Expat Archives - Page 3 of 6

The Expat Bubble – Why Do We Stay There?

nnMoving to another country can be rough. Whether someone does it on their own or with family, it means being uprooted from the comforts of home—with movie nights in the town where they grew up, went to college, had a first date, just lived for umpteen years…and stepping into a world with no friends, extended family or familiar colleagues. How could it not be a complicated experience? It’s no wonder that people who share this experience are drawn to others who have come to the same country via the same route. They speak the language of relocation! This gravitational pull brings expats who reside in the same country to an epicenter referred to as the expat bubble.nn

What is the expat bubble?

A community of people who have moved from abroad, generally speak the same language—English—and are now living in the same country. The expat bubble is considered a safe space where no explanation of cultural differences or norms is necessary. They build lives together in their new surroundings, trying to transform it to be as close to ‘home’ as possible. nn

Why do expats move anyway?

In this new and fast-paced world, businesses are growing rapidly. A part of that growth involves competing not only in a local space but on an international level. Companies want to conquer unchartered waters and so they employ the best talent as part of their strategy to become or maintain enterprise status in their industry.nn nnMany times expats move to other countries due to jobs, but increasingly so, there are persons/families moving independently for a new experience or change of pace. Some expats were not happy to leave and would have preferred to stay in their home country. Forming these bubbles allows them to feel they are still at home together. This is why it’s important for companies to understand How to Help your Employees Assimilate in a new country.nn

Why the Expat Bubble?

The obvious answer is familiarity. It’s easy, safe and comfortable. Without a language or cultural barrier, expats can relate to and understand each other in a way they can’t with locals. They share stories about back home and about their experiences coming to this new country, they share the struggles of assimilation – feeling awkward or stupid by speaking what would now be their second language – English. They can let their hair down instead of pretending or being polite because everything is new to them. It releases the pressure of their outside world.nn nnWhile the Expat Bubble is often referred to in a negative light, it is very important for expats to connect with each other even if it is outside of the workspace. Many companies introduce expats to forums and communities that facilitate a smoother transition for their employees. These platforms form the support expats need to not feel lost, depressed, or resentment towards their new location. It’s important to be aware that this is a difficult transition from the start, but knowing how to support them will make the difference between successful assimilation and a failed venture. nn nnEven if it is outside the workplace, it is still very important that expats meet other expats so that they can share their experiences and support each other through the cultural assimilation phase in the new country. Companies can seek out appropriate forums like the Pune Expat Club. They could introduce their international employees to these communities in and around the city. These are the platforms where not only the expats, but also their families can get together with other expat families and build a fulfilling social life.nn nnIn Dallas, for example, a new company from Spain brought over 3500 Spaniards. These groups of families decided to live near the company, so they created a Spaniard expat bubble in Dallas, Texas. They got together each weekend-the kids played together, went to the same international schools for the most part, and lived in their comfortable Spanish bubble of Spanish customs, traditions and language. nn

Setting Expectations about an International Move

Many times, the expat bubble is referred to in a negative light. But the truth is, it can be an anchor in a very deep sea of unknown. The trick is to create some balance to ensure that expats are not exclusively socializing and building a life only around the expat community. Companies can really help with this if the reason for moving abroad is for work, as setting expectations is a big part of what makes relocation successful. Successful assimilation can directly impact employee performance as the expat might be struggling to adjust to their new norm. nn nnEarly on employees are excited and expectations are high leading up to relocation as they think about new food, culture and tradition. Setting and managing these expectations is critical in relocating an employee to a new country. Companies need to ensure that their Human Resource Management Team has a sensitization and support plan in place for employees in this phase to help them prepare for the move. nn nnIdeally, sensitization should begin before they relocate so that employees will be introduced to what to expect in terms of climate, traditions, lifestyle, language and social norms. This new culture should be communicated early and consistently, providing as much information as possible in a clear and detailed way. This helps the employee, and their family, to mentally prepare themselves for the changes to come. nn

The Biggest Impact: Cultural Differences

Families tend to be impacted the most because of cultural differences. While the expat is out at work, the rest of the family have to figure out how to build a new life. Because family time remains such an important part of life, the company’s support for helping the family, and especially the children, assimilate, can go a long way. Assisting with school enrollment, extracurricular activities, hobbies, advice on how to settle into the new surroundings. Parents won’t be happy if their children are miserable. nn nnAfter relocation, company outings can be a great way to help expats get involved in the culture and understand the new traditions and lifestyle of their new home. Creating opportunities for expats and local employees to bond with off-site activities gives them a chance to break from the routine and learn more about their host country in a fun yet meaningful way. Collectively attending local festivals and traditional events as a company is a great way to help achieve assimilation, as it gives expats more of a chance to blend in.nn nnAt the end of the day, the expat bubble serves its purpose in supporting expats. As long as companies are able to actively set expectations early, help expats to understand and blend in with the new culture and support their employees during this transition, there will be far less dependence on the expat bubble to maintain the happiness and ultimately the performance of an expat. nnIf you need extended support, like language training, please reach out to micah@fluencycorp.com or fill out our contact form, and we’ll set up a complimentary assessment of needs.nn nnReferences: https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20170308-why-do-expats-live-in-bubblesnnhttps://www.expatica.com/living/integration/expat-friendships-450875/nnhttp://globallivingmagazine.com/how-to-avoid-the-expat-bubble-sp/nnhttps://www.global-connection.info/hr-articles/in-defence-of-the-expat-bubble/

Interview with Expat Alvaro Gómez-Muro | From Spain to America

Every month, Fluency Corp reaches out to clients, friends, or even family, who have relocated to another country for a job, in order to ask them why they moved, how they moved and how they made a new home for themselves in their new country. We are fascinated by their resilience and we want to support others who will be moving in the future. In these interviews, you will find authenticity, humility and also tips for how to make your relocation smoother. This month we interviewed an expat from Spain: Alvaro Gómez-Muro.

Alvaro Gómez-Muro: A Spain Expat

Where are you from? Where have you moved to? And how long did you spend in each country?
I’m from Spain, from Madrid. I thought I was going to spend all of my life in Spain. But in 2010 I was given the opportunity to move to the US – to Dallas. Now I live in Atlanta. In Spain, I lived in various cities.

What did you do in your home country? What do you do now? Is it the same?
Yes and no. I’m a civil engineer. I’m passionate about that. Design and construction in Spain – mid-sized projects – rail and highways. In the US, it was a big change. The size of the projects were significantly bigger – billions of dollars on each project.

