What’s unique to us humans is that we all have dreams. But these dreams are often spoiled by “what ifs.” We constantly doubt ourselves and play the worst case scenarios in our heads. What if I suck? What if I fail? What if others think I’m dumb? All these limited beliefs flood our brains. And […]
Top five posts of 2022
Common questions during job interviews in the US
When I was working on my Master’s degree at the University of San Francisco, one of my professors told us a story about a Korean man who had applied for an open position at the university. The interview went great, my professor said. The candidate was knowledgeable and pleasant to talk to; he answered all […]
Seven things I am still not used to in the US
Declining fluency in your native language?
What surprised me when I moved to the US
The power of body language
When we study a new language, we usually think about using correct grammar, memorizing vocabulary, and learning how to pronounce words correctly. But there is a very important aspect to mastering a foreign language that has been a little neglected – body language. I remember once talking to an American guy; actually he was talking […]
Cultural difference or misused punctuation mark?
“Thank you for being such a ‘good’ friend,” she wrote and, although I knew what she’d meant, I was a bit taken aback. Was it a cultural difference or a misused punctuation mark? My friend had written this sentence on the beautiful card she’d given me before going back to her country. To her, putting […]
New country, new me
Cultural bridges – adjusting to new life in the US
There’s something about bridges. They always remind me of the time when I left my native country and began my life as a “foreigner.” I don’t know why they have such an effect on me; maybe because they always connect two pieces of something – land, buildings, or anything that needs to be connected. So […]