In the Asian Journal of Social Psychology, Chinese researchers point out a neurological difference between East Asians and Westerners regarding the representation of significant others (e.g. mother). Whereas self-representation can be traced to the ventral medial prefrontal cortex for both, representation of significant others is influenced by culture. It occupies the same location as the self in only East Asians, whereas it is seperate in Westerners. Click here to read the full article.
April 13, 2011
April 11, 2011
Indian Diplomat Recommends Pre-Departure Cultural Training
Now here’s a forward-thinking diplomat! Dr Subhakanta Behera, India’s new consul general in Australia, is encouraging Indian students planning to study in Australia to undergo cultural training before they leave. He wants them to better understand and manage Aussie culture and lifestyle differences. The Times of India reported on Dr. Behera’s visit to Amritsar, where he met with Punjabi students who had returnred from Australia in ‘Orientation course vital for students going to Oz’. Read the full article here.
April 10, 2011
TV Shines a Light on Issues in Our Diverse Society
I don’t have a TV, and haven’t since high school. I’m not a big fan of it and I don’t feel like I need TV in my life. But I also know that this choice comes with a sacrifice: a huge gap in my familiarity with current events and pop culture. TV catch-phrases seep naturally into our lingo and people are always quoting TV moments, expecting you to understand the context. TV is also often the medium that educates and enlightens. I’m not just talking about Discovery Channel or PBS. TV often takes on the difficult or fringe topics that face or that divide our society. For example, take gay marriage in “Modern Family” or obesity on “Huge”. TV is a “non-threatening” medium through which we can be exposed to the individuals behind the labels, and become familiar with the topic from another perspective. It shows us the other side of the coin, and leads, subtley, to understanding and acceptance. At the same time, it exposes our taboos and our prejudices. Yes, TV exaggerates, but it also is a mirror of society and a window into how the other side lives. So, as someone who believes in respect for cultural diversity, I was very happy to learn about “Little Mosque on the Prairie“, a show that portrays a Muslim community in a small town in Canada. Because with so much uncertainty and prejudice surrounding Islam, this show can be one of the channels educating the rest of us by showing us the other side of the coin. In the Los Angeles Times article
‘Cultural Exchange: The world cottons to ‘Little Mosque on the Prairie’, Marcia Adair points out the disappointing fact that the subject is clearly so taboo for US audiences, that it is not yet shown in the US. But that doesn’t exclude people in 83 other countries from watching it. If I had a TV, I’d be one of the first to watch this show in order to counter my ignorance and begin to understand. Luckily these days, you don’t need a TV. It’s enough to have a computer, and I will be watching all the YouTube clips of the show that I can find.
April 9, 2011
What Should TCKs Do as a Living?
Donna Musil shared her tips on the best careers for TCKs, on TCK Academy. Click here to see the full list or listen to the audio file.
April 8, 2011
Is There an “Expat Culture”?
Is it possible to spot an expat in a crowd? What sets expats apart? Is there an “expat identity”? Sarah Steegar, writer and anthropologist, considers the possibility of there being an “expat culture” in her blog ‘Being “one of us‘. I love to people watch and pride myself on spotting various cultures by shoes and clothing, body language, hair styles and hand gestures. But I have to admit that I have never spotted an expat. And yet, I am sure that expats have their own culture and identity.
April 7, 2011
A Parent’s View on Raising TCKs
It’s great to see how a parent’s worldview is changing by observing their childrens’ cultural transformation. The “Baker’s Half Dozen” blog follows an American expat family in Hungary.
April 6, 2011
Making Friends the Key to Expat Happiness
We who work with expats know that far too many assignments end early or end badly, mostly due to cultural differences and unhappy families. And we also know that relationships are probably the single most important factor in feeling content and at home in a place. If you aren’t able to connect with people, you will most likely have a negative impression of your expat home. In the article “How to Make Friends Abroad: Ideas for Lonely Expats”, the author states that “an unhappy expat is far more likely to give it all up and head for home than a happy expat with plenty of friends. So, if you want to succeed abroad, you owe it to yourself to find ways to make friends and meet people.” Not a truer word was spoken. We can’t just wait for the natives to be friendly. We have to be a friend to the natives ourselves, or at the very least to other expats like ourselves. To read the full article, click here.
April 5, 2011
House Sitters for Expats
Here’s a great idea for both expats who have homes in several locations and global nomads who don’t want a home, but need a place to roost for a while – as long as they are responsible enough to be the guardians of both home and garden, including pets. The Guardian article “Keeping your home and pets safe when away” describes Andy Peck’s innovative house-sitting service for expats and second home-owners with pets.
March 5, 2011
Rules of Intimacy
This is a very funny look at the rules of intimacy: space, conversation, greetings and nudity among the French, Americans, British (and Germans and Finns). Simon Kuper is a Brit living in France. He gets it right in “Don’t touch me, I’m British”, featured on FT.com. There are a lot of gems in this piece, but these lines stood out for me – “Generalising grossly: to Americans, conversation doesn’t imply intimacy.” And vice versa – “In France… you always flirted whether you fancied someone or not. The flirting meant nothing.”- So true. Lists of “Do’s and don’ts” are never set in stone, but there is always a seed of truth in them.
November 19, 2010
Northern Exposure – how to survive the Scandinavian winter
Anna Maria’s article (second of a two-part series “Seasons in Scandinavia“) on how to survive the light and dark dichotomy of Scandinavia has been published on ExpatArrivals. The second article focuses on the effects of darkness on Nordic inhabitants and expat survival tips for winter. This follows her article “Got light? – The Importance of Sunlight When Living in the Nordics“, and what to expect in terms of climate and culture. As winter approaches (some would argue it’s already here), the temperature drops and the dark envelops the inhabitants of the north. These extreme changes in climate can wreak havoc on the unassuming expat. The best way to survive the winter is to have the right expectations and be prepared.