Comments on: Can you tell your Meerkats from your Singapore Girls?

by: David Brain

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:28:08 +0000

Suki you do get around…what are you doing in China?

by: Suki Fuller

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:06:48 +0000

Catching up on my reading and voila - once again Mr. Brain you have hit the nail on the head. And btw - I am living in China now.

@Andrea - great insight and comments. My mindset has always been different as a Brit growing up and living Worldwide…so I feel any access to those of other cultures keeps me alive as life is supposed to be about learning and I do so everyday.

by: edward04

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 12:06:27 +0000

Great article, share the sentiments, particularly the need to be cultulrally attuned and the sad lack of that amongst Anglo Americans. I have lived and worked in Germany for 19 years and am now back in the UK. My sense is that despite Rynair, easy global communications, Skype etc…there is an enhanced parochialism around. Language abilities? Hm. Knowledge about what is going on in other countries? Hm. Interest in it? Hm. Without wishing to appear a centrist, I wonder if geographically peripheral countries are in danger of being more provincial in outlook. What do you think?

by: Andrea Vascellari

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:05:23 +0000

“we were begging for people to go to China. No takers”
Unbelievable.

“Your language skills hame me by the way.”
(blush) Thanks…

by: David Brain

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:57:54 +0000

Andrea. I totally agree with your last point. We have filled places now, but six months ago we were begging for people to go to China. No takers. Your language skills hame me by the way.

by: Andrea Vascellari

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:52:51 +0000

“…if you survive that, and even if you then spend the rest of your life at ‘home’, the chances are you will be better at understanding, delivering and advocating proper global programming”.

I don’t want to sound cliche but this is so true. I lived it and I’m still living it. The mindset you get by living in foreign cultures is a great plus. At least from my perspective I see this kind of experiences as a must for any practitioner involved in global programming but not only.

We are living and working in a ‘global environment’ which basically means that everyone (at different levels) is directly or indirectly affected by it. Having a global mindset means that even though you might not be the one dealing with global programming etc. you are aware of these global dynamics and therefor you can better support, contribute and help your team/organization.

I grew up speaking 3 languages (now I have skills in 6), I manage a team that is located across 3 different countries (between Europe and South America) and that deals with projects that space from North America to Europe. The mix I get out of it? Priceless.

The most shocking thing for me living this global experience is that on one hand I’m learning so much and on the other I’m finding every day something new, interesting and inspiring that I didn’t even know was existing, both on professional and personal level too. It feels like a 24/7 non-stop-flow of cultural and professional enrichment. I hope you got what I mean.

The main problem I’m facing? I’m struggling to find people, especially young, that share my same vision.
I wish one day I’ll be able to find, get together with or join a team of great, future oriented and globally open-minded people.

As usual, love your posts & insights,

Andrea