Cultural identity is the embodiment of the application of values, beliefs, and behaviours that bind the individual's stand in shaping the thinking and practice of each individual within the culture. In the context of this study, the challenges of globalization in relation to the ability of organizations to manage cultural diversity have had a significant impact on cross-cultural adaptability in expatriate retention. The focus was on aspects of cultural identity and the spirit of patriotism among international staff that reflected the differences in a dualism between the home country and the host country. By adopting a narrative approach, this paper successfully disseminates views on the cultural identity and spirit of patriotism among academics in Malaysian public universities. The use of case study design has identified the social interaction of a social group that involves either individuals, groups, institutions or local communities through the construction of beliefs based on cross-cultural adjustment measures. This study applied a qualitative approach to in-depth interviews of 30 academics from four selected public universities in Malaysia. The results show that the idiosyncratic response to the cultural environment determines the success of cultural adaptation and career retention.