“Don’t judge a book by its cover” is a saying we are all too familiar with as most parents probably raise their children with this concept. However, let us be honest, more than often we do judge a book by its cover and first impressions do count. Yes, what is on the “inside” may sometimes be more important, but naturally most people will look at the packaging before looking at its content. Why? Because people make up their mind about you in the first 5-7 seconds of meeting yo

Most people in the West are usually raised with some basic understanding of what is acceptable at the table and how to eat certain foods. However, when you start travelling and living abroad, you will find that a concept that you thought shows class is turned upside down. Different countries around the world have different rules of what they consider polite, acceptable and a big no-no when it comes to dining. Let us take a general look at East Asian and European countries and

Business etiquette, international business etiquette, travel etiquette or social etiquette – depending on the situation and circumstance, you will have to read up, adjust and learn about each depending on your purpose. In any case, you should not see etiquette as a set of rules, but rather as a notion of communication. Like language, we need to learn the customs of a culture we are dealing with or of the country we are living in. Growing up in a country, you learn it automati

Why is it that some people seem to succeed in all they do? What is the difference between the colleague who gets promoted into higher positions a lot quicker and his colleague who seems to stay put with where he is in his career and who is not climbing the corporate ladder no matter how hard he thinks he is trying? It might not be obvious at first sight, but you will find that the more successful colleague has mastered the fine nuances of etiquette. Etiquette, or in this case

I will never forget one of the dilemmas I ran into when I went on my first trip to the Philippines. My husband introduced me to one of his best friends, but had to leave the room to welcome his other buddies. We were left alone, sitting in awkward silence. Me, being Western thought it would be polite to ask some questions and get to know his best friend. However, I noticed he would never answer my questions. He would simply raise his eyebrows quickly up and down every time I

For many, the concept of living abroad has to do with being rich, being a student or knowing the right people who can place you in a prestige company earning you millions. However, that is not so. You do not need to belong to either three to be able to experience life in a foreign country. As in my case, I was not on a student exchange program, I was not referred by an amazing company, nor did I have the money. I chose to sell all my belongings and simply checked the internet

“There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign.” Robert Louis Stevenson. Going on a big trip, preparing to move or live abroad for a considerable amount of time can seem quite intimidating at first – especially when it is your first time to go on a big trip. It can seem even more daunting when you have decided to travel and live in a country so far away from where you are from or where the culture is like nothing you have experienced before. To take away

90% of all misunderstandings are not due to what was said, but due to tone. How much more when it comes to misunderstandings between people of two different cultures speaking two different languages? What should you look out for when traveling or doing business abroad? There are several stumbling blocks and mistakes we make without even realising it, but it is easy to avoid them if you know what to look out for! Read on! 1. Don’t Expect Everyone to Understand and Speak your L

Is it your first time to meet Japanese business clients? How should you greet them or exchange business cards? Have you ever wondered how to conduct yourself in a Japanese business meeting? Japan is a country rich in traditions and culture and manners are highly regarded in this land of the rising sun. To start off on the right foot, learn some basic etiquette about Japan. Stay on top of your game and impress your Japanese clients by showing you made the effort to learn the e

Have you ever dreamed of going to China to teach? Are you a teacher by profession and looking for a change? Or do you simply want to go on an adventure and experience how rewarding it can be to work in a foreign country? Teaching and training in China was definitely one of the best times of my life. I got to do what I loved most: teaching and traveling! Before I applied for my first job in China, I didn't realise how many schools are actually in desperate need of English (ESL