Posts Tagged ‘cross-cultural’
The humor of badly translated signs
If you’ve traveled, then you’ve likely stumbled across a badly translated sign that caused you to do a double take or even to burst out laughing. Lonely Planet recently had a Lost in Translation photo contest about these signs and the results are hilarious.
Life as a Buddhist monk in Thailand
It was in Chang Mai that we had one of our more memorable travel experiences during a morning chat with a Buddhist monk.
Turkish baths and backflipping pigeons
“A Turkish man whom we just met drove us 20 minutes to a tiny village and left us here. I jumped in a pool of ice water. I laid down on a stone table that was so hot it nearly cooked me. And now I’m having my skin scrubbed off by a guy who is dressed a blue loin cloth. The things we do for travel experiences.”
East Asian culture in the news
Why is Japanese culture resistant to Facebook? Why do the Chinese lament their high-performing educational system? Here are some interesting cross-cultural snippets from recent news items.
Learning about Buddhism at a Himalayan temple
An elderly monk walked up to the spot where we stood, slowly spinning the prayer wheels and chanting words under his breath. He stopped in front of us and smiled. “Om mani padme hum,” he said, in a soft, slow cadence.
National siesta championships in Spain
The encroachment of modern life has taken its toll on the siesta. But the Spaniards are not taking this decline lightly, as evidenced by the national siesta championship that was recently staged in Madrid.
Does language shape culture?
Does language shape culture? It’s an interesting question. Even more interesting, though, is the answer. Yes. Apparently, language not only expresses our views, but also helps to shape our very thoughts.
Life in a Beijing hutong
If you have a hankering to see a bit of old Beijing – that ancient city of narrow streets and courtyard houses where generations of families passed their lives – you can still catch a fleeting glimpse at one of the city’s hutongs.
Creativity and education across cultures
In previous posts about education across cultures, it’s been noted that one of the traditional strengths of the American system is that it promotes creativity and individual initiative. What is interesting now, though, is that other countries are trying to replicate this U.S. model at the very time that Americans are going in the opposite direction.
Public bathing in a Japanese onsen
One of the real wonders of travel is the opportunity to have cultural experiences that are quite removed from our daily lives at home. In Japan, one of those experiences is to indulge in a public bath in an onsen.
Soccer cultures of the World Cup
As World Cup soccer action heats up, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on the varied playing styles of different countries, particularly if you have an interest in cross-cultural topics. That’s because these differences are more than just tactical choices – in many cases, they’re actually a window into each nation’s culture.
Chinese education, American education
There are many differences in the educational systems of various countries. One of the largest gaps is between the Western and Asian styles of teaching and learning. Those differences were on display again in a recent story about Chinese guest teachers in the United States.
Stay current with the Riel World
Follow me on Twitter
Join me on Facebook 
Subscribe by EmailMeet Bob Riel
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.
Great American Road Trips
Visit Travel Blog Exchange