Where do you work now?
In the last 6 months, I’ve changed jobs. I’m working for an American company now called DBI. This was a good idea for me, because I think the future of transportation will require far less construction. At DBI there’s an opportunity to be a part of future transportation. We’re the leader in the market for private asset management of infrastructure. I’ll be overseeing Florida.
I’ve always worked for big companies, so this will be a smaller company, and I wanted to get a feel for that.

Even though you were doing similar jobs in Dallas as in Spain, what feels different now, both personally and professionally?
The biggest change was small projects in Spain, more dealing with the client, whereas the focus in the US, for me, was for the project, with some of the largest projects in the nation. And in Atlanta, I’ve returned to a more traditional approach to construction.

So, the biggest challenge in this change was the difference in the clients – in Spain the government is much bigger and the relationship with the customer is different. The customer represents a big force, long term plans, committed to long term vision of transportation. Not at all business driven. Budgets are focused on other things. Not as efficient-driven.

In the US, the clients are more business-driven, and the management style is different.
In Spain, no engineer that works for the government will likely work for the private sector. In the US, you can jump from one to the other. The approach is different.

Also, the size of the projects in Spain are smaller, of course, because it’s a smaller country. There’s never going to be a 2.4 billion-dollar project in Spain. Size and mindset are the biggest changes.

Expat Challenges: Moving from Spain to the US

What were the specific challenges you faced after moving to the U.S.?
In my personal life, nothing major. I came when I was younger as an exchange student – spent three summers near Chicago with an amazingly kind and caring American family. So I was well-versed in the American culture before coming to live and work.

My wife, though, had not been to the US, although she had family in Dallas. The biggest challenge by far was my daughter. She came at 3 years old, and she couldn’t speak any English. It was painful for me to see a bright girl in Spain, doing phenomenally well, have to move and start from zero. She wanted to be social, but she couldn’t. Fortunately, she proved to be very good at languages and we did well. After about 4 – 6 months she could have a conversation just as any other American kid. Today, she can speak four languages: English, Spanish, French and German.

For my employees that came from Spain, it was challenging for me to have a very demanding position at work and also find ways to help our employees and their families come to the country and get used to the culture. Most of them had never been to the US before, like I had, to help with that adjustment.

The credit score was probably the most confusing or new thing to understand – trying to create an identity here for the first time, and social security. Luckily we had BBVA and other banks working with us. But they were concerned about that at the beginning.

When I came in the 80s, it was absolutely hard to buy food that I knew – it was hard to buy olive oil, it was super expensive. And some people didn’t really know where Spain was or who we were. That has changed now.

How did you prepare for your move? Any tips for others?
First, try to find someone already here in the country so you have a point of contact. That makes a big difference, especially if they are geographically close. You will learn a lot of details at the beginning, and you’ll soak that up pretty quickly. But a point of contact is critical.

If you can’t find someone, ask the embassy or the consulate. They want to help you get connected.

First, don’t look at what house you like the most. First, you start with finding the right school for your child, and then make sure you find a house in that school district. It’ll pay off to spend time researching the best schools first.

What did you expect in the U.S. that didn’t turn out to be so?
When I came in the 80s, the cultural distance was the most shocking. You grow up watching movies, and you think you understand a culture. But you don’t. You start talking to them (Americans) and you realize you don’t know the rules of communication, what they care about and more. You can learn a little in your own country, but you can’t really know until you start talking to people and facing real problems there.

Even if you get the language, which is a big deal, getting to understand how people think, that’s completely different.

Small things too – like driving in the US – it feels very different than in Europe. The way you interact with other drivers, the way cities are designed, the way roads are designed, it is very different.

What was harder than you thought it would be?
Probably dealing with the government was harder. Maybe because I grew up there and knew what to expect in Spain, it seemed like it was easier, because I knew it. But the IRS, dealing with the city, and things just like homestead exemption – it’s a ton of money – but if you don’t know about it, you can go for years without that deduction. There are a lot of loopholes and hard things to keep up with in regards to the government.

That first year, from 1 to 10, what would you score it?
10. We had a lot of fun; we were so excited. Everyone in the company was in the same situation at work. The group that came over from Spain and developed a community in Dallas, it was unbelievable. It was hard to keep up with all the activities and the kids running around. It was a very happy time.

What score would you give living abroad now?
I’ve started to be more homesick. That newness in Dallas was incredible and fun. It’s never going to be replicated. I love Atlanta – our home, the neighborhood, the weather. So an 8. I think I might go back to Spain when I retire though.

Being a Long-Term Expat

What are the three top characteristics needed to be a successful, long-term expat?
Open-mindedness. If you think you can have the same life as in your country, you’ll be very frustrated. Those people that seem to be unsuccessful expats, they’ll say they’re not engaging with the culture, and trying to live the same life as before. It will be very frustrating if you do this.

Also, you have to have a certain level of wanting to have a cultural connection. For me, I loved American music, and so I got to see all the bands I wanted to see. I’ve been to all the concerts.

Last is the language. If you aren’t going to try to develop your language skills to a certain level, you will not make it. I’ve seen people stay for 10 years and never develop a strong level, and their lives are not as full.

What role did language play in the success of your moves?
It was key – when I came in 2010, my English level was fairly good, but not where I left it in the 80s. It was challenging by moving to Texas, which was a different accent than I was used to, but I got used to it. Except for those from West Texas. To this day, I do not know what they are saying. Haha.

The language goes also with the culture, so you can make bridges with the locals.

Know an expat that would like to tell us their story? Please email getfluent@fluencycorp.com. Here at Fluency Corp we love supporting companies and their employees as they move abroad. If you have a need for corporate language training, reach out to us. We will increase your company’s communication.

How to Help your Employees Assimilate

After moving to Mexico for a job in 2008, I believe that assimilating to the culture is critical. Moving to a new place can be exhilarating, but also devastatingly lonely, confusing and isolating. But it doesn’t have to be. And you can ensure your employees get the support they need.

Expectations and excitement can be high for your employees, in those months and weeks leading up to an international move. They don’t know what to expect and they’re dreaming of a foreign land with exciting new foods, cultures and traditions. They worry a little bit, as do you, but mostly you’re all thrilled about this new job post and the growth of your company. Maybe you’re sending a single person, or maybe you’re sending a couple with two kids. But managing expectations is the key component in relocating any employee to a new country.

