Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of WERC.
Indianapolis isn't the first place that comes to mind when you think about global American cities. Yet, the Hoosier state continues to grow its global footprint both in terms of foreign direct investment and international hires in fields such as pharma, agribusiness, and tech. The International Center, where I am the director of relocation services, connects Indiana to the world and the world to Indiana, aiming to provide Hoosier hospitality with a global twist.
Whether your transferee is going from India to Indiana, or from Paris, Texas, to Paris, France, there are ways to help these strangers in a strange land acclimate with less uncertainty and stress and more confidence and enthusiasm. Destination service providers (DSPs) servicing international staff must be mindful of how overwhelming the relocation process can be. Transferees are not only uprooting their lives, but they are usually doing it in another language and/or culture that is brand new to them.
And let's face it: Although Indiana's official motto is The Crossroads of America, we are often viewed as a flyover state (by Americans and foreigners alike, unfairly). We don't have the world-class reputation of mythical New York City, the glitz and glam of Los Angeles, or the cool Latin vibe of Miami. Maybe your own city also flies under the reputation radar? We proactively counter possible apathy about moving to Indiana by giving international transferees access to our online Destination Indiana guide as soon as we get the service order. In it, we highlight the many amazing things about the Hoosier state, including its history, natural beauty, unique culture like the Amish community, and proud traditions like the world-famous Indianapolis 500 car race (did you know it's the most-attended single-day sporting event in the world?), the Indiana State Fair, and the Childrens Museum (the largest in the world, who would've guessed?). Every city/region has its own particular charms to tout and to get assignees excited about their big move, and the best time to play up those assets is before your clients even get on a plane.
That's one way we strive to start off the relocation process for our transferees: with positive anticipation of what awaits in their new home. But we also know that finding commonality here and maintaining a connection to their home country and culture are very important to international assignees. We have a collection of country-specific cards that we include in our welcome folders that highlight the connections between Indiana and their home country. Some examples: 315 Japanese companies operate in Indiana; four Brazilian drivers have won the Indy 500; Cologne, Germany, and Indianapolis are sister cities; the Vasa Order is a Nordic heritage cultural society with an Indiana branch; and Indy has two adult cricket leagues. We also include helpful brochures on topics that a foreigner might encounter for the first time when moving to Indiana, such as winter weather driving tips and what you can and can't put down a garbage disposal. And of course, we include the most important resource of all: a list of international grocery stores! Knowing straight away where they can find the staples or produce that they are used to, or locating the nearest halal butcher, goes a long way in helping relocating internationals feel a little less homesick.
Sometimes transferees need to stop by our office, and when they do we like to welcome them with a special touch. The International Center houses a flag collection of all 193 member countries of the United Nations. We loan the flags out to various governmental or community organizations involved in international meetings and events as part of our flag service program, through our Office of Protocol. When the assignees enter our lobby, the first thing they see is their country's flag displayed next to the American flag. Seeing their faces light up in recognition and pride is such a joy, and we love taking selfies with them and their families in front of the flag display. No UN flag collection? No problem! Create a sticker for your arriving transferee's welcome folder or binder, with their name, their flag, and your country's flag. Little personalized touches can have a big impact on making assignees feel welcome.
One of the DSP services we provide is orientation tours, which are conducted by our in-the-field staff. We are very fortunate to have a team of multinational relocation specialists who speak 10 languages. Although the relocating employee's level of English has to be high, sometimes the accompanying spouse and/or children's English is not as strong. If we are able to pair them with a relocation specialist who speaks their language, it will make the orientation tour more effective and enjoyable for the family. But the best part of working with a relocation specialist from another country is the relatability factor. They can share stories from their own experience as a newly arrived foreigner in the U.S., helping to put the newcomers' minds at ease. Here is a fellow expat who overcame transition challenges and now loves life in Indiana, so they can make it, too! We also find that assignees are often more willing to speak up and ask questions that they might not ask an American for fear of looking incompetent. Regardless of whether you have international or domestic staff working with your transferees, reassuring them that there are no stupid questions when it comes to relocating to another country will help them voice their concerns.
The last tool we use to support internationals who move to Indiana is cross-cultural training (CCT). The International Center offers CCT for both the employee"professional coaching with a cultural intelligence component for navigating Midwestern business culture" as well as for the accompanying spouse/partner, which covers more of the daily living aspects of adapting to life in the U.S. We touch on fun topics like Halloween (we know of a newly arrived family who handed out entire fun-size bags of candy to each trick-or-treater!) and practical matters (water softeners, a common household device in Indiana). But other topics covered can literally be life-savers, such as what to do during a tornado or how to act during a traffic stop. Did you know that in certain countries, the driver is expected to get out and walk back to the police car? There was a scary incident nearby where someone did just that, which resulted in the police officer jumping out with his gun drawn. Throw in misunderstandings due to language barriers, and that situation could've ended in tragedy (thankfully, it didn't). Volunteering is another subject we cover, which is a great way for accompanying spouses/partners to get involved in their community. It's also a low-pressure way for them to practice their English skills. Speaking of English, we also connect them with free English classes offered throughout the area via churches or immigrant organizations. The ability to communicate in the host country's language is critical to the family's successful transition. If your transferee's benefits package doesn't include language training, providing them with free or low-cost language classes will help immensely with integrating.
Cross-border moves are an exciting and often career-enhancing time for international employees and their families, but they come with many complex moving parts. Those of us in global mobility all support the transferring employees in different ways and are crucial to a successful relocation process. It can be a balancing act to find ways to help them achieve a sense of belonging with their host country while honoring their need to keep connected to their home culture. In the end, both are equally important and there is no greater satisfaction than having an assignee say that your support accomplished both.