Of all the variables you might find on the “cultural dashboard”, there is none more likely to spark a clash faster than the varying definitions of “clean” across cultures. The paradox is nearly every culture has strict rules about what is “clean” but in the complicated dance that is cross-cultural understanding, of course, the rules…
Tell us a little bit about your most recent UnTour. We combined a Viking River Cruise (from Amsterdam to Basel) with a one week UnTour on the Rhine, in St. Goar. It really was a great combination. Our Viking Cruise was enjoyable, the times were well-organized and the excursions off the boat were interesting and…
One of the foundation’s newest loan recipients, Wash Cycle Laundry, just won “Best Laundry Service 2012” in the readers’ choice awards through the Philadelphia Magazine. We couldn’t be more proud of this dynamic, start-up company! And how does one run a laundry service on bikes?! Here’s how. We welcome your support of our work. “After…
Today we offer our culture clue — how people might differ in displaying emotion in public in Germany (compared to other cultures) with the benefit of our Cultural Dashboard tool. 1. Can you guess the likely outcome? Do you know why you might guess that way? Is it based on direct experience? Old movies? A…
Photo courtesy of Gray Panthers of San Francisco One of my personal heroes is Maggie Kuhn, the feisty founder of the Gray Panthers. I had the delight of befriending Maggie when she was in her 80’s. We went together several times a year to do something that is not in my basic nature: clothes shopping!…
To build a “roadmap for a culture” that is useful for the UnTourist about to go on a German UnTour (or any of our destinations outside the US) is a tricky thing. It is all too easy to stray into stereotypes and oversimplification, especially when we’re way outside our own culture. Things look deceptively simple…
Tell us about your most recent UnTour: In August 2011, my daughter and I returned to the German Castle for a week. It felt as if we were coming home. The Baron and Moritz greeted us upon arrival, treating us like old friends stopping for a visit. We stayed in the Carola Apartment, as we…
Tell us a little bit about your most recent UnTour. Last year we took the Germany Castle Tour. After our experience last year, we will definitely take another UnTour vacation and are happy to see them include the new river cruises. Prior to taking our UnTours trip, we had taken one bus tour (which…
When writer Carol Metzker met an 11-year-old girl rescued from slavery, she realized she had two options: to bury the shocking information so it couldn’t cause her greater pain, or to face the monster of child slavery and work to make change. She chose the latter, sending her on a journey into the dark world…
At UnTours, along with sending you on trips that are especially good for living like a local, we also like to provide you with a handy ‘roadmap of the culture’. We think if we can provide you with a few rules of thumb, we can fast forward you into a place where you understand the…