By Jennifer Kumar, LMSW Cultural Adjustment Coach/Mentor on Saturday, August 14, 2010

Padmini Natarajan shares her poetic thoughts during India's 63rd Independence Day. Enjoy this thougtful and inspiring poem showcasing the beauty of India.

Thanks, Padmini.

Happy Independence All!!

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By Jennifer Kumar, LMSW Cultural Adjustment Coach/Mentor on Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Barbara who shared her authentic journey from America to Italy with us here in the previous post, today shares twenty interesting aspects of life in Italy.

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By Jennifer Kumar, LMSW Cultural Adjustment Coach/Mentor on Monday, July 12, 2010

I have known “Barbara” a few years in person and now virtually after she left U.S. and has been living in Italy the past year or so. It has been interesting to experience Italy through her eyes, and here through her writings. Thanks for taking time to share about your life with us, Barbara.

Photo, right: "Tuscany's Vineyards" by rayced @flickr

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By Jennifer Kumar, LMSW Cultural Adjustment Coach/Mentor on Monday, March 29, 2010

A very unique celebration in Southern India that highlights the changing movements of the sun, and during which some read their good fortunes for the next year. In this post, Roopashri shares how she passes down the tradition of Ellu Bella to her daughter across the seven seas in America. Very intriguing! Thanks for shairng this, Roopashri.

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By Jennifer Kumar, LMSW Cultural Adjustment Coach/Mentor on Monday, March 15, 2010

An American's journey from the South of U.S.A to the South Americas is an intriguing story of cross-cultural lifestyles and learning about the world!

Click in to read the story of Jon Herrin's journey from America to Mexico!

Thank you, Jon for sharing your story with us!

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By Jennifer Kumar, LMSW Cultural Adjustment Coach/Mentor on Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Krishna has been working on uploading select, inspiring images from our travels together in the past few years across America and to India. Click into see some of the awesome and inspirational images.

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By Jennifer Kumar, LMSW Cultural Adjustment Coach/Mentor on Monday, February 01, 2010

Is there something that you would like others to know about your culture? Is there something that is little-known, or maybe it's a myth or stereotype? Have you experienced different cultures and want to share your experiences?

I have compiled a comprehensive list of questions that you can choose from to get your memories refreshed! I hope to learn about you and your culture to share with the world here on Alaivani- to increase understanding and break down barriers of misundertanding among us! Thank you for your consideration and participation!

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By Jennifer Kumar, LMSW Cultural Adjustment Coach/Mentor on Friday, January 29, 2010

Have you lived in a different city or country than where you were born and raised for a few months, a few years, a few decades? Do you know anyone else who has... and still feels homesick? I share some thoughts on why I think this occurs. I am happy to hear your thoughts, experiences and feedback!

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By Jennifer Kumar, LMSW Cultural Adjustment Coach/Mentor on Thursday, January 28, 2010

People in tropical or arid and sweltering hot climates may desire to experience and even live in climates where snow falls. Sometimes what we dream snow is, is not what we think it is!

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By Jennifer Kumar, LMSW Cultural Adjustment Coach/Mentor on Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Moving across the country or around the globe for work opportunities, educational enrichment or family commitments is common-place now-a-days. We not only encounter lifestyle and cultural transitions by moving- we can encounter them in our own homes through changing jobs, changing family relationships, retirement, marriage, divorce and many other types of transitions. Here, I recap in a slide show video three techniques you can use on-your-own to create success and ease in lifestyle changes.

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By Jennifer Kumar, LMSW Cultural Adjustment Coach/Mentor on Saturday, January 23, 2010

Your culture is mesmerising. What do you find most interesting about your culture? Is there something you would like the world to know about your culture that is misunderstood?

I am starting a series of interviews to help encourage cross-cultural sharing and understanding! I hope you would like to participate! Tune in for more info....

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By Jennifer Kumar, LMSW Cultural Adjustment Coach/Mentor on Thursday, January 21, 2010

There are many resources to learn and understand why people do and behave how they do- the best sourse is the insider source! Find a mentor of someone in the group you want to relate to! If not, then bounce ideas off a mentor, life coach like me! Slideshow video inside.

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By Jennifer Kumar, LMSW Cultural Adjustment Coach/Mentor on Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Moving to a different city or country? Wondering how you will adjust to a new lifestyle and culture? Do you enjoy learning and integrating new ways of expressing life? I have created a five part video training series that explores tips and techniques you can use today to help with culture shock, lifestyle adjustment and fitting in as a newcomer!

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By Jennifer Kumar, LMSW Cultural Adjustment Coach/Mentor on Thursday, January 14, 2010

Sankranti is a holiday celebrated in many parts of India under different names with variations on ritual, reason and revelry. Click in to experience this festival as celebrated by some in Karnataka, a central south Indian state.

Submitted by an anonymous Kannidiga friend. Thank you.

 

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By Jennifer Kumar, LMSW Cultural Adjustment Coach/Mentor on Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Thanksgiving harvest is a mid January tradition in Tamil Nadu, South India. Wonder what are the special traits of this holiday, how it is observed and what to do if you're invited to one's home for this auspicious occasion? Click in to read more.

Photo right: Woman making kolam, design on ground with rice flour, in Tamil village for Pongal 2000.

 

By Jennifer Kumar, LMSW Cultural Adjustment Coach/Mentor on Saturday, January 09, 2010

Are you an Indian (desi) planning to come study in America for your graduate studies? Are you more enthusiastic to join your program if your advisor is desi? Consider the advantages and disadvantages of this choice as expressed by Brijesh in this article. Do share your insight, thoughts, and experiences here or on Brijesh's site.

