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