Is this Germany — I’m not Sure
By Maryori Vivas JLfladjfijfladjfla. No, it is not mistyping. This is exactly how I feel when I visit a place where I cannot understand anything around me. It is clear – communication is the most important factor for people’s understanding of the world, and language (verbal and non-verbal) is the main tool we use for communication. Local More...
Holiday Hospitality
A good example of the holiday spirit in Brazil, which isn’t seen in the US, is Brazilian hospitality, the way people open their homes to family and friends. In the summer, apartments on the beach are filled More...
The Christmas Spirit?
By Terry Caesar ‘Tis the season for Christmas songs. Normally the heart sinks. Mine does anyway. During how many Christmas holiday seasons can one bear to listen to “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” — More...
The New Homeless
By Maryori Vivas Home means protection, belonging, feelings of ownership, safety, and overall a place where everything is known. At home, we understand the way things work and the relationships among others. We More...
I Want To Go Back
By Maryori Vivas New corporate structures and policies commonly involve virtual work teams. However, sometimes they’re not enough, and personnel need to be moved into a new location. For companies, this represents More...
Everything Shouldn’t End in Pizza
There is a Brazilian expression that translates as, “Everything ends in pizza.” It’s used to describe political debates that go on forever and never accomplish anything. It’s a saying that articulates More...
Cultural Competency – Sweet or Salty?
By Carolina Franco, Vanessa Bachofer and Maryori Vivas Culture beyond the basic concept of folklore is a complex heritage for all human beings. We learn first from our parents, then our family and relatives, and More...
Diver-City: The Big Apple
By Maryori Vivas As visitors to another place we can easily see how different people can be from one another. Of course, we ourselves can be perceived by the others as different, as well. When we are far from our More...
Words Are Electrical
By B. Michael Rubin Now that things have calmed down after the excitement of the royal wedding, we can all get back to business. For me that business is words, so let’s start with the words of the wedding, More...
Everything is New
By B. Michael Rubin For anyone who has traveled to a foreign country, you will understand exactly what it means to say, “Everything is new.” It is comparable to discovering a new color, or walking on the moon. The More...