Culture Shock? First impressions count. Here's how to get the most out of that initial business meeting.

It's your first big trip abroad to meet potential partnersin Indonesia. After settling in, they throw a dinner party in yourhonor. At one point during the festivities, they offer you thegratuitous fish eye (for your consumption, of course). Now, behonest: Did their gift catch you off guard?

It shouldn't have, especially since this scenariois harmonious with Indonesian culture. And as any entrepreneurwho's conducted overseas meetings can tell you, the only way toprevail in the initial face-to-face meetings with potentialpartners is to acquire--and demonstrate--a thorough understandingof their culture. If you do your homework, chances are you canminimize the surprises and maximize the results.

Why are initial meetings so critical? "Because so manycultures are relationship-oriented rather than task-oriented,"explains Julia A. Sloan, founder of conflict mediation andintercultural training firm Sloan International in New York City."And when you're going into a relationship-orientedculture, people simply can't hear what you have to share withthem in terms of business until they get to know you as aperson."