Speaking level C: supplementary documents

We know it's good for us but avoid it like the plague either because we're used to being sedentary or afraid that exercise has to be vigorous to be worth our time.. Just adding a little

SUPPLEMENTARY DOCUMENTS

Healthy lifestyle

You hear a lot about living a healthy lifestyle, but what does that mean? In general,

a healthy person doesn't smoke, is at a healthy weight, eats healthy and exercises Sounds simple, doesn't it?

The trick to healthy living is making small changes taking more steps, adding fruit to your cereal, having an extra glass of water these are just a few ways you can start living healthy without drastic changes

Exercise

One of the biggest problems in America today is lack of activity We know it's good for us but avoid it like the plague either because we're used to being

sedentary or afraid that exercise has to be vigorous to be worth our time The truth

is, movement is movement and the more you do, the healthier you'll be Even moderate activities like chores, gardening and walking can make a difference Just adding a little movement to your life can:

 Reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes

 Improve joint stability

 Increase and improve range of movement

 Help maintain flexibility as you age

 Maintain bone mass

 Prevent osteoporosis and fractures

 Improve mood and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression

 Enhance self esteem

 Improve memory in elderly people

 Reduce stress

So, even if you opt for small changes and a more modest weight loss, you can see the benefits are still pretty good One study has found that just a 10% weight

reduction helped obese patients reduce blood pressure, cholesterol and increase longevity

Simple Ways to Move Your Body

You can start the process of weight loss now by adding a little more activity to your life If you're not ready for a structured program, start small Every little bit counts and it all adds up to burning more calories

 Turn off the TV Once a week, turn off the TV and do something a little

more physical with your family Play games, take a walk almost anything will be more active than sitting on the couch

 Walk more Look for small ways to walk more When you get the mail, take

a walk around the block, take the dog for an extra outing each day or walk

on your treadmill for 5 minutes before getting ready for work

 Do some chores Shoveling snow, working in the garden, raking leaves,

sweeping the floor these kinds of activities may not be 'vigorous' exercise, but they can keep you moving while getting your house in order

 Pace while you talk When you're on the phone, pace around or even do

some cleaning while gabbing This is a great way to stay moving while doing something you enjoy

 Be aware Make a list of all the physical activities you do on a typical day

If you find that the bulk of your time is spent sitting, make another list of all the ways you could move more getting up each hour to stretch or walk, walk the stairs at work, etc

Eating Well

Eating a healthy diet is another part of the healthy lifestyle Not only can a clean diet help with weight management, it can also improve your health and quality of life as you get older You can use the new Food Guide Pyramid to determine how many calories you need and what food groups you should focus on or, if you're looking for smaller changes, you can use these tips for simple ways to change how you eat:

 Eat more fruit Add it to your cereal, your salads or even your dinners

 Sneak in more veggies Add them wherever you can a tomato on your sandwich, peppers on your pizza, or extra veggies in your pasta sauce Keep pre-cut or canned/frozen veggies ready for quick snacks

 Switch your salad dressing If you eat full-fat dressing, switch to something lighter and you'll automatically eat less calories

 Eat low-fat or fat-free dairy Switching to skim milk or fat free yogurt is another simple way to eat less calories without having to change too much inyour diet

 Make some substitutes Look through your cabinets or fridge and pick 3 foods you eat every day Write down the nutritional content and, the next time you're at the store, find lower-calorie substitutes for just those 3 items Find more ideas for healthy foods with this Healthy Foods Grocery List

Creating a healthy lifestyle doesn't have to mean drastic changes In fact, drastic changes almost always lead to failure Making small changes in how you live each day can lead to big rewards, so figure out what you can to be healthy today

How To Help Reduce Stress At Work

Work can be a stressful place, wherever you earn your living, whether in an office,

a factory, or a school Some stress is good It motivates us and makes us stronger Too much stress is bad It makes us irrational and it can, quite literally, kill us Fortunately, there are specific things you can do that will help you reduce your stress at work and better cope with it

Difficulty: Average

Time Required: Varies

Here's How:

1 Improve your time management and organization skills.

Of the many things you can to in this area the best ones include getting a to

do list that works, learning to say "no", asking for help when you need it, and stop setting unrealistic goals for yourself

2 Relax and breathe deeply.

Whether you are feeling overwhelmed by the amount or work you have to

do or if someone is "in your face", a good thing to do is to "breathe through your nose" You can't get as worked up if you force yourself to breathe through your nose Your body simply can't maintain the same level of

energy without that extra oxygen you get when breathing through your mouth

3 Take more breaks from your work.

Even a five-minute break will help Get away from your desk Go for a walk

- outside is better, but up two flights of stairs and back down is good too

Getting more exercise in general will help you reduce your overall stress levels and that will make it easier to reduce your stress level at work.

4 Lighten up.

Smile more We all know laughter reduces stress You will be amazed at how much more pleasant the people around you are when you make an effort to be pleasant yourself

5 Learn to listen better.

Rather than getting upset when others disagree with you, listen actively and find the areas of agreement Be assertive and stand up for yourself, but don't

be rigid

6 Fix your environment.

Make whatever adjustments you need to the lighting, temperature, noise level, and other controllable factors in your office

7 Don't sweat the small stuff.

Realize that there are some things that just aren't worth worrying about and there are some things you just can't change Don't waste time stressing over the things in either category

8 Get more sleep.

This is another of the things you can do to reduce your overall stress that will have benefits at the office as well In addition to reducing your stress, it will increase your energy level and your ability to concentrate

9 Find a mentor

If not a mentor, a friend will do Having someone to talk to can take a lot of stress off you

10.Spend more time with optimistic people.

Negative people will pull you down to their level Choose to work with people who have a positive attitude instead

How to Develop a Good Relationship with Your Boss

A good relationship with your boss can make all the difference to how you feel about your job A supportive, approachable boss is able to get the best out of their team – you feel like you can talk to them about a problem you have, ask for a morning off to go to a school play or that they will listen to your reasons for

wanting a pay rise at your annual review

An egotistical, judge mental boss is quite the opposite – they make you feel as though your personal life is of no importance, you should be grateful for the job and that you do not deserve for your career to progress Of course, there are plenty

of bosses in between

Let’s look at some different ways to build a good relationship with your boss and how to maintain it – without looking like teachers’ pet

Work Hard

– OK, this may seem like a simple one but it is very rare that the worst performer

in a team gets on well with the boss, or certainly not for long

Arrive on Time

– again, this is pretty obvious, but don’t forget that however well you perform in your job, if you are late all the time, or even some of the time, you wont be taken seriously

Have Good Ideas

– in meetings, whether it be about the Christmas party or a new marketing strategy,make sure you have something to say Meetings are not just a break from your desk and a chance to have free sandwiches

Don’t Gossip

– if your boss considers you to be one of the team that spends more time hanging around the water cooler than actually working, they are unlikely to be your biggest fan

Be Prepared

– if you attend a client visit or presentation with your boss, make sure you have your laptop loaded with a copy of the presentation, have back ups printed and havethe client’s phone number in your mobile in case of hold ups

Dress Like You Mean Business

– this does not mean wear a full-on power suit if you work in a primary school, but

at least dress suitably to your role It is too easy to get complacent and not iron your top or letting your suit jacket get a bit too ‘eau de pub’

