Athletes from the United States received cultural training to help prepare them for the upcoming Beijing Olympics.

The U.S. Olympic Committee with sponsorship from Hilton Hotels, brought in travel etiquette experts to speak to athletes.

“One of the most important things I can tell you is that, once you get through that first layer, people all around the world are more alike than they are unalike,” travel etiquette expert Roger Axtell told the athletes.

They have been referred to a website sponsored by Hilton which gives athletes a number of Chinese cultural tips.

Some of the tips are useful, like taking some tissues or paper to use in public toilets. Other tips on “face” and “guanxi” are fairly tired cliches on China.

It is somewhat ironic that a website that attempts to breakdown cultural barriers refers to Chinese people as “the Chinese” as if they were from an alien planet.

Here are some pearls of wisdom from the website:

“Exercise patients when in crowds, as the Chinese are unaccustomed to waiting in line.” (In a country with over a billion I would say Chinese are very accustomed to lining up, even if they might not be the most patient).

“Hygienic practices vary among cultures. Be open-minded when conducted with a behavior or situation that you may find unusual.”

“In business as in life the Chinese stress the importance of “Guanxi” or “relationships.” (I think guanxi is a real cliche in China. In which country aren’t relationships important?)

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