ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to help you focus on issues of interest and potential concern as you prepare to start your career overseas. It will enable you to:
Consider what is meant by the terms culture and multicultural
Discuss why it is so vital for nurses to understand these issues
Learn something of the culture and expectations of the people you will be nursing
Take a look at yourself and your experience and decide what issues or difficulties you may have
Decide on some preparations to lessen any difficulties or anxieties
ActivityFirstly, read through and reflect on the following tale, and then contemplate the message.
The Greek TravellersAn old man was sitting by the side of the road one day, when a traveller came up and asked: ‘What are the people like in the next town?’
‘What were they like in the town you have just come from?’ the old man asked in return.
‘Awful’, replied the traveller, ‘rude and unfriendly’.
‘Unfortunately’ said the old man, ‘I think you’ll find they are much the same in the next town’.
A little while later, another traveller came up to the old man and asked the same question, ‘What are the people like in the next town?’
‘What were they like in the town you have just come from?’ the old man asked in return.
‘Great’, replied the traveller, ‘really polite and friendly’.
‘Fortunately’, said the old man, ‘I think you’ll find they are much the same in the next town’ (VSO 2003).