Take an Interest

– this goes for personal and professional details You don’t want to look like a creep by bringing your boss flowers for their birthday, but at least ask about their children, holiday or dinner parties if they tell you about them When there is a project meeting, ask how it went

Don’t Make a Fool of Yourself

– this goes for Friday night drinks, office romances and the Christmas party Don’t drink too much at office functions, even if there is a free bar, it does not mean you should act like you are out with your friends – you’re not, it’s work, even if it is held on a Saturday night Don’t let your colleagues see you fawning over Barry from accounts, either Swoon in private

Facts About Working Relationships

Working relationships are an important part of your job and can have a hug impact

on your happiness and success at work Cultivating these relationships and trying

to avoid any conflict or power struggles is something that you should always be aware of There are some common myths about working relationships though, what the problems are and how to handle them Take a look at these facts so you are clear about the best way to approach your working relationships and get the most out of them

FACT: You need to stand up for yourself

You may think that keeping your head down and getting on with your work then

colleagues will stop taking advantage of you or give you the credit you’re worth, but that’s not true You need to assert your position by standing up for yourself and not letting other people walk all over you,

FICTION: Gaining a promotion will lose your friends

Being promoted over your friends is never an easy situation to be in but the most

important thing is how you handle it If you remain professional, have an honest talk with them and don’t rub it in their faces, then there is no reason why you cannot stay

friends If they are jealous or resentful then they were never a great friend in the first place and you should concentrate on your career

FACT: Gossiping will always backfire

A quick gossip round the water cooler may seem like a bit of harmless fun but it always backfires Talking about your colleagues makes you seem unprofessional and

untrustworthy and is never worth the small satisfaction that it brings Try to think about how you would feel if you were the target of the gossip and then step away from the conversation

FICTION: Women are harder to work for than men

Whether this is a myth perpetuated by scorned men or just a rumour in the office, it’s not true Women can be just as good or bad as men at being your boss Women often work in a different way to men but once you understand their methods they are honest and usually more understanding than their male counterparts

FACT: Romantic relationships and the office don’t mix

It may seem like a good idea t the office party, but getting romantically involved with someone you work with is bound to end in tears If it goes well, then it is difficult to remain professional with them and if it goes bad, then you will have to work with them and be reminded of it every day

Learning how to handle working relationships will make interactions in the office much easier In all situations you need to try and remain professional and calm, and be tactful in your approach Think carefully about whether something is a goodidea or not and how it will affect your every day job and your long term career A bad working relationship can have a big negative impact on you so try to avoid them by separating fact from fiction

How to Prepare for an Interview

Think of your resume as an advertisement It is what will bring the customer in the store Once they have arrived, it is time to sell them the goods You have scored aninterview, and now it is time to prepare

Here are some suggestions for preparing for an upcoming interview

Interview Preparation Guide.

A day or two before an interview you should take the time to really think about

how you want the interview to go, what impression you want to leave on the

employer and what unique pitch you will use to stand out from other applicants Equally important, think about what items on your resume you do not want to spend a lot of time on and come up with ways to transition from that particular experience to others that you would like to highlight more

Next, thoroughly research the employer, and when possible, the position Be

sure to ask for at least a title, if not a detailed description of exactly what position

they are interviewing you for Then list the 3 or 4 strong qualifications that you

bring to the table This way, you know going in what they are looking for and

why you are a good fit

There is a time and a place for name dropping, and interviewing is one of them

Review any names or details that could be helpful to reference during your discussion If you are the networking type, go back through your PDA and find the

exact date of the dinner party where you met the person who passed along your resume If you used a job search engine, recall what day you first saw the

advertisement and perhaps the detail that helped the posting stand out If the

organization reached out to you, recall the Human Resources contact who first

gave you the call or e-mail It never hurts to compliment their friendly conduct,

and helps create a positive, thoughtful persona

From here the old adage rings true: "Practice makes perfect." Make a list of

questions that you think the employer might ask Think through how you would

want to answer them Your goal is to leave the ideal impression, highlighting your

best selling points and avoiding weaker aspects of your experience Typing this

out (and saving it) can help you not just prepare for this interview, but all future interviews as well (including your year end review! ;))

Once you have come up with some sample questions, ask a trusted friend to help

you role play through a few of them randomly The employer ultimately controls the flow of an interview and role playing can help prepare you to bounce between subjects and think quickly Your friend may also be able to point out any nervous quirks you might have or important details that you are leaving out

The night before the interview, after you have crafted your pitch and researched

the employer, make sure to print out directions to the office Pick out your

clothes, relax with a book and get to bed early In the morning, eat a

non-offensive breakfast to hold you over and make sure to drink your coffee It is

show time :)

PHAN UNIT - DA LAT

MUI NE - HON ROM - Prenn - Truc Lam

- SPRING GOLD - SILVER SPRING - NUI LANGBIANG - WATERFALL DAMB'RY

DAY 1: Saigon - Phan Thiet (198 Km)Morning, leaving the car to Depart Ho Chi Minh City to Phan Thiet Visit the ecotourism Giang Dien waterfall, you relax in a natural space with many romantic waterfalls, lakes, orchards To Phan Thiet (Binh Thuan), through the town center, up the hill to visit Ngoc Lam Cham Poshanu Tower, Floor Mr Hoang relics, famous love story with a poet Han Mac Tu, from the hills and admire the sea Phu Hai Group stop taking photos, filming at the beach Location The stone, that coconut Ham Tien, sightseeing ghe, boat fishermen access terminals in Mui Ne beach boat Then, to the hotel, you check in, lunch break

Afternoon, Hon Rom car to go union You bath and enjoy fresh seafood popular prices After enjoying the taste of sweet coconut 3 cowardice, you continue to conquer the sand hills and streams Hong, watch the sun set over the sand hill

Evening, you walk around coastal city, Overnight in Phan Thiet (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

DAY 2: PHAN UNIT - DA LAT (135 km)

Morning, you bathing, Check, car to grocery union Phan Thiet, you buy special local production Then, the delegation left to Phan Thiet, Da Lat, the new way Luong Son (province

Binh Thuan) go to Di Linh (Lam Dong province), through Dai Ninh hydropower plant Arrive

Lat, the hotel, you get rooms

The afternoon, you visit the Domain de Marie church, visiting special power Bao Dai, flower garden

(Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

DAY 3: DA LAT - OTHER TOURIST ATTRACTION

In the morning, go sightseeing operation Datanlla, visit Truc Lam, take the cable car

Robin Hill, sightseeing pine forests, Tuyen Lam Lake, Phoenix Mountains from above.

