Culture matters, adaptability counts

"Damn! Can you NOT keep picking up those papers from the floor? For heavensake!", said my colleague in a bit harsh tone, which took me by surprise. I wondered, what wrong did I do. I only picked up some papers from under my feet and placed them on a table. Paper, in my (Indian) culture, is considered a manifestation of goddess of knowledge, Saraswati. Ah! but I happened to be in a nice posh office in central London seated next to a 6 1/2 foot English gentleman. To him, those papers were just thrash!

That morning, my colleague was reviewing a pile of papers and kept throwing some on the floor. They were strewn all around his desk and some started floating to my side and settling right under my feet.  He was obviously annoyed with me picking them up and placing them back on a corner of his table.

To be fair, he did request me politely a couple of times to leave those papers on the floor.  I was helpless though! I grew up in India, where stepping on any sort of paper/book is considered a taboo. If my feet touched any paper by mistake, I was conditioned to pick it up, offer an apology and place it on a table or higher ground. 

How to change a habit ingrained in my subconscious mind since childhood? The dream job for which I relocated to the UK suddenly started feeling more like a nightmare. 

Adapting to a new environment and culture needs a fresh mindset and letting go of taboos!

I asked my colleague if we could step out for a coffee, which he also thought was a good idea. While my tall americano was brewing, I explained the reason for my action. He first burst into laughter as he could not believe what he just heard! He then apologized for shouting at me and said he will try and keep the mess to his side of desk. Apparently, he was used to this way of working as it helped declutter his mind! I controlled my laughter and acknowledged with a smile.

Over the next few days the quantity of papers flying to the floor became a thing of the past and so was my taboo!






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