Trading Places                           
 

 

Synopsis

Wherever we live on this vast continent, we all have our own clichéd preconceptions about other people's jobs. But what if we added to that, our various prejudices about our European neighbours


Prejudices are of course not just the domain of the British. Our continental neighbours have just as many prejudices about us and everyone else. It all boils down to our diverse cultures, the way that our histories have taught us to behave and think. Culture also has a marked effect on the way we live our lives and that includes our attitudes towards work, the way we work with others, our opinions of our bosses and their opinions of us.


But would we... Could we have the right attitude to work in another European country? Do we have the flexibility to adapt to a different culture? Does the formal, hierarchical German system fill an ambitious, opinionated British secretary with dread? Would a journalist, used to a quick sandwich at the desk, find the thought of working in Spain, the land of mañana and two-hour lunch breaks, an exasperating experience? How would a priest from a wealthy Milan suburb manage in a deprived, urban Welsh parish?
In

"TRADING PLACES" sets out to discover exactly that as six people from Wales, from six different professions will swap jobs for one week with people from six other European countries to explore each other's world of work, culture and personality. This six part series breaks down all the misconceptions and prejudices that we all hold about each other.... Or does it?

Trading Places - 6 x 30 minutes for HTV Wales 1998

Series Producer Pamela Jane Hunt
Directors Chris Rushton, Rhodri Edwards