It has been 7 years since I first worked with the Germans. And, up to now, I can still remember how alarmed I was that day when I went on my first business dinner in Frankfurt.
See, I was cursed with an allergy to anything with alcohol in it. A few sips is all it takes for me to break out in hives, for my face to turn completely red and for me to start singing.
Imagine my surprise when everyone on the table ordered either Beer or Wine. Not knowing what to do, I thought it was polite to order the same. Not knowing that it was (still is) perfectly acceptable to refuse a drink.
I did survive without making a fool of myself. Although, I also had to live with red itchy hives for 2 days. A small price to pay for NOT reading up on the DOs and DONTs.
If you expect to go on a business dinner with your German colleagues, here are a few more facts worth knowing:
- Before digging in, you should wish everyone a "guten appetit"
- Take only as much as you can eat because the Germans usually "clean their plates".
- Don't start to drink until someone has made a toast. And when you do toast, look them in the eye.
[source: German Business Etiquette]
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