Peter Weiermann - ...away on business

Peter Weiermann

...away on business

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Titel Peter Weiermann ...away on business Dieses ebook wurde erstellt bei

Impressum Impressum Impressum ©2018 by Peter Weiermann E-mail: pweiermann@aol.com English translation: Cindy Lorenz German book title: …auf Geschäftsreise All rights reserved. Reproduction and distribution only by written permission of the author.

Prolog Prolog It so happened that one day my boss was of the opinion that I would do less harm to the company if he sent me on business trips, preferably as far away as possible, maybe even to Asia. In fact, I am still amazed at how it is possible to get anywhere with limited English language skills, an even more limited sense of direction and a small credit card. Incidentally, my language skills are really not that much of a problem because most Asians with whom I'm deal are not language experts either. Ironically, I do not know how many times I have traveled around the world over the past 20 years, but it has been several times. Some moments and impressions are actually trivial things that just belong to traveling, but they can also be things a west European would just like to ignore by laughing it away. They can make you smile or be amazed or even make you stop and think. They are simply snapshots that are rarely consciously perceived because other things are of course in focus. You want to get from A to B to do your job there. These impressions are just side effects, but in and of themselves they often look very strange to a so-called foreigner. Also, I notice that the tiny spot on the map called Germany is not necessarily the center of the world, or is it? As long as one or the other of these impressions is still in my memory, I would like to capture and pass on these moments to you, dear reader, with the aim of giving you a little something to do in your leisure time. Maybe you're on a journey of your own as you read these lines, maybe even on a business trip or on vacation, or wherever, but nonetheless on the go. It may be that you will discover yourself here within this journal because you have just experienced something similar or have already experienced it in the past. Just one more thing before we start, however. If my opinions, which are subjectively expressed, are met with any displeasure, I beg your pardon. No one should accuse me of a deliberate aversion to persons, groups or things because this is definitely not intended. Quite the contrary, we should all respect each other’s cultural background and habits. I have not included my comments in a chronological order because, in my opinion, this does not detract from the contents in any way. At any rate, I sincerely hope you will enjoy reading the following.

“Epo” “Epo” The initial trigger for capturing such little anecdotes occurred as I was once again on a business trip in Shanghai. It is 6 a.m. in the morning and as tired as I am, I get into the taxi in front of the hotel and the taxi driver says to me, “Epo??” "Uh, what?" I answer, trying hard to decide what he means. After a period of deliberation, I guess correctly and answer with amusement, "Yes please, Epo!" The sophisticated reader already suspects the correct translation, it means “airport”. Problem solved. A very interesting experience. The driver's next statement was, "Betsching?" I understand now (he means Beijing) and I answer, "No, Seoul, Korea!" Now everything's been discussed and we leave the hotel. Arriving at the EPO, I have the joy of having started the day in good humor and give the driver a generous tip which he probably did not expect. He is all smiles as he drives off and waves at me until he is no longer visible. “EPO”, how nice to know. In general, my experience has been that when I smile, I will be smiled back at; if I look grim I will get grim looks in return. Or, as Mark Twain once put it, "Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see." Life is composed of many small moments. There are so many beautiful, funny, instructive occasions. They go by and never come back. That's why I like to pause and enjoy the moment. Too soon everyday obligations always bring me back.

Eating

Sanitary facilities

India

Korea

On the plane ✈

In China

The free market

At the airport

Thailand

England

On the road

This and that

Behavior

Little misunderstanding

Meetings

Sense of orientation

Well-known song

Technological advance

Observations

Behavior

Humor

Visit to Germany

On site

Indonesia

Wrong plane

Impressum neobooks

Impressum

©2018 by Peter Weiermann

E-mail: pweiermann@aol.com

English translation: Cindy Lorenz

German book title: …auf Geschäftsreise

All rights reserved. Reproduction and distribution only by written permission of the author.

It so happened that one day my boss was of the opinion that I would do less harm to the company if he sent me on business trips, preferably as far away as possible, maybe even to Asia.

In fact, I am still amazed at how it is possible to get anywhere with limited English language skills, an even more limited sense of direction and a small credit card. Incidentally, my language skills are really not that much of a problem because most Asians with whom I'm deal are not language experts either. Ironically, I do not know how many times I have traveled around the world over the past 20 years, but it has been several times. Some moments and impressions are actually trivial things that just belong to traveling, but they can also be things a west European would just like to ignore by laughing it away. They can make you smile or be amazed or even make you stop and think. They are simply snapshots that are rarely consciously perceived because other things are of course in focus. You want to get from A to B to do your job there. These impressions are just side effects, but in and of themselves they often look very strange to a so-called foreigner. Also, I notice that the tiny spot on the map called Germany is not necessarily the center of the world, or is it?

As long as one or the other of these impressions is still in my memory, I would like to capture and pass on these moments to you, dear reader, with the aim of giving you a little something to do in your leisure time. Maybe you're on a journey of your own as you read these lines, maybe even on a business trip or on vacation, or wherever, but nonetheless on the go. It may be that you will discover yourself here within this journal because you have just experienced something similar or have already experienced it in the past. Just one more thing before we start, however. If my opinions, which are subjectively expressed, are met with any displeasure, I beg your pardon. No one should accuse me of a deliberate aversion to persons, groups or things because this is definitely not intended. Quite the contrary, we should all respect each other’s cultural background and habits. I have not included my comments in a chronological order because, in my opinion, this does not detract from the contents in any way. At any rate, I sincerely hope you will enjoy reading the following.

The initial trigger for capturing such little anecdotes occurred as I was once again on a business trip in Shanghai. It is 6 a.m. in the morning and as tired as I am, I get into the taxi in front of the hotel and the taxi driver says to me, “Epo??”