The Hindu Business Line : Finding your feet

Like many young professionals and managers in today’s world, I have had the opportunity to live overseas and be part of a new culture. Some years ago, my husband’s work took us to Dublin, Ireland, giving us the chance to experience the Irish way of life, raw and unadulterated.

With two children and a husband who was busy setting up operations for his company in Dublin, I had two options: Find fellow Indians and remain in my comfort zone, being led and guided by them, or figure my way around on my own and become part of a new a culture. I chose the latter and I am glad I made that decision. It gave me the chance to learn a new way of life, experience a new culture and make great friends who I cherish dearly. Our family is now a happy mix of Irish and Indian cultures. Though we are back in India, we still celebrate Halloween’s Day, wish each other ‘Happy St Patrick’s Day’ on March 17 and throw a traditional Christmas lunch for our friends and family.

We live in a world where global boundaries have blurred and we have to deal with multiple cultures from different parts of the world, all at the same time. And that is the profile of today’s new manager. The single biggest challenge faced by the new, global manager is that of being accepted by his colleagues and being seen as ‘one of them’. It is imperative for today’s professionals to broaden their outlook and to appreciate the nuances of other cultures, their lifestyles and value systems. Here are some tips, which I followed diligently to be accepted as a Dubliner.

Get to know your neighbours and community: Go with a bottle of wine, ring the doorbell and introduce yourself. Don’t be shy and intimidated — most people will welcome you into their homes and show an interest in your background and where you come from. Getting to know your neighbours is helpful because you get invited to neighbourhood events and activities. I remember being regularly invited to summer barbeques where my tandoori chicken was invariably the highlight!

Socialise with your colleagues: In the West, especially in Ireland and the UK, there is a strong pub culture. It is normal for office folk to go down to the ‘local’ and ‘grab a pint’. It’s a time to bond and get to know each other. Even if you are a teetotaller do go because it is something which you can indulge in with your team outside the office.

Join a sports club, school PTA and so on: Joining a group helps immensely. It allows you to connect with the local community and indulge in their interests. People will appreciate that you are trying to learn about their culture and lifestyle, and are likely to help you adjust. Learn their sport, play it and then discuss it with your colleagues. That way you are not treated like someone from Mars; instead you are seen as one of them as you talk the same language.

I took pains to figure out rugby and football just so I could take part in their heated discussions on whether Rooney fouled Cristiano Ronaldo or not!

The school is also a great place to network if you have children. I got on to the school PTA and volunteered my services doing everything from raising funds doing Hindi name tattoos at the Easter fair to helping out with the traffic outside the school gates at dispersal time.

Read local tabloids and watch popular TV shows: Besides discussing the weather, which most Irish and British people are obsessed with, discussing the tabloids and popular TV shows is a close second. I got hooked onto many reality shows and popular soaps. I followed them closely and they served as a great eye opener to their culture and an effective icebreaker when interacting with the locals.

Try new food and cuisine: Western food normally tastes bland and tasteless to us Indians and many avoid it. Make it a point to accept dinner invitations from friends and colleagues and try their cuisine. In return, invite them over for an Indian meal, open your house and welcome them in. It makes them feel special and gives you an opportunity to talk about your country and culture. Many of my husband’s Irish colleagues would pop in with very little notice demanding chicken curry and naan bread (as they called it!).

Be an aware and proud Indian: Know who you are, where you belong and what your history is. India, despite its phenomenal economic development, is still that faraway land of mysticism for most Westerners. You will be asked many questions — on religion, lifestyle, clothes, food, Indian values and so on — so it helps if you are well read and have intelligent answers to give.

While living in Dublin, I made it a point to educate my Irish friends on India. We were the only Indian family in the neighbourhood and I volunteered to do India awareness workshops in the neighbouring school.

It was well received and I think people appreciated the fact that I was proud of where I came from and that I wanted them to get a glimpse of my culture.

Based on my experience, using some of the tips above will help anyone — whether a professional or a spouse — get accepted into a foreign culture and be seen as ‘one of them’. The key is to get out of that comfort zone and take the plunge.

(The writer is a New Delhi-based lead cross-cultural trainer with Global Adjustments, a relocation and cross-cultural services company. She can be contacted at globalindian@globaladjustments.com )

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