Resumen
Having completed research on the expatriate experience in Indonesia (Russell, 2006; Russell & Dickie, 2007; Russell & Aquino-Russell, 2010, 2011) we wondered what it might be like for Indonesian host country nationals (HCNs) to work with western organizations in Indonesia since there is a significant lack of literature based on the perspective of HCNs (Templar, 2010). Although not from the HCN perspective, we found literature about HCNs in relation to knowledge management (Vance, Vaiman, & Andersen, 2009; Massingham, 2010), empowerment and team participation (Zhang & Begley, 2011), remuneration policies (Mahajan, 2011), career development and promotability (Vo, 2009; Herrmann & Werbel, 2007), and relationship building (Varma, Pichler, & Budhwar, 2011). These realities spurred on our current phenomenological research which focused on describing the lived experience of Indonesian HCNs using their own words and meanings. Data descriptions were collected and analyzed using Giorgis (2009; Giorgi & Giorgi, 2003) descriptive phenomenological method. One of the important findings pointed to HCNs living the paradox of feeling respected-not respected while working in western organizations located at home in Indonesia.