The Cultural Correspondents are using their deep cultural knowledge, their writing skills and creativity to share their knowledge and demonstrate their professional standing in the industry. That makes it a win for CultureConnector’s users who get great content and a win for its expert contributors who get additional visibility. But the role is demanding and to gain a place among the Cultural Correspondents, you need a few factors.

Here’s what I learnt about making it as a Cultural Correspondent for CultureConnector.

Five signs you could be CultureConnector’s next cultural expert

1. Knowledge of an insider, insights of an outsider. Successful Cultural Correspondents know the history and the latest trends in the culture and much of the detail and variety within it. But to truly identify the relevant issues, they also think like an insider trying to build bridges into the culture.
2. Packaging knowledge into short, powerful texts. Our Cultural Correspondents are great writers. They find the essentials and boil them down into sharp, engaging texts.
3. Fearlessness with challenging tasks. Even with deep cultural knowledge, some writing tasks are not easy. It can demand deep thought and imagination, and sometimes research too. But the key thing each time is to just get started. Writing is iterative: it gets better with every version.
4. Community spirit. Writing can be a lonely task, but usually it gets social too. You need to be in dialogue with your editor and to connect with other correspondents who may have worked on the same task as you. We’re all seeking the same goal, so we’re in a collective enterprise.
5. Understanding the learner. All writers need to write for the reader. That’s especially true when the reader is a busy working person with little time for study but a big need for understanding and context. Experience of working life and training situations enables our most successful correspondents to produce content which really serves the needs of learners.

The rewarding role of a CCCC Cultural Correspondent Community Coordinator

The CCCC title needs shortening, but my experience of the role was not heavy at all. It was my task to help the Cultural Correspondents to get their assignments done. We Skyped and met in informal group sessions which I called virtual coffee tables. We clarified the writing goals and through initial edits condensed the most valuable insights into tight packages of text. I was supporter, assistant, coach, cheerleader, facilitator while at the same time admiring how professional they are.

Our virtual coffee table meetups created a real connection and the feeling of community around the CCs. However, even though we connected using multiple media the fact is that community is not built overnight.

For me the most rewarding aspect of the role is interaction with the correspondents who are located all over the world. Sharing ideas and visions or just simply going through their views about an assignment I felt I always learned something. It is an amazing feeling when you are part of lively network that is truly global.

Get in touch

Get in touch with the Argonaut team if you want to turn your cultural knowledge and writing skills into a business advantage. This could be an important step on your journey to developing and demonstrating the 7 most-requested talents of an interculturalist.

I could see that our Cultural Correspondents welcomed the fact that their knowledge has great value and will stay in demand in the Cultural Correspondent community.

MORE ABOUT JOINING

7:30

I wake up to the disney-like tunes of my mobile phone’s alarm clock. First I open the blinds to see what the weather is like today – blue sky it’s going to be a warm day! In our small apartment there is no thermometer to check the temperature and I rarely watch the forecast on TV. I’m losing control, the old me would say, because in Finland I checked the weather all the time to be able to prepare. In the French Riviera the pace of living is different.

8:30

Breakfast, porridge, some orange juice and a croissant with ham and cheese inside, is a funny mixture of Finnish and French: I’m used to a large, salty breakfast whereas the French prefer sweet and small quantities. Still, having a boulangerie downstairs is not a bad thing.

8:45

Not watching the news from the French TV is something I should do more to activate my language skills further and get more and more acquainted to the culture. But no. This morning is not an exception, and I watch my morning news from a Finnish online streaming service. I also check what’s happening on social media, then work emails.

10:00

I currently have visitors. My mother and two aunts are visiting from Finland. The spring here is a great time for them to come because it was still snowing heavily at the end of March when they left home. Today is their final day and I have planned a walk around a cap nearby that has scenic views to the Mediterranean. I meet the ladies at an agreed spot and we take a bus closer to the walking route. The day is gorgeous, hot even, and the Mediterranean sparkles like never before. I feel blessed to live in this kind of place, it’s such a difference compared to my beloved Finland. There is lots and lots of beauty in Finland but it is not the same kind that this place offers.