Afternoon, go enjoy landscape waterfall Ankroet, gold springs, silver springs, lakes

Dankia, Golden Valley - a mountain populations, non, streams, lakes landscape of the First High

Resources Lam Vien Continue to drive to the salad, trafficking of people are at thefoot of the mountain Lat Loc

Langbiang, on the way you admire suburb Dalat garden planted with enough

color flowers You climb mountains, conquer the summit Langbiang; from the summit, admire the whole

Da Lat city scenes romantic, fanciful in the fog

Night, the night you attend the camp fire, drinking wine, arts gongs, interaction activities with the Highland Night in Dalat (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

DAY 4: DA LAT - SAI GON (300 Km)Morning arrival in room, car to leave the union back to Da Lat Ho Chi Minh The road

You visit the waterfall Damb'ry, one of the famous beautiful waterfalls and

TICKET PRICE INCLUDES:

Are air-conditioned bus, shuttle guests to the program in the tour

Hotel (1 room 2 guests), air conditioning, TV, refrigerator, telephone, private toilet, hot water

Phan Thiet (k / s 2 stars): Caty, Nhat Linh, Binh Minh

Da Lat (2 stars hotels): AVIATION, RED SUN, BONG HONG, HUNG PHONG, THI

THAO, Golf 2, MY WORKSHOP, Eucharist

Phan Thiet (Resort 3 *): CANARY, Dynasty, HAI AU, TIEN DAT, THE BEACH

Da Lat (Hotel 3 stars): CAM DO, MAI VANG, VIETSOPETRO, SEA HORSE.Phan Thiet (Hotel 4 stars): OCEAN STAR, BLUE OCEAN

Da Lat (4 star hotel): HOANG ANH GIA LAI, Golf 3, SAMMY, Sai Gon-Da Lat, (Or another equivalent hotels)

Eat three meals of the day: Breakfast buffet, lunch and afternoon of the four rice dishes, this dish is often the local cuisine If the client self-sufficient food, the tour price will be deducted: 410,000 dong

Guide for explanations during online groups

Admission game

Facial cold water on the road (1 towel, 1 bottle / day).

Gifts, lotteries are happy awards

Insurance during the tour, standard insurance in Vietnam

TICKET PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE:

Cost bathing, aquatic quintals of coffee, ride horses, go by cable car tickets, trips, cultural programs and costs Highlands dining, entertainment and individuals

CHILDREN TICKET PRICES:Children 12 years and over 01 ticket

Children from 06 to 11 half fare

Children under 05: No charge, family self Nursery But only 02 adults with 01 children, if more children comes from the things you have to buy 02 or more half fare (Standard half fare: ration is 01 + 01 seats and sleeping room with melding family)

Benefits of Tourism

There are a number of benefits of tourism for both the tourist and the host

destination On a large scale it offers a good alternative to some more destructive industries for generating income both on nationally and privately

The tourism industry encompasses many different areas, so it also creates jobs in many different areas With tourism comes hotels, restaurants, car rental agencies, tour companies, service stations, souvenir shops, sports equipment rentals, and much more All of this creates many different levels of employment for people in agiven community

In many places the introduction and development of tourism allows local people anopportunity for economic and educational growth that would not otherwise be available In addition, it allows both the tourist and the local community a chance

to experience other cultures, which broadens understanding

If properly used, tourism generated income can be tremendously beneficial to the host country and its local communities Tourism generated income can be used on

a national and local level to better education, improve infrastructure, to fund

conservation efforts, and to promote more responsible tourism

Vietnamese Culture

The richness of Vietnam's origins is evident throughout its culture Spiritual

life in Vietnam is a grand panoply of belief systems, including Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Tam Giao (literally 'triple religion'), which is a blend of Taoism, popular Chinese beliefs, and ancient Vietnamese animism.

The most important festival of the year is Tet, a week-long event in late January or early February that heralds the new lunar year and the advent of spring Celebration consists of both raucous festivity (fireworks, drums, gongs) and quiet meditation In addition to Tet, there are about twenty other traditional and religious festivals each year.

Vietnamese architecture expresses a graceful aesthetic of natural balance and harmony that is evident in any of the country's vast numbers of historic temples and monasteries The pre-eminent architectural form is the pagoda,

a tower comprised of a series of stepped pyramidal structures and frequently adorned with lavish carvings and painted ornamentation Generally

speaking, the pagoda form symbolizes the human desire to bridge the gap between the constraints of earthly existence and the perfection of heavenly forces Pagodas are found in every province of Vietnam One of the most treasured is the Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue, founded in 1601 and completed more than two hundred years later In North Vietnam, the pagodas that serve as the shrines and temples of the Son La mountains are especially worth visiting In South Vietnam, the Giac Lam Pagoda of Ho Chi Minh City is considered to be the city's oldest and is notable as well for its many richly- carved jackwood statues.

As a language, Vietnamese is exceptionally flexible and lyrical, and poetry plays a strong role in both literature and the performing arts Folk art, which flourished before French colonization, has experienced a resurgence in

beautiful woodcuts, village painting, and block printing Vietnamese lacquer art, another traditional medium, is commonly held to be the most original and sophisticated in the world Music, dance, and puppetry, including the uniquely Vietnamese water puppetry, are also mainstays of the country's culture.

Although rice is the foundation of the Vietnamese diet, the country's cuisine

is anything but bland Deeply influenced by the national cuisines of France, China, and Thailand, Vietnamese cooking is highly innovative and makes extensive use of fresh herbs, including lemon grass, basil, coriander,

parsley, laksa leaf, lime, and chili Soup is served at almost every meal, and snacks include spring rolls and rice pancakes The national condiment is nuoc mam, a piquant fermented fish sauce served with every meal

Indigenous tropical fruits include bananas, pineapples, coconuts, lychees, melons, mandarin oranges, grapes, and exotic varieties like the three-

seeded cherry and the green dragon fruit.

People

Today there are about 75 million people in Vietnam Eighty percent of these are ethnic Vietnamese, while the remaining twenty percent comprises more than fifty separate ethnic groups About seven million of these ethnic

minorities are members of the hill tribes or montagnards (French for

mountain people), making their homes and livelihoods in the spectacular mountains of the north and central highlands Among the many languages spoken in Vietnam are Vietnamese, Chinese, English, French, and Russian.

Obesity:Causes,Effects And Treatment

According to an expert, carbohydrates and proteins are converted to fuel as soon as they are consumed Most of the fat calories are immediately stored in fat cells which add to the body weight.

We use energy all the time, no matter what we are doing A unit of energy - which is used as a measurement for the amount of energy food provides - is known as calorie Every food and drink has calories but greasy and sugary foods have high calorific values Unused calories are stored in our body as fats The fat droplets accumulate in fat cells beneath the skin, around the kidneys and liver These fat cells are formed in human body at childhood stage At this stage, additional calories form new fat cells (hyperplasic

obesity) During adulthood, the fat cells do not increase in numbers; instead they

expand and reduce in size depending on how much calories are consumed (hypo tropic obesity) It is this reason that childhood obesity is difficult to treat and chances are that

an obese child will be an obese adult with serious health problems.

Cause and effect

Obesity is directly proportional to your lifestyle It is considered as a modern social ill There are many factors responsible for this which include increased use of high fatty snakes and over-eating Then there are sedentary habits, which include spending more than two hours on TV Although technology has made our lives easy but it has brought about physical inactivity which is directly linked with obesity

People become obese when the calorie intake is more than its utilisation, which means that we gain weight when we eat more and do less work It is a well-known fact that calories are burnt and energy is released by engaging oneself in physical activity

Another factor is unawareness and being ignorant of the food's nutritional values and fat contents You should be in the habit of craving for knowledge of what to eat, when

to eat and how much to eat.

Genetic disorders

Genes have strong effects on the child's ability to gain weight Genes relate to weight, appetite and hunger which shifts from one generation to another.

