
The men stand opposite us..=D

Busy man-Lek Mon..hahaha

After that, the men planned go the steamboat which me and mao mao went that day..hahaha..me and mao mao "pitted" them and go for Sushi which located opposite the steamboat shop..XD


Wagamama Japanese Restaurant

Before

After

Then me and mao mao planned to have a surprise celebration for Song Yong..find cake in all bakery in 1borneo..at last cannot find a small cake and we planned go Secret Recipe buy 4 small pieces cakes then combined become a bigger but smaller compare with others..

He was surprising see the name of him..XD

But also happy of it..XD

Blow the candles..OLD LE LOHHHH!!!!

Imagine that both of them eat so much?

hahahaa..actually there got 8 of them eating..XD

Next station is "ding-ding"shop..i didn't play in the shop for quite a period d..hahaha..changed 6 tokens for RM6 then play the basketball and racing..XD

Busy throwing the balls to hit to the next stage..

Me.Ken.LekMon

See, we play with how many balls?hahaha

How "yeng" the didi playing Initial-D..XD

We played we fooled we joke for the whole day..XD..
we walked back from 1borneo back to school at 1030pm at night..luckily reached the maingate before 11pm..hehe..
then SWC, LekMon, SongYong, and the couple accompany me and mao mao walk go back to Kampung E, the farest in-campus hostel..hahaha..thanks yea man!!!!

Last but nt least,



Happy Belated Birthday yea, Prince of IP!!!!

*jeing, 27/9/09, 2.40am*