Identity, even by definition, is the set of qualities and characteristics that describe a person and distinguish them from others. “Who a person is, or the qualities of a person or a group that make them different from others” Cambridge Dictionary “The characteristics determining who or what a person or thing is” Oxford Dictionary When […]
It is finally the time for me to bring another guest writer to Project Abroad! Claudia is the other half of Sincerely Spain blog which is a website that discusses culture, travel, and life abroad in Spain. I’m saying the other half because you could read Dani’s story last month on the blog as well! […]
I have the absolute pleasure to bring a guest writer to Project Abroad. Dani will share with you her story of moving across countries and finding her feet in Spain. Dani is one-half of the Sincerely, Spain blog which is a website that discusses culture, travel, and life abroad in Spain. Along with her colleague […]
I work with many people who choose to go abroad, usually for better career prospects, for the sense of adventure, for self-development, to make use of the opportunity… Some of them may already have an idea that culture shock is a ‘thing’ during an international transition. This usually also comes with some preconceptions of how […]
Moving abroad is a complex undertaking. It requires coordinating many aspects of your life and restarting this life in a new environment. You have to think about visas, taxes, packing your goods and moving them from one location to the other, closing up various things in the current location, find a new apartment, help your […]
Let me add my two cents to the conversations on how to hold productive virtual meetings these days. But it will not be about the logistics of that type of work – you can read more about that in another article on challenges of working in remote teams. There are certain cultural aspects of communication […]
Is it fair for everyone to get the same benefits, or is it fair to provide everyone with the benefits they specifically need? Are rules applicable to everyone, no exceptions, or is it ok to make exceptions for friends and family? Do all the commitments need to ideally be agreed in writing, or is it […]
Do you say things as they are, express requests and disagreement without beating around the bush? Or perhaps you soften the message, expressing your needs and opinions indirectly? Does a person need to understand the context to decode your message or what is being said is easily understood independent of the context? Another cultural dimension […]
Do you plan thoroughly for plan A, B and C or rather go with the flow? Do you like to follow explicit instructions and procedures or are you comfortable with dealing with matters without much clarity? Are written documents and contracts important and biding for you, or maybe a verbal declaration can be as strong […]
Can you talk directly to your manager’s boss? Can you make decisions autonomously? Is the boss always right (even if they’re not)? Can you challenge your manager’s ideas during a discussion? Can you express your opinions in a meeting freely? Those and many other responses may differ depending on which cultural background you are coming […]