Time. Most of us would argue that we do not have enough of it. We want more. Yet every culture uses available time in a completely different way.

This week, John Stech, host of The Auto Ethnographer, speaks about the meaning of time across different cultures. He looks at the “time is money” philosophy of the Americans, the “punctuality is a virtue” culture of northern Europe, the “espresso culture” of southern Europe, the “mañana means maybe” culture of Latin America, and dives into a comparison of “zen versus zoom” when comparing the time cultures of Southeast and East Asian countries. He also looks at the Russian time culture, often held captive by the endless flow of stopped traffic in Moscow.

John blends personal insights from his work and living experiences together with some humor to portray how each culture uses and prioritizes its time.

He ultimately concludes that it boils down to prioritizing four points: efficiency, relationships, harmony, or spontaneity. Each culture will be identified by which of these it chooses to pursue as Priority #1. And how we must understand and appreciate that others will see time in a different way as we.

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John Stech draws on his experience working with Germans, Swedes, Thais, Americans, and Vietnamese to examine the summer holiday sun culture of each.

Every culture has a different attitude towards taking vacation. Stay connected or completely disconnect? One week or six? Sit in the sun or stay in the shade? John will take a humorous approach to the Thai, German, American, Vietnamese, and Swedish attitudes to taking it easy.

In a fun twist, John hosts a “parade”, an examination of summertime stereotypes just to find humor in how each spend their summertime in the sun (or out of it). With stereotypes having a kernel of truth to them, this is a lighthearted look at the summer vacationer.

Whether you listen to this on a beach, in the sun, under an umbrella, or in the cool sanctuary of an air-conditioned shopping mall, The Auto Ethnographer wishes you a wonderful summer and restful days.

To learn more about The Auto Ethnographer podcast, please visit the homepage at https://www.auto-ethnographer.com

This week on The Auto Ethnographer podcast, host John Stech ruminates on the homecoming phase for expats. You may think the hardest part of a foreign assignment is moving overseas and getting to learn a new culture and new language. John argues that the most challenging part is coming back to your home country.

John lived overseas with his family for eight years, starting when his children were quite young. By the time they returned home, the children barely remembered having lived in the United States. John relives some of his adventures in Egypt and Russia, setting the stage for examining the difficulties of settling back into his home culture.

While living overseas with family you are immersed in learning, in challenge, in adaptation. You have to learn about a new culture which is all around you in your host country if you want to have a well-rounded overseas experience. Every day brings learnings, challenges, and adventures.

In the meantime, back in your home country, in your hometown, life goes on like normal. People have adapted to you being gone. And they continue their lives with focus on their everyday activities.

Once the overseas assignment or living concludes and you pack your belongings and head home, you may be surprised at the indifference that people display towards the wonderful adventures you’ve just had. You’ve also adjusted to living in a different culture that may then require readjustment to living back home.

This episode examines those feelings and emotions. John also shares how his family coped with the return to the United States and what they did to remain connected in some way with their international experience.

If you find the conversation riveting, and perhaps even a bit reminiscent of what you have gone through, please leave your comments on the homepage at www.auto-ethnographer.com

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