If you’re going to live and work abroad then you need to learn something about that culture and way of doing things if you want to get along with others. Essentially, you need to be a cultural chameleon. A chameleon is a kind of lizard that can change its color to suit the circumstances in order to hide itself. The same goes for us, when we work in a company we need to observe and follow the ways that others do things, the way they eat, dress, perhaps even what things they do in their spare time. By doing this, you can fit in with those we work with and gain their trust and respect.

 

One obvious area is how we speak. For example, Scandinavians have a deep respect for pauses in a conversation and don’t feel that every gap in a conversation must be filled with speech, whereas the French hate silence and use short sentences. And then if you’re talking with Americans, they may want you to get straight to the point and find it irritating if someone’s speech is indirect and talks around in circles before getting to the point. When I look back on my time living in Korea, I wish I had been more tuned in to how things happened earlier, then I would have got along with life a lot quicker.

 

 

 

 

How well do you get along with your coworkers?

What kind of person would suit your work/school circumstances?

Do you agree that foreign employees should follow all Korean cultural thinking in a company? In other words, should the same cultural rules or expectations go for them as for a Korean employee?

What should a new employee/person do to fit into an organization you know well?

In what circumstances would it be okay to get straight to the point? Do you agree with the reading? Why or why not?

Are there some things that irritate you about another culture?

Do you think you ever talk around in circles?  Can you describe someone like in the reading?

How can you become more tuned into what is expected in a new culture?

 

 

At first I found it hard to get along and understand a new culture, but when I could understand why they did thing, then my life was a lot better.

When I first came to Korea, my direct way of talking didn’t suit the situation or the circumstances for where I worked and so I had to learn to adjust my attitude.

I’m not happy about the heavy traffic situation, but I know the same goes for many people in many busy cities in the world.

Once I learned how to fit into living here then I could really enjoy life.

One of the most irritating things about summer is the mosquitoes at night.

When I have done something wrong that could make my girlfriend angry, then I might talk around in circles to avoid telling the exact truth, but she is smart and demands that I get straight to the point.

The interesting thing about psychologists is that they are tuned into what people are trying to say.