Medical disorders

Obesity also occurs because of various medical disorders, some of which inlude:

Hypothyroidism: Changes in hormone causes obesity, for example, when the thyroid

glands are unable to make sufficient thyroid hormones, the the rate of metabolism then slows down and results in an increase of weight.

Cushing's Syndrome: When the adrenal glands produce a high amount of the hormone

cortisol which increase fat on the upper body, such as the face and around the neck Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: The production of a high level of the hormone androgens

is a common cause of obesity in women.

Lack of sleep: During sleep, insulin regulates the blood sugar levels Those who sleep less tend to eat foods having high calorific value, therefore in many cases, the insulin level reaches to a level which promote diabetes.

Use of medicines: It has been noted that many people become obese after using certain medicines These medicines slow down the rate of calorie burn and increase hunger.

Treatment

Those who perform physical activities, such ashousehold work, climbing stairs, walking and jogging along with a well-balanced diet are healthy and have great resistance power Proper exercises help to prevent many health-related problems but they should be performedunder doctor's advice

Nutritionists confirm that to avoid obesity, people should increase vegetables and fruits in their diet and must get rid of foods that are high in fat and sugar It is observed that the lust for chocolates, burgers andother fatty foods reaches a dangerous level during the state of anxiety, frustration and tediousness Therefore, to avoid emotional distress, positive activities and advice from psychologists is the answer to the question

If you are obese, then discussion with people having similar problems make it easier to follow the weight loss programme For an obese child, exercise and

guidance from a dietician is necessary It should be remembered that without any dietician's recommendation, forcing a child for a low-calorie diet could be fatal According to a survey report, children and teenagers are born with a sweeth tooth,

so to speak Therefore, parents play a pivotal role to convince a child to eat other

things besides those in high in sugar Of course, children adopt behavioral patterns from parents

The process of losing weight is long-term which needs patience, persistence and complete attention Many scientists consider obesity not just a social problem but they also take it as a medicinal problem and emphasis to control it via medical treatment Since, Leptin is an appetite-controlling hormone, thus efforts are being made to include it in baby food supplements for lasting prevention of excess

weight gain problems

Communication Skills Self-Assessment Exercise

In each of the following, read items A, B, and C, then mark the one that best describes your communication style (24 total)

1 _ A When conversing with others, I usually do most of the talking.

_ B When conversing with others, I usually let the other person do most of the talking.

_ C When conversing with others, I try to equalize my participation in the conversation.

Best answer: c Conversations should be a balanced two-way flow of dialogue.

2 _ A When I first meet someone, I wait for the other person to make the

introduction first.

_ B When I first meet someone, I introduce myself with a smile and offer handshake.

_ C When I first meet someone, I hug the person.

Best answer: b It's good to initiate the introduction and introduce yourself with a handshake and smile If shaking hands is difficult, a quick head nod is a good

substitute Initiating the introduction with a smile and handshake (or head nod) helps build rapport.

3 _ A I usually "warm-up" new conversations with small talk.

_ B I usually avoid small talk and jump into more important matters.

_ C I usually avoid starting conversations.

Best answer: a It's good to initiate conversations with small talk Topics to warm-up the conversation might include a chat about the weather, news of interest, or impressions about the current activity (if you're at a meeting, staff party, or other

gathering, for example)

Examples of conversation starters might be:

"It's sure warm today, isn't it?"

"Did you hear about the big accident on the freeway? Traffic's backed-up for

miles."

"What did you think about the Blazers game last night?"

"This is a nice party, isn't it?"

"Could I get you something to drink?"

4 _ A I make an effort to remember and use peoples' names.

_ B I don't pay attention to names as I tend to forget them.

_ C I only learn the names of important people.

Best answer: a It's good to call people by name whenever possible It makes a good, lasting impression, and it makes the other person feel important and special To help remember names, try these techniques:

Repeat: After the person tells you his or her name, immediately use it several

times in the conversation.

"It's nice to meet you, Bob."

"I agree with you, Bob."

"That was a great joke, Bob!"

Associate: Associate the person's name to something unique and special.

You might:

Associate the person's name with a unique feature about

the person For example:

"Gilda has beautiful green eyes."Think - "GG" - Green Gilda

"Jack tells funny jokes."Think - "JJ" - Joking Jack

Associate the name with a visual picture For example:

"Sandy" - visualize a sandy beach.

"Glenn" - visualize John Glenn launching into space.

Associate the name with a personal connection.

For example:

"Brian" - My uncle's name is Brian.

"Lucy" - I had a turtle named Lucy.

Jot: Jot the person's name down with an identifying description that will help jog

your memory later For example:"Chuck" - tall; glasses; works in Accounting; has twin sister; runs marathons; new to Portland.

5 _ A I frequently use courtesy words and phrases - "Please," "Thank you,"

"You're welcome," "I'm sorry."

_ B I occasionally use these courtesy words and phrases.

_ C I never use these courtesy words and phrases.

Best answer: a Regular use of these courtesy words and phrases is important

to show politeness and build rapport.

6 _ A I tend to be serious and don't smile often while conversing.

_ B I smile all the time while conversing.

_ C I smile at appropriate times while conversing.

Best answer: c Smiling when greeting people and at appropriate times greatly helps build rapport.

7 _ A I make eye contact while conversing.

_ B I sometimes make eye contact while conversing.

_ C I never make eye contact while conversing.

Best answer: a Making eye contact is important for building rapport It gives the impression you're interested and engaged in the conversation, and you have good self- confidence

Eye contact should include frequent breaks to avoid staring (this can make the other person uncomfortable) Break eye contact frequently - glance down to the side, then quickly make eye contact again Glancing down to the side is important If you instead glance to the side (as if looking out the window, for example) or look up, it gives the person the impression you're distracted and not paying attention to what's being said This quickly breaks down rapport.

8 _ A While conversing, I hold my head still at all times.

_ B While conversing, I nod my head at appropriate times.

_ C While conversing, I nod my head constantly.

Best answer: b Occasionally nodding your head to indicate you agree or

understand helps build rapport Again, it shows you are interested and engaged in the conversation.

9 _ A While conversing, I stand one-foot away from the person.

_ B While conversing, I stand two- to three-feet away from the person.

_ C While conversing, I stand five- to six-feet away from the person.

Best answer: b Your arm's length is the appropriate distance (between two- to three-feet) Standing closer than arm-length makes the other person feel uncomfortable (or feel threatened) Standing a further distance away breaks down rapport.

10 _ A I often stand while talking to a person who is sitting.

_ B I often sit while talking to a person who is sitting.

_ C I often lean down while talking to a person who is sitting.

Best answer: b Communicating at eye level helps build rapport So, if the person

is sitting and a chair is available, take a seat! There's one exception If you walk into your supervisor's office or co-worker's office, it's best to ask the supervisor or co-worker

if you can sit down first Even better, wait for an invitation to sit The person may not have time to talk at that moment.

11 _ A To end a conversation, I often just leave.

_ B To end a conversation, I begin to look impatient hoping the person will get the hint.

_ C To end a conversation, I wrap up with a closing statement.

