【推荐1】At your next meeting, wait for a pause in conversation and try to measure how long it lasts.

Among English speakers, chances are that it will be a second or two at most. But while this pattern may be universal, our awareness of silence differs dramatically across cultures.

What one culture considers a confusing or awkward pause may be seen by others as a valuable moment of reflection and sign of respect for what the last speaker has said. Research in Dutch and also in English found that when a silence in conversation stretches to four seconds, people start to feel uneasy. In contrast, a separate study of business meetings found that Japanese people are happy with silences of 8.2 seconds — nearly twice as long as in Americans’ meetings.

In Japan, it is recognized that the best communication is when you don’t speak at all. It’s already a failure to understand each other by speaking because you’re repairing that failure by using words.

In the US, it may originate from the history of colonial (殖民地) America as a crossroads of many different races. When you have a complex of difference, it’s hard to establish common understanding unless you talk and there’s understandably a kind of anxiety unless people are verbally engaged to establish a common life. This applies also to some extent to London.

In contrast, when there’s more homogeneity, perhaps it’s easier for some kinds of silence to appear. For example, among your closest friends and family it’s easier to sit in silence than with people you’re less well acquainted with.

【推荐2】Here are four fun Thanksgiving tradition facts.

Turkey and cranberry sauce (小红莓果酱)

While the Native Americans and Pilgrims are believed to have feasted on geese, lobster, cod and deer, present-day Thanksgiving dinners mainly feature turkey. Some experts believe the birds were selected because they were cheper, and easier to rise. The bird was suggested by Sarah Josepha Hale to make Thanksgiving a national holiday. Since President Abraham Lincoln loved roasted turkey, he happily included the bird on his Thanksgiving menu. The idea of pairing the bird with cranberry sauce is believed to be the brainchild of Civil War Union General Ulysses S. Grant in 1864.

Turkey Trots

Many Americans build up their appetites (食欲) for the holiday feast by participating in their town or city's morning runs, or "Turkey Trots". The fun tradition was started in 1896 by six people of Buffalo, New York. It is the world's oldest footrace, attracting over 14,000 runners of all ages and abilities every year.

Thanksgiving parades

American retailer Macy's has been holding a Thanksgiving parade along Manhattan's 77th Street and Central Pack West since 1924. Though the popular event, which attracts over 3.5 million people in person and about 50 million television viewers, now contains giant floats (花车), the first parade featured animals from New York's Central Park Zoo.

The Presidential turkey pardon

Every year, two lucky turkeys escape the Thanksgiving table due to a special pardoning supported by the US president. People credit the fun tradition to President Harry Truman (April 12, 1945 to January 20, 1953). Though at first, just one bird could be freed, a "spare" was added in 1981, after a turkey named Liberty escaped by accident before President Ronald Reagan was able to grant (授予) his pardon at the ceremony.

【推荐3】Chinese Culture Shown to the World with Love Li Ziqi, a short video blogger specializing in traditional Chinese cooking and handicrafts has gained worldwide popularity.

Li has about 20 million followers on Sina Weibo, China's equivalent to Twitter，plus 7 million followers on overseas social media networks. Many foreigners say they have got to know traditional Chinese food culture via her channel.

It is the spirit of craftsmanship（技艺） behind her works that makes Li's video clips attractive. She strictly follows the authentic traditional steps and procedures in making traditional Chinese food and handicrafts, such as peach flower wine and silk, and goes to great lengths to ensure her videos are accurate. Sometimes she spends several months producing one of her videos.

Li has been inheriting（继承） traditional Chinese culture in a rather creative way. A closer look at her videos will show that they are never with any "analysis" that makes people feel bored. They just show the audience each and every detail of traditional Chinese culture so that the latter knows how Chinese live their beautiful and elegant lives. It is that universal appeal that makes her works so attractive. Thanks to Li's efforts, many intangible cultural heritages that only existed in memories and written records now appear before our eyes. Via her short videos, Li presents the image of a beautiful and friendly China.

With the growth of the Chinese economy, people overseas are showing more interest in traditional Chinese culture. Li has shown how to satisfy that interest in a good way, namely showing the best parts of traditional Chinese culture with her heart.

To effectively present the beauty of Chinese culture to the world, we need more Li Zigi.

【推荐2】If you’re looking for European culture, there are few better places to visit than Switzerland. Known as the melting pot of Europe, it combines the cultures of Europe with extreme beauty and fantastic food.

Switzerland’s culture is a combination of neighboring states: France, Germany, and Italy. The result is a multilingual country, as eastern Switzerland speaks French, the southern part speaks Italian and the rest speaks German.

Like the language, the cuisine is also quite different by region. If you visit cities like Geneva, you’ll find traditional French dishes like fondue and raclette, melted Swiss cheese served over bread or potatoes. Meanwhile, in German-speaking regions, like Zurich, you’ll find Rosti, a typical side dish made from fried potatoes.

However, if there’s one thing that unites the Swiss and the rest of the world, it’s their love of chocolate. Swiss chocolate factories are “the most luxurious in the world”. US travel blogger Sarah Schmalbruch wrote on Business Insider that famous brands, like Lindt, are based in the country. Visitors to Switzerland can enjoy tasting chocolates, and even take classes from master chocolate makers.

Aside from the wide variety of food on offer, Switzerland also offers thrills. The Swiss Alps offer year-round skiing and mountain climbing with local experts. Besides, you can visit the beautiful Matterhorn, known for its distinctive pyramid shape and snow-capped peak. Standing at a height of more than 4,400 meters, it is the most pictured mountain in the world, according to Smithsonian magazine.

But if city culture is more your thing, you’ll find a large group of museums and art galleries, not to mention the world’s largest teddy bear museum in Basel.

Even the largest Swiss cities tend to be laid back (悠闲自在的), but with many exciting activities and cultural sites, Switzerland is perfect for every taste. After all, where else in Europe offers you the culture of four different countries?