Benjamin Amponsah: Intercontinental Bridge Builder

As a youth in West Africa, Benjamin Kofi Amponsah always knew he wanted to study in the United States.  What he couldn't have envisioned was falling in love with and marrying an American, then settling into her hometown, the father of two Ghanaian-American children.  Along the way, he earned two college degrees and became an international liaison between his adopted city and the Ga District of his native Ghana. Benjamin talks with Alan of his love for two cultures and the patience needed to straddle both.

Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.