WORLD TO THE WISE » cultural awareness

World to the Wise Partners with Golden Rule Travel

admin — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 22:38:02 +0000

World to the Wise Cultural Tours is proud to announce its partnership with Golden Rule Travel, an Ohio-based agency specializing in group travel to Europe and the Middle East. Not only is Golden Rule handling all our hotel accommodations for the upcoming cultural tour, but they are also able to provide the most advantageous airfares we have found, thanks to a special contract with United Airlines.

If you would like to contact Golden Rule directly, just send an e-mail to Justin at justin@goldrule.net or call him at (800) 950.3599. Golden Rule has also calculated airfares for multiple-city itineraries; for example, flying into London, then returning to the US from Paris.

Registrations are coming in as we prepare for our inaugural tour this June. In case you’re joining us for the first time on this site, we are hosting a cultural tour to three of Europe’s greatest cities: London, Paris and Amsterdam. We’ll spend one week in each of the three cities, and participants are able to join us for one, two or all three weeks. See other posts on this site for a full description, then e-mail us at admin@worldtothewise.net if you’re interested! The absolute deadline for registration is April 15, but you don’t want to wait till the last minute, as space is limited!

We are pleased to offer an additional family member discount to our participants, as well as a price break for those coming for more than one week. Below is the breakdown of how this will work. NOTE: “1st week, 2nd week,” etc. does not mean London, Paris, etc., but the number of total weeks a person participates. For example, if Sheila Sharpe comes to Paris and Amsterdam, the first week will cost $1500 and the second $1325.

1st week 2nd week 3rd week

One family member $1500 $1325 $1125

2nd family member 1325 1125 1125

3rd family member 1125 1125 1000

Your refundable deposit* of $200 reserves you a place — and it will be helpful to us to know which city or cities you are most interested in. So please either post a comment on this post or e-mail us at admin@worldtothewise.net.

* Until April 15

Quick addendum: Weekly Costs

admin — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 22:16:24 +0000

In our last update, we neglected to give the total weekly cost for the tour — a minor detail!

As mentioned earlier, all participants will be making their own flight arrangements directly with Golden Rule Travel; so apart from your air travel, the total cost per week will be $1500. This includes all hotels (3 star), all meals, ground transportation, all museums and attractions, and gratuities. You will be responsible for any discretionary spending, such as souvenirs, snacks, and travel insurance, should you so choose.

And don’t forget that contributions toward your trip are tax-deductible — so get those creative juices flowing to come up with your own fundraising ideas. And remember that all participants who sign-up by January 28 will benefit from the proceeds of the Lifesong Theatre Group production of Fiddler on the Roof in Nashville, Jan. 29-31 and Feb. 4-6.

For a tour description, just scroll down two posts.

Questions? E-mail us at worldtothewise.net.

Let the fun (and sign-ups begin!)

Registration now open for the inaugural World to the Wise Cultural Tour!

admin — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:22:25 +0000

Dear friends,

Our anticipation is growing daily as we prepare for the inaugural World to the Wise Cultural Tour. We’re pleased to announce that we’re now taking registrations! But first, some important news:

All contributions to your costs as a tour participant are TAX-DEDUCTIBLE!

We have made arrangements for World to the Wise Cultural Tours to be a subsidiary of Crucible International, a nonprofit we started in 2005. The mission of World to the Wise is to feed cultural curiosity and promote cultural intelligence. This dovetails with The Crucible’s mission to equip people with tools to impact and help shape culture. NOTE: Payments will be made directly to World to the Wise Cultural Tours.

This means, for example, that students whose grandparents, other relatives or friends would like to contribute toward the expenses of this life-shaping experience will receive a tax deduction. Hopefully this will make it easier for any and all of our participants to raise the necessary funds. Please note that the tour is open to people of all ages – not just students!

Need a reminder of the dates and destinations? For a tour description, see previous post.

We are partnering with Golden Rule Travel to make travel arrangements. Each participant must contact Golden Rule directly to make his/her flight arrangements. This will allow for anyone desiring to book an alternate itinerary – whether it be going early, staying later, or visiting other European destinations. Through a contract Golden Rule has with United Airlines, we have found some reasonable airfares for that time of year, with no charge for changes made up to a certain date. Golden Rule’s contact info will be included in your registration packet.

So how do you register? Simply send an e-mail to admin@worldtothewise.net stating your name, address, desired destination(s) and the number of travelers. You will then receive a registration packet, including a simple form to fill out and return, along with a deposit of $200. This deposit will be refundable for a limited time.

