At the end of our mission, though, getting around became complicated. We headed downtown to buy jerseys of the national soccer team: the Africa Cup was in full swing! We then took the highway to finish our stay at a resort. In an urban gridlock that would disorient any North American, we were involved in no fewer than three minor scrapes and one rear-end collision, when a car struck our minivan at a toll booth.
In Senegal, when there is a fender-bender, the drivers' reaction is always the same: a look exchanged, a quick assessment of the damage, a handshake to settle it amicably, and everyone goes on their way. That way of doing things was a revelation for me, and it made me realize the culture shock my African friends were likely to experience on Quebec roads.
Here at home, a simple scratch is enough to create a drama: “Whose fault is it?”, “Call your insurance company”, “Don't move, I'm taking pictures.” Not to mention the accusing looks from the person who has just taken delivery of a new car.
My trip to Dakar made me realize how important it is to develop cultural intelligence (CQ) within our society. Studies have shown that newcomers can experience temporary difficulties, which disappear after a period of adaptation. It is therefore inaccurate to link immigration with a rise in road accidents. The data does not support that hypothesis and invites us to be wary of generalizations.
The perception of an event differs from one person to the next, and that perception is fertile ground for prejudice. Fortunately, that is where collective capabilities come in.
For some years now we have been talking about equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) with the aim of creating a fair, equitable environment and combating exclusion. In my view, to live together we also need to add the idea of cultural intelligence (CQ). These are capabilities that allow individuals to interact better with people from different cultures, by developing their ability to adapt in intercultural settings.
CQ is a new field of capability for us, old-stock Quebecers, as much as for newcomers. It calls for new corporate training, less focused on power dynamics or social inclusion, and more on relational effectiveness and adaptation. Among other things, it takes shape through informal, friendly exchanges — like the conversations I have had with my African colleagues here, openly discussing our differences when it comes to driving and our respective reactions.
We laugh, we get used to each other, we learn the norms and we line up on the same rules far more quickly.
In short, whether on the roads of Dakar or those of Quebec, we are often just one scratch away from understanding each other
