Good manners means avoiding the serious stuff

Olympic volunteers are now brushing up on their etiquette and so am I. In a Beijing university classroom last week I joined 200 students who were studying the dos and don'ts of dealing with foreigners.

I learnt a few lessons myself.

"OK guys, what are the three 'A' principles in social communications?" asked the young instructor. There was a pause in the lecture hall. The words Acceptance, Appreciation, and Admiration were flashed up on an overhead projector.