Re: Visit to Parent Company in San Diego - Advice on Business & Social Etiquette in U
It's always been my experience that someone at the destination facility will either volunteer or be assigned to be a "minder" for the visitor. I presume the company selected the hotel and did not leave you to your own devices.
One of your considerations should be transport from your hotel to the facility and back (if you rent a car, remember we drive on the same side of the road as mainland Europe, so 90% or more of the cars will have the steering wheel on the left side!)
Depending on your length of stay and whether you will have a lot of "unprogrammed" time away from the company or company functions after work hours, you can depend on the staff, especially a concierge, at the hotel to suggest great sightseeing, great shopping, and great eating places.
Bring credit cards
(Visa, Mastercard, and American Express are the big 3 in the USA) for major purchases and have sufficient cash on hand for spur of the moment stuff for some purchases where credit cards are not feasible.
Be sure to bring digital camera AND your cable to connect to your computer or anyone else's to download pictures - I mislaid mine for two weeks and went crazy trying to get a replacement
(I did a workaround and bought a card reader to read the removable memory card until I discovered where I had left the original cable.) Same deal for remembering charger if you use rechargeable batteries! One thing you might consider is some ocean fishing, especially if any work colleagues are into it - fisherfolk are usually eager for company!
If you are a
beer drinker, you may find American formulations a little weak and watery - consider asking for bottles of your favorite brand if the occasion arises. The California wines, however, are almost universally great!
As far as "uniform of the day" - don't hesitate to email or phone them and ASK!
Language - if you can understand the newsreaders on BBC, you'll be able to understand the folks in San Diego, but will they understand you? I'm pretty sure everybody in Wales does not speak like
SIR ANTHONY HOPKINS!