Best answer: c It's best to bring the conversation to an end by making a polite closing comment or gesture Good closing (wrap-up) comments might be: "I've enjoyed talking with you." "Let me give you my business card." "Well, I need to go speak with "

"Do you know a person I can contact?"

12 _ A If a co-worker has put on weight, I say nothing about it.

_ B If a co-worker has put on weight, I tell the person that he or she has

"I like your dress."

"That's a nice shirt."

13 _ A When I'm listening to the speaker, I often cross my arms over my chest _ B When I'm listening to the speaker, I often lean back and turn my body away from the speaker.

_ C When I'm listening to the speaker, I often lean slightly forward and face my body toward the speaker.

Best answer: c Leaning slightly forward and facing the speaker shows you're interested, and it helps build rapport Sitting with your arms crossed over your chest gives the message you are defensive Leaning back with your body or turning your body away from the speaker gives the message that you are bored, disinterested, or feel in charge Such body language breaks down rapport.

14 _ A When I cross my leg, I cross my leg facing the speaker.

_ B When I cross my leg, I cross my leg away from the speaker.

_ C When I cross my leg, I bob my foot.

Best answer: a Crossing your leg toward the speaker shows you're interested, and it builds rapport Crossing your leg away from the speaker gives the message that you are defensive, disinterested, or feel in charge In essence, you are putting up a subtle barrier And if you bob or swing your foot, you're sending the message that you're anxious or nervous!

15 _ A While listening, I tend to be distracted by things going on around me.

_ B While listening, I listen for meaning and ask questions.

_ C While listening, I watch the person speak, but I don't "hear" a word.

Best answer: b If you're a good listener, you keep mentally busy searching for meaning in the message, and you ask questions This mental "search for meaning" helps keep you focused, attentive, and engaged If you get easily distracted, try taking notes if the setting is appropriate Note-taking helps draw and focus your attention as you must mentally "search for meaning" and listen for information in order to take

notes This might be helpful in meetings, for example.

If you watch someone speak but you don't "hear" a word, gauge if you are bored, tired, might have a gap between your speaking and listening rates, or are experiencing

"emotional deafness." We all experience emotional deafness on occasion, especially when we're feeling overwhelmed, upset, or nervous You hear people ask - "I'm sorry, what did you say?" or make the comment - "I have a lot on my mind right now Could you repeat what you said?" If it's a frequent problem, gauge the source and seek help

if needed.

Making a Great First Impression!

It takes just a quick glance, maybe three seconds, for someone to evaluate you when you meet for the first time In this short time, the other person forms an opinion about you based on your appearance, your body language, your demeanor, your mannerisms, and how you are dressed

With every new encounter, you are evaluated and yet another person’s impression

of you is formed These first impression can be nearly impossible to reverse or undo, making those first encounters extremely important, for they set the tone for the all the relationships that follows

So, whether they are in your career or social life, it’s important to know how to create a good first impression This article provides some useful tips to help you dothis

Be on Time

The person you are meeting for the first time is not interested in your “good

excuse” for running late Plan to arrive a few minutes early And allow flexibility for possible delays in traffic or taking a wrong turn Arriving early is much better that arriving late, hands down, and is the first step in creating a great first

impression

Be Yourself, Be at Ease

If you are feeling uncomfortable and on edge, this can make the other person ill at ease and that’s a sure way to create the wrong impression If you are calm and confident, so the other person will feel more at ease, and so have a solid foundationfor making that first impression a good one See our section on relaxation

techniques to find out how to calm that adrenaline!

Present Yourself Appropriately

Of course physical appearance matters The person you are meeting for the first time does not know you and your appearance is usually the first clue he or she has

to go on

But it certainly does not mean you need to look like a model to create a strong and positive first impression (Unless you are interviewing with your local model

agency, of course!)

No The key to a good impression is to present yourself appropriately

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and so the “picture” you first presentsays much about you to the person you are meeting Is your appearance saying the right things to help create the right first impression?

Start with the way you dress What is the appropriate dress for the meeting or occasion? In a business setting, what is the appropriate business attire? Suit, blazer,casual? And ask yourself what the person you'll be meeting is likely to wear - if your contact is in advertising or the music industry, a pinstripe business suit may not strike the right note!

For business and social meetings, appropriate dress also varies between countries and cultures, so it’s something that you should pay particular attention to when in

an unfamiliar setting or country Make sure you know the traditions and norms

And what about your personal grooming? Clean and tidy appearance is appropriatefor most business and social occasions A good haircut or shave Clean and tidy clothes Neat and tidy make up Make sure your grooming is appropriate and helps make you feel “the part”

Appropriate dressing and grooming help make a good first impression and also help you feel “the part”, and so feel more calm and confident Add all of this up and you are well on your way to creating a good first impression

A Word about Individuality

The good news is you can usually create a good impression without total

conformity or losing your individuality Yes, to make a good first impression you

do need to “fit in” to some degree But it all goes back to being appropriate for the situation If in a business setting, wear appropriate business attire If at a formal evening social event, wear appropriate evening attire And express your

individuality appropriately within that context

(*Author Unknown)

Be Open and Confident

When it comes to making the first impression, body language as well as

appearance speaks much louder than words

Use your body language to project appropriate confidence and self-assurance Stand tall, smile (of course), make eye contact, greet with a firm handshake All of this will help you project confidence and encourage both you and the other person feel better at ease

Almost everyone gets a little nervous when meeting someone for the first time, which can lead to nervous habits or sweaty palms By being aware of your nervoushabits, you can try to keep them in check And controlling a nervous jitter or a nervous laugh will give you confidence and help the other person feel at ease Again, see our section on relaxation techniques for help with this

Small Talk Goes a Long Way…

Conversations are based on verbal give and take It may help you to prepare

questions you have for the person you are meeting for the first time beforehand

Or, take a few minutes to learn something about the person you meet for the first time before you get together For instance, does he play golf? Does she work with

a local charitable foundation?

Is there anything that you know of that you have in common with the person you are meeting? If so, this can be a great way to open the conversation and to keep it flowing

Be Positive

Your attitude shows through in everything you do Project a positive attitude, even

in the face of criticism or in the case of nervousness Strive to learn from your meeting and to contribute appropriately, maintaining an upbeat manner and a smile

Be Courteous And Attentive

It goes without saying that good manners and polite, attentive and courteous

behavior help make a good first impression In fact, anything less can ruin the one chance you have at making that first impression So be on your best behavior!

One modern manner worth mentioning is “turn off your mobile phone” What first impression will you create if you are already speaking to someone other than the person you are meeting for the first time? Your new acquaintance deserves 100%

of your attention Anything less and you’ll create a less than good first impression

Key Points

You have just a few seconds to make a good first impression and it’s almost

impossible ever to change it So it’s worth giving each new encounter your best shot Much of what you need to do to make a good impression is common sense But with a little extra thought and preparation, you can hone your intuitive style and make every first impression not just good but great

Vietnamese consumers’

habits change 31/03/2008

VietNamNet Bridge – Accession to the WTO and

powerful economic development have influenced the

consumption trend in Vietnam: modern purchasing

habits have increased from 9% in 2005 to 14% in

2007 and are expected to reach 24% by 2010.

