My Travelling Experience

If I were to be departing for Paris, France next week, many issues would arise whether they will be good or bad. While visiting a new and foreign country, the culture and atmosphere is unfamiliar to me and if I am open to new perspectives, it can make my visit a better experience. As with companies, they also face challenges which makes it difficult for them to develop effective global managers. “The answers are as complex as the world's geographies. Each company has its own specific needs and challenges, and every country presents a unique and rapidly changing landscape in which work must be accomplished” (Rifkin, Pg. 1). As for a company and as for myself, the beliefs, values, and behaviors could possibly need much adjustment or no adjustment.

The beliefs, values, and behaviors that would need no adjustment would be looking, listening, and learning since I have interest in other cultures and brand new experiences. Smiling is also an easy to do and it warmly invites others to greet you. I would still live, play, and eat local and continue to be friends with the locals I meet. Also, being in a foreign can be stressful to some people. Everything is in a different language and you don't know your way around the city. Being patient and trying the language is something that I am open to doing and can make the trip more easy going. I'm also a big fan of celebrating diversity. I get to share my culture with you while I also get to learn about yours. There's not just one culture in America and it could clear up misconceptions about the American culture. I am always open to learning about what the locals do for fun around the city and what popular culture is like in this foreign country. I'm not big on lecturing others on controversy topics such as pollution, energy usage, or the environment so that will not be a problem. I often don't use clichés since many people don't really get them anyway so it would be even worse if I tried to say one to a foreigner as it will not translate well and they may take it literal. As for politics and religion, those are private things and should not be discussed with someone you've just met 10 minutes ago as these type of topics can rally up arguments because one may not believe what another does. Since France is an unfamiliar part of the world to me, I would be extra safe and conscious of my surroundings so that nothing can go wrong. Also, there is no problem with me not keeping my word. If I promise something, then expect for me to follow through on that promise.

Personally, some of my beliefs, values, and behaviors would need a small adjustment to assimilate to the different culture and not offend anyone. “People from different cultures tend to misunderstand each other's behaviors or stereotype people from other countries” (Rifkin, Pg. 1). Since people from other countries can misunderstand your beliefs, values, or behaviors, it is best to adjust them in order not to be unfavorably received by the country you are visiting. Same as with global managers as they have to be open to new ideas and adjust their perspective on things in order to connect with a certain culture. “Too many companies view globalization as a one-way street, which is a shortsighted view,” (Rifkin, Pg. 2). Viewing globalization as a one-way street can potentially do damage as it doesn't cater to the cultural needs of another country and therefore you company will not be successful. In order to be successful companies have to make adjustments from the American culture or from any culture to another. For example, if I were to visit Paris, I would have to adjust the think big, act small, be humble suggestion. According to the article, boasting can be considered rude in many countries. I don't intentionally mean to brag or boast about anything, it's just in my nature to be proud of something that I accomplished or what I have done and may mention it since it's a part of me and my status and who I am. Gestures would also be a big thing to be careful about as they can either send out a positive or negative message to others around you. I would have to watch my body language as it may unintentionally off put or get myself unwanted attention. Learning a different culture's gestures would help me better communicate with others that I come across or get to know. Another behavior of mine that would need to be adjusted would be the proud, not arrogant suggestion. Once again, I don't intentionally try to be arrogant, but I can sometimes come across as arrogant because I may talk about a certain topic multiple times and continuously bring it up and also the tone of my voice and the certain vocabulary I use could give off as being arrogant. Instead of it coming off as confident and proud, it comes off as arrogant and that behavior should be adjusted so that I won't offend the local people that I am visiting. Agreeing to disagree with someone is extremely hard especially if you are trying to get your point across. What makes it worse is that it could be with someone who doesn't even understand you let alone speak the same language as you. This behavior would need to be adjusted as much as I hate not being right or try to influence someone that what they think is wrong.

The beliefs, values, and behaviors I will not adjust or change is dress for respect. I do occasionally dress casual or dress up, but I only dress fancy for special events, not every day. Also, because I am an athlete, most of my wardrobe consists of many casual items such as t-shirts, pants, sweatshirts, sweatpants, and tennis shoes. Although I do have nice clothing in my closet, I prefer not to wear it unless I'm going somewhere special or trying to dress to impress. I'm not going to change the way I dress because that's changing the way I express myself and I like to wear things that makes me comfortable, whether its yoga pants and a t-shirt or a fancy dress paired with high heels.