Assignment seven

Intercultural knowledge
Part one International Week
1) Holly Cybulski - rolling out the red
carpet: Keys to Event Management Success
That was the most interesting seminar for me.
Ms Cybulski is an event manager and she talked about how to manage an event,
how to cope with stress. And all other things that come with organizing an event.

To be honest one of the reason why I chose this lecture was a time-related
reason. I couldnt make it Friday to following a seminar, so I planned my three
seminars on Wednesday and Thursday. The other reason was that I think I will
organize an event in the future and I thought this seminar would be useful.

I have learned several things in this seminar. How to cope with stress. That you
should prepare for the unexpected, the famous 10%-rule. And one of my
downsides: You cannot measure, If you first do not plan. So the value of a
planning is really big in the event business.

My notes of that day:

Holly Cybulski - rolling out the

red carpet: Keys to Event
Management Success
Seneca College Toronto, Canada
Aula 4
When hosting an event Need a goal
One little details changed everything (Cameraman screaming at actors sister).
Bad news titles in the papers as a result and she (Holly) being responsible.
When youre in charge: Take control, react when you need to.
Goal: Treat everybody like a celebrity. Keep everybody satisfied. Taking care of all
the details. But youre never going to please everybody.

To manage stress: Know what youre getting into.

Why factor reason for your event

10% rule:
 Preparing for the unexpected: 10% extra budget, time, food, drink,
supplies, gift bags, etc.
A buffer to cope with unexpected activities.
Virtue is in the details
o You have to do your research.
o Host each guest
o Personalize when/where possible
o Attack the senses!
o Surprise your guests.
o Proactively define and enforce a social media policy
o Create contingency plans
o ONLINE POWER= Social currency
o Media?
o Security?
Relationships
o Think long term
o Treat everyone like a VIP
o Create individualized itineraries
o Always individually thank all participants
Dream team
Mission accomplished?
o You CANNOT measure, if you first do not PLAN

Whats your ROI?

Partners, not suppliers

Characteristics of a successful event management professional

Be flexible
Get creative
Think big picture
Then obsess over the details
Precise time management
Be resourceful
Manage expectations
Be the host with the most
But in the end
Everything will be ok in the end. If its not ok, its not then end.

2) K. Groothuijse Language Policy and

Communication in a Multilingual Policy
The lecture was actually boring and not what I expected. Ms Groothuijse talked
about the history of Aruba. The reason I choose this lecture was because I did in
secondary Economy-Modern Languages. So I am very interested in languages
and communication in a multilingual policy attracted me very much. But she
started off the history of Aruba and all the languages that were spoken in Aruba.
But she didnt really explained how to cope with different language barriers and
language policy. The only thing she did was pointing out facts. There was not
really an added value in this seminar, as all the information she shared, was also
available on Wikipedia. So that was a disappointment.

My notes of that day

A4 - K. Groothuijse - Language
Policy and Communication in a
Multilingual Society
Aruba History
1499 : Discovery of Aruba
1636: Dutch Colony
19th century: Gold rush
1928: Opening of Lago Refinery
1954: Constituent country of the Dutch Kingdom
1986: Aruba becomes an autonomous member of the Kingdom of the
Netherlands (status aparte)

Aruba and its main languages

Mother tongue:
Papiaments: 69%
Spaans 14%
English 7
Dutch 6
Other: 4%
App.60% of the population speaks 4 languages to some degree.

Higher education

University of Aruba
4 faculties: different language choices
FHTMS: English, Spanish as foreign language
FEF: Dutch English, Spanish as foreign language
FdR: Dutch
FAS: 2 studies in English, 1 in Dutch

3) Elianne Bilal-Caljouw_Intercultural
communication Management:
Cosmopolitanism & Expats
I normally would have taken this one, but the lecture was cancelled last moment.
And because I was not available on Friday, I only managed to follow two
speakers.
The reason why I chose this speaker though is because the intercultural
communication. As I am very interested in languages and communication by
extension, I really wanted to follow this speaker. Cosmopolitanism & expats is
certainly a thing that is a topic within our program of International Business
Management. I do feel I am Belgian and a Filipino in a way, but I more feel like a
citizen of the world. And thats also a thing the world is evolving to, globalization.
The world has become a village, there are different nationalities mixed in all kinds
of countries. And I believe its old-fashioned to think that you can stop
globalization, because its nearly impossible to stop it. Instead of fighting it,
trying to stop it and singing Own folk first!, we should try to cooperate and
work together, learn from each other, teach each other. As mentioned in my
assignment of professional talents, I am a team player. And I deeply believe that
the world and the people of the world should work and could work as a team.
Because its useless to polarize and set people against each other.
Part two Critical reading task intercultural knowledge
Write a report answering the following questions :

- Which information given by the author struck you as particularly

true? For each sentence you quote from the book, provide at least
1 other source that substantiates this statement.
Most Belgians are hard-working individuals
Cadashworth. (2013). The Art Nouveau of Living. Retrieved 10 May, 2017,
from https://artnouveauofliving.wordpress.com/2013/05/12/belgians-are-
hard-workers-belgen-mensen-zijn-harde-werkers/

Most Belgians have strong opinions

Just landed. (2010). Https://wwwjustlandedcom. Consulted 10 May, 2017,
from
https://www.justlanded.com/english/Belgium/Belgium-
Guide/Culture/Belgian-cultural-cliches
Ian Traynor. (2010). Http://wwwtheguardiancom. Consulted 10 May, 2017,
from
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/may/09/belgium-flanders-
wallonia-french-dutch

- Which information given by the author struck you as not true? For
each sentence you quote from the book, provide at least 1 other
source that counterarguments the point and mention how you
would correct the information in the book.
Most Belgians are friendly..
Paolo campo. (2014). Slow Travel in Europe and Beyond | CheeseWeb.
Retrieved 10 May, 2017, from https://cheeseweb.eu/2014/04/3-reasons-no-
belgian-friends/

- Which information that is important in this culture is missing?

Write the paragraphs on this information yourself and provide the
necessary references to your sources (APA).
Perhaps the author could have mentioned the Belgian cuisine and beer
culture. We are very known for our waffles, fries and beer. And thats
certainly a good thing. As a cycling fan, maybe he could have mentioned
also the cycling culture. We take the bike to school, work and there is a big
hysterical enthusiasm when the Tour of Flanders is approaching.

Julie R Thomson. (2014). 13 Foods Thatll Make You Want To Visit Belgium.
Retrieved 10 May, 2017, from
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/21/belgian-cuisine-
food_n_4617498.html

- In what way is the author biased according to you? (are some

items of information given more prominence in the text than
others, does he demonstrate a personal preference.)
The two groups do not like each other, particularly since the
balance of power is currently passing from the formerly mine-rich
French speakers (Walloons) to the nouveaux riches and numerically
superior Flemish, who are developing the hinterland of Antwerp,
Europes second largest port.
There are certainly proves that Flanders and Wallonia dont get
along well. But thats a bias in some way because not all Flemings
hate Walloons and vice versa. I know Flemings that do get along well
with Walloons. And not to forget, since the Belgian Red Devils are
performing well since a couple of years, we are all Belgians. That
certainly a thing that unites the Flemings and the Walloons. Football.