The Interchange Institute

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The Interchange Institute

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The Interchange Institute is a not-for-profit research and training organization focused on understanding and supporting those who live and work across cultures. We conduct research on the process of intercultural transition, produce publications to assist newcomers to new countries, design and deliver specialized cross-cultural training workshops, and train and consult to professionals in the field.

10/13/2026

I'd like to solve the puzzle! 🧩

Move over, Pat Sajak and Vanna White—for this Culture Chat, YOU are the presenter.

We're giving the big wheel a spin for a special 'Wheel of Culture'! No slides, no single speaker, and definitely no "Lose a Turn" wedges. Just a culture prompt, a small group to swap stories with, and a group wide share-back at the end.

No need to buy a vowel. Just bring your voice and your experiences:
🗣️ The word from another language you wish English had?
🍲 The food that tastes like home?
🤔 The moment a cultural assumption tripped you up?

Forget guessing the standard R-S-T-L-N-E; the best prize on this board is a great conversation.

Free · Online · Everyone welcome

https://www.facebook.com/share/19Los5tzVs/

09/15/2026

"She's smart, but she doesn't really show up in meetings."

I hear versions of this constantly — and it's rarely about ability. It's about a mismatch between someone's communication style and local expectations around confidence, participation, and self-promotion.

Behaviours that signal respect in one culture can read as disengagement in another. And when workplaces only recognise one version of presence, brilliant people become invisible.

That's the topic of our next Culture Chat: "When Brilliant People Become Invisible Across Cultures." With presenter Caolan Hunter we'll talk about visibility, misinterpretation, and how to become more legible across borders — without losing yourself.

Culture Chat is a FREE — 60 minutes packed with a short presentation, small group breakout rooms for discussion and connection, and a lively group conversation to close.

09/02/2026

Join us for our next Culture Chat: The Role of Nutrition in Successful Assignments!

Relocating for an international assignment brings immense opportunity, but navigating a new country, work culture, and lifestyle can take a heavy toll on your energy, focus, and resilience.

While we often talk about cross-cultural training and logistics, we rarely discuss one of the biggest drivers of assignment success: how we fuel our mind and body.

We will explore how optimal nutrition—spanning diet, sleep, movement, and stress management—can radically increase your chances of thriving during a global transition (and in any high-challenge situation!).

Beyond the presentation, you will have the opportunity to join small breakout rooms to connect directly with fellow attendees. This is a space to share your personal experiences, exchange tips on maintaining healthy habits while abroad, and learn from the collective wisdom of a global community facing similar challenges.

07/25/2026

Anyone can ask AI to explain culture shock.

So why do organizations still hire intercultural trainers?

Because information was never the hard part.

The hard part is standing in front of a room (in person or on-line) of relocating employees — anxious, skeptical, jet-lagged — and turning concepts into confidence. Reading the room. Adapting to learning styles. Handling the question that isn't in any framework.

That's what we've taught for nearly 30 years, and it's never mattered more.

Our next Crossing Cultures with Competence (CCwC) online Training-of-Trainers cohort begins October 2. Five live sessions. Supervised practice. A complete licensed toolkit. A community of 600+ practitioners. And a pathway to ITEC certification.

Information is everywhere. Expertise isn't.

Learn more — link in comments.

07/21/2026

Before we head into our break for August, we’re gathering one last time for Culture Chat. 🌞

This week’s topic: The Permission to Pause: Rest, Learning Science, and Why August Used to Mean Something.

We’ll explore what the brain actually needs to consolidate learning, how different cultures have protected (or lost) the art of the real break, and whether it’s time to bring it back.

Join us for a reflective, lively conversation. All are welcome.

07/06/2026

🇧🇷 "Tem sempre um jeitinho..." — there's always a little way.

Locked out by a rule that won't budge? In Brazil, that's often where the real conversation begins. The jeitinho brasileiro — "the little Brazilian way" — is the art of the creative, personal, improvised fix: bending the rigid, smoothing the impossible, finding the human path through the red tape.

But is it warm resourcefulness, or rule-bending in disguise? And how do you navigate it without getting lost — or getting it wrong?

Join our next Culture Chat with intercultural trainer Marlon Muraro — a Brazilian who's spent 15+ years living abroad and knows exactly how the jeitinho feels from both sides. We'll decode where it comes from, how to spot it, and how to work with it rather than against it.

Register at https://interchangeinstitute.org/culture-chat

05/21/2026

This Culture Chat, YOU'RE the presenter.

We're spinning things up with Culture Chat Roulette — no slides, no single speaker. Just a culture prompt, a small group to swap stories with, and a share-back where the magic happens.

The word from another language you wish English had? The food that tastes like home? The moment a cultural assumption tripped you up?

Free · Online · Everyone welcome

04/27/2026

Every time I fly back from visiting home, my suitcase is heavier than when I arrived.

A specific brand of biscuits. A jar of something pickled. The chocolate that doesn't taste right anywhere else.

I've started wondering — did I actually pack this bag, or did my culture pack it for me?

04/13/2026

"I don't feel like I can be myself here."

If you've ever heard (or felt) that, you know it's a productivity killer. Human beings are social animals, but when the environment feels unsafe, we prioritize protection over performance.

It’s time to talk about Creating Belonging.

Join us for our next Culture Chat with Alan Headbloom, whose background working with U.S. immigrants offers us an insight into the essence of belonging, who is responsible for the "vibe" of a team and how we can do better.

Register at https://interchangeinstitute.org/culture-chat

03/26/2026

How do you build unshakeable trust and communication in a diverse team? You send them on a quest!

When we think of team-building, we rarely think of 20-sided dice. But in our upcoming culture chat, "Rolling a Natural 20 as an Interculturalist," we are exploring why Tabletop Role-Playing Games (TTRPGs) like Dungeons & Dragons are an incredible, untapped tool for workplace synergy.

Join speaker Eric Davis as he breaks down how collaborative storytelling completely transforms team dynamics.

By stepping into new roles and navigating complex narratives together, teams naturally learn how to:

- Break down communication barriers through shared, high-stakes problem-solving.
- Boost empathy by stepping into new perspectives and practicing active listening.
- Reinforce mutual respect by relying on each member’s unique strengths to overcome challenges.

Curious how you can add TTRPGs to your intercultural toolbox? Join us! No prior gaming experience is required—just bring your imagination.

https://interchangeinstitute.org/culture-chat

Address

Brookline, MA
02446

Website

http://www.interchangeinstitute.org/

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