Home Away From Home

By Ashwini Tharval and Dipali Godbole

As the world becomes increasingly smaller, it's not novel to see professionals from different countries, cultures, and languages sharing cubicles and coffee. Working in a foreign country is as common as working in a neighboring city. It may be difficult getting used to a different work culture, but most people enjoy the learning experience.

Two such individuals, working in non-native countries, share their experiences with us:

Barbara Leonard, originally from the United Sates, works as a technical writer in France. She worked as an instructional designer and technical writer in the early 1980s. After several years away from this field of work, during which she obtained a paralegal certificate, she returned to technical writing as a contractor in 1989. In 1992 she accepted a staff position documenting hardware and software, and in 1996 she moved to France to work as a technical writer for a French software company that sells its products worldwide.

Sachin Chopda is a software developer from India. He lives in the United States and was briefly working in Japan on a project. He works for a multinational company and deals with Southeast Asian countries. He is often involved with the documentation of the project he works on. Even as you read this, he is off to Japan for a brief stint.

Language

Bicycling in France

The French language is not too much of a problem for me. I studied French in school and had reached the point where the only way to improve my French was to live in France.

Before I moved to France, I read as much as I could about the cultural differences. I've tried to observe and understand as much as possible, in order to know what to expect and to avoid making social errors. Also, I am involved in bicycling, which the French like. This interest has made it easier for me to meet and interact with French people outside the workplace.

9.30 goro denki ga….

The lights will be switched off at 9.30 PM, blared the public address system in the office. Even after a week in Japan, I was a bit befuddled and a little help from my colleagues spared me the agony of skimming through the dictionary. The language barrier has narrowed significantly in the past few years, but still remains a major issue.

Work Culture

Cubicles vs. cigarettes

The physical workplace is different in France. Rather than cubicles, people work in rooms (offices or "open spaces") that may be shared by up to seven people. Discussion and teamwork seem more prevalent in France. The French keep their voices low, so the workplace is quieter than the U.S. I like not having cubicles and the resulting interaction, but in France people smoke in the workplace.

The type of people who work in software companies seems to be the same in France as in the U.S., but the French seem to discuss a wider variety of topics than Americans. Lunchtime conversations are animated.

In both countries, bad management creates bad experiences. On the other hand, good colleagues provide good experiences.

Long working hours

Putting in long hours is second nature to the Japanese. They hardly take their stipulated leave and almost always use up their paid vacation for sick leave. My manager would stay in the office for several days at a stretch.

People in Japan are devoted to the company they work for—it is like an extended family. They share a symbiotic relationship; the company promises life-long employment, and the employees reciprocate by working harder for the betterment of the company.

The main difference that I noticed in the work culture in Japan is that they are less individualistic with their approach. Japan seems to be a group-oriented society where employees may follow their manager's instructions without thinking of the repercussions. A strict hierarchy in the workplace also contributes to the cause.

Industry-specific

On technical writing

The process of technical writing happens in the same way in France as in the U.S. However, the main difference is between American English and British English. "English" in Europe is British, and there are differences in style, punctuation, and spelling. In school, the French learn British English, including the pronunciation. British people work as technical writers in France, and their influence is felt.

There are few technical writing jobs in France, but there are fewer technical writers. Even though there are more people looking for jobs in the U.S., I think it is easier to find a technical writing job here than in France.

Salaries in the U.S. are higher than in France. Benefits in both countries depend on the company itself. The French government covers most health care costs, and companies may provide coverage for the rest. Companies may also provide various kinds of savings plans, and pay half of restaurant tickets and public transportation costs. France has more holidays and vacation time while somehow maintaining high productivity.

Teamwork

I had a very good experience of Japanese teamwork while working on this project. It was an unwritten rule that everyone would leave together. I never had to grapple with a problem on my own. My team members would just hang around till the problem was solved and then all of us would leave together. Cooperation with colleagues is emphasized, rather than competition.

Parting Words

Both Barbara and Sachin felt that they benefited professionally and personally from exposure to a different culture and interaction with people in and out of the workplace. Barbara learned a variety of tools in France and got experience in marketable subject areas, such as programming libraries and databases. Sachin was very impressed by the teamwork and willingness to share difficulties. He would love to go back and work in Japan.

The Devil Mountain Views -- May/June 2002
(ebstc.org/newsletter/front.html)
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