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News
from: CultureCrossing.net
www.culturecrossing.net
Source: Lisa Van Blerkum
Published: August, 2008
ABOVE: Sometimes, kissing both cheeks or
pretending to smooch the back of a hand isn't enough.
CultureCrossing.net is a "user-built guide" to global etiquette
Wondering if you should bow or shake hands with your Chinese colleague?
Worried that you might have offended your Moroccan hosts by declining that
second cup of tea? Want to know the best time to arrive at a Brazilian party?
Look no further than CultureCrossing.net; an evolving database of cross-cultural
information about every country in the world. This free, user-built reference
guide allows people from around the globe to access and share essential tips
about how to navigate the world with savvy and sensitivity. An invaluable
resource for travelers, businesses, students and anyone living and working in a
multicultural community, CultureCrossing.net offers its users an opportunity to:
- Access information for more than 200 countries (with new information
added daily)
- Add knowledge to the country guides
- Ask questions and chat directly with other users and experts from around
the world
- Explore global resources to facilitate any cross-cultural experience
According to CultureCrossing.net founder Michael Landers, "There are many
sites that tell you how to book a trip and what to pack, but very few sites
offer crucial information about the intangibles like appropriate greetings,
gestures, and taboo behavior- tips that will help you stay out of trouble when
crossing cultures. Ours is the only site providing free access to this kind of
knowledge for every country in the world."
The resources available at CultureCrossing.net are free to use, easy to
navigate and simply organized by country and divided into three distinct
categories of information: the basics, business essentials, and student life.
Topics covered include greetings, gestures, taboos, dress, negotiations, meeting
etiquette, school rules, gift giving, communication styles, eye contact, and
more. Besides being an indispensable reference guide, the site also offers a
variety of additional features such as interviews with culturally conscious
celebrities, a humorous blog where you can learn from others' cross-cultural
faux pas, tools to help you explore your own "cultural baggage", and quizzes so
you can test your cultural IQ.
WHY WWW.CULTURECROSSING.NET
Culture influences our behavior in countless ways - subconsciously guiding our
actions, reactions and interactions. In order to successfully engage with the
global community, it's crucial to understand how culture affects the way we
socialize, communicate, and do business. In our increasingly borderless world,
cultural ignorance can lead to misunderstandings with far reaching implications.
Whether you're working with a multicultural team, transitioning to a life
overseas, preparing to study abroad, or just planning an international trip,
CultureCrossing.net will enhance your personal experiences, deepen your
cross-cultural understanding, and cultivate peace in our interconnected world.
WHO WE ARE
Created by cross-cultural trainer Michael Landers and multimedia producer Lisa
Grossman, CultureCrossing.net is the result of their passion for exploring the
world and commitment to fostering cross-cultural understanding. The founders
also rely on the voluntary support of professionals, students, and community
members from around the globe to vet and grow their database of cultural
information.
Live for just four months, the site already boasts members from over 75
countries and has recorded over 20,000 unique visitors in July alone.
CultureCrossing.net is quickly gaining recognition as the perfect primer for all
your international experiences.
To see the site, go to
www.culturecrossing.net.
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