What does it feel like to return home for a visit after years of living abroad? In this episode of The Auto Ethnographer, John Jörn Stech prepares to board a plane back to the United States — his home country — and discovers something unexpected: he is approaching the trip the way he would approach a country he has never visited before. With research, anticipation, and a degree of hesitation he did not expect to feel.

"Returning home is not that simple, comfortable event that everyone around you expects it to be. It's one of the more quietly demanding experiences in the life of a global professional. And almost nobody talks about it."

Drawing on the W-curve model of intercultural adjustment (Gullahorn & Gullahorn, 1963), this episode explores reverse culture shock — why coming home can be as disorienting as moving abroad, and why almost nobody prepares for it. When your mental image of home freezes at the moment you leave, and you spend years absorbing a different cultural logic, you return not as the person who left — but as someone genuinely changed.

"You're not bringing your old self back to an unchanged place. You're bringing a changed self back to a changed place. And the collision of those two changes is what creates reverse culture shock."

Three anticipations shape this episode: the physical scale of the United States after years in Bangkok, the warmth and openness of American social interaction seen through recalibrated eyes, and the challenge of stepping back into a country in the middle of a deeply public conversation about its own values — without falling into nostalgia or reflexive rejection.

"The stereotypes that are the most difficult to resist are not the ones about unfamiliar cultures. They are the ones about the culture that formed you — the ones you carry without even knowing that you are carrying them."

John Jörn Stech also shares the deeply personal dimensions of this homecoming: attending the New Orleans Jazz Festival for the first time, celebrating his daughter's graduation from medical school, and visiting his son and future daughter-in-law in their first home together.

The Auto Ethnographer will pause for 2 to 3 weeks. New episodes return in the second half of May.

🎓 Ready to make the move abroad? Your Ticket Abroad — the complete guide for global professionals: https://www.auto-ethnographer.com/your-ticket-abroad-course

🌐 The Auto Ethnographer: https://www.auto-ethnographer.com/

🔗 Connect with the Auto Ethnographer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-auto-ethnographer

🔗 Connect with John Jörn Stech on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-stech-drive-electric/

Fifty episodes in, and the conversation that matters most is still the simplest one: people are not their governments. Nations are not monoliths.

Thank you to every guest who shared their story, every listener who kept showing up, and to my wife, Bernie, whose support made this channel possible from the very beginning.

Episode 50 of The Auto Ethnographer returns to the idea that drives everything here. In a media environment that routinely collapses entire cultures into headlines and soundbites, it is worth slowing down to ask what we lose when we do that. We lose individual human beings. We lose nuance. And we lose the kind of truth that genuine cross-cultural understanding depends on.

Through two personal stories, including a candid exchange with a Russian friend named Oleg and a sidewalk dinner with a Vietnamese family in Hanoi, this episode examines the psychology behind cultural stereotyping, the role media and physical distance play in flattening human complexity, and the universal human values that connect people across borders, regardless of the governments that claim to represent them.

Most expats and global professionals already sense this. When you sit at someone's kitchen table in a foreign country, politics fades quickly. What remains is shared humanity: parents who want their children to thrive, elders who want peace, young people who want opportunity. These are not Western values. They are not tied to any religion, ideology, or passport. They are human values.

This episode is for expats living and working abroad, third culture kids, global professionals, and anyone who believes that lived cross-cultural experience reveals truths that headlines simply cannot. If intercultural communication, cultural intelligence, and understanding the world beyond your own borders matter to you, this conversation belongs on your list.

Governments act. People live. The more we hold onto that distinction, the harder it becomes to hate, and the easier it becomes to hope.

🌐 The Auto Ethnographer homepage: https://www.auto-ethnographer.com/

✈️ Your Ticket Abroad — Moving Overseas Course: https://www.auto-ethnographer.com/your-ticket-abroad-course

💼 The Auto Ethnographer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-auto-ethnographer

What if the cultural frameworks your organization relies on are actually reinforcing the very stereotypes they were designed to eliminate? In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Jerome Dumetz, cross-cultural management expert and author of 199 Cross Cultural Case Studies, we explore why real-life case studies offer something no theoretical model can: the full, messy, human context of intercultural work.

Dr. Dumetz makes a bold argument. Widely used models such as Hofstede, Trompenaars, and the Lewis Triangle, while historically significant, risk generating stereotypes when applied without context. His answer is a carefully curated collection of 199 one-page, real-world case studies documenting cultural misunderstandings, adaptation moments, and professional breakthroughs from around the globe. Developed in collaboration with Fons Trompenaars and Craig Storti, the book bridges academic intercultural theory with the lived experience of expats and global professionals.

