Imagine that you’ve come to NYC, and you need a local. (I’m not sure why, since Google Maps is so wide-spread, but let’s say you need one.) Here’s how to differentiate the locals from fellow visitors and recent transplants: 1) They wait to cross the street in the street. New Yorkers don’t like to wait. Unlike the…
We only moved to London for 11 weeks, but in that time, I managed to acquire some very British mannerisms. They say that it takes about four weeks for muscles to atrophy. So perhaps it shouldn’t have come as a surprise that it took that long to lose the habits I had picked up there. For example: 1)…
There are a number of things that are part of living in the US* that Americans may not realize are unique to this country. Here are five things that are very American – and not found worldwide. 1) Flags In the US, American flags are all over. Many schools have flag poles with one, many houses have one in the…
One thing that stands out about Japan is the language. Specifically, the fact that they use it. Let me explain. Imagine you go to a grocery store. You’re checking out, and the cashier needs to ask you something. For example: how many plastic bags do you need? cash or credit? do you need chopsticks? do you…
I’ve noticed fun, unusual, and alarming signs during our travels. Here are some of them:
I was recently asked: Based on all of the places you’ve been…, which one has been the best of all? We have liked many of the places we’ve visited, so picking a single “best” one isn’t easy. I’ll consider the following criteria: People: Is the city diverse? Are the people interesting? Are they generally nice?…
Lots of massage parlors around the world advertise their “Thai massages.” Not surprisingly, these massages sometimes have little in common with the real deal. Here’s what I experienced over the course of ten massages: Places in Thailand usually advertise multiple styles of massage: Thai, oil, foot, aloe vera (oil), milky (oil), relaxation (oil), aromatherapy (oil),…
I’m back in the US for just two weeks, and here are the top 10 things I find myself surprised by, ‘back home:’ Driving on the right. I keep checking if I’m on the correct side of the road or not! This is something unique to cold places in the US: people wearing t-shirts in -5 degree Celsius weather.…
This is our first trip to Asia, so much is new to us. But a lot isn’t, because – despite what you might suppose or see on TV – people are very similar, all over. Here is a look at some of the similarities and differences. Comparisons of child-raising, sanitation, cooperation and public welfare, off-the-books activities, and driving…
Cambodians raise their children in a way that Westerners might call ‘European,’ but I think it’s a parenting style all their own. It’s based on shared responsibility and high expectations. Hilary Clinton may have famously written that, ‘it takes a village to raise a child,’ but Cambodians actually act that way. Anyone and everyone is liable…