Be aware from the start that it will be hard for them, very hard, a lot of the time. And they’ll likely even go through a phase of really despising the new location (this happens even when we move locally), but knowing what they’re getting into, and how to support them, will help the most. Preparation in managing those expectations is the key.

Make sure the Global Mobility team or HR team help to prepare them. Keep reading to discover how you can support your expats and their families through these simple, easy suggestions.

Understand the Needs of Your Expats (and Their Families!)

Culturally assimilating if you are an internationally relocated assignee (or family member):

Makes your employee feel less alone and more a part of the new community (less isolation)
A coaching session before moving helps keep expectations under control. This should be with the whole family, not just with the employee.
Many times, it can make or break the assignment
Can help ensure the assignment is completed
Can help an assignee’s family feel at home (if the family isn’t happy, the assignee’s work can suffer)
Allows the assignee to be more productive, because he or she understands the ‘why’ behind what people are saying and doing
Will allow your assignee to pick up on nuances that will build bridges rather than push employees and clients apart

For me personally, during my year and a half in Mexico, I never stopped culturally assimilating. Since I did not have a guide or someone who could help me at the beginning, I had to figure out a lot of things on my own. Although I was able to adapt, it was challenging and the transition was harsh, much harsher than I thought it would be. I was quite angry, confused, and frustrated at the beginning. I found myself wishing I had not made this decision, and I almost ended the contract after just a few weeks at my new post. I decided to stay in the end, but if I had had a guide or support person, I do not believe this risk would have happened.

10 Secrets to Managing your Multilingual Global Workforce

Cultural Isolation and Misunderstandings – Don’t Assume

To understand a little about culturally assimilating in ways you might not think about, read about a few examples below:

For example, I arrived at meetings about 15 minutes late, and my coworkers would arrive about 30 minutes after the chosen start time, which means I was often waiting 45 minutes for the meetings to start. But of course, no one knew that I would arrive early, so no one knew that I didn’t know that they would all be arriving “late”, which was not considered late to them.

Other examples would prove more challenging. A Swiss woman who was relocated to the USA with her husband and children struggled daily for over 6 months due to the differences in the school systems. One of her children pushed back against all the changes very hard, refusing to go to school. They felt that someone should have been there to help them understand the differences, and they were confused why the school did not set up a meeting to discuss the differences with them. I remember explaining to her that the school did not know what the differences were, just as my coworkers in Mexico did not know that I would arrive 15 minutes early to meetings.

Of course, at work, if many of your team members or coworkers come from 1 country continuously throughout the year, or if your relocation assignments are rotating, then your company can learn through experience how to prepare team members for the changes. Companies should set up an assimilation meeting (or meetings over 6 months) to assist newly relocated employees and families.

Solutions to help Employees and their Families Assimilate

Previously relocated families can take newly relocated families under their wing with monthly get togethers or brown bag lunches to learn about the new city
You can hire a professional language and assimilation coach (because if they can’t communicate, then how can they progress?)
Set up a Buddy System with employees that have moved abroad before to be support for the newly relocated employee
A monthly happy hour or weekly lunches one on one with other employees to create bonds. One on one is better than groups. Groups are overwhelming and often hard for the newly relocated person to understand (if they have a different first language)

But no guide or support at all is a recipe for a failed relocation. If the family at home is in tatters, then it will be very challenging for the employee to work at peak performance. And if the employee is left to his or her own devices (ie. allowing him or her to show up 45 minutes early to meetings), then a sense of isolation and ‘figure it out yourself’ mentality could cause serious productivity loss, engagement loss and collaboration loss. It’s too big a risk not to help the new employee adapt. And it’s too easy to set up support to let it slide.

Companies should prepare for these changes by coaching the family beforehand. Not only about what the differences will be in a work setting, but also how it will be at the school, with the healthcare system, in social settings, and more.

Micah Bellieu is CEO and Founder of Fluency Corp, a global company providing language instructors and assimilation coaching. If interested in learning more about supporting your internationally relocated employees (expats), go to www.fluencycorp.com to learn more, and click on Contact Us to set up an initial free consult to go over what you might need.

What is Cultural Assimilation

What does assimilate mean, specifically in the context of cultural assimilation and moving to a new country?nnDoes it mean we just speak the same language as the people in the country, city or region we live in? So if I speak Spanish, do I easily assimilate in both Mexico and Spain? nnDoes it mean we can effectively use communication (spoken and unspoken) with the people around us – that we understand their words, their jokes, their customs and why they do what they do? If someone is sarcastic in New York, do I know the sentence was not a serious one due to the tone the speaker used?nnDoes it mean we fit in and feel comfortable with the people around us? And how important is it to culturally assimilate when we relocate internationally?

Culturally Assimilating Versus Having a Global Mindset

Cultural assimilation is defined as the process by which a minority group (or possible a minority culture) adopts the values and ways of a majority group.

It has also been defined as the process of one group starting to resemble another group. So they are more seemingly alike than before.

When expats relocate, the goal might not be to culturally assimilate in the 3-4 years that they’ll be staying in the new country, but having a global mindset in regards to the new culture will be the key to a successful, long term relocation.

Full assimilation would be when those from the minority group are indistinguishable from those in the majority, which cannot happen in just a few years. It is usually the children of expats that cause the family to assimilate even more, due to the time the children spent in school with so many other families from the region. Accent is the one characteristic that is typically unchangeable for those moving from one country to another.

Cultural assimilation does not have to be moving out of the country. Someone from Louisiana could move to New York and culturally assimilate. The clothing might be different, the accent, the speed of life, the culture of being more weary of people because you are now in a big city. Even language and slang could be different. After 1 year, someone might be dropping the ‘r’ sound on various words, wearing more dark clothing, being more perceptive when walking at night and using words he or she didn’t know existed before and that only New Yorkers understand.

‘Fitting in’ or feeling at home in the new country is important. This does not mean the expats renounce their traditions, clothes, customs or food. The idea is to be open to combining two worlds, if possible. Understand the current society, in order to understand the people there, make friends and build relationships. This will help the expat feel more a part of and not apart from the society around them.

10 Secrets to Managing your Multilingual Global Workforce

Acceleration of Cultural Assimilation Can Depend on the Size of the Minority

Don’t expect to culturally assimilate quickly. Depending on the region and the group, it can take years, or it can take decades. The larger the group, the longer it can take to culturally assimilate, because there are so many people still able to practice the culture of the previous country lived in.

