A good film doesn’t let its hero arrive at their destination immediately after setting off. Instead, they face initial trials, new allies – but also their first enemies. These are the first steps on new and unfamiliar ground.
In the movie…
Luke Skywalker finds his allies Han Solo and Chewbacca in Mos Eisley [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bosSsgzgenA]. But they also face their first challenges and have to fight the imperial stormtroopers to leave the planet.
In the life of an expat…
These struggles with the reality of the new world run through much of the plot. For expats (and their families), too, a phase of everyday trials begins after their arrival. These take the form of cultural differences that can lead to misunderstandings or create a tense atmosphere – encountered in meetings, at parent-teacher conferences, while shopping or in conversations with colleagues.
Allies are family members, but can also be work colleagues, acquaintances, or friends you have already met in your destination country. Opponents, on the other hand, are the misunderstood events and experiences (critical incidents). These can be found everywhere. They are small misunderstandings that lead to disagreements or even major mistakes that alienate customers, cause a collaboration to fail, or lead to the dismissal of employees.
The support…
The hero now receives support not only from the mentor, but also from other people in the new world, such as colleagues, friends, or neighbors, who can serve as cultural translators. It is therefore also a good idea get to know people from the target culture – they are real experts on the new culture, environment, and society. Asking them questions and talking to them – even indirectly about their experiences – means activating allies whose value cannot be overestimated.
