Appreciating cultural differences is part of the 2^nd of the 4 recommendations (a.k.a. the 4Rs) Dutch guru Fons Trompenaars suggests to reconcile differences and develop best practices and reach win-win situations. I use this approach in the various trainings, courses and lectures I give to Dutch and international students and staff of our community on campus.

In my first column I dealt with the 1^st recommendation ‘Recognizing cultural differences’. This 2^nd recommendation is about ‘Respecting cultural differences’. Indeed, once you know, and have recognized differences you can start respecting them, showing empathy, patience and an open mind towards the other person(s) involved.

Ideally, after respecting differences you may want to go further in your adaptation efforts by also accepting the differences between your own culture and the new one in Eindhoven. Examples of that are driving on the right side of the road (if you come from a country with the opposite), paying in Euros, opening hours of shop, etc.-in short all things you’ve just started doing and will eventually get used to. Because you often don’t have a choice and everybody does it anyway.

The final stage here will be appreciating the differences as mentioned at the beginning of this column. By reaching this level of adaptation you will make your daily life here easier and show signs of willingness to further adapt and even integrate into the new cultural context. Let’s bet that the people around you will also appreciate your move! Because after all, it takes 2 to tango! More on that another time.