There’s no question that the way a person views the world and functions, both in day-to-day life and in business, is built on the foundation of their native culture. Some might say there are no two cultures more different than those of a primarily Western mindset vs. an Eastern mindset. Take a moment to complete […]
Happy Chinese New Year!
It’s that time of year again…Chinese New Year! The longest and arguably most festive and important holiday in China follows the Lunar Calendar and marks the New Year as such. You’ll hear the phrases “Chinese New Year” and “Spring Festival” used interchangeably, but they mean the same thing. This year, Chinese New Year will be […]
New Year Traditions
Out with the old, in with the new – we say “goodbye” to 2016 and welcome 2017 with open arms. 2016 is seen by many as a tumultuous year, to say the least, and even though it certainly wasn’t all bad many people are still ready to usher in something new and different. Did you […]
The Presumed Cultural Similarity Paradox
As we prepare to step into the New Year, we at CAI would like to start doing something a little different with our updates. CAI prides itself on having an extensive network of top-quality intercultural instructors facilitating our cross-cultural training sessions, and we would like to take the opportunity to occasionally share their insight and […]
Christmas & KFC: A Unique Japanese Tradition
The end of the year is finally upon us, and one of the more prominent holidays is Christmas. Typically Christmas is associated with fir trees, presents, Santa, the birth of Jesus, holiday cheer and togetherness, and fried Chicken. Oh yes, you read that correctly, fried chicken. Japan has its own special way of celebrating Christmas, […]
Coming Home: 3 Perspectives to Keep in Mind for the Expat Holiday
As the holidays are fast approaching, many expats across the world are gearing up for vacation, with many of them planning trips home. For some, “home” can mean a variety of things and can seem a bit arbitrary, depending on how long an assignment abroad has been and what culture one relates to more. A […]