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Why Did the Time in the US Change?

If your US meeting suddenly looks one hour earlier or later than usual, don’t worry—nothing went wrong. Many professionals working on India–US global teams ask, “Why did the time in the US change?”, especially in March and November when US clocks shift and India remains on IST. The United States changes its clocks twice a […]

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US – India Holiday Calendar 2026

For those who work on offshore and onsite teams between the US and India, this US – India Holiday Calendar 2026 highlights key holidays, observances, and special days. While not all of these are official leave days (or paid vacation), some may be floating holidays depending on your colleague’s religious and cultural affiliation. This calendar […]

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Turning Tech Updates into Conversations

You’ve just finished a complex feature, and your U.S. team member asks for an update. You could list the technical details, but will that keep them engaged? This is where turning tech updates into conversations can transform a one‑way report into a two‑way exchange. For professionals in India working with U.S. colleagues, making updates conversational […]

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“At Your Earliest Convenience” Yay or Nay?

The use of “at your earliest convenience” is often used in professional emails in some business cultures, including in India. What type of response may you get while working with US Americans when using “at your earliest convenience?” Well, this phrase, while it can sound polite, is not specific, so it can also be read […]

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10 Ways To Thank on Social Media

Are you managing your company’s social media page?      Do you want different ways to thank on social media or show appreciation to your followers; those who like, view, comment, and share your posts without saying the overused thank you?     Generally, readers of our blog have companies or teams in the US […]

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Small Talk for the 4th of July Holiday

The 4th of July is a much awaited summer holiday. For many students mid May to Mid June starts summer vacation. During the summer vacation, many look forward to celebrating Independence Day, which falls on July 4. While many working professionals do get July 4th off, as it is a national and bank holiday, some […]

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Making Small Talk with US Americans

Learn the dos and don’ts of making small talk with US Americans.   While making small talk and getting to know your colleagues in India on a personal level before getting down to business is important, Americans may often be more transactional.   Learn the dos and don’ts of small talk to build trusting and […]

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How are you holding up? – When to ask and how to answer

When times are stressful or life is challenging, especially during our #stayathome and lockdown times, people may ask each other “How are you holding up?” to start a conversation. Learn more about this question, how it compares to the small talk opener “How are you?” and how to answer it. [Transcript of the video follows.] […]

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How to Start a Chat with a US American Person

Do you want to start an online chat with a US American?  Recently, a few of my friends in the US who weren’t familiar with Indian culture reached out to me with this concern, “A few people from India reached out to me to be my Facebook friend.. but why are they asking me if […]

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6 Small Talk Conversation Starters

Having a few small talk conversation starters in your back pocket (handy to use) is really important. It is what opens doors of conversation, business dealings, and future friendships. But what is small talk? When do you use small talk? Why is it used by Americans? What are some safe topics to bring up?    […]

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