Posts Tagged ‘Asia’
Learning directness in India
Some cross-cultural trainers in India are being asked to teach employees to be more direct in their communication style. This goes against the Indians’ traditional approach of being indirect, but it’s an effort to accommodate the Western business style and to continue growing the country’s outsourcing industry. Junk the fake accent, young workers in India’s booming outsourcing industry are being [...]
McArabia flatbreads and fried rice patties
Ever had a craving for a Kalubi beef burger on fried rice patties glazed with soy sauce? Or chicken on flatbread with onions and garlic mayonnaise? These menu choices are a part of McDonalds’ efforts to cater to local tastes in its international fast food empire. The Kalubi burger was a hit in Taiwan and [...]
Vegetarians rule in Bombay
Never mind pets, smokers or loud music at 2 a.m. House hunters in Bombay increasingly are being asked: “Do you eat meat?” If yes, the deal is off. Yes, it’s true. According to this article, it’s becoming increasingly common in Bombay (Mumbai), India, for some home owners to sell or rent only to other vegetarians, [...]
Need surgery? Try Thailand
A few years ago, David Elliot Cohen wrote a book (One Year Off) about a round-the-world journey with his wife and three children. While in Thailand, his daughter had a finger injury and needed minor surgery at Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok. Apprehensive at first, he was amazed at the quality and efficiency of the care, not [...]
Fading sounds of old Beijing
On a recent trip, Lisa and I spent a memorable afternoon in the hutongs, or alleyways, of old Beijing. These ancient neighborhoods have streets that are too narrow for modern automobiles, so we visited the area by rickshaw. We rolled past small shops, men playing board games, schoolchildren in uniform, and dozens of locals who [...]
The experiences of Japanese expats
Nice story in the English-language Japan Times about the increasing numbers of Japanese who are choosing to live and work overseas. Almost one million Japanese now live outside of their country, a 40 percent increase in ten years. The newspaper asked several of those expats to share their experiences from Argentina, France, Spain, the United States and other [...]
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” [...]
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 [...]
Spring, baseball and culture
Well, here goes. How does one start a new blog? What is an appropriate first entry? The first day of spring seems like a good time to launch a new venture, and the advent of baseball season is a sure sign of spring, so why not begin with a post about baseball and culture? Jayson Stark [...]
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Bob Riel is a writer and a traveler. Go here to read more about Bob, his work and the Travels in the Riel World blog.
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