From grimoire
Prepares travelers for cultural immersion by mapping cultural distance, researching religious context, and teaching social protocols.
How this skill is triggered — by the user, by Claude, or both
Slash command
/grimoire:run-cultural-preparationThe summary Claude sees in its skill listing — used to decide when to auto-load this skill
Prepare a traveler for meaningful, respectful engagement with a destination culture through structured pre-departure learning.
Prepare a traveler for meaningful, respectful engagement with a destination culture through structured pre-departure learning.
Adopted by: SIETAR International, Peace Corps (used in pre-departure training for 200,000+ volunteers across 141 countries), US State Department Foreign Service Institute, major international NGOs Impact: Peace Corps data shows volunteers with structured cross-cultural training complete assignments at 30% higher rates; business travelers with cultural preparation close deals at measurably higher rates; culture shock severity correlates inversely with pre-departure preparation quality Why best: Cultural missteps — from body language to religious taboos to negotiation styles — damage relationships and travel experiences in ways that cannot be recovered in-country; preparation is the only intervention point
Sources: SIETAR "Intercultural Competence Framework" (2022); Peace Corps Cross-Cultural Workbook (Peace Corps, 2023); Hofstede, Hofstede & Minkov "Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind" (3rd ed., 2010); US State Department cultural briefing methodology
Map the cultural distance — Assess how different the destination culture is from the traveler's home culture across Hofstede's key dimensions: Power Distance (hierarchy vs. egalitarianism), Individualism vs. Collectivism, Uncertainty Avoidance, and Long-Term Orientation; high distance = more preparation needed.
Research religious and belief context — Identify the dominant religion(s) and their practical implications: prayer times, dress requirements, dietary restrictions, sacred spaces behavior, and religious calendar (holidays, fasting periods) during your visit.
Learn greeting and social protocols — Research: appropriate physical greetings (handshake, bow, cheek kiss, no contact), use of titles and surnames vs. first names, eye contact norms, and appropriate conversation distance/volume.
Understand dining etiquette — Study: table customs (who eats first, serving conventions), food taboos, tipping norms, how to decline food politely, and the social role of eating in that culture (business meals, family rituals).
Research dress and modesty norms — Identify dress requirements for: religious sites (head covering, ankle coverage, shoe removal), general public spaces, business settings, and beaches/recreational areas; pack accordingly.
Learn negotiation and communication style — Identify the culture's communication style: direct vs. indirect (high vs. low context), attitude toward disagreement and saying "no," role of silence, and gift-giving protocols in professional contexts.
Acquire basic language competency — Learn 20-30 key phrases: greetings, polite requests, gratitude, directions requests, apologies, and numbers; even basic attempts at local language signal respect and dramatically improve reception.
Study local laws and behavioral constraints — Research laws relevant to travelers: photography restrictions (government buildings, people, religious sites), public behavior rules (alcohol, displays of affection, dress), and import/export restrictions.
Prepare for specific interaction scenarios — Role-play or mentally rehearse 3-5 high-probability cultural interaction scenarios: bargaining in a market, declining hospitality, discussing politics or religion, and navigating bureaucratic interactions.
Identify cultural mentors or resources in-country — Find: expat community resources, locally-run cultural tours, cultural centers or NGOs that offer orientation, and trusted local contacts who can provide real-time guidance on cultural navigation.
npx claudepluginhub jeffreytse/grimoire --plugin grimoireApplies cross-cultural etiquette research from leading frameworks to avoid social violations and build trust when traveling or doing business abroad.
Guides cultural adaptation of products for new markets — beyond translation to navigation, trust signals, payment flows, and compliance. For international expansion, i18n audits, RTL adaptation, or localization test planning.
Guides adapting AI behavior to cultural contexts, languages, and norms including communication styles, formality, power distance, and localization strategies. For global AI products.