One of the most thought-provoking ideas in this episode is the concept of multiple cultural identities. Your nationality, what Dumetz calls your "passport culture," is just one layer of who you are professionally. Where you studied, which industry you entered, and the department where your career began can shape your professional worldview far more deeply than the country on your ID. For expats, international managers, and cross-cultural trainers, this reframing changes how intercultural work gets done.

We also explore the growing role of AI in cross-cultural management. Dumetz acknowledges AI's usefulness in translation and language support, but raises critical questions about the cultural bias embedded in AI models and their inability to replicate the nuanced, questioning mindset that genuine intercultural competence requires.

His most memorable advice for anyone stepping into a new cultural environment? Slow down. Pause before reacting. And instead of asking "What should I do?", turn to the people around you and ask: "What would you do?" This small shift in framing opens the door to genuine cultural learning and more authentic integration abroad.

Whether you are an expat navigating life in a new country, a manager leading a cross-cultural team, or an HR specialist building intercultural training programs, this conversation offers both intellectual depth and practical, grounded insight.

🔗 Connect with Dr. Jerome Dumetz:

🌐 Website: JEROME DUMETZ WEBSITE

📚 Get the Book, 199 Cross Cultural Case Studies: LINK TO AMAZON US BOOKSTORE (Also available on other Amazon international sites)

▶️ YouTube: JEROME DUMETZ YOUTUBE CHANNEL

💼 LinkedIn: JEROME DUMETZ LINKEDIN PROFILE

📩 Free Case Study Excerpt (comment on his LinkedIn post): LINK TO LINKEDIN POST

Learn more about the Auto Ethnographer: https://www.auto-ethnographer.com

Want to move abroad but the process seems to imposing? Visit the Auto Ethnographer's Your Ticket Abroad on-line course. The course offers 28 videos and a 54-page checklist guide for tacking the challenge of moving abroad, whether alone, with a partner, or with an entire family. Visit the course page here: Course: "Your Ticket Abroad" — The Auto Ethnographer

Have you ever moved to a new country, convinced you'd adapted perfectly — only to discover the cultural gap was hiding in plain sight? In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, The Auto Ethnographer sits down with Dr. Jerome Dumetz, one of the world's most respected voices in intercultural management and cross-cultural communication.

A self-described "consulting professor," Jerome Dumetz has spent decades bridging the gap between academic theory and the real-world management challenges faced by international professionals. As Vice Rector for International Affairs at a leading Czech university, and having lectured at approximately 25 universities across Europe, Russia, North America, and Asia, he brings rare front-line insight into what it truly means to work, lead, and live across cultures.

🔑 IN THIS EPISODE (Part 1):

• What it means to be a "consulting professor" — blending academic rigor with hands-on corporate consulting
• Why cultural adaptation comes down to two factors: individual cultural competence and the cultural gap between your home and host country
• The dangerous "Illusion of Blending In" — why moving to a similar culture can produce greater culture shock than relocating somewhere radically different
• The "elephant in the room full of mice" — how senior expat executives are often shielded from authentic cultural friction by their position and status
• Why many cross-cultural trainers are still using models from the 1980s — and why that's a problem for today's global professionals
• False cognates and cross-cultural miscommunication: real-world examples from French, Spanish, German, and Russian contexts
• Dr. Dumetz's own expat journey: France → Netherlands → USA → Canada → Russia

📚 CONNECT WITH DR. JEROME DUMETZ:

Post a comment on Jerome’s LinkedIn post and receive a FREE copy of sample cases: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7442114253852921856/

🌐 Website: www.crossculturalstudies.org

📖 His book on Amazon US (also available in other Amazon country sites): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GPDJCKXJ

🌐 LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerome-dumetz/

🌐 Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@jdumetz-consultingprofessor

🎙️ ABOUT THE AUTO ETHNOGRAPHER: The Auto Ethnographer explores the human stories of expats and global professionals navigating life and work across cultures. From boardrooms to back alleys, these conversations uncover universally applicable lessons that span borders, oceans, and cultures. Whether you're planning your first move abroad or you're a seasoned global citizen, there's something here for you.

Learn more about how to move overseas by taking the Your Ticket Abroad class by the Auto Ethnographer. More information can be found here: Course: "Your Ticket Abroad" — The Auto Ethnographer

🔔 Subscribe and don't miss Part 2 of this conversation with Dr. Jerome Dumetz — coming soon!

🌍 Your first impression of a new country isn't just incomplete — it might be completely wrong.

In this episode of The Auto Ethnographer, host John Jörn Stech breaks down the 6 powerful psychological dynamics that distort your early perceptions when you move abroad — and why most expats don't realize it's happening until they've already made costly misinterpretations.

