Tips for hanging out with a colleague I've never met for a whole week!

[chatenoire]

I'm chaperoning/escorting this fellow colleague that is visiting us from overseas. It's 5 working days with a lot of travel. I think it's going to be beyond awkward and every suggestion I've made (of not being there) has been ignored :(. Don't get me wrong the guy seems nice but I don't want to spend so many working hours and dinners and train rides with a semi stranger.

Hi @chatenoire
Totally hear you hun! The thought of it is like aaaahhh but honestly it'll be ok, especially if they're from overseas you'll have loads more to talk about. I've met colleagues from other regions and we went onto keep contact and catch up every now and again. Hope the 5 days with your colleague doesn't drag and it turns out to be a good few days xx

In my previous job I made a very good friend from overseas, the difference is that I barely know this guy and I'm very socially awkward around men

For the train journeys take a book or something so that you can chat for a bit but then read for the rest of the time.

For the dinners eat with him but then say you're going to rest in your room.

Chaperoning him for work doesn't have to mean you spend every non work moment together too. He might be dreading it too or turn out to be really nice.

It's entirely possible that he doesn't want to be with you every waking moment either (I'm sure you're lovely though! )

I think you're going to have to talk to him about how you'll both obviously need downtime alone, to call home, go to the hotel gym, have a pre dinner nap, etc etc, and how many dinners/evenings would he think is best to do solo so you both get some quality time. Or something.

I'd be wary, what has your employer done to make it easier (and ensure your safety)? Have you someone you can contact if it becomes really difficult?

There are countries where men behave even worse than some do in the UK.

Just don’t be too accommodating. He will see you as a lesser (woman) being. What country is this person from? Different places have different communication styles and work “cultures”. He may prefer to be dumped at his hotel after a day to de-frag.

He's a nice American due. I only know he has kids and is potentially a stoner. Nice guy as far as I know.

He probably WILL want to be left to his devices during the evening. Be available during work hours and suggest meeting up for dinner somewhere. I wouldn’t put too much effort into organizing his life. He will expect that from you forever.

AirPods!

Yes even having dinner every night sounds exhausting. I run and do yoga every day and like my me time!

You don't have to spend every non-work moment with him.

You can be polite but still be clear that you will have down time in the evenings. Ask him which nights he would like to grab dinner together, if any - maybe suggest one or two nights and say that the other nights you'l both have your own down time, as it will be a full on week.

A lot of people would prefer to do their own thing after a full day of work and you're not being paid for that time, so you don't have to accompany your colleague if you don't want to.