Sharon Schweitzer

U.S. Memorial Day Culture Quiz 2018

By |2018-10-11T14:54:23-05:00May 11th, 2018|Annual Monthly or Day Observance, Observances - Monthly & Daily, Quiz, U.S. Holidays, United States, US Observances|

As wildflowers burst into bloom and the temperatures warm up, U.S. Americans prepare to celebrate an important holiday in U.S. culture, Memorial Day. While many look forward to this holiday as it represents the start of summer and a three-day weekend, do you know the true meaning, culture, and history of Memorial Day? Find out [...]

Celebration and Recognition: Modern Manners for an Authentic Memorial Day

By |2018-10-11T14:54:23-05:00May 9th, 2018|Annual Monthly or Day Observance, Holiday Parties, Lifestyle, Modern Manners, U.S. Holidays, United States, US Observances|

Memorial Day brings U.S. Americans together for a day of reflection as we honor those who gave their lives for our freedom. First initiated to remember fallen Union soldiers, Memorial Day became a national holiday after World War I, honoring all who died while defending our nation and its values. Though historically a solemn holiday, [...]

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo: Tips for an Authentic Holiday

By |2018-10-11T14:54:23-05:00May 3rd, 2018|Annual Monthly or Day Observance, Culture, Global Celebrations, Global Traditions, Mexico|

On May 5, 1862, the Mexican Army vanquished the French at the Battle of Puebla, a major victory for the Mexican government in their struggle for independence. While liberation from French occupation would not come until 1867, many Mexican-Americans still celebrate the anniversary of this battle, known as Cinco de Mayo, as a commemoration of [...]

Modern Manners 2018: Mother’s Day

By |2018-10-11T14:54:24-05:00May 1st, 2018|Annual Monthly or Day Observance, Global Celebrations, Modern Manners, Observances - Monthly & Daily, Relationships, U.S. Holidays, United States, US Observances|

Whether it’s your mom, stepmom, aunt, grandmother, longtime mentor, or a cherished friend, mothers are often our loudest cheerleaders, our strongest support, and our greatest inspiration. On May 13, families across the U.S. come together to honor and appreciate all the women who sacrifice their time and energy for our wellbeing and success. While some [...]

Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month: 4 Ways to Celebrate

By |2018-10-11T14:54:24-05:00April 30th, 2018|Annual Monthly or Day Observance, Asia, Asian Pacific, Cross-Cultural, Cultural Snapshot, Culture, Japan, Observances - Monthly & Daily, US Observances|

Since 1979, U.S. Americans have celebrated the contributions and culture of Asian-Pacific Americans throughout our country’s history. Originally a ten-day celebration in May, the observance was extended to include the entire month in 1990 as Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month was signed into law. May includes many important anniversaries in Asian-Pacific American history, including the first [...]

Golden Week 2018: Honoring the Four Festivals

By |2018-10-11T14:54:24-05:00April 25th, 2018|Annual Monthly or Day Observance, Asia, Cross-Cultural, Culture, Global Celebrations, Global Traditions, International Holidays, Japan, Observances - Monthly & Daily|

From April 28 to May 6, Japan enjoys a week of historical holidays and lively cultural traditions as the country observes Golden Week (ゴールデンウィーク). The National Holiday Laws of 1948 declared four official holidays concentrated at the end of April and the beginning of May. During this period, businesses across Japan enjoyed a rise in [...]

National Humor Month: Four Tips for Culturally-Sensitive Humor

By |2018-10-11T14:54:26-05:00April 6th, 2018|avoiding international blunders, Business and the Environment, Business Etiquette, Career Tips, Cross-Cultural, Culture, Intercultural, intercultural competence, Language and Culture, Observances - Monthly & Daily, Office Culture, Self-Awareness, US Observances, Workplace Diversity, Workplace Etiquette|

From harmless puns and silly memes, to stereotypical jokes and shady sarcasm, humor is a diverse concept with a slightly different meaning for everyone. Whether you consider yourself a born jokester, or prefer to keep a serious profile, it’s vital to understand humor’s place in a professional environment, especially if the workplace is multicultural. As [...]

Unlocking Zimbabwe’s Buzzing Business Culture

By |2018-10-11T14:54:27-05:00April 4th, 2018|Africa, Bridging the Cultural Divide, Business and the Environment, Business Etiquette, Career Tips, Cross-Cultural, Cross-Cultural Tips for Doing Business in, global competency, Intercultural, intercultural competence, International Travel Tips, Relationship Building, Self-Awareness, Workplace Etiquette, Zimbabwe|

As the African Cats are poised to overtake the Asian Tigers, Zimbabwe has gained international attention as a popular investment and expansion location. An English-speaking African nation with blossoming mining and manufacturing sectors, we discovered during our recent business travels that Zimbabwe's economy is a diamond in the rough.   Ten years ago, new promise [...]

Stress Awareness Month: 5 Tips for Overcoming Office Stress

By |2018-10-11T14:54:27-05:00April 2nd, 2018|Annual Monthly or Day Observance, Business and the Environment, Career Tips, Lifestyle, Observances - Monthly & Daily, Self-Awareness, Stress, US Observances|

The U.S. is internationally known for its “work hard, play hard” mentality. While not at the top of the list, and many consider the U.S. American workplace to be among the most stressful worldwide. In fact, in 2017 Forbes ranked the US as the second most competitive country worldwide, and a survey by Monster revealed [...]

Unlocking Estonia’s Thriving Business Culture: 3 Cross-Cultural Tips

By |2018-10-11T14:54:27-05:00March 30th, 2018|Business Etiquette, Career Tips, Cross-Cultural, Cross-Cultural Tips for Doing Business in, Estonia, global competency, Intercultural, intercultural competence, International Travel Tips, Technology/Gear, Travel|

Few people might expect the small Baltic nation of Estonia to become an international leader in technological and start-up sectors, but this northern European powerhouse has led the continent in tech development over the last decade. Not only does it have one of the highest ranked business environments (ranked 12th in the world by World [...]

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