To the question of anecdotes in intercultural dialogue.
I recall a long-standing case from practice. I went with a delegation to China for purchases, at one technology company we were welcomed by a very nice lady-manager. Naturally we were invited for lunch.

We sit down, everything is delicious (at least it looks delicious, I say more), we talk. Suddenly the head of the Russian delegation runs into an anecdote, which he first tells me with the expression of full pleasure of his joke:

A man and his wife are in a carriage, the horse is stumbling.
The man once.
They go on, and the horse goes on again.
The man: two.
They go again, and the horse is spotting again.
The man: three.
He gets a gun and kills a horse.
My wife is confused: What are you? Why did the horse kill?? to
The man once.

I see with a nervous smile that this joke is somewhat incorrect with respect to women in principle, and in Chinese in the framework of negotiations it will sound strange in general. But no, the joke needs to be, without it there will be no understanding of the Russian soul.

When I break my heart, I translate an anecdote. I ended. The Chinese woman sat down for a few seconds, thought and said, “Once.” I am easily excited, the Russians are confused, the Chinese woman is calmly drinking tea.

I have two conclusions: 1. This woman came out of an uncomfortable situation and defeated her in her favour. It deserves great respect. 2nd Be careful with the demonstration of originality in intercultural dialogue with anecdotes!

c) Kirill Batygin