“The community of Vietnamese retailers is step by step adapting itself to the new context: fiercer and fierce competition,” said Dinh Thi My Loan, Vice

Chairwoman of the Vietnamese Retailers’ Association, at an international forum

on retail in Vietnam, held in HCM City last week

At the forum, many Vietnamese retailers expressed their optimism about the future

of the home retail sector after January 1, 2009, when Vietnam has to wholly open its retail market under WTO commitments

“Joining the WTO, powerful economic development, and improved living

standards have caused the consumption trend in Vietnam to change Modern

shopping habits (at supermarkets, stores, and trading centres) increased from 9% in

2005 to 14% in 2007 and are expected to be 24% in 2010,” Loan said

The change of consumption habits is seen in the shift from buying at traditional markets to supermarkets, shopping centres and through the Internet It also

includes the increase of shopping value, higher spending on tourism, insurance andeducation, health care and body care services among both men and women The increase in the number of young consumers and high-income earners has promotedhigh-class retail shops

Loan said, in parallel with the change of consumption habits, is the change of the development trend of the Vietnamese retail market

A new dynamic trend is the cooperation of local retailers to enforce

professionalism, to build up long-term development strategies, to train human resources and emphasise management skills and to deal with weaknesses in

financial and logistics aspects Under this trend, many chains of stores have been set up, such as Coop Mart, Hapro Mat, Phu Thai Group, Vinatex Mart, Fivimart, etc

Vietnamese retailers are also combining with foreign retailers, goods

manufacturers and suppliers New forms of retail business are also being

established Merger and acquisition is also a bustling trend in the retail market

“Vietnam becomes a shopping centre of Asia, why not? With its advantages in geological position, labour cost, etc Vietnam can completely develop (retail) as neighbouring countries and become a new shopping centre of Asia and the world,” said Tran My Hoa, Vice Chairwoman of the CT Group

“If Vietnam has 100 shopping centres like Singapore, it can become a shopping heaven,” Hoa said optimistically

She said CT Group plans to open 16 luxurious shopping centres in Vietnam and open an additional 80 luxury stores in Vietnam this year to raise the total number

to 150

Vietnamese should be prouder of goods produced domestically

Last week, Viet Nam News asked readers how to promote made-in-Viet Nam

products Here are some of the opinions we received:

Pham Thanh Truyen, Vietnamese, HCM City

Vietnamese enterprises need to do more Unlike other countries in Asia,

Vietnamese people prefer foreign products Ten or 15 years ago, few doubted that foreign products were superior to local ones Unfortunately, that mindset hasn’t changed

It is undeniable that nowadays Vietnamese products have vastly improved in terms

of quality and packaging The difficulty is getting that message across? It’s useless

to just say "Hey! My products are not as bad as you think" It’s also ineffective for enterprises to act on their own There needs to be central government help The recent campaign to encourage Vietnamese to consume domestically made productslaunched by the Politburo is a good example

Effective promotional programmes launched abroad include the "Cash for

Clunkers" in Germany or CARS (Cars Allowance Rebate System) in America So

why don’t we have a "Cash for Vietnamese Products" campaign? By doing so, we would not only stimulate made-in-Viet Nam consumption but also instil a sense of national pride.

J P Mishra, Indian, HCM City

In my opinion, Viet Nam is more reliant on imported products than domestically made products The country needs to appeal to people’s sense of patriotism

Many people believe that imported products are better than domestically produced ones It will be a Herculean task for a company on its own to change that belief Social institutions need to be set up to promote local products

In India, the public are encouraged to buy local goods Even in pre-independent times, great leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi asked people to stick to domestically made products This really helped domestic companies grow and compete with international firms It is a long process, which should be initiated by the State

The world has become a global village and hence a global market It is very

difficult to stop companies importing goods Domestically made products should

be better advertised Football stars and pop singers should be hired to promote local goods At the same time, domestic firms should be innovative and focus on quality

In spite of Viet Nam’s strong textile and garments industries, few brands can

compete with foreign labels Strong brand names need to be created to compete internationally

Tran Hong Thuy, Vietnamese, Ha Noi

In the past, it was natural that Vietnamese consumers preferred foreign products Unfortunately, producers aren’t concerned about what people want, what people need Making matters worse, foreign companies are good at marketing and

advertising People have to be persuaded to believe in domestic products in

creative ways

To be honest, I favour imported electrical goods Nevertheless, if made-in-Viet Nam products are of equal quality and cheaper, more and more people, not only locals but foreigners will favour them

Michael Joseph, Malaysia

In Malaysia, there are various campaigns encouraging people to buy local

products There are specialised marketing campaigns for small – and medium-sizedindustries A similar approach should be taken in Viet Nam to market Vietnamese products

During the time I’ve been in Viet Nam, I have bought products made here I think there should be information on the packaging in English and Vietnamese

Nguyen Ngoc Dung, Vietnamese, Ha Noi

As a Vietnamese, I wonder why so many Vietnamese people prefer foreign

products For example, there are many kinds of made-in-China clothes and toys forchildren that are imported to Viet Nam Their advantage is that they are cheap Poor people choose commodities made in China because made-in-Viet Nam goods are more expensive Meanwhile, rich people like famous-brand names to show off their wealth

In my opinion, Vietnamese people do not ignore Vietnamese products They

choose foreign products just because domestically made ones are not well

promoted I am glad to see that there are more and more made-in-Viet

Nam products such as office supplies from Hong Ha, garments from Thang Long, and textiles from Viet Tien Dairy products from Moc Chau and Ba Vi are

favoured by Vietnamese consumers

However, to increase the percentage of domestically made products in the market, every Vietnamese firm should buy new technologies to make their products

competitive in terms of cost and quality Moreover, businesses should advertise more in the mass media

Ryu Hashimoto, Japanese, Binh Duong

I don’t recall from my school days any kind of campaign in Japan to promote local goods However, after graduating from university, I noticed that there was a greaterdrive to promote national pride

I think you should show off how skilful Vietnamese people are with their hands The Vietnamese are surely as skilful as the Japanese

I usually buy made-in-Viet Nam goods, and I am satisfied with the quality and price However, I am dissatisfied with the customer service And there is no sense

of customer satisfaction

As a consumer, I would like producers to put product quality first, then customer service and customer satisfaction I think the quality of Vietnamese products are getting better and better.

Surprisingly, I can find good quality Vietnamese products not only in Viet Nam but also Japan as well Unfortunately, customer service is still poor

I am not really happy with the attitude of some shop keepers in Viet Nam because we have a strong belief that the customer is a god This is your weak point If the Vietnamese can overcome this problem, Vietnamese products will be more famous around the world

— VNS

Is boarding school beneficial to children?

Parents send their children to boarding school when its not feasible for them to take care of their child or when the child is failing in studies so that they feel putting the child

in a boarding school will make them better Boarding school has its own positives and negatives The child will grow in the atmosphere of ppl like them So this makes them to learn about the co-operation, competition But they miss their parents love at a time when they need it the most Children become more responsible when they know what they need to do and when they take care of their activities Those habits make them self-dependant but speaking from emotional point of view they don't enjoy those

benefits when they can enjoy them So my take on this topic would be it depends on the individual basis There are examples where a child has grown better in a boarding school and a lot more examples where the other case also has happened.

What is happiness?

