Jillian Armstrong leads an external audit team reviewing the financial statements of Islamabad Investment Bank is Islamabad, Pakistan. It is Ramadan, and the employees on her team are Muslims who fast each day for a month. Jillian has never fasted and believes the practice can be harmful over prolonged periods, especially in the heat of the summer. She proposes several times that team members keep up their strength by drinking water or tea, but her suggestions are met with awkward silence. She has decided to leave well enough alone as long as everyone does their work, but now she faces a dilemma. What should she do for lunch? Should she eat in her office, out of sight of the team and bank employees? Have lunch in one of the local restaurants that cater to Westerners? Or perhaps fast with her team and eat at sundown?

What do you think would be the effect of Jillian accepting the local custom but continuing her own personal preference at mealtimes?

Can two ways of life exist side by side at work? Why or why not?