Preparing For Your Experience

Benefits and Challenges

Same Word, Different Cultural Meaning

In the some countries, time is money and punctuality is a necessity. Being punctual shows respect for the people involved and commitment to the activity. Lack of punctuality, then, indicates a lack of respect or commitment. But while this may be how some interpret people showing up 1-2 hours after the stated time, it may not be how the Latin American intends it. In many parts of Latin America, life is not so predictable. Communication, transportation, human relationships and natural events all may act as obstacles; in fact, the presumption is that they will, and so this is taken into account when the time is stated. "We'll meet at 2:00" can be translated in this environment as "We would like to meet at 2:00 but probably things will arise, as they inevitably do on both sides, so we may not be able to reach each other until about 3:00, unless something really monumental arises, in which case it may be 3:30 or 4:00, without impunity." Understanding that this approach is simply seen as more "realistic," rather than a way to insult you, will help you adjust to the "hora latina." 

Another source of cultural frustration surrounds "the work ethic" and "the mañana mentality" ("Why don't they want to work hard?" "Why are they always putting things off?") At the core of this difference is that fact that self-determinism: pull yourself up by your own bootstraps, you are in control of your future, work hard and you will surely reap the benefits is the unstated law. In many countries of the world, however, the national and cultural history does not confirm this. One's hard work can be wiped out by natural disaster or the whim of a leader, among other random acts. Though this may be changing in recent decades, cultural attitudes are built on centuries of historic events, not on a recent technological breakthrough. Throughout much of Latin America, as well as numerous other parts of the world, the irony is that most people work hard just to survive, and many of those who are ahead don't have to work hard. There is often no incentive for laborers and other people on the low end of the employment ladder to put forth extra effort. This may be a frustrating experience for someone from a culture that takes it as "common sense" that hard work equals results. This does not mean that there are no hardworking, motivated people in Latin America; of course there are. The key skill here is learning not to judge behaviors according to your own cultural perspective, but to be open to seeing them from the local perspective.

Another cultural clash may occur when you find that someone has told you what they think you wanted to hear, rather than "the truth." Asking for directions on the street, for example, will never be answered with "I don't know" even when this is "the truth." In most cases, people really want to be helpful and would prefer to give you inaccurate information than say "I don't know," which means to them, "I don't care enough to help you," a message they definitely don't want to convey. Telling you what you want to hear is, in this situation and in others, a way of showing goodwill to you, and can be equated with the "little white lie" that you may find acceptable, except that it is used in a broader range of situations!

Instead of becoming frustrated with these cultural differences, part of your "mission" in living and working in a new culture, and what makes one truly bi-cultural, is to try to appreciate and understand the different ways things are done. You will then be able to step into the cultural mindset, and respond to events and situations from the perspective of a native of that culture. Success in your internship experience, as you can see, is about much more than just getting a job done!

Getting the Most Out of Your Experience

Be open and flexible; become a Latino version of yourself!
In the new culture you will find yourself in many new, and previously unimaginable, situations. Be open to stepping out of the way you would have responded in your home culture, and be flexible enough to try to identify and step into the local mindset. You may need to loosen up on your expectations regarding hygiene, acceptable levels of noise, privacy, job descriptions, "common sense," a well-balanced meal, and socializing. Be aware of your expectations, and when you will need to adjust them in order to connect better to the local people so that you can experience the culture as an insider. Be willing to experiment: think of someone from another culture coming into your town and being closed to all that it has to offer because it's different from what they are used to! What advice would you give them?

Take responsibility for your language and cultural learning
The language school is the launching pad for your learning; but, your learning will not stop there. There are infinitely more ways that you can enhance your language and cultural learning. Before leaving, read all that you can about the country and the culture: the history as well as current climate (political, economic, religious and social). Talk to people who have been there (but take all stories with a grain of salt - they often tell more about the person telling them than about the actual situation!). Introduce yourself to the language if you are a beginner, or practice, even if it is just in reading and writing. Start a journal, recording all of the information you have been gathering: your hopes and plans and expectations. Later, while your experience unfolds it will be a point of reference with regard to your progress!

While you are there, discipline yourself to speak in Spanish even if there are opportunities to lapse back into English or your native language. Keep a small notepad with you to write down new words that you'll want to use again, or questions that come up along the way. Find a "cultural informant" who can answer your questions about the language and culture in ways that you can understand. Continue with the journal as a place to write observations about your experiences, frustrations, insights, keeping a record of your development toward deeper cross-cultural understanding.