11:30

Packed lunch break on a rocky beach. Dry cookies and bottled orange juice taste lovely outdoors. Everyone applies more sunscreen and puts their hats on. We can’t stop admiring the sea, the blue sky, the interesting formations of the rocks near the water and the trees and other plants that are, again, different from home. I start wondering where do I belong after all. I say home when I mean Finland but I also say home when I mean my home here in France.

14:00

On the way back the bus driver showed my visitors the best French himself: no English and no polite words to the strangers seasoned with a grumpy look at me, who after all was able to order her tickect en francais. From the bus window we spotted many very French activities going on. A man with a striped shirt holding two baguettes. A group of older gentlemen playing petanque and looking very serious. A car parked half way over a pedestrian crossing with the emergency indicators flashing, and then a man emerging from a corner store across the street, going to his car and calmly driving away as if nothing ahd happened.

15:00

While my guests are having a siesta I work for couple of hours. I feel inspired about all the encounters I’ve experienced here during the last seven months. In this role it motivates to gain more and more international experience, and being able to share it with the correspondent community and others too. Despite the lonely nature of this job I get by well because of these kind of motivation-boosting days.

18:45

I’m feeling a little bit sad because of my family members have to leave tomorrow. I get to help them pack their things while we go through all the fun moments we’ve had during their one-week holiday. The thoughts of belonging come back to me. I realize, no matter how cliché it sounds, that it’s more about the people, not the place you are in.

20:00

We eat dinner according to the French schedule: later in the evening. Salty crepes are delicious and a dessert ice cream leaves a smile on all of our faces. I impress my mother once again by knowing some French and being able to communicate with the waiter. Anyone ever questioned the importance of language skills? I have even though I’ve always liked languages a lot. The way they teach languages in Finland is quite good but we are still lacking natural situations to speak the language. My biggest stumbling block with French has been the talking, and many times I wish I had more courage to start a conversation. It’s just hard to open your mouth if you’re trained to get minus points every time you make a mistake.

23:30

Time for goodbyes and goodnights. I feel happy having all these people and all these places in my life. Good night!

Hilla

France suffered a terrible tragedy last week. An attack against the freedom of speech has been discussed ever since all over the world, and news channels have had in depth feature with analyses from all angles about the events. People have marched on the streets, posted #jesuischarlies on social media and shop owners have taped solidarity articles on their windows. Despite the fact that hunger, disease and war kills tens of thousands of people all over the world each day these terrifying events in Paris have moved us even more because of their symbolism.

When facing something this shocking in a country and culture that is not your own I realised my reaction was different than it probably would have been back at home. I observed that the two biggest factors for this were my language skills and cultural knowledge. My French is not yet fluent enough to absorb everything I hear on TV or read from tabloids while walking past a newsstand. Also, I don’t know the social norms and codes well enough to understand where and when the locals would want to discuss the terrors. Hence, thanks to my Finnish reserved nature, I’m silent which no doubt seems I don’t care. I do care a lot and the attacks have affected me deeply. It’s just contradictory how I think I would be even more emotional in my home country than what I am here, in the country that faced the tragedy.

There are differences in encountering a crisis. In Finland I would automatically read the tabloid covers by a newsstand and hear every word on talk shows and news. Also I would know which words to use at what time when discussing how devastating the attacks were and what the consequences of the tragedy are.

Tonight I will go and light a candle in a square where people commemorate the victims of the tragedy. Even though I am not familiar with the language or all the other behavioural codes and norms of this culture, I know one thing. Candles and their light speak a universal language of remembrance and solidarity.

Our thoughts are with the victims’ families and we hope France can emerge stronger and more united from these attacks,

Hilla

Christmas wishes

Most Finns are Christians by religion, and the Christian holidays stick tight in our calendars. I wouldn’t say we are the most religious people there are but we are keen on traditions. That is why it still is very common to wish merry Christmas to friends, family and colleagues. In multicultural (work) groups where there are members who are not familiar with the Finnish culture it is good to say something more general like season’s greetings.

