陳豪在北京的ABC美國公司工作,他跟美國同事Amy一起喝下午茶。
(Office ambience)
A:Chen Hao, you've been attending a lot of business dinners lately. Didn't your team go out again last night with the clients?
C:沒錯(cuò)。我老板Mr. Brown決定請客人到附近剛開張的那家法國餐館去吃飯。
A:How did it go?
C:飯菜的味道確實(shí)不錯(cuò),但是有個(gè)客人很失態(tài)。
A:What do you mean?
C:首先,她點(diǎn)的菜都是菜單上價(jià)錢最貴的。
A:What did the others do?
C:其他人點(diǎn)的都是中等價(jià)位的,我也一樣。
A:This client sounds as if she could use some business etiquette training. Unless Mr. Brown suggested that you all order certain pricey dishes, she should have chosen something moderately priced.
C:我覺得也是。除非主人堅(jiān)持,否則客人應(yīng)該點(diǎn)一些普通的菜才對。
A:It's rude to take advantage of your host like that. This client is not very savvy about business dining.
C: Savvy是什么意思?。?/font>
A:Savvy means having knowledge and experience.
C:這個(gè)客戶確實(shí)不懂禮貌,而且還不只這些呢!
A:Let's head back to the office now. You can tell me on the way.
******
陳豪和Amy兩人一起往回走。
A:So there is more to this story?
C:那個(gè)客人不僅點(diǎn)的都是最貴的,而且一道菜都不拉。
A:Like what?
C:從湯開始,然后是頭臺、沙拉,主菜,最后還有特制的甜點(diǎn),一樣不少。
A:What did everyone else do?
C:Mr. Brown雖然吃得很少,但也只好跟著她一道菜一道菜地點(diǎn)。
A:He was doing the correct thing as host by ordering the same as the client.
C:作為主人,一定要這么做嗎?
A:When someone orders appetizers or other dishes in addition to the entrée, it is polite for others to order the same courses.
C:那又是為什么呢?
A:That keeps the pace of the dinner even and avoids the awkwardness of one person eating a course by herself.
C:如果沒有別人點(diǎn)湯的話,那個(gè)客戶自己吃的時(shí)候一定會覺得很尷尬。
A:At an informal dinner, some people have soup while others may select a different appetizer to have at the same time. Everyone should have an equal number of courses.
C:那作為請客的主人,在飯桌上能做些什么呢?
A:Simple. The host can say, "Why don't we all have an appetizer?" Or he could ask, "Would anyone like something to start with?"
C:這樣一來,你就能知道自己是不是唯一想點(diǎn)頭臺的人了。
A:Right. If no one else has a starter course, then you don't either.
C:你真應(yīng)該給昨天那個(gè)客人好好上一課。