CASE 2: the professor's shoes 7 He caught the connecting flight on to the provincial town where the school was situated. case 2 He was met there by the school secretary, who drove him to the hotel where the school lodged its visitors. On the way he asked, "What should I know about Thai culture?" She laughed, and after a moment's thought said, "Always take off your shoes the professor's shoes when you enter important places." Jack had heard of nothing like this before and he asked for confirmation. "You take your shoes off in all important places?" "That's right. To show respect." That first evening he went out by himself to eat dinner, and then went on to a bar. The free and easy nature of Thai night life delighted him, and he felt imme- diately at home. "There are no rules here," he told himself. "Anything goes." On his first day of classes, Jack took off his shoes before entering the classroom and left them outside. He was mildly surprised to notice that the thirty students had all kept their shoes on. Because he was determined not to say anything that CASE PREPARATION might be interpreted as bad manners, he decided to say nothing about it. On the second day also, he left his shoes outside the classroom and taught in his Your company has decided to post you to manage a subsidiary in a country that you know nothing about. socks. The same thing happened on the third, and succeeding days. How do you learn about the new culture? List the ADVANTAGES and DISADVANTAGES The students were mid-level professionals, with some experience of the world, of each of the following: and were initially amused. But as the situation continued, their amusement turned to irritation. Most irritated was one of the few foreign students in the class, another Before you arrive, Australian, Kyle, who was being made to feel defensive of his nationality by his read guide books. colleagues' comments. ask repatriates. attend classes on the culture. Kyle eventually decided to talk with an English-language teacher working in the (any other .) school. Peter had come to Thailand as a volunteer eight years before, liked the country, and decided to stay. After you arrive, "The students don't like the professor taking his shoes off before he comes into observe. the classroom." ask insiders (members of the culture). "Is that what he does?" ask outsiders (expatriates). read newspapers. 'Yes. So please, could you suggest that he keeps them on?" attend classes on the culture. "Why don't you tell him yourself?" (any other . ..) 'Because I have to get a good grade on his course. If he thinks I've embarrassed him, he's going to pick me off. So please, keep my name out of it." Discuss your answers with the class. So the next day, Peter went to talk to Jack in his office. Jack had just come out of teaching material that hadn't been as successful as he had expected, and he was Jack was a Professor in an Australian university. He taught engineering in a small not in the best of moods. but prestigious College of Mining. The College had signed a teaching and con- "Professor, can I talk to you a minute?" Peter asked. sultancy contract with a Thai engineering school. A number of the faculty had "Sure, but only for a minute." already been over to Thailand to teach a six-week course in their specialty, and 'How are you enjoying the assignment?" now it was Jack's turn. "Fine. Is that it?" He was feeling both excited and apprehensive when the plane landed at Bang- "No. The students wonder if you could keep your shoes on in the classroom." kok International Airport. He knew very little about Thai culture. Colleagues had 'When I need the advice of a volunteer, I'll ask for it," said Jack, who was in no told him that the Thais were a hospitable people, who valued good manners. They mood to defend himself. had given him a list of restaurants and night spots. He was determined to be a "But the students asked me to talk to you . . ." good guest and to fit into the culture as well as he was able. "How many?"8 CASE 2: the professor's shoes CASE 2: the professor's shoes 'One." "That's not a majority." DO ask insiders about the norms of their culture. 'It was a delegation. He was speaking on behalf of the full class. That's the Thai way.' "Then I'll hold a vote in class. If a majority vote for me to keep my shoes on, I will. That's democratic." DO ..... ................ "It's not in Thai culture to take an open vote like that." 'Why not?" DO ........" "Because no one would want you to lose face by voting against you." "Why not?" DO . ... . .. .... . ..; ....................corp.". ".".":" "Because you're the social superior." "When a majority of the class come and see me, I'll think about it. I was told to DON'T ....... .. . .............. ........ take off my shoes in important places, to show respect. And as a teacher, I think the classroom is a very important place that I want to respect - even if the students DON'T ........ don't." "No, important places are temples, houses, places like that . . ." DON'T ................. "And for me, the classroom." Peter reported this conversation back to Kyle, who summarized it for his colleagues. Jack did not change his behavior. The students were too shy to approach such an important person directly. Instead, they made a formal complaint to the school principal. Jack enjoyed his visit. On the morning of his departure he paid a courtesy visit to the principal, and the principal said how grateful they were for his par- ticipation in the program. On the basis of these kind words, Jack returned home certain that he would be invited to return the following year. But the invitation never came. Questions What did Jack do right? N What mistakes did Jack make? How could these mistakes have been avoided? 4 What mistakes were made by other people? Decision 5 You are a cross-cultural consultant. You have been hired by a multi- national company to produce a guide for their expatriate managers on learning about the new culture. Complete the following suggest tions. The first has been done for you. Complete the remainder