Observing culture – The Prepared Expat

No Context, No Clue: Why Expats Miss the Point (and What to Do About It)

A person tries to assemble a globe made out of puzzle pieces, symbolizing the need to piece together how things fit together in a new culture.

Ever feel like everyone’s in on a joke you don’t get? As an expat, missing cultural context is like hearing people talk about a movie you’ve never seen. This article uncovers why symbols, references, and shorthand matter—and how cracking the code of cultural fluency can turn confusion into connection.

Cultural Taxonomies: A Key to Decoding Cultures, Part 1

An old book exploding into a variety of cultural symbols and artifacts.

Explore how cultural taxonomies can help you decode cultural differences, reduce frustration, and have more meaningful relationships for a richer expat life.

Discovering the Past: How History Shapes Cultural Understanding

If you don’t understand a people’s history, you won’t understand their culture. Learn why this is so + tips for understanding your host’s history from The Prepared Expat.