Bell, a Polish woman, experienced significant culture shock when moving to Singapore for work over seven years ago. She faced gender discrimination and inequality in Poland but found Singapore to be much more egalitarian. She was positively shocked by how easy it was to pursue her career and face less prejudice as a woman in Singapore. Bell integrated well into Singapore due to the country's diversity and support from locals. She now considers Singapore her home and feels more appreciative of things than locals.

1. Cross Cultural Management (BMGT2004S) – Assignment 2
FT UCD BBS 23 (B) – LEE XIAO PING (14210321)
1. Introduction
This paper seeks to explore cross cultural issues that expatriates experience when working and
living in a culture different from the one they grew up in. An expatriate interview is conducted
with an ex-expatriate currently residing in Singapore. In the course of the paper I discuss the
findings derived from the interview on both personal-reaction and analytical levels to evaluate the
success of interviewee’s experience.
2. Background
The interviewee for this paper is Bell (not her real name), a Polish woman who came to Singapore
for a work assignment. Now self-employed and running her own business, she has been in
Singapore for over seven years. Given Bell’s profile as an ex-expatriate currently residing in
Singapore, I therefore redefine ‘expatriate’ as a working professional who has worked and lived,
or is working and living away from his/her home country for more than six months.
3. Finding 1: Culture shock
From the interview, Bell mentioned that she had “thoroughly research things related to Singapore
before coming, so there weren't a lot of things I didn't expect”. In order to avoid culture shock, she
made intense preparations to ready herself for her move from Poland to Singapore. She had longed
to leave for a better country even at a young age “I always knew I wanted to leave Poland for the
longest time. I remember, I being seven years old or so, and bawling my eyes out to my parents,
begging them to move our family to Germany”. She further affirmed her desire to leave her home
country by the statement “… I just knew I need to get out”.
Bell feels that for herself, culture shock was positive - “I was positively shocked how easy it is to
be a female in Singapore compared to my country of origin”. Be it career wise “Never during the

2. Cross Cultural Management (BMGT2004S) – Assignment 2
FT UCD BBS 23 (B) – LEE XIAO PING (14210321)
course of my job interviews or work was my gender seen as a problem” or personal safety “I can
safely walk at night or be out alone”, “people are mindful not to brush against me in public
transport and public spaces”, she experienced gender equality in all aspects of her life here.
This was vastly different from Europe, more specifically, Poland. Bell was quoted saying “In
Europe, my gender was constantly used against me”. “… I was banned from attending any extra-
curriculum classes…” “My math teacher never gave me a chance to sign up for advanced math
classes…” “… a bunch of men who tried to convince me that I as a woman am ‘too fragile and
physically weak’ to attend uni” “... HR lady … could never ever allow me to pursue marketing as
a career because it’d be wrong for me to pursue my career… she believed it was very important I
make babies and devote my life to them” These examples highlight gender prejudice and inequality
Polish females may face throughout their lives. Bell deems the cultural shock as positive, as she
was empowered, as quoted “I could not believe how greatly the move improved my life and career
standing. It was the best thing that has ever happened to me”.
4. Finding 2: Integration into foreign environment
Singapore’s linguistic environment and transparent regulatory frameworks made Bell’s integration
easier. “The Singapore way” of diversity – “where people embrace their differences, and want to
celebrate them” signalled to Bell that she would not face prejudice nor discrimination, making her
adjustment to life here easier.
“The Singapore way” of diversity also helped Bell to build a strong support network from the
locals she interacts with. She named her first landlord “incredibly helpful and generous” and her
husband’s HR manager advising them “on many difficult issues”. Social media also helped her
integrate – “… whenever I felt lost or confused about something, I would just ask and always got
great advice and plenty of kind words from Singaporeans staying in touch with me”. Bell also
mentioned that her ex-boss also helped in language – “… my boss occasionally scolding me for
misuse of words during my first year in Singapore”.

3. Cross Cultural Management (BMGT2004S) – Assignment 2
FT UCD BBS 23 (B) – LEE XIAO PING (14210321)
Work-wise, even though Bell attributed in-team tensions to her being a risk taker and blunt, but
said that her bosses welcomed her, telling her that “it brings balance into the team”. As she recalls,
“I don't recall any serious conflict” expressing good relationships she had with her colleagues,
despite keeping relations professional – “to avoid personal interests getting tangled with
professional issues”. Now self-employed, she still maintains good relations with her ex-colleagues
“most of my close friends right now are my ex-colleagues”.
Bell sees herself no different from a local other than being more appreciative. As she said, “I don't
understand why people prefer to put on a coat indoors, rather than lower the aircon power… it also
shows a certain ignorance towards using up resources, like electricity”, “… I feel I am much easier
satisfied with things, so my level of happiness and general satisfaction is much higher than that of
a local person”.
Bell is definitely integrating well into Singapore culture. In the interview she even raised an
incident from the recent General Elections – “… when Cheo Chai Chen attacked Tin Pei Ling” to
illustrate her point. She further states “I feel super hurt when anyone suggest should ‘move back
home’”, speaking of her satisfaction with life in Singapore.
5. Reflection
5.1 Personal-reaction level
I personally felt that Bell would experience serious culture shock in Singapore. After all, cultures
of Singapore and Poland are poles apart. I expected that Bell would prepare herself for the move.
Generally people refer to culture shock as negative, to Bell however culture shock was a pleasant
surprise as she received warm hospitality enabling her to integrate well.
Bell had faced gender discrimination and inequality back home, therefore her intention to move to
Singapore. This was contrary to my perception of Western countries being gender equality
advocates. Asian societies typically share the same trait – patriarchy where men head the
households and are breadwinners of the family. For example, Peranakan culture although is
matriarchal, the babas (men) are the breadwinners and nyonyas (females) confined to the
households. It occurred to me that gender inequality is still an issue in Western countries as I listen

