Anna Maria just returned from the FIGT conference in Houston, Texas. This is the 12th annual conference and the first time Kulturtolk was represented, but probably not the last. The conference had over 200 attendees from over 15 countries and representing all sectors. The one thing they had in common was offering services and products that support expats and their families. The conference offered a wide array of sessions covering as many topics, from raising global nomads, to job search strategies for spouses, to writing about expat life. The three days were packed with information and inspiration. If anything there was too much to take in and Anna would have made the most of a couple extra days to attend all the sessions of interest to Kulturtolk. Next year’s conference promises to be just as interesting and will be held in Washington DC for the first time. We highly recommend attending if you do business with and for expats!

Anna Maria Moore was featured in a KK (Kvinner og Klær) article in November 2009 talking about how to use your personal interests and skills to find a new job or start a new career. KK is one of Norway’s foremost womens’ magazines. Kulturtolk was also given an honorable mention in the article.

Bjørn just delivered a training for a new client: Jeld-Wen in
Denmark on working across cultures.

Anna is now licensed in the IRC (Intercultural Readiness Check) after completing the course with Dr. Ursula Brinkmann in Amsterdam in December. She joins Bjørn Christian in becoming a licensee and also 15,000 others who have taken the IRC survey and are in the IBI database. The IRC helps individuals and companies to determine whether potential or current expats have the skills necessary for a successful intercultural experience. It offers practical tips on your strengths, pitfalls to avoid, and specific ways you can improve. The point is that you can always improve and acquire the skills necessary for an intercultural assignment.

We are very excited to announce the launch of our new website. Thanks to the help of Morten Vernegg and Marco Martinuzzi, we’re up and running. You can find upcoming events, news and a regular blog here. Give us your feedback!