“ I’ m not sure. I found him abrupt, and he was silent for what seemed like ages. I’ m not sure I know how to read him. Am I missing something? “ replied the Singaporean.
The Dutchman responded, “ They are plain speakers; they just don’t always think it is necessary to speak.”
“ So why did he ask me to write down everything that we’ d talked about ?” queried the Singaaporean.
The Dutchman explained, “ They put more emphasis on the written than the spoken word. They prefer you to follow things up in writing.”
The Singaporean spent the next hour composing an e-mail. He thought about sending it immediately, but decided it would be better to send it in the morning. He received a curt but courteous reply as well as an invitation to make his presentation that very afternoon at 4:00 p.m.