* 4. Professionals living and working in another country should adapt to the cultural ways and values of the host country.

Nowadays, cultural differences between people are causing a great deal of controversial debate, especially in a global society where lots of people choose to live and work in a foreign country. The big issue is, should these people adapt to the ideological beliefs and behaviour of the host country, or, doing that, are they consequently denying their own identity and refusing their values?
Firstly, it can be argued that the best way to assimilate and understand a different culture is to pay attention to its customs and acquiring knowledge in terms of, for example, political, religious and traditional background. For example, making a genuine effort to find the positive contributions of a society, learning a few polite expressions and appreciating the food or music of another country, not only will enrich you as a person, but will also create the conditions for the social acceptance.
Secondly, the interaction with a different culture prevents problems such as racism, stereotyping and generalisations. For instance, in many occidental countries, various communities like the Chinese are well integrated, continue to maintain its country’s traditions and contribute to the global knowledge of oriental customs.
However, the adaptation in another culture can have negative consequences, especially when its ideological system contradicts your beliefs. The fact that a UK teacher, Gillian Gibbons, was arrested in Sudan accused of insulting religion for letting her class name a teddy bear Muhammad is an example of this cultural crash.
Another point is, with the integration in another culture and the practise of its uses you can progressively begin to lose your own identity. For example, in the autobiographical book “Persepolis”, Marjane Satrapi illustrates her inner struggle when she moved from Iran to Austria and as she is more and more accepted in the occidental culture, the more she became all she didn’t want to be.
All things concluded, adaptation is not only needed for social acceptance, but also as a way to know a different culture. However, it should not be made at the cost of your own beliefs.