It's All about the Fork and the Spoon: A Compilation of Light-Hearted Stories Highlighting Cultural Differences in How We Do Things & How they are Per - Paperback

by Sundus Iraq (Illustrator), Iman Abusaud Elkadi (Contribution by), Salma Elkadi Abugideiri (Contribution by)

Magda Elkadi Saleh's charming new collection of short stories illustrates that the differences between cultures are rarely canyons, impossible to cross; instead, they are usually tiny cracks easily bridged with a smile. Saleh shows you exactly how to address these kinds of issues and make sure that everyone feels heard and understood. Her gentle advice can be used among families with different cultural backgrounds, friends from different parts of the world, and strangers who simply want to understand one another a little bit better.

Saleh's stories all involve friends and family who encountered some kind of cultural misunderstanding in the midst of their day-to-day lives. Saleh and several of her relatives include anecdotes about differences in

• languages and dialects,
• rules of hospitality,
• dining customs,
• dietary habits,
• religious celebrations,
• body language,
• concepts of time,
• methods of communication,
• family roles, and
• mourning rituals.

Throughout each experience, Saleh shows readers how she and her loved ones broke through language and cultural barriers by using trust and understanding instead of sharp words and a frustrated tone. Her stories encourage you to approach new situations and relationships with an open heart, a patient mind, and a sense of humor.

Author Biography

Magda Elkadi Saleh has spent more than twenty-five years working in the field of education. She is currently the director of a K-8 private school and the president of Radiant Hands. Saleh received her bachelor's degree in biology (with a minor in French) from East Tennessee State University and her master's degree in public health from the University of South Florida.

Saleh was born in Austria to Egyptian parents. She and her family immigrated to the United States when she was still a baby. Now, Saleh has a family of her own and enjoys being a wife, mother, and grandmother.