The Pearl of the Orient Seas: The Philippines Cross-Cultural Concepts Part I
It surprises business people to discover a number of unique cross-cultural aspects of the Philippines, otherwise known as the Pearl of the Orient Seas.
International Etiquette: Global Tipping in India
In our last blog post, we explored international etiquette and the trends in global tipping. A survey conducted by MasterCard Worldwide explored the tipping practices in 14 Asian countries. As global tipping practices continue to evolve, it’s especially interesting to note customs on the subcontinent of India. On her 2012 trip to southern India, my [...]
International Etiquette: Global Tipping
Take a peek at just about any global survey on tipping, and U.S. Americans are invariably at the top of the list. But when TripAdvisor shared the results of its tipping poll in June last year, they reported that even this varies dramatically among U.S. American tourists, with 97% saying they tipped for restaurant service, [...]
Heading to Mexico City, Part 2
In Part One of this blog post on the wonderful Mexico City I outlined five things to think about before you leave for your business trip. In this second part, here are five practical and intercultural etiquette tips that will help smooth your visit after you have arrived: Getting There: Benito Juarez Airport is Mexico [...]
10 Reasons to Head to Mexico City
Entrepreneur-in-residence at The University of Texas at Austin’s School of Information and CEO/Founder of Bigwig Games, Gary Hoover, recently offered “10 Reasons You Should Jump On the Next Flight to Mexico City.” Mr. Hoover is absolutely right; Mexico City is a wonderful destination for business travelers and tourists alike! What I particularly loved was his [...]
Monterrey, Mexico Intercultural Communication & International Etiquette
In Mexico, a city’s name can provide a hint about its inhabitants. “Monterrey” means “Mountain King,” a name fit for this wealthy city at the foothills of the Sierra Madre Oriental.
My Book, Access to Asia, is Here!
Asia is a beautiful continent with unique cultures that are as varied as its beautiful silks.
Myanmar/Burma & ASEAN, Part II
The global consulting firm McKinsey calls Myanmar “one of the few remaining largely untapped markets in the world.” But for those of us who simply love mysterious Myanmar (formerly Burma) for being one of the most fascinating nations worldwide, it is “the land of the pagodas.” The past year was significant for Myanmar as the [...]
Myanmar/Burma & The French Connection, Part I
One of the most surprising things I discovered on my recent trip to Myanmar (formerly Burma) was the depth of the country’s association with the French. A quick dip into the history books showed that this relationship has been in existence since the early 18th century. It was only the pressing nature of the French [...]
Travels to Cuba
"A bend in the road is not the end of the road ... Unless you fail to make the turn." Go to Cuba? Legally? How? I was fascinated when I discovered that this trip was organized by the the Austin Chamber of Commerce, and blessed by the US government. I had so many [...]