For example, my grandparents moved to Oklahoma City in the 1950s from Mexico. At that time, according to my grandmother (and history), there were not a lot of Spanish speakers in the neighborhood where they moved. Within 4-5 years, my grandparents were fluent English speakers. My grandfather became a salesperson, which shows how high level his English was, and my grandmother became a teacher. Again, she had to have a very high level of English for this as well.

On the other hand, in Dallas in 2020, there are hundreds of thousands of Spanish speakers, and I have met tens of thousands of Spanish speakers that have lived in the United States for decades and still do not speak English. Therefore, when the minority group is a large one, it can be increasingly more difficult for the minority group to assimilate. There is less necessity due to them having a large support system from their own country, customs and traditions.

4 Ways to Measure or Look at Cultural Assimilation

Language. Are the expats comfortable speaking the language in the region? Can they get a job successfully working with others in the region? Can they go to school, college or trade school? Language is a huge part of cultural assimilation, because if you cannot speak to those around you, then it will be very difficult to learn about them.

Intermarriage. Blending families is the quickest way to assimilate, from both sides of the spectrum. Both families will spend so many hours together that they will quickly start learning the traditions of the other culture. The dominant culture (the one where they all live) will be learned even more quickly, because now it is surrounding the expat family even more than before. Before, it was some work colleagues, shopping trips, etc. But now, the culture is in their home, eating dinner with them, speaking the new language while watching TV in the evenings and recommending different activities for weekend fun. This assimilation can be very quick.

Spatial Concentration. This is what I was speaking to above when I told the story of my grandparents. My grandparents very quickly assimilated due to not being around other Mexicans in the 1950s (there weren’t many around in these years in this region). This is not a good thing or a bad thing; it is simply a fact. There are pockets of Hispanic neighborhoods in Dallas where no one speaks English, just like there are pockets of Vietnamese neighborhoods in Dallas where no one speaks English either. This goes for any group of people. There are groups of English speakers in Japan that never learn Japanese and only live in their expat communities. These groups have a hard time assimilating, if they ever do.

Socioeconomic. Moving up the socioeconomic ladder can also be a sign of assimilation. It means the expat or immigrant can successfully work and live in the community, making a living. Oftentimes this can mean that they went to school or got a specialized degree, which means they’ve mastered the language already as well. In immigrant families it can often be the second generation, or with expats, they might already have socioeconomic status, having transferred to the new location for a job opportunity.

Cultural assimilation is a common process in life, especially now that we are such a global society. We know more about other cultures now more than ever. We are able to speak with each other using one main language, English, now more than ever. There has never been a time when this many people from this many countries could all speak to each other using one language. In this way, I believe we are all culturally assimilating a little bit every day. Even in Texas, Texans are adopting Mexican culture as a part of their own, so I believe there should be a new phrase called ‘reverse assimilation’ where the minority makes a new custom for the majority.

The Benefits of Expat Life

What are the main benefits of becoming an expat? It helps to not lose sight of the bigger picture as you consider a possible move to become one. Here’s our take on the really big wins of the experience.

Boosted Independence & Self Efficacy

It puts a spring in your step to know you can ride the wave of expat life, with its highs and lows. Figuring out things as you go, weathering the curve balls and riding the good times when they come around is a skill set you’ll be thankful you developed. In fact, dealing with minor life hassles like an unexpected bill, flat tire or delay in a flight begin to seem like small potatoes now that you mastered setting up a whole new existence in another country, including learning a new language, making new friends and adapting to a new culture. You now have a series of experiences behind you that reinforce your ability to think on your feet and meet major life challenges.

Increased Tolerance & a Broader Perspective

New customs, behaviors and seemingly bizarre ways of doing things … they can be par for the course when adjusting to your new place as an expat. With time, you’ll quickly learn to wait before reacting negatively (if you were tempted to) and take an open-minded approach to understanding why cultures have the practices they do (while remembering that your home country’s way of doing things can also seem pretty odd to newcomers at first!). This adaptive practice of “waiting before reacting” will serve you well in all areas of your life. After all, it rarely hurts to take a more generous, tolerant view of another’s behavior when it is foreign or doesn’t align with how you see the world. It prevents you from regretting something you might have said or allows you to simply find the humor in it all. Not to mention, you will make more friends when they see you’re not judging their country’s ways, too.

Appreciation of Home Country

Conversely, the contrast of being in a new country can quickly bring into sharp focus the creature comforts of your home country (for me, it was plumbing and convenience of, well, everything). The things you took for granted just because they were always available to you are suddenly now much more valuable because they are unavailable or in short supply. A certain cuisine, quick access to the beach or mountains, a great public transportation system or another convenience you may have to go without heightens your appreciation of them and your hometown.

Professional Contacts & Expanded Network / Opportunities

Working in a new country instantly expands your network. In theory, yes, you can connect with people solely over technology, but working face to face or in closer proximity with them provides more meaningful connections that can serve you down the line. Friends and acquaintances that you’ll take back with you, even those slightly removed contacts, can be stronger ones later.

Bragging Rights

OK, so maybe this isn’t at the top of the reasons to become an expat, nor should it be. But, hey, there’s no shame in wanting to be able to hang your hat on that season in your life when you struck out on your own and tried out life in a new country. No one can take that away from you or deny the courage and moxie it takes to become an expat! It is undoubtedly an impressive life chapter you can always stand proud of when sharing about that time in your life, no matter what circles you’re moving in.

Fluency Corp can help your employees and their families assimilate to their country, city and neighborhood through private English lessons (or other languages) in home, in office or online. We transform communication with employees and their families so the success of international relocations are greatly increased. For a free consultation:,contact us at getfluent@fluencycorp.com or (800) 401-3159. Check out our success stories.

4 Characteristics Required to be a Good Language Learner

HBR (Harvard Business Review) always makes for a good Saturday evening read. Yes, I know, I’m a big nerd, but while flipping through the articles something I usually resonates with me and inevitably makes me say out loud, “Yes! Exactly!” And it’s done it once again.

In Erika Andersen’s article “Learning to Learn,” she discussed how the ability to constantly be learning is a key competitive advantage. Because of the field I’m in and my own personal passion for languages, I’m perpetually learning a new language or striving to improve on those I already have some baseline skill in. It never fails that when I tell people I’m learning a new language, 99.9% of them ask me what language training school or college I’m going to. I always shock them when I say I just chat with someone in the native language online for four hours a week. No classroom. No notebook. No quizzes. Nada.

