Fresh back from my vacation in France, I had a good laugh at a few cultural differences that highlight some of the key differences between our cultures.

In America, when it comes to service, we tend to be very helpful and forthcoming with information. There is a “Yes I can” attitude (though economic woes are changing that a bit).

In France, however, one should always brace for “non” as in “no, it’s not possible”, and often, information is only obtained, if it is asked for. As an example, I traveled back from France via London and was unsure whether I needed to do my detaxe/VAT refund in Paris or in London. So, I waited on line for the refund in Paris. The gentleman with customs who helped me, informed me that since England was to be the last country I was in prior to trraveling to the US, I should do the refund there. “Are you sure?” I inquired. (Yes, I really did dispute the customs agent’s information!)

“Yes,” he replied, “even though they don’t use the Euro, you have to do it there.”

“I just don’t want them to tell me I should have done it in France,” I implored.

“No problem,” he replied.

At this point, I could have walked away, thinking I had the right information, gotten on my flight, and seen what happened. Instead, I thought to ask, “One last question – as the customs agent will need to see the items I bought, and they are in my luggage with me now, which will be checked, and unavailable, when I get to London, do I still do the refund there?”

“Ah, non,” came the reply, “in this case,m as an exception, you must do it in Paris.”

The other fun part of customer service is, well, the lack of it. I upgraded to Buisness Class, and was sent to a special check-in area – “the speedy check-in” counter, available only for firstt class passengers. Ironically, it was packed – as packed as economy check-in. And, there were only 2 check-in agents available, one of whom was being trained. With only one hour till my flight, I realized I’d miss it. So, I approached another agent, inquiring whether I should worry. She replied, “No, madame, everyone on line with you has their flight in one hour as well.”

“So, then, my flight won’t leave wihtout me?” And this was my favorite part. She replied, “A priori, non” which basically means, “probably not.” She then told me to be patient.

Ironically, within 5 minutes, 6 more check-in agents appeared from thin air, getting us through check-in within moments.

I find the best thing you can do when traveling abroad or living abroad is to try an understand the mentality around service, and learn to leverage it. If I had screamed at the agent to get more check-in representatives, I’m quite sure she would have turned away and ignored me. By understanding that in France, for example, you will often encounter “non” as an answer to many requests for service, especially at an airport or government office, you can then learn how to get to “yes” by keeping calm.

Found another really interesting article in the paper today – it seems that business travelers who are looking for in-depth knowledge about a place they will visit or work are turning to in-country expats for advice!

Click here to read all about it.

It’s rare, but once in a very, very, very long while, New York gets hit with a real snow blizzard that actually leaves snow on the ground – enough of it that driving is impossible without regular road plowing, and enough for building snowmen in the park – I mean GIANT ones – I’m petite, but wow, these guys are huge! Private schools were even closed – and that almost never happens!

Snowstorms like this in New York really show how it is true it never sleeps.

Plowing went on all night and even though blizzard conditions continued the next day, the roads were clear. Some people trekked off to work, but they missed the winter wonderland in Central Park! Shown here are amazing photos of the most amazing night sky I’ve ever seen in Manhattan, snowmen – and a snow WOMAN that’s a true work of art – buried cars, people skiing, and more.

It’s amazing when a city offers you activities you normally can’t do – snowball fighting, snowman building, cross-country skiing, and downhill sledding. There’s something very exciting and fascinating when it happens. Everyone seems happy (at least those participating in said activities), families and friends come together, and it has a very special feeling overall. It also shows how much impact weather has on our day-to-day experiences. Especially when you relocate, weather affects whether you can be indoors or out, and temperatures affect what activities are available.

However, New York is notorious for being “the City that Never Sleeps”. The snowstorm made me wonder, why is it New York can’t shut for one day and play in the snow? Happily, we made up for it on Saturday, but it’s a shame we can’t bring everything to a halt and enjoy the snow as it happens.

When you move to a new place, the sights and sounds right around you are some of the first things you’ll notice, and will also be some of the first things that impact you.

In this video I tell (and show!) you the impact of new physical surroundings.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE6hn8yoQow&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

The holiday season is upon us! Wherever you may be, there is sure to be something happening to celebrate.

Shown here are balloons inflated the night before the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade in New York. There is a tradition I’ve never done before where you can watch them being inflated and get right next to them the night prior. It was a fun experience and there were lots of smiles all around.

Make sure to keep your eyes open for holiday markets, holiday activities like local concerts or gatherings and have fun. There’s no shortage of things to do!

I’ve mentioned before that I am a Big Apple Greeter. It’s one of the most wonderful volunteer experiences I’ve ever done, and I highly recommend it! As I mentioned in the prior post, there is actually a worldwide network of Greeters, so it may be available to you outside the US.

