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Thunderbird School of Global Management
Culture & Travel
To Give or Not to Give: The Office Gift Season
December 10, 2018
A recent survey found that 41 percent of employees say that the number one holiday gift they want from their boss this year is a holiday bonus. However, 46 percent say that holiday bonuses are not given at their company, and 13 percent go on to describe their boss as “stingy” this time of year. “It’s a tricky line to walk because you don’t want to seem like Scrooge; but at the same time, giving out bonuses to each employee is not necessarily feasible for many companies,” says Rob Wilson, human resources expert and President of Employco USA, an employment solutions firm.read more
Gifts Not Gaffes: What You Should Know About Cross-Cultural Giving
November 26, 2018
They say with gifts it's the thought that counts. That's not always the case with cross-cultural gift giving. The wrong gift could send a very wrong message. For most business leaders, the ROI of gift giving is important. Deciding how much to spend is the easy part. Choosing the right gift is much harder. Gift-giving gaffes can not only negate the value of the gesture in the first place, but can actually irreparably harm the relationship and damage the corporate reputation. Whether you are giving gifts to colleagues, clients, prospective clients or employees, it’s important to be aware of the gift-giving practices in that country. Take our advice. If you want to keep business dealings on the up and up, make sure you do your research on the gift-giving customs in the recipient's country. Not every gift is created equal.read more
Why Is Generation Z So Depressed — Overprotective Parents
October 22, 2018
A leading moral psychologist traces the political anger and anxiety of Generation Z to well meaning — but hyper — parenting.read more
International Travel: How to Not Judge a Person by Their Country (or Be Judged by Yours)
September 25, 2018
Wearing a T-shirt with the words “You Can’t Get This in the States” on the front of it, Canadian stage actor Christopher Darroch stopped for lunch at a McDonald’s in North Carolina. “The fellow in line in front of me asked in a very American accent, ‘Y’all can't get whatin the States?’” Darroch explained the shirt was a joke. He is Canadian. “Oh, Canada,” the American replied. “Y’all got snow up there.read more
Travel Channel Follows Thunderbird Explorer to Peru's Land of the Giants
September 14, 2018
There are few things that rattle American-Brazilian financier James Lynch. He’s spent weeks living with Amazonian cannibals who he remembers as being “very nice and kind.” He came close to death on a trek deep into the jungle in search of the source of Eldorado Falls, the tallest waterfall in Brazil. He’s spent many nights lying on the open ground looking up at more stars than you can possibly imagine...read more
Handshake, Kiss, or Bow?
August 27, 2018
As the old adage goes, you have only one chance to make a first impression. In business and politics, that first impression can be the beginning of a long and mutually beneficial relationship – or a faux pas that freezes the relationship before it’s even begun.read more
Love Languages: Expressing Love by Culture
February 28, 2018
The holiday of love is upon us and as every T-bird knows, expressing your feelings can vary widely by country and culture. While in English there is only one phrase for saying “I love you”, some languages have multiple ways and many cultures are more expressive than American culture. Societal rules about PDA (Public Displays of Affection) and even friendly greetings can be tricky to navigate in foreign countries. To find out more about cultural differences in the language of love, current T-birds shared their experiences from home.read more
Valentine’s Day Traditions from around the World
February 13, 2018
When the stores are packed with flowers, chocolates, candies, and cards you know that St. Valentine is around the corner. Before Valentine’s Day became the mass-marketed consumer-frenzy holiday that it is today, it had its roots in ancient Roman history and traditions. Nowadays, the holiday means big business and people around the world celebrate St. Valentine’s Day by showing appreciation and affection for the people they love. In some countries, it is more of an excuse to share love and friendship than candy and cards.read more
A Cultural Curveball
March 28, 2017
A Cultural Curveball: Cross-cultural Lessons from the World Baseball Classic By Jay Thorne Through the month of March, as Major League Baseball teams around America prepared for Opening Day of the 2017 season, baseball players and baseball fans from around the world came together for a 3-week, 16-... read more
Differences between Myanmar and China
February 25, 2014
I remember my first look at Yangon through the taxi window. It reminded me of Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam ten years ago or even the outskirts of a city in China like Guangzhou around the same time. The city is still rough along the edges with a mish-mash of traffic, kicked up dust, smoke, and odors. It's... read more