Many people believe that learning is still something that must be done in a classroom. But I 100% disagree, and Andersen does, too. She points out that companies will have a killer competitive upper hand if they make learning a daily experience while resisting the urge to keep doing the same thing, sticking to what they know, and doing things the way they’ve always done them.

She reiterates what I say a lot and that is that it’s freaking gutsy to learn something new (like a language) and perhaps look and feel like an idiot 99% of the time while doing so! It’s one of the reasons kids are so good at picking up languages — they don’t have the self-consciousness that we usually develop as adults.

Andersen and her colleagues, who have been doing executive coaching for decades, have identified some key attributes that make someone a successful ongoing learner who is unphased if they mess up: aspiration (they want it!), self-awareness (they aren’t in denial about themselves and who they are), curiosity (they know it doesn’t kill the cat), and vulnerability (open to looking dumb or not like a cool kid).

Learning a New Language:“I Wanna!” Versus “I Don’t Wanna!”

Obviously, a lot of the internal drive to learn a new skill can be attributed to personality, but that doesn’t mean you can’t grow these attributes, Andersen says. As a language teacher, we say that motivation in an adult is half the battle. It’s really hard to make someone learn Spanish if they don’t want to, but if they come to each class and do the activities, they will still get fluent. But of course, the person who goes and finds Spanish speakers outside of class, and tries to speak another couple of hours each week, will most definitely get fluent in Spanish more quickly. Aspiration is there! Andersen suggests taking a positive view of any new learning opportunities that come up. So before you say, “Why are we changing accounting software again!” think to yourself, “Cool. I get to write a new software on my resume, and if I ever change jobs, another company will find me even more of an asset. Sweet!”

Know Thyself

Sometimes our perception of ourselves is quite different from how others see us. I have this happen with my friends and family all the time. When my sister told me I was “scary,” I was shocked! I think of myself as a loving sister that would do anything for her. But I guess she sees me differently. Instead of running away from these comments, I dig in deeper. If my sister thinks this, then there must be foundation for it, so I need to learn more about why people think I’m scary or intimidating when I think I’m a teddy bear. I asked my assistant and some other friends if they thought I was scary, and most of them agreed, that yes, sometimes I am downright scary and they would never want me mad at them. This gave me pause, and now I check my actions, words or tone before reacting. Self-knowledge can be hard to face, but it can lead to huge changes in your life, and your work life, as well.

I Swear Curiosity Doesn’t Kill all the Cats – I’m Alive, Aren’t I?

When I was a child, my mom gave me a book called, “The Book with All the Answers.” I guess I had a lot of questions, and she was tired of saying, “I’m just not sure, Micah.” And this was the 1990s … no Google back then in the old days. I’ve always been a curious person, but I know that not everyone is. I suggest looking back into the days when you were a kid or think about your first great passion. What was it? Was it music? Nintendo? Drawing? The Count of Monte Cristo? An insect? Whatever it was, channel that intrigue and desire to learn more about it. The next time your boss or your company says that they’re going to relocate you to a new country (again!) or that they’re going to restructure the entire department (what?!), dig into that childlike mindset and ask yourself, “I wonder what that will be like? Will I like the new weather there? What do they eat for breakfast there?” or “I haven’t ever worked with so-and-so before. I am curious what it will be like to work with her. I know she was at X company before, so I think I could learn a lot!” Stay curious about the change, and it’ll take you far. Not to mention you won’t want to stick your head in the sand during the changes.

When Learning a Language You WILL Make Mistakes

Vulnerability is a big buzz word lately. I know you’re probably sick of people telling you to ‘lean in’ and that vulnerability is actually strength. But doggonit, it’s true. It’s absolutely harder to be open and share than it is to walk away and keep it in. I remember when I first moved to Mexico and had to try out my Spanish for the first time in a realistic environment where no one could save me with English. Honestly, the first month there I felt like a mime. I could get out some words, but most of it was acted out, and people would tell me how to say what I was acting out. I was okay with looking like a doof, but when it came to talking, I hated people thinking I was stupid – especially after getting a degree in writing and literature. I mean, it was my JOB to choose the right words, for goodness sake! So I turned into a mute pantomime lady for the first six months, until a fellow American (and fluent Spanish speaker), said to me, “You know you’re never going to be fluent if you refuse to speak until it’s perfect.”

She had me. It was true. I was not progressing at all because I was too afraid to make a mistake. That was my downfall. I had been in Spanish classes for over 8 years, but still wasn’t really being vulnerable. Soon after that, I decided to make as many mistakes as humanly possible each day – and guess what? I got fluent.

Vulnerability will get us closer to the goals we have, because no one is perfect at doing something new. And if we don’t try new things, then we stay just as we are. And our companies will not grow if the people that make them up do not grow.

Fluency Corp can help you feel as stupid as possible by starting your language lessons. Just kidding… kind of. But you have to make mistakes in order to learn. We can also help your employees and their families assimilate to their country, city and neighborhood through private English lessons (or other languages) in home, in office or online. We transform communication with employees and their families so the success of international relocations are greatly increased. For a free consultation, contact us at getfluent@fluencycorp.com or (800) 401-3159. Read success stories at fluencycorp.com/testimonials/.

Most Difficult Cultural Differences Americans Experience in Japan

If you’re American and your company has asked you to relocate to Japan for your job, you’ll likely want to try to prepare yourself for the culture shock. If you already work with Japanese in your current office in the US, then maybe living in Japan won’t be as much as a shock. But if most of your exposure to the Japanese has been mainly on conference calls, then you’ll want to learn a bit about the culture before going to live there.

In this article we will be discussing some of the more startling, and challenging, differences between the 2 cultures. We hope to prepare you for your new life in Japan by discussing some of the more difficult aspects of the culture (for an American).

Finding it Hard to Connect with Japanese

One woman we learned about went to Japan to serve on a religious mission. According to her, the most difficult thing was making connections with the other members of the church. As Americans, we are generally quite expressive, and it can be offputting not to see emotion from people. She knew that it was a form of respect, and that the culture was more private, but she wasn’t quite prepared for how dramatic the difference would be. Although it took her some time to make deeper connections, when she looks back on her time there, she says that the people were her favorite part. She also admits that not knowing the language made it incredibly hard to connect to others, as no one there knew English in the town where she was living.

