I was shocked to discover that other country to have a vacation system drastically different than the American system. Our system is so obvious (to Americans). You get a few days a year off, you take them whenever you want, usually a week here, a few days there, a few more days over there. How could it be any different?

Not in Argentina, at least. Most people there get two weeks off and these are generally taken, together, always during the same month (January to February, which is, weather-wise, their equivalent of August). This is the pattern by custom and by law there.

Lesson: If you are going to work with people in a foreign culture, inquire about their vacation culture. Do people usually take their vacations altogether, at once, or broken into bits? At the same time of the year, or whenever they want? Plan your development and work schedules around these.