January 30th, 2014 When I research on the Internet, I can easily fall down a few rabbit holes if I am not careful. This time, I was looking for successful, real-world examples of educational and social programs in place for the enormous immigrant and migratory populations here in the EU, specifically focusing on students. Attempting […]
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January 1964: A Retrospective
January 2nd, 2014 As we start the New Year, we thought it would be interesting to look back and see what historical events took place on this month in January, fifty years ago in 1964. As you can see from the list below, in only one month, a great deal happened around the world, some […]
Reverse Culture Shock: Symptoms & 5 Ways to Cope
December 12th, 2013 International students coming to the U.S. are bound to experience different degrees of culture shock but they are just as likely to experience reverse culture shock, or re-entry, when they return to their home countries during semester breaks and holidays. Reverse culture shock is an emotional and psychological stage of re-adjustment, to […]
Giving Thanks: 5 Rituals from around the Globe
November 27th, 2013 I am always curious about the traditional rituals celebrated by other cultures and set out exploring. On this Thanksgiving, I’d like to share with you five examples of rituals used to mark the passage of time, celebrate life, and give thanks for the harvest that sustains them. 1. Nuts to you! When […]
20 Facts about the Philippines
November 14th, 2013 The devastating Typhoon Haiyan that has battered central Philippines has left tens of thousands of people dead and hundreds of thousands without shelter, food and basic amenities. In light of this tragic disaster here are some facts we would like to share about Philippines along with a list of organizations you may […]
The Land of Hungry Ghosts
October 24th, 2013 It is no coincidence that rituals and celebrations commemorating those that have passed on, of honoring the dead, have a direct connection to the rituals and the seasons that sustain the living. Times of seasonal change, such as autumn harvest festivals, prepare us for and acknowledge the physical change of moving from […]
3 Things I’ve Learned as a Transglobal Pilgrim
October 3rd, 2013 Learning by doing is one of the most powerful, and rewarding ways to enter into another culture. I studied the French language for 12 years before finally going to France, and it was there that the desire to “become French,” overwhelmed me. As an avid people watcher, I love to observe body […]
Iran: Women…Beauty, Brains and Brawn
August 15th, 2013 In the current male-dominated society of Iran, where men vie for positions of power with questionable academic degrees (see our 6/20/13 blog), the government has set out to restrict women’s access to over 70 academic university degree programs. I wrote about this last year in a blog post on how the government […]
3 Things to Consider While Dealing with Culture Shock
August 8th, 2013 Jet lag woke me up at precisely 4:50 a.m. this morning and the stifling heat kept me awake. Today’s’ forecast was 37 C, but I could see fluffy clouds blowing in from the south, from the Sahara actually. It is after all, the world’s hottest desert. It would have to be, for […]