"Wait..Did you just agree or disagree?" 🤔

Reading Antje Ute Bauer's posts on her intercultural experiences reminded me of my own journey in France. Inspired by her reflections, I’d love to share my thoughts, experiences, and expertise as an interculturalist who has lived and worked in France.

One of the first cultural surprises I encountered was the debate culture and the ease with which the hashtag#French say “no.” Unlike in India, I found that in hashtag#France, negation in conversations is almost a sign of engagement.

Many times, a French person would start their response with a “No, but…”only to follow up with something that actually agreed with me! At first, it felt contradictory, but I soon realized that this wasn’t rejection, it was intellectual sparring, a way to refine ideas.

In contrast, in hashtag#India, responses often begin with a “Yes” before a softer, more indirect disagreement follows. The opposite ways of structuring conversations fascinated me and became a powerful lesson in understanding how hashtag#cultures express agreement and disagreement differently.

Over the next two weeks, I’ll be sharing more of these cross-cultural insights from my time in France. If you or your team are preparing for an international assignment, StrengthMiner® Consulting LLP provides Intercultural Mobility Training. Reach out to me, Jill Sheldekar, or Antje Ute Bauer to learn more!