Some thoughts on fundraising:

You are of course free to raise funds for your trip in any and every way you choose; however, here is one opportunity for all registrants to receive a boost as you consider your own fundraising ideas. Part of the proceeds of the Lifesong Theatre Group’s production of “Fiddler on the Roof” in Nashville Jan. 29-31 and Feb. 4-6, will go towards the travel expenses of all participants who have registered by January 28. Even if you don’t live in the Nashville area, or even if you don’t attend the play (we hope you will!), you will benefit if you have signed up by Jan. 28! Details for the musical can be found on Facebook by typing Fiddler on the Roof into the Facebook search bar.

We look forward to having you on board our very first adventure together as World to the Wise Cultural Tours! Don’t put off signing up – space is limited! Questions? E-mail us at admin@worldtothewise.net.

Yours for the culturally curious,

David Durham

to the Wise Cultural Tour Update

Dear friends,

Our anticipation is growing daily as we prepare for the inaugural World to the Wise Cultural Tour. We’re pleased to announce that we’re now taking registrations! But first, some important news:

All contributions to your costs as a tour participant are TAX-DEDUCTIBLE!

Need a reminder of the dates and destinations? For a tour description, click here.

So how do you register? Simply send an e-mail to admin@worldtothewise.net stating your name, address, desired destination(s) and the number of travelers. You will then receive a registration packet, including a simple form to fill out and return, along with a deposit of $200. This deposit will be refundable for a limited time.

Some thoughts on fundraising:

Dear friends,

Our anticipation is growing daily as we prepare for the inaugural World to the Wise Cultural Tour. We’re pleased to announce that we’re now taking registrations! But first, some important news:

All contributions to your costs as a tour participant are TAX-DEDUCTIBLE!

Need a reminder of the dates and destinations? For a tour description, click here.

Some thoughts on fundraising:

Announcing the 2010 World to the Wise Cultural Tour

admin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:02:22 +0000

We are happy to announce plans to host our first ever World to the Wise Cultural Tour. We have designed it in a modular format so that travelers will be able to choose one, two, or three one-week periods. Here are the details!

LONDON June 12 – 19, 2010

Many Americans have the feeling of coming home when they discover this land that is the mother country to many of our ancestors. Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London and the Tower Bridge, Westminster Abby, Big Ben, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Globe Theatre, some of the most amazing museums in the world, the Tube, the River Thames, cream tea, shortbread, meat pies, homes of some of English literature’s greats, and on and on!

PARIS June 19-26

Often called the Pearl of Europe and the City of Lights, this gem has probably inspired more songs and literature than any other city. Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay, the Palace of Versailles, the Latin Quarter with its sidewalk artists, the Arche de Triomphe and Champs Elysées…not to mention the obligatory sidewalk cafés, croissants, pastries, baguettes, cheese. (Oops, got a little side-tracked there.…) One evening will be spent with local Parisian friends over dinner, comparing our impressions of each other’s culture, laughing at ourselves, and learning to appreciate the inherent beauty of every culture.

AMSTERDAM June 26 – July 3

One of the most charming cities in all of Europe, Amsterdam has a character all its own. Journey back to the Golden Age of the Netherlands, when Amsterdam was one of the largest and most powerful commercial cities in the world. Visit the world-famous Rijksmuseum, home of the Dutch Masters, as well as the amazing Van Gogh Museum. Take a boat ride on the city’s intricate canal system while admiring the charm of the 17th and 18th century row houses that line the canals. Visit the historic home of Anne Frank, as well as the Ten Boom house in Haarlem, made famous in Corrie ten Boom’s moving book, The Hiding Place. Experience the world’s largest tulip fields and greenhouses, as well as the home of the famous Delft Blue China. And spend an evening over dinner with local Amsterdammers and learn the meaning of gezelligheid (hint: coziness to the max).

As mentioned above, travelers will have the choice of joining us for one, two, or all three consecutive weeks in three of Europe’s greatest cultural capitals.

It’s time to start planning (and saving) now! To get on our mailing list to receive updates, just fill in your name and e-mail address in the form to the right, and we’ll keep you up to date.

Registration will begin soon, so let us hear from you and we’ll send you the initial information on costs, passport application, etc.

Traveling in Comfort

admin — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:56:00 +0000

If you’ve traveled abroad, you know what I’m talking about — chances are, the airplane passengers or the tourists wearing white tennis shoes at the Eiffel Tower are Americans.

While travelers from many cultures don one of their nicer outfits for the trip, Americans opt for comfort. As Sarah Lanier puts it in her book, Foreign to Familiar, there is something in the American mindset that says being comfortable is of higher importance than looking appropriate.

There is a reason for this, Lanier goes on to explain. It turns out that cultures that are generally more informal — including not only the US, but also Australia, the modern state of Israel and Canada, for example — are the younger countries who have had less time to develop age-old traditions piled high on top of each other. The older, more traditional cultures are called “high-context” cultures, while the newer cultures are “low-context’. Even in poor countries, the people dress their very best when going to a meeting, out in public or to someone else’s home for dinner.

