[ID:0072]Westerners sometimes have difficulty when traveling abroad, because we don't even realize the cultural traits that are ingrained in us. Below you will find a few tips to help you connect with your new cultural homebase abroad.

The Expatriate Ghetto

There is a hazard of becoming too attached to the expatriate ghetto in your posting abroad. It has been said that sharing complaints is a way of forming a community, and nowhere is this more true than when expatriates get together. They can quickly become a community of complainers. Somehow, being together triggers the impulse to criticize "these people," or "this place" and encourages the us-against-them response. If you find yourself falling into this pattern, perhaps you should review why you are really there. You can rectify this problem, or avoid it completely with a one fundamental rules while living abroad.

Make a conscious decision to choose friends who are inspired by the challenges and intrigue of the local culture. Avoid expatriates who are always complaining. The choice is yours....