One important element of happiness is a sense of self-satisfaction Whether or not we want to admit it, many of us spend our days in a perpetual state of neediness We have physical, emotional and spiritual needs which we believe need to be satisfied in order to experience some degree of happiness When we have that morning cup of coffee, socialize with co-workers, enjoy a delicious lunch or finish an important project, at least one of our daily needs will be met In one sense, happiness occurs when our list of needs becomes replaced by a new list of physical, emotional and spiritual fulfillment.

Another important element of happiness is a sense of accomplishment Consider how many times our ideas and plans fail throughout an average day These failures tend to create inner tension and anxiety, which in turn creates a sense of unhappiness But when an idea does come to fruition or a plan does come together, there is often a feeling of euphoria and accomplishment Happiness can be the reward for persevering through difficult or challenging times and not succumbing to despair Winning a contest or receiving recognition for a successful project often triggers feelings of happiness.

For some of us, happiness can be derived from having our material or spiritual needs met There is an old saying that money can't buy happiness, but in reality it can come very close For many wage earners, the thought of receiving enough money or other tangible rewards for their efforts can certainly trigger

a sense of happiness Knowing that our immediate needs and even a few personal desires will be met can be very reassuring, which in turn generates feelings of security and happiness In the same sense,

many people find happiness after hearing a life-affirming spiritual message or spending time in deep reflection or meditation.Happiness could mean a sense of harmony between mind, body and spirit.

What creates a sense of happiness can vary widely from person to person Young children with little life experience may find happiness in the form of an ice cream cone or Saturday morning cartoon, while adults may find happiness by traveling or pursuing outside interests Some people require a lot of their needs to be met before they experience happiness, while others find happiness in simplicity Happiness is said to be the one free thing all people strive for and would give anything to obtain.

How Money Can Buy Happiness

You've heard many times that money can't buy happiness That probably never stopped you from shopping But a new study suggests you might want to spend more on doing things and less on stuff

Buying life experiences rather than material possessions leads to greater happiness

for both the consumer and those around them, researchers announced today at the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology

A meal out or tickets to the theater result in increased well-being because they satisfy higher order needs, specifically the need for social connectedness and

vitality — a feeling of being alive, the researchers say

"These findings support an extension of basic need theory, where purchases that increase psychological need satisfaction will produce the greatest well-being," saidRyan Howell, assistant professor of psychology at San Francisco State University

A survey in the journal Science in 2006 showed that income plays a rather

insignificant role in day-to-day happiness There are situations where cash helps, however, including for those who become sick or disabled, another study found; for them, money matters Another study found giving money away can bring some measure of glee

Participants in the new study were asked to write reflections and answer questions about their recent purchases Participants indicated that experiential purchases represented money better spent and greater happiness for both themselves and others The results also indicate that experiences produce more happiness

regardless of the amount spent or the income of the consumer

Experiences also lead to longer-term satisfaction

"Purchased experiences provide memory capital," Howell said "We don't tend to get bored of happy memories like we do with a material object."

Howell notes that several studies going back at least 35 years show that money does not make people happy Yet the belief persists that it will

"Maybe this belief has held because money is making some people happy some of the time, at least when they spend it on life experiences," Howell said

Happiness and wellbeing in

-well i live in a developing country, been a year and half now And from what i can tell of Pakistan, people, and by people im referring to the general man-on-the-street, are so unaware that their demands don’t go beyond what would be

considered "basic needs" elsewhere All they want generally revolves round peace and protection from militants and tribal wars, affordable food; shelter and some form of employment (even if it only offers minimum wage)

another cause of misery for the locals is the unreliable water and electricity supply.

i believe if something could be done to ensure that the masses had their most basic needs met, the general level of wellbeing would soar

they really don’t want much to be honest

kaswii

Country: Kenya

Province/State: Nairobi Area

Re: Happiness and wellbeing in developing countries

June 27, 2008 - 05:32 AM

-

-Happiness is a universal concept no single recipe for Africa just live for

others that's why your'e here and get in touch with your spirituality

who say's there is happeness in Developing countries, that is capital lie the

government go to urban centers of those countries interview people who they have designed to say yes to there questions and we feel things are alright, but thats not true Lets go to the grassroot ask people there and you will hear what they have to say Ihave the experience of working with people in the grassroot in Nigeria and you just have to see the way these people are so unhappy about government

activities and policy, couple with there low standard of living

No joy,No happiness! ! !

Country: India

Re: Happiness and wellbeing in developing countries

July 23, 2008 - 05:29 AM

Yes happines and wellbeing in developing countries is a very current and

contemporary theme in development studies To know more about who's talking about this have a look at the site www.welldev.org.uk This was a 5 year research group looking at wellbeing in 4 developing countries There is also a master's programme in wellbeing (Bath University, UK) To the person who says that there

is no wellbeing (and it depends on how you define wellbeing- since it's a very loose term) - I might beg to differ That is not to undermine the impact of poverty and other vulnerabilities on the lives of peoples However people are not always wholly defined by their obejective life circumstances and might be far more

resilient than we give them credit for

Tina

Country: Iraq

Re: Happiness and wellbeing in developing countries

September 27, 2008 - 05:49 PM

Happiness & wellbeing can be acquired, but most important is "creating it'

creating from within first, which means we can create our surrounding

environment by acting good to ourselves & to others, understanding & following the healthy ways of living

increasing the awareness of the importance of hygiene is one of the most effective ways of living in a healthy atmosphere

how to deal with our environment & going green is one of the most inspiring

campaigns to keep this world flowing in peace

Happiness and wellbeing in developed countries

One thing that does strike me as interesting from the AEA survey, which Robert Whaples (author) also finds interesting in his concluding remarks:

"However, “happiness” does not seem to mean the same thing as “well

being”—and the vast majority of economists (88 percent) are optimistic that continued economic growth in economies like the U.S does yield ever greater levels of well being."

Indeed, when asked if "Economic growth in developed countries like the U.S

leads to greater levels of happiness", nearly 20% thought not However, when

asked if "Economic growth in developed countries like the U.S leads to greater levels of well-being", only 3% thought not

This actually makes sense to me Many people conflate the two terms: happiness and well-being But while they might be similar if not identical concepts, they are

different things from a measurement perspective And because economists are so

data-driven (likely too much so), most probably look at data that suggests

happiness isn't really affected by income over time and go with that The problem

is, that is likely a problem with measuring happiness, not a real effect

Well-being can be measured by things like health, levels of education,

life-expectancy and can be compared across nations and across time Happiness, while presumable directly linked with well-being, is a purely subject measure from a group of people at a given point in time

So consider my doppleganger that existed in 1920 He wasn't expected to live as long as me today, he didn't have the same availability of quality education,

technology, health services By all measures, his level of well-being was lower But the problem is, he only lives once and only in one timeframe The only way he can self-reportedly measure his own happiness is against those of his

contemporaries So, let's say he rates himself a 4 out of 5

Now consider me, today Thanks to economic growth, my well-being has increased(I have better technologies, I can expect to live longer, etc) But I have the same problem as my doppleganger because I too cannot compare myself across time I

certainly cannot judge my happiness level today on how happy or unhappy my doppleganger had it 80 years ago - I have no idea what his happiness was like backthen I can only judge how happy I am, as my doppleganger did, by comparing my present condition across my present contemporaries and across my real history (how happy I was yesterday) I too rate myself a 4

