1. At eBay Germany, it's not uncommon for an American guy to jump in the conversation of colleagues naturally, or spend 2 hours sharing about Tableau reports with his high confidence. There's something about Americans that impresses me – their confidence, optimism, straightforward problem-solving approach, and clear and strong communication.
2. Germans, on the other hand, are generally more reserved than Americans. They always aim directly at their goals, adhere strictly to principles, live frugally and discreetly.
3. Both my senior director and some colleagues are from India. Despite being from the same country, they have to use English because India has about 16 official languages, and even neighboring regions might not use the same languages. Their personalities are gentle, resembling the melodies of meditation or yoga. They are comfortable, not strict about deadlines, often calm and gentle.
4. My teamleader is an Italian. He takes great pride in the beauty of Rome (his hometown), the culinary artistry of Italian cuisine, and is quite hard to please when it comes to German food with sausages and beers😂, even though his wife is German. Italians, work with a spirit of joy, comfort, and a lack of concern for deadlines. However, they are also very straightforward in expressing their opinions or thoughts.
5. One of my colleagues is a Turkish beautiful woman, and she is literally straightforward, scientific, responsible, and extremely enthusiastic. She is like a symphony blending East and West, speaks fluently four languages, and always creates a positive impression in the first meeting. Occasionally, we go out for lunch together, exploring the cultural differences between countries and the sweet combination of Asia and Europe in Turkey.
6. In our company, I've become friends with some Chinese colleagues who often talk about their desire for authentic Asian food in Europe, culture, education, and work – similar to how Vietnamese people often talk. They usually work in tech & data field, where Asians love most, perhaps due to a history of intense studying, resulting in better scientific thinking and proficiency in working with data.
7. I know two other Vietnamese-German colleagues at the company. In the beginning of the week, we often meet to discuss our weekend activities and plans for the upcoming week. It's especially charming to hear Vietnamese spoken with a distinct German accent. Sometimes, we even send messages in Vietnamese, which is incredibly touching. Born and raised in Germany, their personalities are extremely straightforward, their communication clear, with the only difference being their love for Vietnamese cuisine – spring rolls, pho, etc. 🙂
P.S : The image depicts various dishes, vegetables and fruits that make up the flags of different countries. If interested, let's check link here.
Best wishes,
Kim Ung
07.2019 - eBay GmbH, Kleimachnow, Germany
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