Archive for the
‘interesting articles’ Category

Most people are taught at a young age to be polite. Like many aspects of expat life, most of us assume what constitutes good manners is universal until we relocate. It is then we realize that the expectations are not the same. Because people are frequently judged by their manners, nothing as formal as diplomatic […]

Going Home to your home country after residing in another one sounds great. The attitude of most expats who are ‘Going Home’ is what could be simpler. You have friends and family in the area, you know the culture, you speak the language, you have existing connections, so you know what to expect, right? Returning [...]

The modern globalized society requires us to think globally and to interact with many different cultures, and it is crucial to know how to properly communicate abroad or with people from abroad. Receiving negative feedback from the person you’re speaking to is not very uncommon, and in the worst case scenario this could even endanger […]

Observation is an extremely powerful tool, exemplified by the fact that it is a basic component of scientific experimentation. Observation is also an essential tool for individuals interacting with other cultures. One of the pieces of advice that I always give to intercultural training participants who will be working and/or living in another country is […]

According to a Washington Times article (Dec 2012), 84% of the world has a faith. How their faith is practiced varies by religion, country, and individuals. Religious devotion is quite personal, from the once-a-year visitor to the zealot. Religious beliefs can influence a wide variety of aspects of our lives including rituals, diet and appearance. The religious ideals […]

Making a good first impression is something most people strive to do especially in business. Various factors can influence how people are perceived including personal appearance, attitude, body language and their message. All that being true but the initial greeting is key. Since greetings differ from culture to culture, intercultural trainer such as myself will […]

Most people love lists, particularly some of us as we get older; without a list things wouldn’t get done. I was recently advised when contacting the media about a news items that it would get more attention if it included a list such as ‘the top 10 tips for traveling abroad.’ Similar to ‘top’ lists, […]

Time is so basic to our lives. We learn to tell time at a very young age. If we want to know the time of day or the day of the week, we simply look at a clock, a calendar, or our iPhone. However, even these aspects of time are not so simple: do you […]