Working in a foreign country is hard for me. I know what I want to happen in my unit but since I am the only foreigner my staff seems not to care what I said. How can I speak and talk to them properly?

denlevdek,

Your post mentions you as the foreigner, but you don't mention where? Your english is very good, so may I assume you are the one attached to a foreigner unit not in CONUS (not in the US)?? Course it could be another country with a heavy influence of english, but the result is that you have trouble communicating with your team mates. If you have been assigned overseas someplace, then I would recommend taking classes in the appropriate language needed to better assimilate into the unit. Always lead by example first and try very hard to observe their practices. Something along the lines of "when in Rome do as the Romans do". Many of the US military, and we have the "best all-voluntary military" men and women in the world, (which is probably why so many other countries are so jealous) take courses to try to help them understand the local customs and some language abilities to help them. This is of course, within reason. If the custom of the given country goes against your own country's belief, then caution should be practiced. We do not treat our women as second class citizens for example. It is hard to fit in when you are the outsider. Just try to be the best you can be as a human being. --- Ace

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Originally Posted by denlevdek

Working in a foreign country is hard for me. I know what i want to happen in my unit but since i am the only foreigner my staff seems not to care what i said. How can i speak and talk to them properly?

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