Introduction

Economic globalization is rampant in the business world between all continents. Fueled by transnational circulation of ideologies, languages and the use of bi-lateral ties to improve the economies of less developed countries to the extent of embracing enhanced forms of barter system such as to use the population of a lesser developed country to manufacture products for a 1st world country. Jobs are created for the needy; products are manufactured for the other.

Student exchange is a form of a globalization effort where students are exposed to an alternative lifestyle. Candidates who take part in such programs, such as the one run by

The Council of Local Authorities for International Relations or CLAIR together with several Japanese Ministries, brings in to Japan, participants from over 36 countries with a total of *4,334 participants to date in a globalized effort to promote grass roots internationalization at the local level by inviting these participants to assist in international exchange and foreign language education in their local governments, boards of education and schools through out in Japan. The Japanese seeks to foster ties between the Japanese citizens and the participants through a project known as JET or The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program.

Challenges are plenty, but can be resolved. Let’s take a look at a situation that had taken place a couple of years back regarding a student and her superior during her stay in Japan.

* Source of information via http://www.jetprogramme.org/

Summary of Case Study

We are going to look into the factors that had contributed to the escalation of a simple sick leave request to a generally unhappy outcome.

Kelly, a young and enthusiastic student from Canada embarked on the JET program, to live and work in a foreign country, Japan. Being young and pretty wet behind the ears, embarked on a mission with a pretty sound idea of enriching her academic life by signing up for the JETs program. However, even before getting the feel of the brevity of what is involved, she already had plans to have fun while engaging in her life-changing experience. She did not know or know enough on the cultural differences between the western and eastern world.

Though the incident involving Mr. Higashi (her superior) and herself appears unfair, Kelly failed to understand that, when in Rome, do as the Romans do.

She brought along the western expectations to a foreign land and expected compliance wit...