My summer has been spent on sabbatical in Europe (a fancy way to say I am traveling and going broke). Through my interactions with the citizens of the world I have found some interesting differences. There are many phrases used in other English speaking countries that may throw you off, if you are not prepared. “Taking the piss out of someone” does not require a catheter. The exclamation of “Bob’s your Uncle” does not mean a person is acquainted with your relative. And the two-fingered peace sign can be more hostile than peaceful.
These differences just show us how important it is to understanding our audience. If you work for an international industry, you should be sensitive to the cultural divergences. Saying “if you work for an international industry” is null, most industries are making moves towards greater global interactions. Every student preparing to enter the working world needs to be ready to interact with people who have different backgrounds, culture, and education.
-Nate Anderson
The title to this posting is misleading, it has nothing to do with someone “going broke” (except perhaps that “going broke” is cultural slang?)
The title is a reference/spoof to J.R.R. Tolkein’s subtitle to the novel “The Hobbit”. Look for more posts about his sabbatical in the future. For now, check out the journal of Nate and Phil (Nate’s friend) on the facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=81466401491&ref=ts