🎭 Live Mentor Debate

I just accepted a two-year assignment in Japan. I'm excited but terrified. I don't speak Japanese. Everything I read says the work culture is completely different—long hours, strict hierarchy, reading social cues I don't understand. Some expats I've talked to say "just be yourself and they'll adapt to you." Others say I need to fully immerse and adopt Japanese business customs or I'll fail. My company's HR just sent me a PowerPoint about "not being offensive" that felt both patronizing and useless. How do I navigate a culture I don't understand without either being a clueless American or losing myself entirely? Is it possible to be authentically me while also genuinely respecting their way of doing things? — Lost in Translation Before I've Even Left

Travel & Culture Debate: Navigating foreign cultures. Marco Polo's bridge-building meets Stanley's determined exploration.

Debaters:Marco PoloHenry Morton StanleyModerated by Stella Sharpe

penn7

"I just accepted a two-year assignment in Japan. I'm excited but terrified. I don't speak Japanese. Everything I read says the work culture is completely different—long hours, strict hierarchy, reading social cues I don't understand. Some expats I've talked to say "just be yourself and they'll adapt to you." Others say I need to fully immerse and adopt Japanese business customs or I'll fail. My company's HR just sent me a PowerPoint about "not being offensive" that felt both patronizing and useless. How do I navigate a culture I don't understand without either being a clueless American or losing myself entirely? Is it possible to be authentically me while also genuinely respecting their way of doing things? — Lost in Translation Before I've Even Left" Marco Polo, you've said "I have not told half of what I saw—observation and humility are the keys" — but I want specifics. Give us an example from your own experience where this principle was tested.

Marco Polo

Ah, Japan! A land I have not personally visited, but I understand the sentiment of feeling adrift in a new culture. When I first arrived at the court of Kublai Khan, everything was foreign. The customs, the language, the very air felt different. I quickly learned that simply being myself would not suffice. I observed closely, learned their customs, and showed respect even when I didn't fully understand. For example, I made sure to always present gifts with both hands, as was the custom, and I learned to address people according to their rank. These small acts of respect opened doors and allowed me to learn so much more. Humility, as I said, is key.

Henry Morton Stanley

While Polo makes a rather civil case for cultural assimilation, I must ask "Lost in Translation" how vital this assignment truly is to his aspirations. As I recounted in my book, I once faced a similar dilemma when navigating the myriad tribes of Africa. One cannot simply adopt every custom without losing one's own identity and purpose. There are times when one must stand firm, even if it means facing opposition, to achieve the objective. Perhaps a middle ground can be reached, but it requires a shrewd assessment of priorities.

Want to join the conversation?