The Telegraph: National Cultural Profiles
I am not sure the Telegraph was joking when it decided to stereotype every country in the world, but I don’t really care because perhaps that’s why I am finding it so amusing. They read a bit like “Teen Magazine Horoscope: Everyone on Earth Edition”.
Some highlights are below, but really you should read them all:
On Brazilians….“Do not change places if a Brazilian seats himself down as the fourth person on a three-seater sofa - Brazilians excel as “space invaders”!”
On Americans…“The American Cultural Black Hole is the American Dream, or the phenomenon of the Frontier Spirit” <—- what the F?
On Saudis … “How to Empathize: Eat any morsel that is offered to you (this often involves over-eating).”
On Italians … ”Punctuality in Milan means they are up to 20 minutes late, in Rome half an hour and in the south 45 minutes. You will not be able to change this, except in a fixed-hours factory or office environment. You must therefore adapt. Be prepared to wait 15-45 minutes before your Italian counterpart arrives to let you into their office.”