As I always say, just because people express themselves differently than you do, does not mean they do not feel it. Take the time to get to know the different nuances in expression. Americans’ range might be from -2 up to 12 on a scale of 0 to 10. The French might be from -2 up to 6. The Japanese might be from 3 up to 4; they are not expressing extreme happiness or extreme displeasure to you (in the way that you express it! For example, jumping up and down, screaming, etc). It doesn’t mean the French do not feel great excitement since they do not go up to a 12, but they might not show it the exact same way you do, if you are from the USA. And of course, there are many variations of people and personalities in the USA as well. We can never completely generalize.

Being Illiterate in Japan

This doesn’t have to do with culture, but everyone I spoke to felt completely illiterate in Japan. No one anticipates just how little English is used in Japan, especially for getting around, street signs, maps, stores, and menus. To go from being able to read everything, to being in a sea of confusion, can really get you down. And it’s not as if you can quickly learn the 2000 most common kanji very quickly.

What we can suggest, if you’re going to be there for a month or more, is learning at least 50 vital ones, like restroom, man, woman, various stores (bread, meat, pharmacy, bank, etc), map words, the train system, and important places for you. If you know that you’ll want a massage once a week, make sure to learn that kanji. If you’re a serial expat, and you move to a new country every few years, then you’re likely used to figuring out words in a language you don’t know, but typically they’re using the alphabet, and so it’s much easier to figure out, or at least look up in the dictionary, words that you do not know. But how do you look up a kanji? It’s not impossible, but harder.

Eating in Japan

It’s not that eating in Japan is a challenge. Absolutely not. No one is going to be upset with the foreigner for NOT knowing all the rules about chopsticks, but not know what you’re eating, now THAT’S a problem for me. Chopsticks, noisy eaters, and questionable foods is why we found it challenging there.

My mother always told me to close my mouth when I eat, and do not ever make noise. It’s considered gross, disrespectful, and rude to others eating around you. But to each his own when you have relocated to Japan.

When eating noodles, you are welcome to slurp away. It’s no big deal at all. And if this bothers you, well, then get used to it, because you will most definitely hear it at restaurants. If most definitely bothered me, and well, I just had to get used to it, or steer clear of noodle restaurants.

Having trouble with those chopsticks? Eat sushi at a sushi bar and you can use your hands! If you’re tired of the roll falling apart in the soy sauce, just lay the sticks down and go at it with your fingers. This is okay to do.

While eating with Japanese clients (English learners) from Hitachi, they told me to never set my chopsticks straight up in the rice. This is how a bowl of rice is offered to the spirit of a dead person, so you might not want to do this at dinner. Also, don’t leave chopsticks crossed on plate, bowl or table.

Do not use one chopstick at a time, like a weird fork. And do not pass food to your buddy with your chopstick. nnAnd the list of rules goes on and on…. But remember, you are a foreigner, so they do not expect you to know all of these rules. nnAnd the most challenging thing for me personally was not knowing what you were ordering. By the end of my 1-month stay, I was going to the same restaurants each weekend; the ones with menus with pictures! Before that, I was getting a lot of slimy food that my stomach just couldn’t handle. It’s not that the food was gross, but it’s just so different from the textures that I’m used to, that I just couldn’t eat it. nnSo ordering at restaurants can be very challenging. And the food can, sometimes, be very slimy. Or simply something that this Oklahoma/Boston girl simply isn’t used to. Natto, for one, is a slimy bean food that I cannot stomach. You may like it, but it’s definitely not for me.

How to Behave During Business Meetings in Japan

In the USA, we have formal business meetings… but not really super formal. Most times we come in, plop ourselves in any chair we see, grab some food from the buffet bar, eat, laugh with others about the weekend or a sports game, and then it’s a pretty free place to say your opinions and speak freely. Compared to most of the world’s cultures, ours is pretty, well, relaxed. We’re chill, yo!

Yet, if you’re doing business in Japan…

Watch, then do. This is how we always suggest to do things if you’re in a new country. And when you’re doing business with a new country, and you have money on the line, watch even more.

If you’re going to have a conference in person in Japan, make sure not to sit down right when you walk in the room. Allow the Japanese businessmen/women to show you were to sit and when to sit. There is a hierarchy in Japan when it comes to senior directors, junior directors, and employees, and you’ll want to make sure you do not sit down before the big boss. We recommend just watch, and then sit where you’re told.

Also, make sure to take great care of business cards. Whereas business cards might be declining with the youth of America, they are still important in doing business, and especially in Japan. It’s like holding someone’s name in your hands, not just paper. Make sure to use two hands when you exchange it, and don’t just stuff it in your back pocket. Take a look at it, read it, keep it flat on the table or put it in a carrying case specific for business cards.

We suggest taking notes during the meeting. Not only will it help you focus, but it will show how interested you are in doing business with them. Even in the US, if someone takes notes, I know that this meeting is important to them, and they do not want to miss a word.

Even though the Japanese company you’re meeting with may speak English well, there are nuances that will likely be lost. This is alright if you’re simply making friends with a Japanese person you met in the park, but you need to understand every ounce of meaning and syllable when it comes to a big business deal. Make sure you’ve hired an interpreter well in advance, no matter how fluent either side says they are. And please do not allow an employee to interpret. You need a third party and a professional. Just because you speak 2 languages, does not make you a professional interpreter.

Overall, I would say that the image of the Japanese in mainstream media is a bit more formal than they actually are. And every person and personality is completely different. I had one Japanese friend that I would not dare be touchy with. She just gave off that vibe. While another Japanese friend was touching me all the time while she spoke to me.

One thing we know is important, not to generalize a country or its people. On average, Japanese meetings are much more formal than American meetings. Correct. On average, Japanese people have a way of doing business that is more formal than in the USA. And it’s important to learn the above ideas and customs before going. But the main thing is to watch, listen, try to mimic what you see, and soak it all in. And remember, even your 1 trip is just a tiny glimpse into a country. I personally lived in Mexico for a year and a half, and I wouldn’t say that I know the Mexican people, still. I know a tiny aspect of them, but who am I to say I know more with so little time there?

If you would like language training (Japanese, Spanish, English, etc) in your office, or with a live instructor on Skype or Zoom, then reach out to us! Also, if you’re interested in a communication and culture consultation to bring together two groups at your company, we love to bring people together.