So, my well-being has increased, but my happiness hasn't - or rather, it probably

HAS I just have no way of measuring that when I do a survey

It is for this reason that studies that try to measure self-reported happiness, in my

opinion, do so in vain To the degree that measures of happiness does change over

time, I suspect it really reflects large societal cultural changes - changes in race or sex relations, changes in social norms etc

Advantages and Disadvantages of

Globalization

There are many advantages and disadvantages of globalization Essays, articles and even research papers have been written on this subject So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of globalization really? Let us explore some of them

How many phenomena have a global impact? If you are to count, they could be counted

on your finger tips Globalization is one of them So before going to the advantages and disadvantages of globalization, lets us try to grasp this concept first Simply put,

globalization is an ongoing process of integration of regional economies into global network of communication and execution Let me explain this a bit Assume that you are

a mango farmer in India and you grow very good quality mangoes over there Obviously, your fruit is highly appreciated in India, but you also know that you shall get a better value in US So the network of communication and execution that allows you to sell your fruit in US is basically, the phenomenon of globalization (At least the Indian farmer is happy about advantages of globalization in India, he is earning a quick buck.) The

advantages and disadvantages of globalization in India and other developing countries are very profound Read more on advantages of globalization

Globalization: Advantages and Disadvantages

Instead of giving a few pointers here and a few pointers there, explanation on these concepts should do more justice to the subject Have a look at the following

Advantages and Disadvantages of Global Marketing

There has to be operational differences between various companies in different

countries What I mean to say is, a car manufacturer of UK will manufacture a car with a different operation than a car manufacturer in Italy (for example Jaguar and Ferrari) Both are trying to take advantage of the operational difference that they have between them And both companies are trying to sell a car in America for a greater value So if you want your product to have an appeal on a global scale, then obviously, marketing

on a global scale is required.

Advantages of Global Marketing

 Lower Marketing Costs: If you are to consider lump-some cost then, yes, it is high,

but the same cost even goes even higher if the company has to market a product differently in every country that it is selling.

 Global Scope: Scope of this kind of marketing is so large that it becomes a unique

experience.

 Brand image Consistency: Global marketing allows you to have a consistent

image in every region that you choose to market.

 Quick and Efficient Use of Ideas: A global entity is able to use a marketing idea

and mould it into a strategy to implement on a global scale.

 Uniformity in Marketing Practices: A global entity can keep some degree of

uniformity in marketing through out the world.

Disadvantages of Global Marketing

 Inconsistency in Consumer Needs: American consumer will be different from the

South African Global marketing should be able to address that.

 Consumer Response Inconsistency: Consumer in one country may react differently

than a consumer in another country.

 Country Specific Brand and Product: A Japanese might like a product to have a

traditional touch, where as an American might like to add a retro modern look to

it In this case, a global strategy is difficult to device.

 The Laws of the Land Have to be Considered: Original company policies may be

according to the laws of home countries The overseas laws may be conflicting in these policies.

 Infrastructural Differences: Infrastructure may be hampering the process in one

country and accelerating in another Global strategy cannot be consistent in such

a scenario.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Globalization in Developing Countries

Overall globalization has been a big boon for the developing countries, but there are a few who say that it has been a curse Let us take a look at both these aspects of

globalization

The Advantages

 GDP Increase: If the statistics are any indication, GDP of the developing countries

have increased twice as much as before.

 Percapita Income Increase: The wealth has had a trickling effect on the poor The

average income has increased to thrice as much.

 Unemployment is Reduced: This fact is quite evident when you look at countries

like India and China.

 Education has Increased: Globalization has been a catalyst to the jobs that

require higher skill set This demand allowed people to gain higher education

 Competition on Even Platform: The companies all around the world are

competing on a single global platform This allows better options to consumers The Disadvantages

 Uneven Distribution of Wealth: Wealth is still concentrated in the hands of a few

individuals and a common man in a developing country is yet to see any major benefits of globalization.

 Income Gap Between Developed and Developing Countries: Wealth of developed

countries continues to grow twice as much as the developing world.

 Different Wage Standards for Developing Countries: A technology worker may get

more value for his work in a developed country than a worker in a developing country.

 Reversal of Globalization: In future, factors such as war may demand the reversal

of the globalization (as evident in inter world war years), current process of

globalization may just be impossible to reverse You can also like to read more on

pros and cons of globalization

Culture and globalization have really become interwoven aspects in modern lives, but one must remember the negative effects of globalization as well I hope the above comparison of advantages and disadvantages of globalization are satisfactory to the reader

What are the problems of globalization?

Some of the problems are:

Increased flow of skilled and non-skilled jobs from developed to developing nations as corporations seek out the cheapest labor.

Increased likelihood of economic disruptions in one nation effecting all nations.

Corporate influence of nation-states far exceeds that of civil society organizations and average individuals

Threat that control of world media by a handful of corporations will limit cultural

expression

Greater chance of reactions for globalization being violent in an attempt to preserve cultural heritage

Greater risk of diseases being transported unintentionally between nations

Spread of a materialistic lifestyle and attitude that sees consumption as the path to prosperity.

International bodies like the World Trade Organization infringe on national and

Environmental changes and effects

Our environment as of today have so many changes People not aware of those effects.

"Global environmental changes constitute a major new category of health hazard,

arising predominantly from human-induced systemic changes to the natural systems and processes that underpin health and life."Population health is a crucial bottom-line indicator of the impacts of global environmental change on human societies Many

elements of human society and the environment are sensitive to climate variability and change Human health, agriculture, natural ecosystems, coastal areas, and heating and cooling requirements are examples of climate-sensitive systems Rising of this changes are already affecting our environment Some observed thing is in the Philippines last September 26,2009 typhoon Ondoy took the central and northern part of Luzon The heavy and non-stop rain that cause a high flood After that another super typhoon came called Pepeng.

The extent of climate change effects, and whether these effects prove harmful or

beneficial, will vary by region, over time, and with the ability of different societal and environmental systems to adapt to or cope with the change.

Throughout the world, the prevalence of some diseases and other threats to human health depend largely on local climate Extreme temperatures can lead directly to loss of life, while climate-related disturbances in ecological systems, such as changes in the range of infective parasites, can indirectly impact the incidence of serious infectious diseases In addition, warm temperatures can increase air and water pollution, which in turn harm human health.

Human health is strongly affected by social, political, economic, environmental and technological factors, including urbanization, affluence, scientific developments,

individual behavior and individual vulnerability (e.g., genetic makeup, nutritional status, emotional well-being, age, gender and economic status) The extent and nature of climate change impacts on human health vary by region, by relative vulnerability of population groups, by the extent and duration of exposure to climate change itself and

by society’s ability to adapt to or cope with the change.

The future generation will be facing more dangers from natural disasters than we are facing now The temperature level will rise the summers will become more hot and winters will become more cold and the seasonal distribution will be affected adversely and ground water level will decrease - whole story in short - it will be a worst nightmare

if we don't take any concrete steps now.

So what were waiting for let's save our nature our environment and our lives!!!!!! unday, Feb 20, 2005

Happiness Viewpoint: A Deeper Sense

of Happiness

By Pankaj Mishra