This workshop provides expatriate employees and their family members with the critical information to “thrive, not just survive” in the destination country. It also provides an opportunity to raise and address any concerns they may have or any challenges they are likely to encounter, thereby easing the transition and ensuring assignment success in the long-term.

Through an interactive session with the trainer, participants learn about their cultural and personal profiles on the following dimensions of culture: time orientation, hierarchy, decision-making, risk-taking, communication style and leadership.

• We get participants to share their first impressions of the local culture. We then discuss how the local community perceive foreigners, highlighting similarities and differences in perceptions.



• We explain the whys behind these differences by looking at the history,geography, demographics and values of the destination country



• We discuss the “Do’s and Don’ts” to minimize cultural faux-pas.



• We work together with the participant to devise strategies to build good rapport and overcome possible clashes when interacting with locals.

• Building on the experiences of past and present expatriates in the destination country, we discuss challenges the new expatriate family may encounter.



• We explain the various stages of adjustment while living abroad and introduce methods the family can employ to anticipate and minimize major adjustments, such as "culture shock".

• The nature of topics we are likely to discuss includes: etiquette, gift-giving, banking, entertainment, eating out, neighborhood breakdown, getting around the city, expatriate support networks and more.



• Additionally, participants are provided with our ‘Welcome Pack’ that includes: street directory, city maps, phrasebook, relevant publications, and Important contact lists.

• We introduce participants to the first 50 survival words or phrases in the local language.



• Participants learn how to communicate effectively with the locals both in the local language as well as in English.

• Participants make a list of key tasks participants need to accomplish in the first 3 months.



• Participants outline the steps they would normally take to achieve these goals



• Trainer works with participants to identify if any adjustment in approach is needed to accomplish these tasks successfully in the new culture.

• 6h (1 full day or 2 half days)



• Pre-departure or Post-arrival



• Individual or Group



• 1 Cross-cultural Trainer and at least 1 Home country Presenter