An opportunity to go abroad and experience a new way of living in a new world. Most of these heroes are eager to go abroad.
In the Belly of the Whale: (Entering Into an Unknown Culture)
“It is like crossing a threshold from one’s past life into a totally different life. Guards that make crossing the threshold difficult:
- culturally inappropriate constraints
- deep distrust of hero as a stranger
- lack of language ability
- community of other heroes (expatriates) that severely restricts interaction with members of host community (i.e. golden ghetto)
“If the [hero] is not careful or is willing to succumb to these guardians, she or he will not be able to finish the hero’s journey.” Just because you’re a hero, doesn’t mean everything will be smooth or that you’ll be a good hero.
The Magical Friend:
The hero finds a magical friend (or cultural mentor).
- often member of new culture or a seasoned hero
- serves as initial guide (helps language concerns living accommodations, social contacts, advice for greater work effectiveness)
Hero should never complain about other culture.
“Complaints have a way of slowing down the process of finding these magical friends, especially among members of the new culture itself.”
Road of Trials: (Paradoxes)
The hero must eventually embark on a journey of his own. He will face many trials in the form of paradoxes.
“Paradoxes are seemingly contradictory but equally true ideas that emerge as one tries to mediate between two cultures.”
- “Seeing as valid the general stereotype about the local culture, but also realizing that many host-country nationals do not fit that stereotype.” The hero is forced to be aware of individuals, instead of just cultural membership.
- “Feeling at ease anywhere, but belonging nowhere.” The hero may begin to feel at home in many places and situations, but may still not fit in. “A certain feeling marginality often exists even upon returning home, as the hero and his community have both change during the journey.”
- “Feeling caught between the contradictory demands of headquarters on one hand and the demands of the host-country nationals and the local situations on the other.” The hero becomes a translator for both groups, “trying to convey the point of view of the home office to those in the new culture without losing their trust and explaining what can effectively be done in the new culture to the home office without being accused of ‘going native.’”
- The hero giving up some of his “home community cultural ideas and behaviors in order to be accepted and successful in the other culture while at the same time finding some of [his] core home values becoming even stronger as a result of exposure to another culture.” These changes are necessary for the hero to be effective and avoid standing out in negative ways.
- “Becoming more and more ‘world-minded’ as a result of exposure to different values and conflicting loyalties, but becoming more idiosyncratic in putting together the hero’s own value system and views of life… A hero tends to recreate her or his identity in unique ways even as she or he is more aware and accepting of many different identities.”
Ultimate Boom and Return:
The hero has learned to sacrifice for the good of others, yet has developed a self-sufficiency and inner power that allows for the accomplishment of seemingly impossible tasks. He has grown, matured, a broader perspective of the world, a greater appreciation of differences, has better work skills, can better lead others in accomplishing important goals, has a wider base of knowledge and understanding, and has developed closer richer personal and family relationships.
“On the hero’s return he or she often finds that things have changed.”
Source: 1995. Osland, J.S. The Adventure of Working Abroad. Jossy Bass: San Francisco. pp190.
