From the category archives:

Cultural Adaptation

The Entire World Is Going Cross-Cultural… Are You Too?

February 9, 2009

I remember an academic advising session during my graduate school years. I was discussing with my adviser which courses to take next, which programs and concentrations best fit my academic and career objectives, etc. At that time I was in a program emphasizing cross-cultural studies, and I was beginning to wonder whether I should focus [...]

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Shame-based Cultures Are Full of Pitfalls

December 1, 2008

Different cultures can be categorized in different ways (and categories don’t always work).  One of them, even with its over-generalization and limitations, is to categorize them into shame-based cultures and guilt-based cultures.  Now, it’s probably impossible to define a particular culture as either shame-based or guilt-based because it more than likely includes a mixture of [...]

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What I Like and Dislike about the Month of Ramadan in Morocco

September 30, 2008

This year the month of September has coincided with Ramadan, the Islamic religious month of fasting (only during the day).  This is my fifth Ramadan while living in a Muslim country as an expat, and I’ve heard many comments from both Moroccans and foreigners about Ramadan.  Some Moroccan friends and neighbors suggested that I try [...]

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Be Culturally F. A. T.

June 30, 2008

If you are entering another culture on a job assignment or business trip or exchange program, what would be the best cross-cultural approach in order to fully realize the potential for you being in that culture? The answer does not lie in some intense training regimen or programmatic elements, but would actually depend the most [...]

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Life-Saving Tips for Newly Arrived Expats

June 25, 2008

Four and a half years ago, I was a newly arrived expat in Morocco.  And some 13 years ago, I was a newly arrived expat in Thailand.  (And some twenty two years ago, I was a newly arrived immigrant in the United States!) There are some things I would have done differently with the opportunities I [...]

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Help! I'm an Expat Worker's Spouse

June 23, 2008

Expatriates working and living outside their home country face many challenges. In many cases, one spouse (usually the husband) would work and the other (usually the wife) would stay home. The one who works will get many opportunities to get to know and interact with not only other expatriate workers but also local staff, clients, [...]

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The Learner Attitude Is the Foundation for Cross-Cultural Effectiveness

June 10, 2008

Your attitude toward another culture will determine how deep you can go into that culture. And it will decide how much you can connect with the people’s heart, and thus your fulfillment in your foreign stay, and ultimately it will help you connect with who you really are.

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