Diversity Teams

Preparation of Expatriates for their Stay Abroad

Important behaviours will be taught about cultural differences – e.g. how to deal with punctuality, with authorities, hierarchies, food, the different rules for “good behaviour”
Preparations will be given for the expected emotional reactions on a stay abroad and support will be offered how to deal with it.

Thatfore I represent a graph according Kohls:

Phase A: Arrival and discovery

Phase B: Disillusion and disappointment

Phase C: Culture shock

Phase D: Acclimatisation to the culture

Phase E: to feel like home

Phase F: shock on return

Phase G: Reintegration into the culture

Phase A: e.g. open minded friendly Americans, high standard equipment in a laboratory
Phase B: e.g.: the kindness is only superficial and only two weeks leave per year
Phase C: Culture shock. Feelings of being isolated may come up.
Phase D: the rules are understood and are getting used. e.g. Thanksgiving gets celebrated
Phase E: e.g. Becoming a member of the local auxiliary fire brigade
Phase F: for many people surprisingly a second shock comes up on the return. The advantages of a superficial kindness can be seen and missed.
Phase G: Catching up with old lads. Furthermore search for new contacts with other Expatriates