Category: Cross-Cultural
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12 Tips for Productive Summer Friday Afternoons
As the countdown to the weekend begins, summer Friday afternoons in the office can feel endless. Each new Instagram notification is a temptation at your fingertips, the clock seems motionless, and the extra bit of dark chocolate didn’t deliver its normal punch of motivation. While it’s easy to pass the time scrolling through the latest…
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5 Communication Tips for Your Travels Abroad
For many English speakers, the linguistic challenges to traveling abroad are reduced due to the prevalence of English as a widely spoken lingua franca. However, language is not all there is to successful communication. Here are 5 non-verbal tips to consider for your travels abroad: Body Language: Body language varies dramatically across cultures. It is…
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Celebrating Japan’s Golden Week: 4 Official Holidays 2019
One of Japan’s most cherished celebrations, Golden Week spans April 29 – May 5th. This week is a special time when the entire country celebrates cultural traditions by observing four historical holidays. Companies close their doors and employees enjoy a week of paid vacation. Global business takes a pause to celebrate each of the four…
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National East Meets West Day
National East Meets West Day – also known as Elbe Day – is observed on April 25th and commemorates the 1945 day when the Soviet Allied force and U.S. troops met at the Elbe River that runs near Torgau, Germany. Photographs were taken two days after the meeting historically commemorate the event, resulting in some…
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Passover: How to Be The Best Guest at a Seder
It is that time of year again, the temperature starts rising, flowers start blooming and that only means two things, Spring and Passover are right around the corner. If you’re like most people attending their first Seder, you may have some culture questions about the customs and what to expect during this beautiful tradition shared…
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National Humor Month 2019
Cracking a joke can prove tricky to execute overall, especially within a professional environment. Navigating the concept of comedy at work, can be a challenge. Comedy within a work space of varying cultures, is an even greater challenge. In honor of April as National Humor Month, consider these four tips to ensure jokes are…
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8 Ways to Celebrate International World Happiness Day
Happiness is a fabulous state of mind – many of us can remember the days and times that have brought us the happiest memories. Wouldn’t it be amazing to be happy for the majority of your life? Believe it or not, happiness can be influenced by where you live. The World Happiness Report is a…
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10 Tips for Home Organization for Spring Equinox
Spring Greetings by Pexels As the first crocuses and daffodils begin to peek out of the ground and the days grow warmer, it’s important to prepare for the coming summer months ahead. March 20-21st marks spring equinox in the northern hemisphere. On this day, the sun shines directly onto the equator, and the length of…
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10 Tips for Successfully Handling the Cultural Implications of Smartphones
A recent study by the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology found that smartphone use undermines the benefits and enjoyment of real world, face-to-face interactions. In an age of all things digital, how do we balance the utility of technology with real life engagement? We dove into the research and here’s what we found. We Live…
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International Women’s Day 2019
March is a month that is jam-packed with appreciation for women, both nationally and internationally. Friday March 8, 2019 is the internationally recognized holiday known as Women’s Day. Despite what some may think, this holiday is no fad; in fact, Women’s Day is a globally recognized holiday that has been celebrated for over a…