The expression “GOING NATIVE” refers to the behavior of foreigners who imitate—and may stridently defend—the customs and beliefs of their adopted culture. In Japan, there is an expression henna gaijin, which refers to a foreigner who is strange, not for being a foreigner, but for being one who conspicuously follows Japanese customs and imitates Japanese mannerisms.
Chancelleries around the world recognize the risk represented by the “going native” by diplomats stationed abroad, and, principally for this reason, embassy staff are rotated every few years to another post. It is a measure that is intended to protect against the risk of diplomats going native. The risk is that political, economic and military intelligence would be unconsciously distorted to favor the official version of events, institutions and policies of the foreign government in which diplomats are stationed.