Moving overseas is one of the most transformative decisions you'll ever make. But those first few weeks? Your brain is misleading you. The thrill of a new city, the warmth of strangers, the beauty of everything unfamiliar — all of it is filtered through a cultural lens you didn't even know you were wearing. What feels like clarity is often bias in disguise.

Whether you're planning a move abroad, already living the expat life, or fascinated by cross-cultural psychology and intercultural communication, this episode will change how you read your early experiences in any foreign country.

🔍 6 DYNAMICS THAT DISTORT YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS ABROAD

✔️ The Honeymoon Phase — Why everything feels like paradise at first, and why that's the danger

✔️ Cultural Filters — How your home country's values color everything you observe in a new culture

✔️ Surface vs. Deep Culture — Why expat life only exposes the tip of the cultural iceberg

✔️ The Outlier Problem — Why one encounter does not represent an entire nation or its people

✔️ The Hidden "Why" — The cultural values behind behaviors that seem offensive or strange

✔️ Self-Fulfilling Prophecies — How a first impression hardens into a belief that blocks real connection

🌐 REAL EXAMPLES FROM 5 COUNTRIES

🇷🇺 Russia: Why serious faces don't mean unfriendly people

🇹🇭 Thailand: The hidden social pressure beneath the famous Thai smile

🇺🇸 United States: Why American friendliness confuses the world

🇩🇪 Germany: How blunt feedback is actually a sign of deep respect

🇪🇬 Egypt: Why "chaotic" streets are rooted in hospitality and human connection

📚 RESOURCES

🎓 Your Ticket Abroad Course — Visas, logistics, housing, AND how to decode cultural behavior so you can build a meaningful, sustainable life overseas from day one: 👉 https://www.auto-ethnographer.com/your-ticket-abroad-course

🌐 The Auto Ethnographer — Homepage: 👉 https://www.auto-ethnographer.com/

🤝 JOIN THE COMMUNITY

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auto.ethnographer/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-auto-ethnographer

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567929329364

📌 New episodes every week on expat psychology, cultural intelligence, and the reality of building a life abroad. Subscribe so you never miss one.

#ExpatLife #MovingAbroad #CultureShock #LivingOverseas #CrossCulturalPsychology #FirstImpressions #ExpatTips #MoveOverseas #CulturalDifferences #AutoEthnographer #InterculturalCommunication #ExpatCommunity #RelocationTips #CulturalIntelligence #CultureShockRecovery

Melissa Rodway left Toronto at 35 for a months-long backpacking trip across Southeast Asia — and came home a different person. Fifteen years later, those raw, unfiltered emails she sent from the road became her travel memoir, The People You Meet. In this episode of The Auto Ethnographer, host John Jörn Stech sits down with Melissa to unpack the life-changing friendships, cultural shocks, and hard-won lessons from her journey through Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and China.

Melissa didn't plan to write a book. For over a decade, those emails sat untouched — a time capsule from her younger self. It took a series of personal losses, including the passing of her mother, to push her to finally turn those vivid travel memories into something lasting. The result is a deeply personal memoir that captures the beauty of temporary friendships formed on the road, the kind of connections that burn bright and then disappear, yet somehow stay with you forever.

In this conversation, Melissa opens up about the tension between being a travel observer and a true participant. She explores the ethical dilemmas of animal tourism in Thailand, the discomfort of photographing strangers, and what it felt like to become "the human zoo" as a foreigner in rural China — where entire villages had never seen a Western face. She shares a moving story about a family in Battambang, Cambodia, who invited her into their home for a meal despite having almost nothing, and how that moment of radical generosity reshaped her understanding of privilege back in Canada.

We also dive into the lasting emotional impact of visiting Cambodia's Killing Fields, and how confronting the history of the Khmer Rouge gave Melissa a deeper appreciation for the resilience of the Cambodian people. From a spontaneous dinner with strangers in Hanoi to navigating a Chinese queueing cultre with nothing but hand gestures, this episode is packed with the kind of unscripted human moments that no guidebook can prepare you for.

Melissa's advice for travelers of any age: slow down, say hello, and let go of the itinerary. The best experiences abroad don't come from ticking off landmarks — they come from the people you meet along the way.

Whether you're an expat navigating life in a foreign country, a backpacker planning your first solo trip, or simply someone who craves stories about cross-cultural connection and living abroad — this episode will inspire you to travel with more purpose, more curiosity, and more kindness.