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By Jennifer Kumar, LMSW Cultural Adjustment Coach/Mentor on Thursday, January 07, 2010

Can Indians and Americans be attracted to each other for life-long friendships or serious maritial relationships? What do we have in common? Where do we differ that may prevent attraction, relatability or understanding? I explore some of my thoughts on this topic in a video blog.

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By Jennifer Kumar, LMSW Cultural Adjustment Coach/Mentor on Wednesday, November 25, 2009

After living in India for two years as a typical graduate student at Madras Christian College, some of my close friends and family wanted to know what I learned about India. They had a lot of questions, some were good questions based on studying and knowning other Indian friends, but others were based on myths. This list of myths was created in 2001 from statements and questions people asked me when I returned to USA from India.

 

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By Jennifer Kumar, LMSW Cultural Adjustment Coach/Mentor on Monday, November 09, 2009

Are you a Malayalee parent raising your child abroad? Finding it hard to encourage your child to learn Malayalam? Are you loosing touch with your mother tongue?

Are you a non-Malayalee or non-Indian married to a Malayalee and want to learn Malayalam for communicating with your spouse and in-laws?

I am making an attempt to collect some resources you can tap into to maintain a link with your native culture and language or to inspire you to learn about new cultures and languages.

Photo right: by acdme@ flickr used under creative commons. Click on the photo to see the entire photo- it's quite interesting!

Enjoy!!

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By Jennifer Kumar, LMSW Cultural Adjustment Coach/Mentor on Friday, October 23, 2009

Trying myself to recreate the culture I experienced in Tamil Nadu, India that holds a soft spot in my heart, I continue to look for Tamil bloggers based in America for inspiration on creating the mood, spirit and physical-look of India and Hindu culture here in America. In that search, I have found and been overwhelmingly influenced by NRI Maami.

With her permission, I have created a wonderful photo story of her expressions of Indian and Tamil culture here in America- including celebrations of Navarathri (including tutorial on how to create golu steps), Diwali, Avan Avittam, Ganesh Chathurthi, Krishna Jayanthi and others. Thank you for sharing your experiences with the world, NRI Maami.

We have a lot to learn about creating and recreating a life of passion and interest from you!

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By Jennifer Kumar, LMSW Cultural Adjustment Coach/Mentor on Saturday, October 17, 2009

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By Jennifer Kumar, LMSW Cultural Adjustment Coach/Mentor on Friday, October 16, 2009

Diwali is a holiday celebrated by one and all in and throughout India. However, it is not so grand, and even absent in some places in the southwestern state of Kerala.

Joby George, of Ente Keralam, shares his thoughts on Diwali in Kerala- Diwali as a Harvest Festival.

Thank you for sharing, Joby. 

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By Jennifer Kumar, LMSW Cultural Adjustment Coach/Mentor on Thursday, October 15, 2009

This is a new dawn of cross cultural and interfaith understanding! What a wonderful message!

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By Jennifer Kumar, LMSW Cultural Adjustment Coach/Mentor on Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Diwali is one of the most widely celebrated festivals and holidays in India spanning in some places up to five days. Though Diwali has many connections to Hinduism, Diwali is a secular holiday. People of all faiths and backgrounds can celebrate Diwali- as it is the 'festival of lights' celebrating good overcoming evil; a universal theme. Diwali is also one of the most widely known Indian holidays outside India. In this post, you can browse some links on Diwali on my website, including 'The Story of Diwali,' how to celebrate Diwali like a local (Tamilian) and an interesting connection between Diwali and Onam, another South Indian secular holiday.

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By Jennifer Kumar, LMSW Cultural Adjustment Coach/Mentor on Wednesday, September 23, 2009

 

View the social and spiritual calendars for India and America for October 2009. Holidays to look forward to include Gandhi Jayanthi, Sukkot, Maharishi Valmiki's birthday, Columbus Day, Diwali, Skanda Shashti and Halloween.

Happy Holidays!

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By Jennifer Kumar, LMSW Cultural Adjustment Coach/Mentor on Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Click in to see photo slide show of Onam celebrations over the past three years in Rochester, NY, at our home and among our friends in our local Malayalee association- where we enjoyed a public sadhya (meal) and cultural programs (film song dances, singing, thiruvathira folk dancing, skits, and more)!

 

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By Jennifer Kumar, LMSW Cultural Adjustment Coach/Mentor on Wednesday, September 02, 2009

 

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By Jennifer Kumar, LMSW Cultural Adjustment Coach/Mentor on Friday, August 28, 2009

These series of videos, from YouTube are entertaining, engaging and give an overview to international students on the topics of culture shock, cultural adjustment, socializing and adjusitng to college life in America.

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By Jennifer Kumar, LMSW Cultural Adjustment Coach/Mentor on Wednesday, August 19, 2009

September 2009 is overflowing with celebrations in America and India in various tradtions: Hindu (Onam, Navarathri), Muslim (Eid), and Jewish (Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah).

 

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By Jennifer Kumar, LMSW Cultural Adjustment Coach/Mentor on Wednesday, August 19, 2009

There are a multitude of folk dances in India. In Kerala, one such folk dance generally perfomed in by women is Thiruvathira. I like to call this dance a 'South Indian Square Dance.'

In this post, I share a few YouTube videos of dances I like, and links to videos of the dance as performed by our local Malayalee association (of which I also was part of).

Thank you, and enjoy!

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