Author: Carol Villa Nakata

And we’re back with ✨PART 2✨ of Understanding Space! If you missed PART 1, click here for the scoop. If not, let’s get into ✨PART 2✨, baby! 😝 “We Have” vs “I Have” 🖐️✊ Just as indirect cultures embrace “automatic inclusion,” inclusive cultures are also founded on the principle of sharing. In an inclusive culture, Read more…

Privacy holds great significance within American culture. The concept of “mine” is typically one of the earliest words a child learns, introducing notions of possession and ownership. Although children eventually grasp the concept of sharing, the natural desire to keep ownership and have the autonomy to decide whether to share persists. In the U.S. and Read more…

In ancient times, being hospitable meant welcoming strangers and providing them with food, shelter, and safety. Some cultures still follow this tradition today, but in others, the meaning of hospitality has changed a bit. In direct cultures like the U.S., hospitality is less about survival and protection and more about manners and entertainment. Direct cultures Read more…

And we’re back with ✨PART 2✨! If you missed PART 1, click here for the scoop. If not, let’s get into ✨PART 2✨, baby! 😝 Identity Opinions Expressed for the Group 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 In her book, Foreign to Familiar, Sarah A. Lanier gives an example of how individualistic or collectivistic ways of thinking can influence the Read more…

Have you ever heard phrases like:  “Don’t worry about them, worry about yourself”,  “Be yourself, everyone else is already taken”, or  “You do you”?  If you grew up in the U.S. (direct culture), you’re usually hearing things along these lines and are encouraged to think for yourself.  However, if you grew up in Ghana (indirect Read more…

Riddle me this! What is something that ticks and has pointers? If you guessed a clock, you’re correct! 🕰️ Did you know that the clock is quite important in the U.S.? It’s also important in other cultures, like Germany, Norway, and Canada. Why? Because the clock provides structure, allowing communities to function more efficiently. These Read more…

Hello, friends! 👋 Welcome to our blog’s cross-cultural series, where we dive deeper into the cultural differences that might’ve shocked you as you moved homes. This first post will set the stage for the rest of our series, so make sure to pay attention 😉 The world contains a variety of cultures, and each is Read more…