Honor your commitment to the organization for which you are working
Please keep in mind that even though you will not be getting paid for your work, you should take it as seriously as any job. You are expected to work the full schedule for the full length of time for which you register. If you do not complete your work duties or break any rules set up by the host organization, you will be dismissed without refunds (see Terms & Conditions on application). If you experience problems, you should speak with the person given as your Host Organization Contact. If you feel that the problem is not being resolved, please contact us. We will do everything possible to help resolve the problem. There may be times, as there often are in new cultural experiences, when the cultural frustrations may make you want to throw in the towel. These highs and lows are an inevitable part of the adjustment to your new situation. Learning to ride these out, and to draw on all of your resources to help develop the skills as well as the perspective needed to make it a success, is one of the challenges involved in an international work experience.

Take initiative on the job
Some organizations have extensive experience with volunteers and interns, while others are venturing into new territory with the concept. You may not have all of the guidance that you might expect in such a situation in your home country, with objectives and daily tasks laid out clearly, and a clear-cut system for evaluating your contributions. Most organizations find their resources very stretched, so they do not always have the ability to dedicate time to a volunteer/intern or may not have the experience to know what to tell you. Help them out by asking questions, by making your own observations, and by presenting new ideas. While each situation is slightly different, the general rule is to take initiative. In many situations you will be given a few basic duties and it will be up to you to "take the ball and run with it." Get as much information as is available, generate your ideas, be sensitive to the hierarchy and established ways of getting things done in that setting. Build relationships, ask questions to the appropriate people, be pro-active rather than waiting around to be told what to do.

Part of your job there is to find out what it takes to get things done, as well as what the organization sees as needing to get done. In addition, you are bringing your unique experiences and ideas to contribute in ways that others there cannot. In sum, you are walking a delicate line of fitting in harmoniously with the already established efforts of the organization, and making your unique contributions. It takes considerable maturity, sensitivity, perseverance and creativity to do this well, to the benefit of yourself and those around you. A positive attitude, respect for co-workers and the host culture, and a genuine desire to contribute will be your tools for success.

While we want you to put your best efforts into the job, remember also that you can't expect to "save the world" with a few short weeks or months of an internship. The humanitarian that goes into the organization expecting to make dramatic, sweeping changes in the economic or social systems will be setting themselves up for disappointment. Instead, remember that every little bit really does help, and your sincere efforts will leave it a better place than you found it.

Materials
Resources are scarce and many are hard to find. You should bring related materials with you: texts, books, visual aides, medical supplies (not medicine), school supplies, toys, magazines, research materials/equipment. Donations of many types are appreciated. Check with AmeriSpan for ideas of what may be needed.

Other Important Pre-Departure Issues

Visas/Entry Requirements
It is your responsibility to call the embassy (number given in the "Need to Know" sheets and in most guidebooks) to find out about current entry requirements and tourist visa application procedures. In some cases, it will be possible to obtain a visa to stay for the full length of your volunteer assignment. When applying for a visa, be aware that using the word "work" may cause undue problems; "volunteer" is a more accurate description and will not hamper the visa application process. Likewise, if you will be provided with housing, this is not to be considered as any sort of "income," since it is not given in a monetary form (and no stipends are paid).

In some countries, tourist cards issued upon arrival usually allow for a 30-90 day stay. These are usually given on the plane along with a customs form, ask for one if you're not handed it, or once in the airport there should be a desk where you can obtain the form and it is usually required in order to pass through customs/immigration lines. If your internship is longer than this, it may be necessary for you to leave the country for 72 hours in order to renew the visa. You will be allowed time off from work for this. The trip must be made at your expense, but can be done relatively inexpensively.

Many countries also require proof that you can support yourself while in that country. Ask your travel agent or whomever is issuing your airline ticket to check those requirements for you if your guidebook does not list this information. Many require proof of departure (e.g. your round-trip ticket home/out of the country) and some demand to see credit cards or other indicators that you will be able to support yourself while there.

Battling Your Country's Stereotype and Preparing for Your Time Abroad
Whether you want to be or not you will become an ambassador of your country. Expect to be approached with many questions about your country, the typical stereotypes of its people or even an absurd current event from that country that may have been in the international news lately.

To prepare for your time abroad it is essential that you educate yourself about their local customs, beliefs, history, food, climate, geography, etc. Seek opportunities to see movies, both documentaries and feature films, from and about the country and region, read novels from and about the country, read guidebooks, local newspapers (often available in bookstores and on the Web), call that country's tourist board and request information and explore local organizations that support expatriate communities of that country. Also, try to seek out past volunteers with whom you can talk.

Returning Home
When you return home, you may again feel culture shock. It's normal. Things that didn't seem trivial before may now seem so. A productive way to deal with these feelings is to get involved with local projects that reach your recently "adopted" country from where you've just returned.

Other
When laundry service is not included at the homestay, there will be laundromats in town or sometimes it is possible to make arrangements upon arrival to your homestay family (usually you'll need to buy your own detergent and pay a nominal fee).