The expatriate experience

The expatriate experience

I read with some interest the article by Donna Woodward which
touched on the actual responsibilities of the highly paid foreign
advisers and consultants that currently worked here in Indonesia.
No doubt this touched a few nerves around the luxury apartments
that are the homes of such individuals, but I wonder if the
feeling of guilt will last long enough to see breakfast out of
the way.

It reminded me very much of my first assignment in this
country, when on arrival I was advised of the do's and don'ts
that would be expected of me in the province of Aceh. By the time
I had absorbed most of these my game plan for company improvement
was somewhat depleted, and this was before I even set foot in my
office. I was often told when coming up with an idea for
improvement that my job was simply as an adviser, and
subsequently such ideas got conveniently forgotten, or mislaid.

The main problem with all these restrictions was that they
were coming from long-established expatriates, who had been here
so long that their only real policy was one of not rocking the
boat. Now confrontation is surely something that none of us wish
to experience on a daily basis, but then "change", which is why
we so-called experts are here in the first place, will inevitably
bring an element of confrontation into any discussion.

Our ideas are not always the best in practice, despite their
proven success in the western world, but then most commonsensical
advisers would accept this to a degree. What I found the most
difficult aspect to live with was that the same hypocrisy was
being voiced by the overweight and very comfortably off expat
bosses, who were themselves very quick to criticize the locals
for being guilty of the same.

Another problem that needs to be recognized and addressed, if
possible, is the mix of nationalities that make up expat
management teams. A multiethnic minefield of historic calamities
that bring back to life the two world wars and the many unwelcome
visits to various shores that were the ancestral activities of
our forefathers.

Here in Indonesia you have the same ethnic problems, and
unfortunately many cannot live together in peace and tranquility.
The French, for example, do not particularly like the English,
the Germans always think they know best, and the rest of the
world cannot agree on the day of the week let alone the best way
forward. This may sound trivial and petty but such clashes of
nationalities do affect decisions, and most expats, if they were
honest, have experienced such turmoil.

It is not just a case of telling Indonesians what to do, it is
more a case of finding the right approach to introduce much-
needed change. Management is often sadly lacking in this area,
and in the case of Indonesia, expats often adopt an overriding
attitude of "softly-softly", when really the opposite is
required. Bravery and courage in the face of resistance is often
confused with a poor understanding of the local thinking --
expats taking one step forward and three back when the alarm
bells start ringing.

What we are here for anyway if we cannot give this country the
very best that we can offer, even if that does get up the nose of
some people. Sure there will be resistance, especially from those
that will lose out if changes are made, but if the approach is
well thought out, and the benefits clearly explained right down
the line, then there is a very good chance of success. I should
imagine right across Indonesia the "expat experience" would
collectively make a best-seller if all events could be recorded
in one rather interesting book.

None of us expats, hopefully, posses a halo, but for the
salaries paid there are no excuses whatsoever for expat
underperformers, and no room at all for those that fail to have
the courage to stand by their professional decisions.

But Jakarta life is good, the living is cheap, and a few years
more will see a pension most people can only dream about.

DAVID WALLIS

Medan, North Sumatra