50 Activities for Achieving Cultural Competence

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Part VI—Expatriation and

Acculturation

Today, individuals and teams are going abroad in unprecedented numbers to do business with

people around the world. Planes and trains are full of international business travelers, and

cyberspace is now filled with virtual immigrants and expatriates—people working with and for

individuals and organizations whose cultures are often radically different from their own.

While much of this travel is short term, others are going abroad to stay and others are entering

longer-term virtual relationships in which knowledge of other cultures is critical to success and

satisfaction.

The activities in Part VI and Part V provide some of the processes by which such travelers, real

or virtual, can acquaint themselves with the dynamics of working and living together face-to-

face. They should also help prepare people to work for extended periods in the context of other

cultures, even when they are not physically there.