This past weekend, I accompanied 4 wonderful Australians, from the Gold Coast, around Manhattan, to experience what I feel is the magic of New York – how you can float through the city and experience the change in neighborhoods, and just how many different ones there are. Having been here a while, I find it inspiring when I discover something unexpected to add to the dimension of the city. As we strolled around neighborhoods I know very well, we found tiny little street fairs – some of them had hand-made crafts, others more commercial goods. It added to the day. And, my new friends, knowing how much I like cows, actually tried very hard to find me a cover for my iPhone with cows on it! Though we couldn’t find one, they did manage to come across a black and white case, and suggested I paint a cow on it – great ingenuity!

The other highlight of the day is that one of the Australians looks just like Z.Z. Top! So, I spent the day with a celebrity….sort of. When I dropped them off at our destination – a water taxi around the city – one of the boat attendants asked if it was Z.Z. Top and I said, “Yes, it is! But his voice is a bit horse, so he won’t be singing today. But, take good care of him!”

We all hugged goodbye – bonded by a day of fun experiences – and I felt like I was saying goodbye to some excellent new friends that I would be overjoyed to see again.

On my journey home, I then “happened” upon a concert in the middle of a small park.  It was apparently the last free one of the year in that location, and I felt so lucky to have been in the right place at the right time.

Can’t wait for the next volunteer opportunity!

For those of you living in New York, or planning to visit in the next couple of weeks – it’s that glorious time of year again – RESTAURANT WEEK!  This is a double-whammy – first, you get to eat lunch or dinner at some of the best restaurants in town for a fraction of the cost ($24.07 for lunch, $35 for dinner) AND with everyone out of town in the Hamptons at the weekend, your chances of getting a reservation increase dramatically!

I ate at Jean-Georges’ Nougatine this week and it was fantastic.  I got in last minute, at 10pm, and had a fantastic 5-course meal, and even saw Martha Stewart!

Wherever you live – make sure to stay plugged in to local city events.  These are a great way to get to know a new place after relocating, and you never know who you’ll run into or meet.

If you’re moving from a big city to the suburbs/countryside, or vice-versa, you might be in for a very big shock.

First of all, they physically look and sound very different – tall buildings and many lights versus trees, nature, and at night, quiet, or even crickets instead of the constant flow of traffic.

Beyond that, you may have to adapt to public transportation vs. the need for a car everywhere you go.  The amount and type of activities available to you will be vastly different.

All this can lead to a difficult, but important adjustment period.  To learn some tips on managing this transition, click here.

One of the most shocking things about moving to a new place is how different it looks and feels.  When you’re home, you have a favorite restaurant, you know the bus or train route, and you’ve figured out the closest supermarket and Laundromat.  As you walk or drive down the streets, your sense of navigation is so innate that you may take the same route every day without thinking.  If you ended up someplace unexpected, you’d chuckle or briefly berate yourself and then quickly orient yourself towards home. And, if you came upon someone else looking for directions, you’d have no trouble helping them.

These are some of the things that help us to feel truly at home someplace.  And here are some tips to recreate that sense of the familiar for yourself, wherever in the world you are right now:

1 – Get Recognized
Pick something you do almost every day; perhaps you buy a newspaper or drink a cup of coffee.  Look for a newspaper store or stand, or a café that’s either near your residence, or your office, and go there every day for at least one month.  The result will be that the store or café owner will start to recognize you.  I know this may seem silly, but having someone notice you actually goes a long way when you feel lost in a new place.  This person becomes a friendly face you can count on, and hopefully, you can even enter into conversation with them – find out about their day, or ask them for the best place to grocery shop or do laundry!

2 – Create a Sacred Space
Explore the city and, pick something of significance to you – it could be a park, a church or synagogue, a museum, a restaurant, etc. – something that you will enjoy returning to again and again.  This can be a place where you just feel a sense of comfort, or, it could be that you repeatedly return there, and thus it becomes familiar.  Either way, creating this sacred space for yourself is a wonderful solace to have while adjusting to a new place. 

3 – Learn About Danger Zones
Another key strategy is to quickly learn the location of areas considered dangerous.  These are perhaps unpopulated areas or those where crimes are known to take place.  The fact that you know these areas will give you a sense of confidence because, even when lost, if you can remind yourself that you’re not in one of these dangerous areas, it will quickly help calm your mind.

4 – Get Lost on Purpose!
Once you’re grounded in having a sense of what areas are safe, try to get lost on purpose. Do it during the day, in a well-populated area where you can ask for directions, and feel safe. Bring a cell phone so you can easily call someone if the need arises.  Here’s what happens – you end up discovering a new store, or restaurant, or park, or some other gem you would never have found were you looking for it.  The possible panic that can initially appear is replaced by pride when you turn the corner and say, “Now I know where I am and how to get home from here!”  There’s something very powerful about confronting the fear of being lost and overcoming it that helps you feel at home.

5 – Celebrate!
Do something to reward yourself every time you feel “found”.  Maybe try out a new restaurant, see a movie, buy some chocolate, whatever way you celebrate, do something to pat yourself on the back for this amazing step forward you’ve taken towards successfully transitioning to a new place!

[wpvideo c0wIyRKW]When you move to a new place, learning about its history is a fun, and wise thing to do. Not only will it help you understand cultural traditions, and attitudes, but it often leads to many an interesting discussion.