Learning the Tricks of the Trade by Marc Abrahams (HBR, April 2006**) reminds me of a few experiences I had with the UN in some countries.
I was a Finance Officer in UNDP, Sri Lanka in the mid 70S. Thus, all incoming foreign experts had to see me first to get their first living allowance. A Japanese fisheries expert walks into my room and says, "You mind I sit". I replied, "I don't mind." The expert shouts back, "You bad man, you don't want me sit." I tried so hard to explain to him but he got angry and walked out. To end the story, the expert went on to complain to another Japanese expatriate, who then explained to him what "don't mind" literally meant in the English language. The man then apologized to me and made peace.
