Originally posted by mike
When you are overseas, you have to go with their flow. Ya, they have unwritten rules and social codes that just make things unacceptable. They don't need it in writing to be a rule.
Good point, Mike. (Leave it to Mike to spoil our party...)
Here in the good ol' US of A, "The customer is always right," and "You'll be hearing from my attorney," are our favorite sayings. If some little manager at Carl's Jr. had a fight with his wife that morning before work, and he pisses us off royally as a customer, you can be sure that poor sap will hear not only from his wife, but his boss pretty soon.
This case might be an opportunity for diplomacy. Is there a way to influence them in your favor, without being overbearing? It might go a long way to soften our American image as "John Wayne" clones. And you might get a concession (maybe). Some non-Americans resist us just because we are American. Once they see you're different, they might suprise you.