It is often very easy to judge people based on our own set of beliefs and values. We have heard of the need to place ourselves in other people’s shoes and this is so especially true when one is dealing with people from other cultures.
During my exchange to Denmark, I had a module that is solely based on group work and my Singaporean friend and I was paired up with two other Danes. Perhaps due to my long accustomed mode of group work in Singapore, I was expecting to go straight down to business once we are given our projects to do. However, during the first few meetings, while my friend and I are already considering the project, the two Danes are joking around and taking things slowly. At first I was quite frustrated, as I thought that the few hours that we met are quite a waste of time as nothing substantial was done. However, after the first few meetings, I realize this is their mode of working. They actually do take their work seriously, they just express themselves differently. Through half joking and half seriousness ( they have the ability to crack jokes in the middle of a dead serious discussion), they can turn in work that is of a high standard and allowed my friend and me to appreciate their different but brilliant way of thinking.
This is a valuable experience as it shows that things in life can be treated in a more light-hearted manner while ensuring quality deliverance. Perhaps this different outlook can be a way of dealing with the piling stress that we sometimes feel in Singapore.