Cultural Training

These services are provided by Friendly Faces L.L.C.

Your contact at Friendly Faces L.L.C. will be Ms. Manuela Blankinship

Ms. Blankinship, a German citizen, has lived in the U.S. since 1997. She has worked for international firms in both Germany and Michigan and speaks several languages.

She has a degree in International Trade and Foreign Languages and earned a B.A., with high distinction, in Communications from the University of Michigan. In addition, she was awarded the title of 2003 Honor Scholar of the Communications Department.

Ms. Blankinship is a certified cultural trainer and works with professionals and their families who are embarking on an international assignment.

She is the author of Destination Detroit ­ A Guide for International Newcomers and co-author of Last Minute German: A Language and Culture Guide for People on the Fly.

Please contact Ms. Blankinship via manuela@friendly-faces.com or by calling USA (313) 562-8169.

Cultural Awareness Training

This 3-hour program is designed to give participants a general understanding of the main aspects of culture - i.e. a culture's underlying value system and its communication patterns.

Participants will learn to gather and interpret cues from social interaction allowing them to place the culture in question into a theoretical framework. Based on this framework, they will be able to interpret observed behavior, assess it from a more objective standpoint, and adjust their own behavior accordingly.

This program will convey basics of intercultural communication that can be applied to both international communication settings and interaction with local ethnic groups and subcultures.

We suggest adding this program to your company's management and diversity training curriculum.

Cultural Training - Destination Germany

This program incorporates many of the concepts taught in our Cultural Awareness Training. In addition, examples and case studies are specific to the German culture allowing an insight into "German nature" and communication styles.

Special emphasis will be put on understanding and avoiding cultural pitfalls. In addition, participants will learn to view and interpret their own behavior and that of German counterparts through image exercises and the application of both the German and American value system.

This program is essential for expatriates relocating to Germany and to anyone who frequently interacts with Germans.

Working in the U.S.

This 3-6 hour program incorporates many of the concepts taught in our Cultural Awareness Training targeting the U.S. culture. In addition, examples and case studies are specific to the U.S. culture allowing an insight into "U.S. nature" and communication styles.

Special emphasis will be put on understanding communication in the workplace and avoiding cultural pitfalls (direct vs. indirect communication style, appropriate feedback, interviewing guidelines, dress code, establishing relationships etc.).

As with all of our programs, we will customize the "Working in the U.S." curriculum to the client’s specific needs and incorporate subject matter experts where appropriate.

Daily Living Michigan

This 3-hour program will help international arrivals navigate the everyday challenges of living in Michigan. They will learn how and where to shop, how to navigate Michigan traffic, differences in lifestyle, health care and school system, and much more.

In addition, they will be able to ask any questions they might have (e.g. Is it safe to drink the water? What do I have to do during a tornado warning?) so that their transition to life in the U.S. will go as smoothly as possible.