True picture of expat life
By Mohan Krishnamurthy

Expatriates working in Gulf countries face a challenge in handling work and peer pressures. Lower and middle management professionals working abroad often become victims of such pressures. However, the perception amongst their relatives back home is that life is "cool" abroad.

For example, back home in a developing country, the head of a family may have to bother about several aspects including electricity, water, income tax, house tax payments, school fees, health care for parents and family members, social visits to attend marriages and other functions, participating in festivals and other community gatherings.

Apart from the commitment to work, travel to and from to the work place, indirect pressures include traffic jams, pollution and crowds everywhere.

When relatives of expatriates visit them during summer vacation or other pleasure trips, they see a different picture altogether.

They get a fantastic feeling, as most of the bill payments happen online, there is not so much of traffic on the roads, most of the groceries and home needs are addressed under one roof by hypermarkets, many expatriates work a five-day week, they live in furnished apartments and there is probably a car for everybody.

However, often these people fail to notice that the work pressures are more or less same, whether somebody is working abroad or back home.

Back home the problems at work may seem lesser in proportion compared to the indirect pressures one faces due to the country's economy, population and competition.

For expatriates from developing countries working in developed countries, there are mechanisms to reduce the new pressures they face.

On the professional front, you may practice the following:

a) Commit only what you can deliver, deliver what you have committed; if there is any deviation due to external factors update your customers and colleagues.

b) Avoid backbiting about your colleagues, seniors, or the management.

c) Avoid talking bad about the efficiency of others. To err is human, if your colleague makes a mistake, you may do the same tomorrow. So do not use it as an opportunity to score against your colleague.

On the personal front:

a) Do not over project about your income to your relatives and friends back home; remember it always backfires. When you are in need of help, you may not get it, because of your bragging.

b) Do not restrict your friendship only to the community or nationality you belong to. This greatly improves the cultural exchange and helps you get closer to the people.

c) Invest wisely, balance between present and future.

Respect the culture, religion, beliefs and practices of the country you work in.

You may have a different opinion about what is being preached and practiced but, remember, this is the country that is feeding you and your family.

Please be grateful to the country that is sheltering you.

As much you are contributing to this country's growth and development, this country is helping you as well.

Pressures are often created by us. They do not come from outside. Simplicity, honesty and transparency will keep you happy.

Live, Love and Laugh - you may never need any medication to reduce your pressures.