4. Cross Cultural Management (BMGT2004S) – Assignment 2
FT UCD BBS 23 (B) – LEE XIAO PING (14210321)
to Bell detail her encounters to me. True that there were traditional beliefs and perceptions that
local females may still be obliged to abide by, but there was minimal stereotyping and prejudice
that I experienced, no matter in social, personal or professional settings. This part of the interview
turned out to be culture shock for myself, rather than what Bell had defined positively in the
interview.
As a local I am proud of what Bell states as “the Singaporean way” of diversity. I interact, socialise
and work with people of all ethnicities, recognising and respecting differences. With her strong
support network and also her own efforts I saw no wonder in Bell’s ease into integrating well in
Singapore.
Having worked with multicultural colleagues albeit from similar cultures (Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong
Kong), I had my fair share of conflicts due to miscommunication and perception differences. It
was certainly interesting to know of Bell working easily with her colleagues, bringing “balance”
to her work teams. Definitely Bell has gone the extra mile to fit into the Singaporean professional
environment. Her local colleagues also readily welcomed her, respecting her views and making
her feel inclusive.
Comparatively Bell seemed to be more appreciative than the typical Singaporean. I was guilty of
the aircon issue and also the level of satisfaction. Locals tend to be so pampered that we take things
for granted. Bell raised the ‘Motherhood is a weakness’ saga from the recent General Elections
(Hon, 2015). Her attentiveness to local current issues was what that had I convinced that her
integration is absolutely successful. I believe given Bell’s stay here for seven years and counting,
she is not just an expatriate; she has already gone native.
5.2 Analytical level
5.2.1 Culture shock: gender inequality and egalitarianism
As above-mentioned, Bell experienced culture shock in terms of gender inequality and
egalitarianism. Table 5.2.1 presents a comparison of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions rating of
masculinity (The Hofstede Centre, n.d.) (The Hofstede Centre, n.d.), United Nations’ Gender
Inequality Index (GII) (United Nations, 2013) for Singapore and Poland:

5. Cross Cultural Management (BMGT2004S) – Assignment 2
FT UCD BBS 23 (B) – LEE XIAO PING (14210321)
Country Hofstede’s masculinity UN GII ranking
Singapore 48 15
Poland 64 26
Table 5.2.1 Hofstede’s cultural dimensions rating of masculinity, United Nations’ Gender
Inequality Index (GII) for Singapore and Poland
The comparison reveals a connection: the more masculine a society is, the lower its ranking on
GII. I therefore draw a correlation that gender equality and masculinity are related to a certain
extent.
I have selected two cultural drivers of gender egalitarianism – religion and political systems
(House, et al., 2004) to further analyse:
Singapore promotes racial and religious harmony in its society due to the multicultural makeup.
All religions therefore enjoy equal footing in Singapore. On the other hand, Catholics form the
overwhelming majority in Polish society (StayPoland.com, n.d.). The Church held traditionalist
views on women as mother and wife (Heinen & Portet, 2009). This perhaps explains Singapore’s
scoring on Hofstede to be slightly effeminate, and Poland inclining towards masculinity due to the
extent of influence religion has on societal norms and values. Heinen & Portet (2009) argued that
government standing and policies were greatly influenced by the Church’s traditionalist views,
therefore resulting women on lesser social status as men. In comparison, the ‘strategic
egalitarianism’ approach (Lazar, 2001) by Singapore government had women entitled to equal
social rights as men along with education and employment opportunities. Religion therefore had
limited influence on gender equality in Singapore.
Singapore given its society composition is more diversified than Poland, therefore Bell would find
herself being accepted by Singaporeans, and therefore having her expatriate experience a positive
one.
5.2.2 Integration into foreign environment: success factors
I attribute Bell’s success to the following factors:
Bell’s desire to relocate was the greatest deciding factor for her to accept the assignment. She was
cross-culturally trained, having strong support and hence flexibility allowing her to adjust quickly.

6. Cross Cultural Management (BMGT2004S) – Assignment 2
FT UCD BBS 23 (B) – LEE XIAO PING (14210321)
Language proficiency further facilitated her communication, she being English educated could
communicate well with locals, despite little hiccups during her early years here (Wang & Fang,
2007) (Kaczynska & Turpeinen, 2007) These factors had her willng to integrate into Singapore
environment not only made her expatriate assimiliation extremely successful; they motivated her
to seek Singapore residence.
6. Conclusion
Bell’s expatriate assimiliation was a resounding success that led to her settling in Singapore long-
term. Her desire to relocate, views on Singapore as a ‘better country’ and also willingness to
integrate were drivers of success. Redefining culture shock as ‘positive’, she experienced gender
equality here unlike back home, which was contrary to my perception of western countries being
gender equality advocates. She also had strong support to integrate with the Singapore
environment, faciliated by language proficiency and cross-cultural research. Given her satisfaction
with life here, I look forward for Bell to seek Singapore permanent residency in the near future.

7. Cross Cultural Management (BMGT2004S) – Assignment 2
FT UCD BBS 23 (B) – LEE XIAO PING (14210321)