The global coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has inspired a wide range of reactions. Some seem quite unconcerned, not wearing a face mask in public but at least practicing good hygiene Some take moderate precautions – wearing a mask in public, washing hands more frequently, carrying a small bottle of hand sanitizer, avoiding physical contact such as
I love Korea – the country, the culture, the people, the food, all of it. I didn’t realize how much until I returned to Korea three weeks ago after being gone for 10 years. In many ways, Korea will always be “home” to me. I love teaching – interacting with hungry minds, creating a learning
This past week, I met my new colleagues for the first time. Korean culture is community-oriented, which is one of the things I love about it. What I forgot about was how community-oriented the expat community can be, too. I’ve taught at George Mason University for five years now, and in that time, I’ve gotten
As I’ve been settling into my new life here in Korea, I’ve been struck by how little I need to use precise language to communicate. Albert Einstein is reputed to have said, “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” This past week, my ability to explain things simply has been
Listening is such a neglected communication skill! One thing I’ve discovered is people in today’s world often don’t feel like anyone is listening to them everyone is broadcasting: blogs videos YouTube crazy people on the news. Everyone’s talking, and so few people are listening. Most of us feel like our perspective is never heard or
By Tasha M. Troy The world today seems a much scarier place than it did 15 or 20 years ago. The culture in the US has shifted in ways that create isolation and frustration to dangerous levels, and we see the results in tragedies over and over again. And I haven’t had to look at
I was recently asked how someone could deal with a person who dominated a conversation, never pausing long enough to let anyone else “get a word in edgewise.” She had recently been at a dinner party where this had happened, and she had been quite at a loss as how to address the problem We
By Tasha M. Troy The holiday season is a magical time of the year that can bring people together who might not otherwise make the time. For many, this is a wonderful time to bond with friends and family over shared traditions and values. For many others, it is a stressful and contentious time because
By Tasha M. Troy Sometimes it’s hard for me to believe it’s been 20 years since I first started teaching. I can tell you that my career hasn’t gone where I expected it to! I remember my first year of teaching like it was yesterday. It was an incredibly challenging year! Boy, have I grown
By Tasha M. Troy Recently I was asked what would help someone become more persuasive. The answer I gave may have seemed simplistic or counter intuitive, but I’ve found it to be essential for myself in having influence without position and persuasion without pressure, particularly in the cross-cultural settings I usually find myself in. If