Onam Celebrations at Infopark
Post by Authentic Journeys – Cultural and Lifestyle Mentoring. Onam was celebrated by all of the companies in Infopark during the first week of September 2014. On Friday, September 5 most of the companies campus-wide participated in the festivities. The festivities started in the morning between 8-8:30am. Employees were asked to come in early […]
The Story of Onam – Onakatha
Every year to celebrate Onam, the people of Kerala, a state in southwestern India, make pookkalams. “Poo” means flower and “kalam” means design. These flower designs or flower carpets can be comprised of pretty and colorful designs, while others also depict stories. The pookkalam pictured to the right tells the story of Onam. The story […]
Onam Dance: Thiruvathirakali
Did you know there is a step in Thiruvathira that can help you to face the audience more confidently while giving presentations? When I ask this question during sessions on presentation skills, many think this is strange. There is one particular step in Thiruvathira that allows the dancer to “walk” in front or behind another […]
2015: Holidays and Vacations
2015 Holidays and Vacations for Teams Working Between the USA and India (See 2016 calendar. See 2017 calendar) Need for this Calendar This calendar will be useful for Indians and Americans working between the two countries and cultures. As India is a diverse country which celebrates different holidays in different parts of the country, this […]
IM Etiquette With Clients: Polishing Casual Communication
IM or chat is a popular communication medium for quick, online communication. While it may be considered “casual,” that doesn’t mean there are no rules. Let’s take a look at how to approach IM etiquette with clients, customers and others in a work environment. What are the benefits of using IM? IM is quick, […]
That Awful ‘Aw’ Sound in American English
Whichever way you spell it – o, au, aw, augh, ough, or a, that awful ‘aw’ sound in American English is a tough “nut to crack.” To me, this sound seems to be one of the most challenging sounds to make, learn, and use, simply because it does have so many spellings. And, not in […]
When do Americans Eat Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner?
When living in another country, it’s easy to focus on the big transitions—new jobs, learning to drive, new schools, new systems. But often, it’s the everyday routines that catch us off guard. Culture shock doesn’t always announce itself with dramatic gestures; sometimes, it shows up quietly at the breakfast table or during a lunch break […]
Back to the Drawing Board – Idioms in American English
Let’s say you are on a call with your US counterpart. You and your counterpart are planning how to add features into the website, but after trail and error, it’s not working out. Your US counterpart could respond, “Well, though we’ve tried a lot of things, it looks like we will have to go back […]
Raycast Technologies: Education Through Games
In this installment of the Infopark Startup Series, meet Abhishek, the the CEO of Raycast Technologies. Abhishek Mohan K, pictured to the right, is the CEO of Raycast Technologies, located in the Kochi InfoPark. In 2013, Abhishek resigned from his job in the Ministry of Education, Maldives, to start this company. Jennifer: Thank you […]
Indian English Phrases and Slang Not Used in the US
“I’ll just be coming….” “Have you taken your food?” These were a few phrases that baffled me when I “landed up” in Chennai to study my Master’s in Social Work many years ago. Probably one of the most challenging aspects of moving to another culture that has the same language is realizing […]
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