Austin City Neighborhood Guide: Where to Live when Relocating

Austin City Neighborhood Guide | When Relocating for a Job

It’s said that about 100 people move to Austin every day. Why, exactly? Its reputation as an “it town” endures year after year and shows no sign of slowing down. It may be known for its funky, hipster vibe (“keep Austin weird”), but it’s much more than that. When most people think of the city, they think “live music.” But live music is just the start. It also boasts a solid economy thanks to the State Capitol, the University of Texas at Austin, and a growing tech hub. Quality bbq and Tex Mex food, a casual, laid-back tone and sunny weather more days than not are also significant draws.

Though it’s now around 2,000,000 population, it still feels like a small city at heart, where you’re never too separated by that many people. Those desiring an escape from city life can drive out to the surrounding Hill Country to nearby wineries and spas for a reprieve. When the Texas heat is too much, residents can dive into one of 50 public pool facilities. SXSW and ACL are obvious draws, bringing some of the biggest music acts to town twice a year. Now that your interest is piqued, we’ll break down specific neighborhoods that you may find of interest if you’re relocating to Austin.

Eastside

Synonymous with “hip,” Austin’s ever-growing Eastside is a mecca for the city’s younger, up and coming crowd. Farmer’s Markets, food trucks, an Alamo Drafthouse, and a strip of eclectic restaurants, bars and live music options are part of its appeal. If you’re into the arts, lean left politically and crave a more “gritty” vibe, you’ll feel right at home here. You’ll find many growing families and young professionals laying down roots. As far as affordability, it was once more of an accessible option, but if you act soon, you may still be able to find something reasonable.

Westlake

If you’re of the mindset that “more is more,” Westlake may be the neighborhood for you. Sprawling, palatial estates dot the rolling hills of this community. Subtlety is generally not found here and it’s a place where people that like to live large can feel comfortable. Not that there aren’t more modest homes mixed in, but by and large you will find grander displays of wealth. Gated communities, golf courses and the nearby Austin Country Club (host of the annual celebrity-studded Dell Match Play) and Barton Creek Resort offer playgrounds for the affluent. You’ll find Teslas, Bimmers and Range Rovers zooming by. The public Westlake High School enjoys a great reputation and its football games held in its state of the art stadium are packed. Michael Dell of Dell Computers is believed to have a home here, as well.

Central

If “old money” understated elegance is your vibe, you will likely find the leafy neighborhood of Tarrytown a good fit. Centrally located, it’s a gorgeous community that bumps up against Lake Austin. Though it’s close to all the bustle of downtown, the shaded streets highlight a charming mix of house designs, make you feel as if you’re miles away, allowing residents the best of both worlds. You’ll find families and retirees here, along with some UT students renting a few apartments on the neighborhood’s outskirts, though its beauty and serene tone will appeal to basically anyone. By and large, it attracts families with more budget to work with. Nearby Deep Eddy, the state’s oldest swimming pool, is a popular summertime spot as well as the beloved public Lion’s golf course. High profile people who have had residences in Tarrytown include Family Guy creator Mike Judge, Matthew McConoughey, Dennis Quaid and Lance Armstrong.

South

Similar to the Eastside, South Congress or “SoCo” is now prime real estate in Austin. Centered around South Congress Avenue, it has boomed in popularity in recent years. The main drag features live music, restaurants, shopping, Jo’s coffee and Amy’s Ice Cream. Shoppers will love Maya, Allen’s Boots, and Impeccable Pig. Keep an eye out for Elijah Woods who is rumored to own a home in the nearby Bouldin Creek neighborhood. Similarly, Willie Nelson has been known to make drop-in appearances at the famed Continental Club, an unassuming music venue. If you are young, want to be in the center of things and don’t mind higher noise levels, living South is a good option for you.

North Austin

Head a little north of downtown and you will come across a more suburban feel in the Domain area. It tends to draw families and single people who don’t want to pay high rent or housing costs but still want the accessibility of downtown nearby. The Domain, a nice outdoor shopping center that boasts options like Neiman Marcus, Tiffany and Co. and Vince, offers outdoor dining and a good place to window shop the day away. Families looking for bigger lots with all the conveniences of typical strip malls will find North Austin a great option.

No matter where you wind up, our parting advice to those moving to Austin is to simply be yourself. Don’t try too hard and you will find the city welcoming you with open arms.

Fluency Corp can help your employees and their families assimilate to their country, city, and neighborhood through private English lessons (or other languages) in home, in office, or online. We transform communication with employees and their families so the success of international relocations are greatly increased. For a free consultation, contact us or call us at (800) 401-3159. Check out our success stories.

Expat Couples: How to Successfully Face Relocation Together

Trying life out as an expat can bring a lot of benefits and change the trajectory of your life for the better. But what if you and your spouse did it together? With that special person by your side sharing in this major life experience, it can be doubly meaningful. There are a lot of curveballs to being an expat. If you approach 2-5 year relocation time as a team, you can be sure to weather whatever comes your way. Here’s our round-up of the personality traits that will help you two to thrive while abroad.

Be Open Minded

Different religions, customs, and social mores are a given when you move to another country. Some of them will probably clash with you or your partner’s way of doing things. For example, in some countries it is more acceptable to be “touchy feely” and even kiss on the cheek upon meeting. In other cultures, though, just touching someone else’s arms casually in a conversation can be viewed as a violation of personal space. Depending on you or your partner’s cultural background, you may feel more comfortable with one way of doing things, while your partner falls on the other end of the spectrum. You may find the style appealing or, conversely, off-putting. Try to adopt an open-minded stance to your new culture and your partner’s view on it, which may be different from your own. It doesn’t mean you have to change your views, but for the sake of diplomacy, find a way to tactfully bow out of things that you don’t agree with, or simply wait to judge if someone does something that seems odd to you.

Stay Strong & Be Resilient

Traveling and moving can take it out of you. Just moving alone is ranked as one of the most stressful activities. Now, imagine you’re moving to another country and the stress all but doubles. The ability to bounce back from setbacks and frustrations is key. The new apartment only has stairs and no elevator? Welcome to the big city! The grocery store doesn’t carry Heinz mustard and it’s your favorite? Find a new favorite condiment! The public transportation system is erratic and you’re really missing your car right about now? Grab a book and enjoy the reading time! Ideally, you’d help each other keep a light-hearted perspective in situations such as these. Finding the bright side will take on a whole new meaning when you’re being slapped in the face with constant differences on a daily basis.

