I was first exposed to haggling around the age of 16 in Qingdao, China. I was on tour with a youth orchestra and I remember being let lose in a local market — one of many I would become accustomed to around the world in the following years. As we were American and some in the group were blonde, the attention paid to us was staggering. There were 85 kids in the group, and I noticed, even as teenagers, how some in the group took very naturally to the art of bargaining. Others felt embarrassed or nervous to bargain. After a visit to the market, we would compare prices and stories. One time, in Zimbabwe, an incident I will never forget occurred. A friend was literally chased down the street by a local woman who wanted to barter her handmade bowl for some feminine products she noticed in my friend’s purse. This is a moment we still reminisce about! Reflecting on my life now, those bargaining skills — or, in the world of sales, I suppose we call it negotiating — come in very handy! I believe learning to negotiate is a life skill everyone should master and something that gets better with experience. Exposure to cultures from around the world, and seeing firsthand different approaches to bargaining, provided a solid background for my current dealings in sales around the world. It is important to be respectful of the culture when bargaining, an understanding which helps one come out of the bargaining scenario successfully. While I feel confident going into negotiations, bargaining at markets can sometimes leave me in awe. During my last trip to Dubai, I saw a real master at work. I was with an Egyptian friend who loves to bargain. He took me and another American friend (who does not like to bargain at all) to a market. When we found the item we wanted to purchase, my Egyptian friend’s eyes lit up, and he got to work. It was not a large-ticket item, but at the point when I was willing to fold, my friend negotiated the salesman down another 25 percent. I left paying 50 percent less than the asking price. It was fun to witness and a lesson I will take with me on my travels! — Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher