Author: kuperard

Culture Smart! Ireland: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

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A new edition of Culture Smart! Ireland is available now!

Most guidebooks on Ireland will tell you where to stay and what to see. Culture Smart! Ireland is written for people who want to know more and go deeper. 

Here you will find the beliefs and attitudes of the Irish, their rich musical and literary culture, their ancient language and mythology, the values they live by, how they do business, how they enjoy themselves, and the ways they have been molded by their tumultuous history and indeed their geography. 

This understanding will be appreciated by your hosts; it will open doors to you, even open the hearts of a generous, talented people, justifiably proud of their unique identity.

Whether you’re travelling, working, or just curious about this delightful country, Culture Smart! Ireland is your key to understanding and appreciating its people and culture.

Available here

Book Details:

  • ISBN: 9781787023666
  • Format: Paperback
  • Page count: 200
  • Dimensions: 171 x 108 x 13mm
  • Published at: £10.99 / $14.99/ CAN $19.99

Culture Smart! Guatemala: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

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A new edition of Culture Smart! Guatemala is available now!

The largest and most populous Central American country, Guatemala is a land of contrasts and contradictions. It offers great physical beauty alongside ancient Mayan ruins and a conglomeration of diverse peoples and cultures. It is also unique in Central America in that more than half its population is of Mayan Indian origin. Today the country reflects a combination of ancient Mayan heritage, Spanish colonialism, and modern Western influences, mainly from the United States.

Culture Smart! Guatemala introduces you to the complexities of Guatemalan society and shows how history has shaped the values and attitudes you will encounter. It describes different aspects of Guatemalan life, from festivals and cuisine to socialising and doing business.

This new and updated edition provides key insights into the minds and hearts of Guatemalans today and offers practical advice on how to make the most of your time while being a savvy and considerate guest.

Whether you’re travelling, working, or just curious about this fascinating country, Culture Smart! Guatemala is your key to understanding and appreciating its people and culture.

Available here

Book Details:

  • ISBN: 9781787023635
  • Format: Paperback
  • Page count: 200
  • Dimensions: 171 x 108 x 13mm
  • Published at: £10.99 / $14.99/ CAN $19.99

Culture Smart! Saudi Arabia: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

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A new edition of Culture Smart! Saudi Arabia is available now!

The Saudi Arabia of today is nothing like the Saudi Arabia of twenty years ago, or even ten years ago.

In the past, the Arab Gulf nation was a closed, secretive country, a conservative Islamic society strictly guarded by Sharia law and closed to visitors except those coming for religious pilgrimage or work. Now, the country is going through an extraordinary transformation that began in 2016 at the launch of Vision 2030, the plan that Saudi’s leaders King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman have devised to catapult the country into the future. 

The pace of change and its wider effects, particularly on Saudi society, cannot be understated. No matter who you talk to, from young Saudis to their parents, from businesspeople to housewives, practically everyone’s face lights up with excitement when you discuss the topic with them—and the buzz is infectious. One reason for the optimism may well be because the key message that underlies the Vision is that the country’s most valuable resource is not its oil, but rather its people. And it’s the people that this book will introduce you to.

Those who take the time to learn about Saudi history, its culture, traditions, and way of life, will find that their experience in this unique country will be greatly enriched.

Available here

Book Details:

  • ISBN: 9781787023543
  • Format: Paperback
  • Page count: 200
  • Dimensions: 171 x 108 x 13mm
  • Published at: £10.99 / $14.99/ CAN $19.99

Culture Smart! Oman: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

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A new and updated edition of Culture Smart! Oman is available now!

The Sultanate of Oman, long regarded as one of the more mysterious countries of the Arabian Peninsula, is one of the world’s better kept secrets. 

Often referred to as the Pearl of Arabia, it is an ancient land with a rich history, dramatic landscape, and diverse fauna and flora, and yet it was largely cut off from the modern world until the accession to the throne of Sultan Qaboos in 1970. Since then, this peaceful country has developed slowly but deliberately, placing a strong emphasis on retaining its cultural heritage while moving into the high-tech era.

Culture Smart! Oman describes the way of life of the Omani people. A historical overview shows how this former maritime trading power rose to prominence and explains the origins of many current Omani social attitudes. By examining the values, customs, and traditions of this distinctly Arabic country, it offers an insight into modern Oman that will enrich your experience on the ground. 

Descriptions of how people go about their daily lives—at home, at work, and in social situations—will help you know what to expect, while points of etiquette will help you avoid unnecessary misunderstandings and set the foundations for friendship with your hosts. 

Whether you are visiting Oman to explore its unique landscape of mountains, wadis, deserts, and beaches; to discover its historic heritage and festivals, bustling souqs, camel races and sand skiing; or for business—you will find the Omanis to be a gentle, warm, and hospitable people, who are happy to share their beautiful country with those who treat it with respect. 

Ahlan wa sahlan bikum fi Oman! “Welcome to Oman!”

Available here

Book Details:

  • ISBN: 9781787023512
  • Format: Paperback
  • Page count: 200
  • Dimensions: 171 x 108 x 13mm
  • Published at: £10.99 / $14.99/ CAN $19.99

Culture Smart! Egypt: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

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A new and updated edition of Culture Smart! Egypt is out now!

At first sight, modern-day Egypt may seem a chaotic place: a cacophony of sounds, an overload of smells, and a swirling visual feast. Ancient church domes and medieval minarets share the same space with fast-food chains and chic air-conditioned cafés.

This country that has so inspired conquerors, explorers, academics, and artists is home to 113 million people, who call it Omm Eddunia, Mother of the World. 

Despite its rich archeological heritage, it is the people who are Egypt’s true wealth. They are by nature friendly, cheerful, warm, and hospitable, renowned for their sense of humor, and extremely stubborn and proud. Good personal relations are at the core of the Egyptian value system; here, people are more important than time or money. 

This new edition of Culture Smart! Egypt explores the codes and paradoxes of Egyptian life. It outlines the country’s history and shows the forces that have shaped its sensibility. It explains people’s values and attitudes and guides you through local customs and traditions. It opens a window into the private lives of Egyptians, how they behave at home, and how they interact with foreign visitors. It offers practical advice, from how to make friends to avoiding faux pas. 

Available here

Book Details:

  • ISBN: 9781787023451
  • Format: Paperback
  • Page count: 200
  • Dimensions: 171 x 108 x 13mm
  • Published at: £10.99 / $14.99 / CAN $19.99

Culture Smart! Britain: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

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After a long time in the works, we are excited to announce the publication of a new edition of Culture Smart! Britain, a guide close to our hearts ❤

Britain is emerging from a decade of historic change. A Scottish bid for independence saw the relationship of the four nations evolve, and the passing of the world’s longest serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, marked the end of an era. Today, as the post-Brexit, post-Covid dust settles, the country is having to redefine itself in a multipolar world.

The challenges are many, yet so are the attributes that have enabled the peoples of these islands to find success over adversity time and again: an even-tempered reserve, tolerance, a love of fair play, a certain bloody-mindedness, and a sense of humour that turns misfortune to mirth. British pragmatism and ingenuity have ensured that, despite the setbacks, the country’s economy remains the sixth largest in the world.

This new and updated edition of Culture Smart! Britain unpacks all this and more. Penetrate the polite veneer of the people, learn about their customs and traditions, become acquainted with their values and attitudes, and your experience of this green and pleasant land will be greatly enriched.

Available now! 

Book Details:

  • ISBN: 9781787023574
  • Format: Paperback
  • Page count: 200
  • Dimensions: 171 x 108 x 13mm
  • Published at: £10.99 / $14.99 / CAN $19.99

Culture Smart! Philippines: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

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The Philippines, a scattered archipelago of seven thousand six hundred islands, appears to be one of the most Westernized countries in Asia. However, the realities of Filipino life are complex, and not immediately evident to the foreign visitor. Many Filipinos work abroad, far from home and their families, and this is of great significance, not only for the families themselves, but countrywide and internationally. Business is not carried out in quite the same way as in the West. There are social situations and ways of behaving that visitors might well misunderstand.

Filipinos share many values and attitudes with other Asian people, although the distinctive blend of East and West is subtle and can sometimes be difficult to fathom. The foreigner who fails to realize that the façade of the English language (in which most signs in Manila are written), fast food, pop music, and rich lawyers does not run deep will soon commit faux pas that may have long-lasting effects.

There is so much to enjoy and appreciate in the Philippines, the open-minded visitor will be vastly enriched by the experience. Our guide will give you an abundance of practical information and key insights into Filipino society and business life that will enable you to make the most out of your time in this unique and intriguing country.

Book Details:

    • ISBN: 9781787022843
    • Format: Paperback
    • Page count: 200
    • Dimensions: 170 x 110 x 15mm
    • Published at: £10.99 / $14.99 / CAN $19.99

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Culture Smart! Russia: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

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When traveling to Russia for the first time, you go with your own preconceptions, usually based on the TV news you have watched, the music you’ve heard, or the books you’ve read. We hope that our guide book to the customs and culture of Russia will broaden your understanding and make you a more tolerant and appreciative traveler.

Discovering the Russian soul is like opening a matryoshka, Russian doll, revealing the layers, working hard to get to the gem inside. You will be able to see beyond Moscow tusovka (party) bling and the grayness of the dormitory suburbs, understand the lavish grandeur of St. Petersburg summer palaces, and the serious faces of the passersby in the crowded streets. When you get to the smallest doll, hidden inside, you will discover the true Russia: strong-spirited, compassionate, and warm. And then you might write a letter home, similar to that sent by a Frenchman to his lover in Paris, after having lived in Russia for a year: “My dear Nadine, please come and drag me out of here. Russianness is contagious – it grows in you and makes you so attached to this country that you want to stay, and never leave.”

Book Details:

    • ISBN: 9781787028685
    • Format: Paperback
    • Page count: 200
    • Dimensions: 170 x 110 x 15mm
    • Published at: £9.99 / $14.99 / CAN $19.99

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Paperback

eBook

Culture Smart! Thailand: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

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To many outsiders Thailand represents “the East” at its most beguiling and enigmatic. Golden stupas, green jungles, elephants, pristine beaches, a buzzing nightlife, and of course the hot and spicy cuisine.

A trip to Thailand will reveal that their cuisine is much more diverse and sophisticated than what is usually found in Thai restaurants abroad. In the main it is characterized by its use of fresh ingredients and strong, aromatic flavors. While it is quintessentially Southeast Asian in this regard, it has also absorbed a great deal of influence through the ingredients and cooking styles of India, China, and the West.

Indigenous Thai food has four basic categories: “dtom” (boiled), yum (spicy hot salads), “dtum” (salads or pastes pounded in a mortar), and “gaeng” (curries). Fried dishes of Chinese influence are also ubiquitous. Within Thailand there are at least four distinct regional cuisines: Central, Isan, Northern/Lanna, and Southern.

While restaurants in the main centers are used to catering to foreigners, in smaller towns many are not, and the unsuspecting tourist who chooses an interesting-looking dish from the counter may find it alarmingly fiery. There is always the option to ask for it to be served otherwise, if you are aware of this! The famously exquisite manners and hospitality of the Thais means they will be happy to cater to different tastes and cultures.

Thai etiquette is rooted in a worldview that is influenced by the country’s history, culture, and customs, as well as its longstanding interaction with foreigners. Thais put a great deal of effort into social skills in order to maintain harmony in the public realm, and their culture is a rich and sensuous one, where the many rituals of food, festival, music, and dance reveal a great love of fun and enjoyment of each other’s company. As their guest you will no doubt be made to feel at home – all the more reason not to inadvertently behave in a manner they may find offensive!

Book Details:

    • ISBN: 9781787022966
    • Format: Paperback
    • Page count: 200
    • Dimensions: 170 x 110 x 15mm
    • Published at: £9.99 / $14.99 / CAN $19.99