#cultural-adaptation

#cultural-adaptation

There is a meme that circulates every holiday season, an image of a sign in a restaurant window. "The Chinese Restaurant Association of the United States would like to extend our thanks to the Jewish people," it says. "We do not completely understand your dietary customs ... but we are proud and grateful that your GOD insists you eat our food on Christmas."

In the race to deploy large language models and generative AI across global markets, many companies assume that "English model → translate it" is sufficient. But if you're an American executive preparing for expansion into Asia, Europe, the Middle East, or Africa, that assumption could be your biggest blind spot. In those regions, language isn't just a packaging detail: it's culture, norms, values, and business logic all wrapped into one. If your AI doesn't code-switch, it won't just underperform; it may misinterpret, misalign,

It was Ramadan, and in Zanzibar - outside the tourist area - this meant closed restaurants, shuttered groceries, and recommendations to refrain from even drinking water in public until after dark. The cultural norms, so normal for our hosts and neighbors, were way out of our comfort zone and, unfortunately, our realm of understanding. Still, my family of four made it our mission to connect with our Tanzanian neighbors.

My Korean language proficiency was still very low then, and I worried that communicating would be difficult. But I was surprised that people were friendly and eager to help, even though I didn't speak Korean. At the same time, I saw that Korean society was super, super competitive. People lined up in the university libraries, sat on the benches, and studied so hard. They called it "pali-pali"- quick-quick.

When I moved from the US to Spain to build a new life, I hoped to find someone to share it with. I mostly dated men who spoke both English and Spanish, but never felt a true connection - until one night at a Latin dance event when I was paired with my now-boyfriend.

Mintense UK claims the top position because they represent the gold standard for authentic multilingual digital marketing. Unlike agencies that treat international marketing as an afterthought, Mintense UK has built their entire operation around multilingual expertise since their original founding in Italy in 2007, with UK operations established in 2012.

Food might be the quickest way to understand Southern culture. My first encounter with cheese grits changed everything.

Tarasenko's impressive journey to Japan reflects his ambition and dedication to becoming a grand champion sumo wrestler, marking a significant achievement for British representation in the sport.

Traditional French onion soup has less cheese in France, where it's associated with Les Halles, favored by market workers, and evolved from a hearty, simpler form.

The lesson came swiftly: China does not bend its will. Instead, one learns to adapt, to alter one's rhythm to the customs of this vast nation. I've found that the answer to most questions is merely, 'because China.'