1. INTRODUCTION
Working with a team is a challenging task. So if the team is composed of different people with different nationalities. This is because aside from dealing with different individuals who have unique personalities and behaviour, the culture which each of the members are or have been exposed to will play a major role in how they deal with other people and how they will respond to others. In this regard, human resource management occupies an important role in managing, mobilizing and organizing the team so that each of the members will perform effectively for the benefit of the entire organisation.
I know fully well how difficult it is to work with a team especially if it includes having members with different cultural background. There are times when our personal views and biases conflict with one another and this affects the performance of the team. However, working with a culturally-diverse team is also an educational experience because it exposes us to different cultures and makes us more culturally-aware at the same time. Thus, depending on one’s ability to cope up with the different personalities of his team members, any person working with a cultural team will have the opportunity to grow as a person especially when it comes to dealing with other person.
As a foreign student, I had the opportunity to work with different individuals from different countries. Here in London where I am currently studying, I was able to establish good relationships with other people not only in school but also within the community where I am residing. Having been born and raised in Turkey, I can say that my culture contributed a large part to the development of my personality. Thus, when I first came to London, I know that I would have to learn how to adapt to the new culture that waits for me in the United Kingdom.
I can say that studying in a foreign country is certainly a challenging effort both on the part of the student and the school as well. Foreign students studying in United Kingdom bring with them their culture and upbringing and this affects the manner with which they communicate and behave around their peers and classmates. Foreign students like me often have to reconcile the fact the we are in a foreign land and as such, we should be more open minded and accept that we will meet new people and a different culture which may be opposite with our cultural orientation. Thus, it is essential those students are prepared beforehand in order for them to manage better.
I am a foreign student in this country. I was born and raised in Turkey and because of this, much of what I know and majority of my preferences are the by-product of my nationality. Thus, there are times when my opinions clash with other people because I prefer following the culture in Turkey. Hence, although I consider myself as a very open-minded person, I cannot at all times maintain an unaffected attitude especially when it comes to those issues which are opposed to mine. This is think is what makes it difficult for me to manage with other people although I am constantly trying to improve and broaden my perspective because I know that in the long run, I will benefit from the same.
Essentially, I consider studying in a foreign country and interacting with other foreign students both as a challenge and an educational experience. It is a challenging experience because studying in United Kingdom has contributed hugely to my academic growth and personal development. I was able to gain new insights on issues which I have encountered in Turkey. It is also an exciting experience because I constantly find new things which I have not seen or heard of in Turkey. Some of them were worth experiencing while others I chose not to pursue. However, I can say that the entire adventure was all worth it and as I am about to finish my study here in London, I know that I have improved not only intellectually but most importantly in terms of personal growth.
As I have mentioned earlier, I encountered difficulties in dealing with other students when I first arrived here in United Kingdom. Gradually though, as I became more and more familiar with the British culture and with other foreign students in the college, I began to feel more relax and at ease in communicating with my fellow students. I believed that my culture played contributed a lot to my difficulty in dealing with other foreign students.