Heyo! Where the Indian students at?? I asked my friend, Mohit Jangid, to write some tips for you. Mohit is a Computer Science and Engineering PhD student at Ohio State University. He came to the U.S. to get mastery in his field of study and to expose himself to a different culture. Stay tuned for Read more…
Hey, my international friends! Hope this post finds you well. 💮 If you missed our first posts of the series, go check them out here before starting this one! To those who’ve already read them, we hope it helped your cultural challenges here in the States. Today we’re calling all ✨Chinese students✨– this Thriving post is Read more…
Hello, my international friends! I hope you’re well and thriving! 🌞 If you missed our first post of the series, go check it out here before starting this one! To those who’ve already read it, we hope it helped your cultural challenges here in the States. Today’s post is special for ✨ African students ✨ Read more…
Moving to another country is a BIG change, especially when that change is from East to West or vice versa. With culture and customs being so different, preparation for the new culture is highly recommended. I, however, didn’t follow the recommendation when I came to the U.S. from Brazil; I thought I’d do well since Read more…
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…