📖 Get Melissa's Book — The People You Meet: https://www.amazon.ca/People-You-Meet-Interesting-Characters/dp/106904430X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1S1BKT0SGLCI8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.TlZrHy0V02MWPGcybuwtIZ36r168mkudXDX-0BnO-PY.RMq3iGOHHwk_fUKjKAbvOpOHqcoGuXa_ytyCwKSY9wE&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+people+you+meet+melissa+rodway&qid=1751586775&sprefix=the+people+you+meet%2Caps%2C99&sr=8-1

🌐 Learn More About Melissa Rodway: https://flyrodway.com/2025/07/03/travel-memoir-the-people-you-meet/

🎓 Ready to Move Abroad? Take the Course: Your Ticket Abroad — The Complete Expat Video Course https://www.auto-ethnographer.com/your-ticket-abroad-course

🎙️ More from The Auto Ethnographer: https://www.auto-ethnographer.com

Subscribe now!

Are you dreaming of living abroad but feel completely overwhelmed by where to start? Whether you are trying to figure out exactly how to move abroad or you are desperately searching for the ultimate moving abroad checklist , we have some incredibly exciting news for you!

Welcome to the official launch of "Your Ticket Abroad" – the ultimate, comprehensive online course designed to turn your dream of an expat life into reality! ✈️🌍

👉 ENROLL IN "YOUR TICKET ABROAD" HERE: https://www.auto-ethnographer.com/your-ticket-abroad-course

For over a year on The Auto Ethnographer, we have shared the fascinating, human stories of people who have decided to work abroad as an expat in a foreign land. But the number one question we consistently get from our viewers is: "How do I actually do it?"

That is exactly why John Jörn Stech has poured his extensive international experience into creating this extensive course. Relocating overseas is a massive challenge, but John has structured his universal lessons learned into a simple, actionable blueprint.

📚 WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE COURSE?

"Your Ticket Abroad" is a complete A-Z guide for anyone ready to make the leap. It includes:

✅ 28 In-Depth Video Modules: Step-by-step guidance covering everything from your initial decision-making process to the complex logistics of international relocation.

✅The Ultimate 54-Page Checklist Guide: You will never have to guess what comes next. This massive guide covers all the vital moving abroad tips you need so nothing falls through the cracks!

🎯 WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR?

• Anyone moving abroad for the first time who wants to avoid costly beginner mistakes.

• Professionals wondering how to move abroad from the us or moving abroad from america to advance their careers.

• Adventurers looking to move to europe or anywhere else across the globe!

• Individuals asking themselves, "Is moving abroad worth it?" and needing help making that final decision.

• Future expats figuring out how to move abroad with family, or those bravely moving abroad alone .

• Young explorers moving abroad in your 20s, or those looking to comfortably retire abroad .

🌟 COURSE HIGHLIGHTS:

1️⃣ Decision Making: How to mentally prepare for the transition and ensure a life abroad is truly the right path for you.

2️⃣ Logistics & Planning: From visa requirements to packing up your life, we provide the ultimate living abroad tips to streamline your journey.

3️⃣ Cultural Adaptation: Learn how to overcome culture shock, navigate the intersection of culture and business, and thrive outside of your home culture.

If you enjoy a good moving abroad vlog but are ready to stop watching and start doing, this course is your first step.

Don't let the fear of the unknown hold you back from the greatest adventure of your life. Click the link above to grab "Your Ticket Abroad" today and let John Jörn Stech guide you across borders and oceans!

🔔 Enjoying The Auto Ethnographer? If you love learning about global cultures and the realities of living overseas, make sure to SUBSCRIBE to the channel for more interviews, stories, and essential living abroad tips!

Learn more about the Auto Ethnographer channel at https://www.auto-ethnographer.com/

Learning a new language is one of the most humbling, hilarious, and deeply human experiences we can have. In this light‑hearted episode, I explore the universal journey from sounding like a broken GPS to finally communicating like an actual human being.

I start with my own early bilingual beginnings, from growing up speaking German before moving to the United States and absorbing English on playgrounds and in classrooms. From there, we jump to Moscow, where I spent years learning Russian the only way my budget allowed: a 99‑lesson CD course played on repeat while stuck in legendary two‑hour traffic jams. If you’ve ever practiced foreign phrases alone in your car while other drivers stare, this one’s for you.

Fast‑forward to today, where I’m living in Thailand and wrestling with the five tones of the Thai language. One wrong tone and you can accidentally insult someone, order the wrong dish, or simply confuse everyone within earshot. It’s a full return to the “robot phase,” and I’m embracing it.

Along the way, we talk about why learning one language makes the next easier, how accents are actually beautiful, and why mistakes are not just inevitable — they’re essential. Every mispronunciation, every awkward pause, every accidental insult is a step toward connection.

This episode is a reminder that everyone who speaks YOUR language with an accent is exactly how YOU sound in theirs. And that’s not something to be embarrassed about — it’s something to celebrate.

Be sure to visit the Auto Ethnographer's homepage at https://www.auto-ethnographer.com

And follow on social media...

FB page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567929329364

IG page: https://www.instagram.com/auto.ethnographer/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-auto-ethnographer