Tips for overcoming culture shock while working in Qatar

Working in a foreign country like Qatar has its own challenges. One of the most common hitches of moving abroad for work is culture shock.

Expatriates sometimes suffer from various effects of relocating to another land. The seemingly strange surroundings and norms make them feel frustrated, perplexed and melancholic.

In the worst case scenarios, the period of adjustment can cause stress and diminish work productivity. The new national and organizational culture might push expats away—mentally and physically.

If you are thinking of working overseas or have already set your foot in a different nation, take the shock out of culture shock.

Here are a few doable tips on how to deal with the confusion and uncertainty of living and working in a foreign society.

1. Learn the culture

The key approach to combating culture shock is in learning the culture. Embracing the customs and traditions of a foreign land can go a long way in creating a sense of belonging.

Remember, when you start to feel like you belong, the chances of feeling gloomy and low-spirited are lessened. Take time to learn and adapt everything about the new country you’re living in.

Begin with business etiquettes. In Qatar, handshakes are an essential custom. Make sure to practice this often when greeting Qatari nationals. It is also necessary to address them with their professional titles along with their first names.

Of course, you also need to learn a bit of their business language. If you’re flying soon to an Arab country like Qatar, it helps to do some research first on commonly used Arabic phrases. Among the must-know phrases are marhaban = hello, tasharafna = pleased to meet you and shukran = thank you.

2. Learn to discover on your own

Learning doesn’t stop and life never stops teaching. This holds true for every expat striving hard and sacrificing their time with loved ones just to work overseas.

Sure, you can research everything on the web or ask people about a country’s business culture, but nothing beats the learning power of self-discovery.

Speaking of self-discovery, some fun or realxing time alone works wonders in overcoming culture shock. Imagine you’re exploring the beautiful destinations in Qatar. An impromptu stroll downtown can teach you to appreciate the differences—the food, languages, demeanors, and more.

Simply put, the best advice is to get out the door. Take a trip to the region’s beautiful and historical destinations such as Katara Mosque, Doha Fort, and the Pearl-Qatar, among others. Such time alone will greatly help in discovering more about the country and in easing your cultural discomfort.

(PC: discoverwithjess.com)

3. Make new connections

When alone time doesn’t work, companionships are the solution. Communicating with friends and making new connections can shun the loneliness away.

This is evidenced in the 2013 Expat Survey. According to the poll, the majority of research participants said that they turn to friends and other organizations to beat culture shock. They seek advice from their friends and turn to religious organizations and their local embassies for help.

This finding only proves that making new friends and staying in contact with your friends really helps alleviate the homesick feeling and culture shock.

So get out there and meet new people. You can’t expect to establish a new connection if you stay indoors. Explore the beauty of Qatar. Attend parties. Introduce yourself to the person next to you. These simple things can deter your cultural blues in ways you don’t expect.

We hope this info has helped you. If you are an Expat who is currently looking for a job, feel free to comment on the article or browse through www.qatarliving.com/jobs.