Archive for April, 2006
Saudi society on screen
It’s not every day that a big budget film is produced in a country where movie theaters are still considered illegal (because it promotes the mixing of the sexes). But that is exactly what is happening in Saudi Arabia, with a new movie by Saudi producers examining the conflict within a family when a young girl [...]
Appreciating Cairo
The Middle East is an underappreciated travel destination. The region gets a bad reputation because of Islamic radicals and the Israeli-Palestinian issue, among other things, and those realities do have to be considered when planning a trip. But it’s also true that the people of the Middle East tend to be incredibly hospitable, the ancient [...]
Doing business in Mexico
U.S. News and World Report this week takes a look at small firms that do business in Mexico. The article provides several ideas for business assistance, as well as these cultural tips:
No doubt, face time is a must for potential exporters. “You really need to get a feel for what the environment is like,” Duncan says. Selling [...]
Face and Chinese relationships
Interesting story on relationships in China and how the concept of “face” turns up even in the selection of marriage partners.
Chinese women like their male partner to emphasize the value of their “face.” This value is determined by society and many of its cultural practices relate to this concept. For a woman her “face” is [...]
From Italian architecture to American reinvention
Interesting piece by Roger Cohen in the Sunday NY Times that discusses some of the cultural differences between the U.S. and Europe. Cohen begins by talking about an Italian architect who was recently wounded while working in Afghanistan:
… his presence in the western city of Herat was somehow comforting, even if what had happened to him [...]
U.S. scientists drawn to Singapore
Singapore is making a concerted effort to attract foreign scientists, and is beginning to have some success with U.S. stem cell researchers. The Southeast Asian city-state is trying to grow its biotechnology sector in an effort to become the “Boston of the East.”
Singapore’s siren song is growing increasingly more irresistible for scientists, especially stem cell [...]
Being a travel writer
Travel writer Rolf Potts has for several years now been running monthly interviews with fellow writers on his website. This month’s segment is with Amanda Jones. A sample:
What is the biggest reward of life as a travel writer?
I am one of the richest people I know in experience (with the exception of my other travel [...]
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