Explore Your New World

Hopefully you are both willing to try to get involved as you lay down roots. Attend happy hours with colleagues at work, make an effort with lunchtime chats, or have everyone over for a BBQ after a few months. If you have kids, join the PTA, volunteer for weekend activities (if you work), or at the local animal shelter or library. A certain amount of extroversion is going to be handy here from at least one partner. Remember that one person can balance the other out in areas like these. And make sure to ask a lot of questions. Never assume! You know what that does…

Commit to Learning

As a couple investigating a new city, you’ll inevitably bump up against some things you don’t know or understand about the culture you’re now immersed in. For example, why are the Mexicans throwing huge buckets of water on the floors to mop? And also, why do I have to take my shoes off when I go to my friend’s house in Japan? How embarrassing! I didn’t wear matching socks and there’s a hole in the toe…

Remind each other that it’s ok to ask questions and clarify when you don’t understand. The ability to act like a child when you don’t know something, take in new information with grace, and then take it all with a grain of salt, and not so seriously, will help greatly as you navigate day to day life.

Maintain a Sense of Humor

There will inevitably be things that go wrong: one of you puts your foot in it, makes the other cringe, or orders one thing from the menu, and gets a completely different thing. Don’t forget to laugh and see the comedy or irony in situations like these. A good natured amusement of your new life together will go very far in keeping things harmonious. If you can laugh together, that only makes your relationship stronger and your memories together better. Remember, too, that the more you travel as a couple the better you will probably get at it and your compatibility will deepen.

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Please include attribution to FluencyCorp.com with this graphic.nn</p> <p><a href='https://fluencycorp.com/expat-couples-how-to-successfully-face-relocation-together/'><img src='https://fluencycorp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/expat-couples-how-to-succesfully-face-relocation-together-1000-2100.jpg' alt='Expat Couples: How to Successfully Face Relocation Together' width='1000px' border='0' /></a></p> <p>Fluency Corp can help your employees and their families assimilate to their country, city and neighborhood through private English lessons (or other languages) in home, in office or online. We transform communication with employees and their families so the success of international relocations are greatly increased. For a free consultation, contact us or call us at (800) 401-3159. Read success stories on our testimonials page.

Surprising Cultural Differences Between Japan and USA

When Japanese Relocate to the USA, here are some things that surprise them!

If you’re a salaryman in Japan, there could be a possible international relocation in your future, especially if you work for a global company like OSG USA, 7-11, Toyota, or Nissan. Toyota, for example, has a 1-year international relocation program to the USA. But many companies transfer their employees for 2 – 5 years at a time. They do this so that employees can learn, broaden their horizons, improve their English-language skills, and collaborate with their peers in the USA.

Most employees are very excited when they first hear about such an opportunity. They will get to travel, meet a new culture, improve their English, and hopefully, get a raise in salary and possible higher positions when they come back from living abroad. What many companies do not consider is the fact that a change in culture can have a dramatic impact on an employee and his or her family.

In this article, we want to bring up some basic cultural differences between Japan and the USA. We hope that these will lessen the shock when you finally move to the US.

10 Surprising Cultural Differences Between Japan & the US

This one might seem silly, but it won’t be when you have angry Americans honking at you when you don’t turn right on red. Of course, to be able to drive here, you’ll have to take a driving test and pass it, but it’s also really hard to remember that you can take a right on red when you’ve never been allowed to do it before. So don’t forget, right on red is okay!
Yards. Big ones! We’ve got ‘em. Yards so big you can play a game of baseball in them. Size and space in general is going to be a huge shock. In Japan, due to the lack of space, people do not have yards. Actually, they barely have dining rooms and kitchens either. Let’s put home size on another tab.
You’ll feel like you’ve hit the jackpot when it comes to space. Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism says that a single person living alone in the city should have a minimum of 25 square meters (roughly 250 square feet – or, as we say, a box) and a maximum of 40 square meters (roughly 400 square feet – a slightly bigger box). Yikes! When the Japanese move to Texas (or anywhere in the midwest) they are going to feel like they can make 10 snow angels in their huge yards and have 10 picnics on the ground in their huge Texas living rooms. Welcome! They say everything is bigger here… probably because there’s so much room.
Getting sucked in to Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime. Watch out! We have great shows in the US, and you will eventually be under their spell and not realize that you’ve watched 2 seasons of some show in just 2 days… where did my weekend go? We hear this from almost every country, actually. The US, for some reason, produces/creates great TV.
We have a lot of libraries. These are a huge center of communities. You can bring your children for story time, you can rent books, CDs, movies, magazines and more. IF you’re going to be in the US for even just a year, make sure to get a library card to enjoy all that your local library has to offer.
Huge grocery stories and food. Once again, everything is larger here. And you’ll be seeing more shelves, higher shelves, and huge boxes with food in it. You probably don’t have as many options in Japan for the following: cereal, ice cream, cheeses, different types of milk (oat, skim, 2%, almond, etc). Also, food and serving sizes are larger. A large drink at McDonald’s is 32 ounces in the US, yet in Japan, it is about 20 ounces.
You’ll be shocked by everyone inviting you into their home, and making sure you keep your shoes on.
Be warned, the Japanese Americans, or someone, has made up things like a ‘California Roll’ and various other ‘rolls’ that do not actually exist in Japan. You’ll have to go to the Japanese part of town in a big city to find actual Japanese food. If you eat the Americanized version (just like the Japanized versions of American food in Japan), it will NOT taste like Japanese food. I’ve heard Japanese say that it has more salt and sugar than the real deal. Not surprising.
Guns. Americans have them. Roughly 30% of Americans own guns according to a Gallup Poll. 40-45% are Republicans or Conservatives and just 14-16% are Democrats or Liberals. Compare that with Japan’s 377,000 total registered firearms in the entire country in 2017. I will say, that I did not come from a home with a gun, and I have still never seen one in real life, except when it was in the holster of a policeman, and I am from the Bible belt, where supposedly that’s all we do is own guns and shoot guns. Not me though.
I have heard the Japanese say, and I would agree, that Americans are too sensitive, and since they are always trying to be politically correct, that it’s hard to have a conversation about anything interesting: differences in races, politics, learn about each other’s religion, etc. This has led some Japanese to refrain from talking in depth with Americans, as the Americans seem to get offended quickly and often. I have also heard Europeans say the same about Americans.

If you, your employer, or your employees would like to either learn Japanese with live instructors in your office, home or online, Fluency Corp would love to get you fluent. Or maybe you need a cultural and communication consultation because there are two cultures (American/Japanese) in the office and everyone is having some challenges working together. Or maybe you just want to engage everyone more and create an open dialogue. If yes to any of the above, get in touch!