When I was about eleven years old, I had my first embarrassing encounter with airport security. I stood behind my parents anxiously awaiting my bag's arrival through the scanner, praying nothing would encourage the guard to open my purple tote with neon-pink hearts (yes, it's nearly two decades later and like any self-respecting girly-girl, I remember which bag I was carrying). As I reached to grab my tote from the conveyor belt, the guard got to it first and began to unzip it - and I … [Read more...]

In many Asian cultures, there is a special protocol for exchanging business cards. Fortunately I was told of this before meeting my Japanese colleagues for the first time. In Japan, business cards are not carelessly tossed across the conference room table, shoved into your wallet or purse, or jammed in between papers in your briefcase; all of this would be considered quite rude. Instead, business cards are treated with a great deal of respect. Hold the card with both hands, and face your name … [Read more...]