American expatriates living in Europe face a great deal of trials and tribulations. The absence of their close family members and friends affects them emotionally as they go about their day to day lives. They always try to get avenues for online chats at the slightest opportunity. They also face socio-cultural challenges as their way of life is totally different from that of the natives. Their diet and general behaviour differs in so many ways and expatriates can take quite some time to fit in comfortably in the European culture. Language barrier is another common challenge faced which makes communication very difficult. It becomes challenging even to ask for assistance in small things such as getting directions. These are some of the trials and tribulations experienced by American expatriates
Europe and America have very different cultural perspectives. This being the case, there is always a conflict where an American expatriate living in Europe comes across cultural differences in the course of interacting with the European natives. These conflicts are just one of the many trials and tribulations that an American expatriate will face in Europe. Cultural diversity is a form of wealth by its own right in any given state or continent. However, if not handled appropriately, it may be a source of constant suffering for many who find themselves in such situations.
In Europe, the expatriates face many forms of challenges as a result of cultural differences. The lack of a common language among some states, differences in religious beliefs,especially with the Muslim religion, and racial discrimination are some of the trials faced. Also, the fact that America is a super power is itself a cause of trials. The American expatriates automatically become rivals of world economic power with the Europeans.This paper will look strategies that can be applied to reduce these upcoming cultural conflicts in the long term, and develop a training module for cross-cultural management.
Q1. One of the ways in which these trials and tribulations can be reduced is by establishing conventions and agreements between two conflicting nations. These conventions will stipulate the way in which the two diverse cultures will coexist together and peacefully and learn to appreciate each other’s culture however awkward some may sound. These conventions will be incorporated in the state’s policies and be enforced as laws to be abided by. Violation of these agreements will result in punishment by the law enforcement authorities. These conventions can then be reviewed from time to time and amendments made where deemed necessary. Trade unions are another long term strategy which goes a long way in bringing unity among conflicting cultures. This will enhance better interactions with both or all the parties benefiting in a win-win situation. As it helps to build the economies of the states involved, it reduces the challenges arising from cultural conflicts. The natives of each state will be able to accommodate the diverse cultures in the form of diverse languages, religion and cultural beliefs. Such a strategy has achieved great success between Indians and most African nations. Christianity and Muslim religions are able to peacefully coexist without conflicts as each respects the other’s religion.
Q2.The training module on cross-cultural management will have the following contents:
- Proper decision making process
- Communication skills
- Handling cultural conflicts
- Negotiation skills
- Handling work (business) and personal life issues
- Earning trust and credibility in a world of diverse cultures
- Interpersonal skills
- Dealing with fear of the unknown
The learning goals will be:
The module targets to train at least 50 participants for every module session. The module will take a total of 45 hours. There will be a total of 30 sessions with each session taking 1.5 hours.The participants will be assessed at the end of the module course through an assessment exam. They will also do a practical examination in groups where they will be able to practice the lessons learnt in a real life situation under supervision.
