A fellow speaker from California named Geri was excited about her first speech in Japan. To be comfortable on her long flight to Tokyo.she put on her favorite designer jeans and a casual jacket. Fourteen hours later, four perfectly dressed Japanese gentlemen greeted her at Narita Airport. Smiling and bowing low. they handed her their business cards. With her carry-on bag in one hand，Geri took their cards with the other. She thanked them, glanced briefly at the cards.and packed them safely into her back pocket. She then gave them her card.
When the five of them arrived at the hotel. they invited Geri to tea in the lobby. While sipping tea.the gentlemen presented her with a small gift which she eagerly opened. One of Geri's most charming qualities is her instinctive warmth. She was thrilled with the gift and Un typical Geri style,she squealed，“Oh,it's beautiful!as she gave each of the gentlemen a little hug.
At this point, the four Japanese gentlemen stood up in union and，bowing only very slightly, mumbled “Sayonara” and promptly left. Poor Geri was left stunned. What did she do wrong?
Everything! Her jeans was the first gaffe. Even if you're coming off a bicycle in Japan, you do not meet clients casually dressed. The second mistake was (Jeri s vulgar handling of their business cards. In Japan.the business card is one of the most important protocol tools. It is always presented and accepted respectfully with both hands. However, Geri put their cards away much too quickly. In Japan, people use business cards as a conversation starter. You chat about each other's cards and work and do not put theirs away until they gently and respectfully place yours in safekeeping. Shoving it into her jeans pocket was the ultimate disrespect.
Then,The fourth horror of horrors was that Geri should not have opened the gift in front of her clients. In a land where saving face is critical.it would be embarrassing to discover the gift they gave was not as nice as the one they received. What is worse,Geri hadn't even given them a gift!
The word “gaffe” in the 4th paragraph can be replaced by