At home and at work: How to avoid the pitfalls of a first overseas posting

If you’ve just accepted a position for an international development organization in a country new to you, you’re most likely wondering about the cultural adjustments you’ll have to make ahead of and during your time abroad. How do you decide where to live and shop? How do you adapt to or challenge local customs in and out of the workplace that might clash with your own values? While your employer will hopefully help you address some of these questions before you head out, more will likely crop up as you adapt to living and working in a different country for the first time. Devex asked two aid workers hailing from London: Maxi, a gender specialist, and Adam, a manager in a local nonprofit, for their own experience in adapting to work in Malawi. At home Unless provided a set living arrangement, a priority for aid workers moving to a new post can be deciding where to live. “We chose carefully,” Maxi said, adding that they spent their first few weeks in-country looking around and crowdsourcing as much advice as possible from colleagues and friends. The two now live in a mixed middle class area, where their neighbors are both expats and Malawians. The location has made it easier for them to make friends locally, easing the process of finding like-minded people who have lived internationally and are likely to share some of the same values, whether Malawians or expats. But don’t stop there. Maxi and Adam find that shopping locally sourced produce at the nearby market has been another excellent way to get to know the culture. Others might prefer to visit the South African supermarkets, Adam said, but both the experience and the quality of the food is much higher in the market. “Everything is seasonal and much, much cheaper,” Maxi said. “We have gotten to know the local vendors — it’s really important to find out who is the best guy to get you fresh fish, who gets the fresh milk … It takes a bit of time to start with, but that’s what vendors expect, and it’s really worth it.” It’s best to ask a friend beforehand what a reasonable price would be, and expect to bargain a bit, she added. “You’re not helping someone if you pay a ridiculously high price, as you’ll be forcing up the price, nor if you insist on aggressive haggling, as this could put someone out of pocket,” she said. Depending on their background, some development workers may be reluctant to hire full-time domestic staff, such as a housekeeper or driver. However, cautioned Maxi, this isn’t necessarily the right choice in a country with high unemployment where many people are looking for work. “People like to be seen leaving their house in the morning, and our housekeeper prefers to wear a uniform so people can see she has a proper job,” she said, adding that staff should be employed on contracts and according to national labor laws. “Contracts should include paid holidays, insurance and paid sick leave,” she added. “We specify this and take our obligations seriously.” One issue facing development workers in a new country is whether to conform to or challenge local norms. At work A common challenge at work in a new environment is to distinguish between applying international experience and being culturally insensitive. Maxi, who has had research contracts for bilateral and multilateral donors, learned the hard way. “In one of my first jobs working with a team of local partners, I encouraged the team to establish a clear division of labor and timeline for the tasks at hand, but was told this was not the way things were done in the country,” she said. She didn’t push back, but the work also wasn’t finished on time. “I learned that I shouldn’t be too shy in insisting what I thought was correct in the work context,” he said. “Meeting deadlines is not against the local culture.” She now asks local partners where he can help, whether writing a report, preparing the structure or providing the international context. The treatment of women is another area that often arises on a personal and professional level, Maxi said. As a manager, Adam leans on the organization’s policy when necessary. “If I find someone within the organization does not treat women equally to their male counterparts, I refer to the organisation’s statement of aims and values that he has signed up to, which insists that people should be treated equally, and ask him to modify his behavior in keeping with this,” he said. This may work for a manager, particularly a man, but how should a woman handle a similar situation? “I have found it’s more about the country you come from than about gender, as foreigners are usually treated with respect,” Maxi said. “I wouldn’t openly criticise what’s happening as it’s not my place to criticise the culture — and would also be counter-productive. I might talk to the women individually to see how they feel about how they are being treated and explain we have similar problems in Europe. If one wants to transform women’s position in society, it’s better to find ‘change agents’ within the local group, and empower them to speak out for themselves,” she said. Both Adam and Maxi are keen to emphasize that while adapting to cultural differences takes time, living in a different country, and particularly seeing things from a different world view, is an incredibly positive and fulfilling experience. Devex Professional Membership means access to the latest buzz, innovations, and lifestyle tips for development, health, sustainability and humanitarian professionals like you. Our mission is to do more good for more people. If you think the right information can make a difference, we invite you to join us by making a small investment in Professional Membership.