Something that’s often overlooked when working on an international project is the different public holiday schedule. If you plan a schedule like one you would use in your own country, there will often be days when no-one replies to your emails. Many countries have holidays that are not followed worldwide, such as Easter in Christian countries, Obon in Japan, and the Lunar New Year in China and other Asian countries.

Portugal, for example, has many holidays with historical roots, such as Freedom Day (April 25), Republic Day (October 5), and Restoration of Independence Day (December 1).

In some countries, when a holiday falls close to a weekend it is often treated as an extension of the weekend. At times like that, some cases individuals and companies take an extended break, so it’s crucial to check in advance. Nowadays, it’s easy to look up public holidays for different countries online, but it’s useful to get a local calendar and keep it handy. Having a paper calendar makes it easier to plan ahead as it serves as a reminder to contact partners early, before they go on their Easter break, for example.