Irishsteve, I suspect I know the airline your working for and I suspect that I may work for them. There is a phenomonal spread of nations represented. Its joked that the only one we don't have are eskimos! Up at the pointy end the company is fantical about rigid adherance to SOPs, and I suppose a standard phraseology when dealing with the CC in emergencys.
The part i find hardest to deal with is the cultural differences that occur. I find that British, South African, Irish and Australians have roughly the same sense of humour and I can get on with them no problems and enjoy the day at work. I find the Nordics and the Swiss and Germans very dry to work with. But from a strictly operationl sense I don't ffeel there is a problem with that. The grasp of the english language varies wildly sometimes its very poor.