Presents

Finns appreciate gifts and presents, and the norm is you buy or make something for your closest friends and family. Shops and markets are full of suitable items during November-December but remember to consider the receiver and don’t buy junk. Chocolate is always a safe option with Finns. Also companies remember their employees with a little something that brightens up the mood and increases motivation (chocolate). Business partners tend to send something funny and witty to each other to say thank you for cooperation the past year.

Christmas parties

One of the most essential tradition in a Finnish workplace’s social year clock is the Christmas party, or the “little Christmas”, pikkujoulut, as we call it in Finnish. The little Christmas party is an event where almost every employee attends, and it is usually because of the fun activities and free food and drinks. The parties are the companies’ way to thank the employees for the efforts they have made during the year, and also to provide a relaxed social gathering where people can easily catch-up on how everyone is doing. Usually the parties are organized inside the company’s premises or, if there is no room for that, in some restaurant or other venue. Sometimes the parties end up being quite wild: confessions are made, angry feedback given or hidden emotions (good and bad) revealed to everyone. Nevertheless the little Christmas parties are something we look forward to, and honestly it really is a nice way to get to know the people you work with.

Work and holiday

Before the holidays it’s hectic! It is like the world is coming to an end every Christmas/New year. All the projects need to be finished, each paper written, desks organized. This is because, in general, in Finnish culture, we value our free time so much that we only want to concentrate on that, and not work, during our time off. Usually the 23rd is not a working day anymore in offices (shops are open but on 24th only until around noon), and after the 25th the Finns may not return to work until January 2nd even. The odd days between Christmas and new years are considered working days but ideally Finns would like to be on holiday then as well. New Year’s Day is naturally a public holiday, and depending on the year there will be little more days off (Christmas and New Year during weekdays) or little less days off (Christmas and New Year during weekends) in a row. Traditionally Christmas is the time we spend with families, take it easy and relax. While eating chocolate.

What are the most essential (Christmas) holiday traditions in your culture? Do you like Christmas or does it only remind you of all the fuss and Western consumption culture? Which one is more natural to you during Christmas: snow, and cosy darkness lighted up with many candles or beach, hot weather and barbeque? Feel free to comment below!

Season’s Greetings from Argonaut!
Best wishes from Hilla

Yes that’s us! We at Argonaut help people and organizations get better results when interacting with other cultures. The Argonaut Online tool is an amazing resource for people around the world. That is why we aspire to bring intercultural learners and professionals together and network. To give our great community a voice and to also provide a platform for interesting stories and thought-provoking discussions, we present you this blog!

Argonaut Culture Connections blog has been planned for quite a while already and we are happy you are taking these first steps with us. Whether you are an existing or a former client, a trainer, a member of our expert community or in some other way interested in Argonaut or intercultural issues – welcome on board!

Coming up with the blog name was a challenge. There were a lot of options; there were a lot of ideas. We conducted a discussion on LinkedIn and had several heated brainstorming sessions. We wanted the name to have substance and style AND be original. This proved tricky. A lot of the fantastic (and am being humble here) suggestions we came up with were already taken and although frustrating, this assured us we were on the right track.

So we began to look more closely within Argonaut itself for fresh inspiration. One of the ideas that kept popping up was Culture Connector / Culture Connections. What made this name so special was the history behind it and its sentimental value to the company. Years and years ago, Culture Connector was one of the original contenders for the tool itself and lost out to “Argonaut”. It was a real contender because it shows what the tool is about; it is centred on what cultures have in common rather than focusing on the gaps and what is missing. To put it simply, the tool works to bridge differences and connects cultures. This has not changed over the last 15 years which is why we thought it would be fitting to name the blog Culture Connections. We want the blog to be a fun, exciting and engaging extension of Argonaut Online. We want the blog to connect the Argonaut community together. Ultimately it’s about connecting.

We are keen on hearing your thoughts about the name and this blog, too. You will find the comment section below, feel free to drop us a line!

The journey is just beginning and we are all thrilled to discover what the future holds for the Argonaut Culture Connections and the community. You will be hearing from us again soon. Stay connected!

Wishing you all the best,
Hilla, Gigi and the rest of the Argonaut team