Culture is fascinating! Did you know that other cultures try to figure out why U.S. Americans act the way U.S. Americans do? We too are a fascinating culture rich in natural resources and diversity of thought and action. But there are basic similarities in the U.S. behavior just as in other countries. When asked to complete the sentence: “U.S. Americans are....” for purposes of discussion, some common responses from other cultures include: confident, arrogant, innovative, disorganized, charitable and materialistic. Yet, other cultures try to adapt to our needs and preferences in many ways, especially in marketing. The Germans, striving to continue their success in the automotive industry, took on an amazing cultural challenge last year. In December of 2004, Volkswagen put together a team comprised of 19 Europeans and four U.S. engineering, marketing, design and sales staff. Their focus in what they called project “Moonraker” was to learn about the driving and living habits of the very diverse U.S. population. The team took buses, trains, subways, rental cars and red-eye flights to understand the importance of owning a personal vehicle in the U.S. They soon learned a good deal about tailgating, public transportation, long distance travel, soccer moms, road rage and why people want cup holders in their cars. They began to understand the reasons behind using our cars as extensions of our living room! Most of all they learned that Americans need variety and choices in their vehicles. Like other cultures, we are individuals all different, with unique needs. Learning as much as possible about a culture with whom we are dealing can give us a personal and competitive edge. Global LT’s Cultural Training Programs - U.S.A. as a Foreign Culture