Americans, Australians and other low-context cultures are quick to address each other by their first names. Even though I’ve now been back in the US for fifteen years after living in Europe, I’m still taken aback at times how even in somewhat formal situations, such as in TV or radio interviews, the first name is used immediately.

Remember, we’re not talking necessarily about right or wrong here — but what is important is that the traveler be oriented to the host culture he or she is visiting. Otherwise, innocent mistakes will often be interpreted as insults. This works in both directions: the Korean culture, for example, is one of the oldest on the planet, therefore extremely high-context. Koreans immigrating to the US should be prepared for the shock of informal American culture. Many Koreans prefer to be addressed by Mr., Miss or Mrs. and their surname, and are often offended when immediately addressed by their first name.

The quintessential low-context culture is southern California, which explains why many people in California, whether natives or recent arrivals, feel a sense of freedom to be creative, start new trends, or be different.

Cultural Carnivores

admin — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:31:00 +0000

One of my favorite travel hosts is Rick Steves, mainly because of his infectious passion for discovery and his admiration of cultural diversity. In his latest blog, he talks about being inspired all over again by his daughter’s current travels through Spain — and ‘their unbridled fun — not gumming the culture, but tearing into it with carnivorous teeth and selfish abandon.’

Here’s to cultural carnivores.

Hot Climate – Cold Climate

admin — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:10:00 +0000

In her book, Foreign to Familiar, my former colleague Sarah Lanier explains the concept of hot-climate and cold-climate cultures. Generally speaking (there are always exceptions), those who are from hot-climate countries are more relationally oriented, whereas cold-climate cultures are more task-oriented. If you’re not familiar with this concept, it may initially come across as such a generalization that it’s untenable; but the more you think about it, the more it seems to make sense — even within the United States. People from the South are generally more relationship oriented, whereas Northerners are most often characterized as business-like.

In Europe, the dinstinctions are virtually undeniable: northern Europeans have a vastly different approach to life from southern Europeans. We could continue to cite examples from around the world. Distinctions can also be drawn between urban and rural or agrarian societies. This has a myriad of ramifications — what is considered polite and customary in one culture may be considered entirely inappropriate in another.

Awareness of fundamental truths like this can often make all the difference in intercultural relationships, whether in business or friendships. Lanier recounts a conversation on an airplane, where a Lebanese woman lamented that if she had only understood this concept earlier in the eight years she had lived in the US, she would surely have more friends by now:

‘I’ve been lonely since moving here, and now I know why. When people in the office would ask me if I wanted to go to lunch, I would say no to be polite, fully expecting them to ask me again. When they didn’t and left without me, I thought they didn’t really want me along and had asked only out of politeness. In my culture, it would have been too forward to say yes the first time.’

Personal Space?

admin — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:03:00 +0000

If you value your personal space, you best not be a commuter in Japan. This video was shot a few years ago, and I understand things are not quite so extreme now, but even so….

"Justice" in Somalia

admin — Wed, 20 May 2009 13:55:00 +0000

It was the most excitement the southern Somalian city of Kismayo had seen in quite some time: a vehicle with loud speakers roamed the streets, inviting the public to the enforcement of the Islamic law the dictates punishment for theft — the cutting off the the right hand.

Hundreds gathered in Freedom Park as a young man named Mohamed Omar Ismail, found guilty of stealing goods from another man’s house, was brought before the crowd as a statement was read. The passage from the Koran was read which decrees the relevant punishment. His hand was then immediately severed and held up before the crowd by the index finger, as if to prove that ‘we mean business.’

Ismail, recovering from his wound in a local hospital, says he did not commit the burglary and is still in shock from what has happened to him.

The current struggle for control in Somalia is not secular forces versus Islamic forces, but hardline Islamists versus more moderate Islamists. Both say that sharia law, or Islamic law, will sooner or later be firmly in place in that war-torn country.

¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

admin — Tue, 05 May 2009 13:09:00 +0000

On May 5, 1862, the underdog Mexican army withstood the onslaught of the powerful French army, undefeated in fifty years, in the southeastern state of Puebla. Even though it was not even a turning point in the war against the French, who completed their invasion a year later, it is remembered and celebrated for the Mexicans’ determination to stand up against great odds.

Believe it or not, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated more outside Mexico than within — the people of Puebla certainly celebrate, but it is primarily a regional, not national, celebration. Many non-Mexicans believe it is Mexican Independence Day (that is September 16). The date has evolved throughout the world simply as a day to celebrate Mexican culture and heritage, and a good excuse for many to indulge in Mexican food and tequila.

Today’s celebration in Puebla, however, will no doubt be mitigated by the current virtual lockdown in Mexico because of the H1N1 virus. In any case, here’s to a lively, colorful culture which has impacted us all in one way or another.