With sessions by Dr Fons Trompenaars and Dr Dick McCann to start off each day at the international conference on High Performing Global Teams, I knew I was going to be in for a treat.  The conference, organised by Jeremy Comfort (York Associates) and Dr Peter Franklin (Dialogin), was such an outstanding success that delegates asked for it to be extended to three days next year. A line up of ‘who’s who’ in the intercultural and team working fields ensured that there were some key practices to be shared and new thinking to be learned. Whether you were a business person, practitioner in the field, trainer, academic or researcher, there was something for everyone. For those who missed it – make sure you don’t next year!

The Jewish New Year – Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah (literally ‘Head of the Year’) marks the first and second days of the Jewish New Year. It is also the Day of Judgement and the Day of Remembrance. It’s a time for some serious thought about life and a chance to ask questions about your actions throughout the year.

Find out more about Rosh Hashanah.

Chusok Thanksgiving Day is a public holiday in South Korea.

The Chusok Harvest festival is one of the most important festivals in throughout the world, whatever culture or religion it might be, or however it is named; Thanksgiving in America, Pongal in India and Chusok in Korea. This festival is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth Lunar month of every Lunar year. Let us see more about the Festival of Chusok, its Legacy, its rituals and what it means to the people of that culture.

Find out more about the Chusok Festival in South Korea

I was recently sent this photo taken by Jules Hersman which I have named The Colours of Diversity.  What occasion it is and where it was taken, unfortunatley, I do not know. I just smiled when I saw it. A Google search has not enabled me to find Jules Hersman though I did find reference to a voluntary worker of the same name.  Are you out there Mr. Hersman? I’d love to hear from you and the story behind the photo.

 I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed by Cindy King a cross-cultural marketing expert living in France.  As Twitter was our interview medium, I haved blogged our conversation for those who missed the ‘live’ performance. 

‘Tweets’ are limited to 120 characters per post, so sometimes it’s a challenge to articulate what you think in so few words!  In part one of the interview Cindy asked me about my background and this can be found on her site. Part two, as blogged below, is all about cross-cultural things.

Have you been influenced by more than one country and culture?  Do you have a cross-cultural background? Then have fun making your own multicultural flag:

http://www.wearemulticolored.com/

When in Rome, do as the Romans do!  “

That’s the way we say it in English. Originally from Chinese, this Japanese saying means: “In a village do as the village does.”  That’s my best advice for a successful foreign trip. Here are other tips on intercultural communication, cross-cultural differences and how to get the best out of your foreign visit.

1. Remember -there is no right, no wrong – just different. Sometimes different can mean better!
2. Try and learn a few words and phrases of the language, before you go.  Knowing common greetings is always a sign of courtesy.
3. Be observant. Watch how others behave and adapt your style accordingly.
4. Not all countries use ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ the way we do in the English language. Saying thank you to a close friend can be a bit insulting in some cultures – indicating that you are not close at all. Not sure? Then ask.
5. Learn something about the culture of the country you are visiting.  That will help you to ‘acclimatise’ more easily.
6. Research the dress code of the county, especially when visiting the Middle East. Women should be modestly dressed in most cultures other than the ‘West’. Asians are more formal than Americans, but Japan is more formal than other Asian countries. Saudi Arabia is extremely strict on women’s clothing – you must wear a long black robe and have your face and head covered by av eil.
7. Do be sensible if you are travelling between very different climates. The round trip from London to Dubai, via a few days in Helsinki, can play havoc with your health.
8. Learn how you should address people before you go. Africans are very conscious of people’s status. You might want to treat everyone as an equal, but they might expect some respect from you (especially government officials).  Also, others may be humbled in your presence.
9. Gift giving is notoriously difficult to judge; best phone the embassy at home to be sure or consult your own diplomats when abroad.
10. Find out what the local speciality dishes are and decide whether you will try them – go on – have a go! We tried “Ants in the tree” when we were in Malawi: delicious! And, No! It wasn’t ants.
11. An inquiring mind, patience, and the genuine wish to learn from other cultures will provide you with insights about yourself and everyone around.
12. Finally, travel with a sense of wonder, enthusiasm and excitement and this will provide you with the attitude to enjoy your experiences.