How to Manage Cultural Differences on a Philanthropic Trip Abroad
TRAVELING HAS BECOME A SORT OF A FAD, ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNGER GENERATIONS. For some it’s a one-time thrill through a study abroad program or volunteer trip, for others it has become a sort of obsession. Once someone new to traveling finds they absolutely love it, they often do not stop at just one trip, but make a habit of it. However, this craze in traveling to foreign countries has left many people abroad in very uncomfortable and even helpless situations at times.
Being in a new country can be extremely difficult, due to the fact that many first-time travelers do not really know the extent of what they are getting themselves into. If someone travels a lot within their own country, this is less of an issue. Home countries contain shared culture, currency, language, transportation and countless other things people rely on that have become desensitized components of daily life. When someone crosses their border though, many things are bound to be different, and this aspect of traveling catches numerous people off guard.
For those with little travel experience, ethnocentrism is a very typical way of seeing other cultures. Inferences and judgements of this new culture will be based upon your home country’s culture, ultimately leading to culture shock. This feeling can be extremely disorienting since it is caused by cultural differences that are unaware to those of outside cultures.
Yale addresses five common phases of adjustment their students will most likely experience when studying abroad:
- Honeymoon Period: Excitement about being in a new culture.
- Culture Shock: Feeling a sense of unease or unfamiliarity with how or why things “work” the way they do.
- Initial Adjustment: Becoming more familiar with daily life in the new culture; if studying language, feeling more confident about your communication skills.
- Isolation: Feelings of homesickness; experiencing frustration with accomplishing everyday tasks; missing social cues.
- Acceptance and Adaptation: Greater ability to navigate the new culture; understanding habits, customs, food, and establishing ties within the community.
The bookends of these phases of adjustment seem fantastic, but those in between can prove dangerously challenging. Culture shock, initial adjustment and isolation might be dreaded aspects of experiencing a new culture, but there is good news. Some of the largest obstacles to manage can be overcome by incorporating a little bit of cultural relativism.
Language Barriers
Arguably the most known obstacle when traveling, miscommunication causes large amounts of confusion between travelers and natives. The obvious difference in language can reveal itself as a harrowing feat to overcome. Even further, if the language happens to be the same, countless slang terms and idioms can bring just as much confusion. When in the UK, biscuits are really cookies, and in some Slovak speaking countries “no” might be heard as “ano” meaning yes.
The best way to manage this specific obstacle is to learn a few things before arriving, namely the basics. Common terminology about navigating, food, and currency are very useful. Other important things to know are phrases like “what is that?” or “I don’t understand” or anything relating to your specific reason for travel. Investing in a small handbook of the language would also be a smart move. The more language is learned prior to traveling, the more manageable communication becomes once arriving.
Transportation
Whether arriving by plane, train or automobile in a new country, local transportation is vital to be informed about. If maps are available they can be useful when the language is understood, but if not they can often create further confusion. It’s important to know where you are going first and how to get there before arriving.
It may also prove useful to come to terms with the modes of transportation available. In more developed countries cabs and city transit bring many options for getting around, but in lesser developed countries options become more limited. This could mean buses packed beyond capacity (if there are any), passenger vehicles belonging to the locals or maybe even on bike or foot. It is best to research as much as possible before arriving at your destination.
Once in your host country, talking with the locals about the best transportation can make things much simpler. Since they live there, they can recommend the fastest and most effective methods for local destinations.
Cultural Norms
There are countless things that become a challenge to research before arriving in a foreign location. This could very well deal with food, clothing, etiquette and countless other cultural norms as they’re called. The very best way to approach any of these cultural norms is to get to know the locals and the way they live from day to day.
Of course, they might not be aware of their cultural norms because to them these things are part of their everyday lives. Everyone is bound to experience cultural misunderstandings, but the best way to cope with this is asking for explanations. The more time you spend with the locals the more you can pick up on and incorporate into your own cultural experience.
Health
Everyone’s body often grows used to the environment it is placed into. Being in a different country, with an unfamiliar climate, food and many other factors, our bodies will run the risk of being pushed too far. Whether it’s an upset stomach or something more serious, the new culture will probably have different medical options.
Many undeveloped countries have ill-equipped physicians leading to improper health care. In contrast to developed countries, there also might be a significant lack of hospitals. In fact, they are more closely recognized as clinics, but even these clinics can be extremely sparse. There is often no 911 to call or ambulance on the way. Anyone who becomes ill could be faced with walking countless miles on foot just to reach some form of medical aid.
Managing all of these cultural differences when abroad can significantly alleviate the length of a person’s cultural adjustment, springing them towards biculturalism at a faster pace. However, fully embracing biculturalism is not all about taking as much as possible away from the culture being visited. It also allows for a generous exchange of bringing what your culture can offer as well. This interdependence on a global scale can create sustainable communities, provide clean water, end world hunger and possibly create a more open-minded connected international society.
Collaborative efforts, such as that being put forth by the Disque Foundation, are empowering others to save lives. This January, the Disque Foundation embarked on their annual foundation trip to Nairobi, Kenya for 10 days and are beyond fortunate to be able to join forces with the Foundation for International Cardiac & Children’s Services (FICCS). Since 2010, the FICCS medical team has completed over 50 successful charity cardiac catheterization procedures, along with donated pacemakers. In addition, FICCS has trained over 350 young women in health and hygiene, and has provided medical and nutritional support to over 2500 women and children. While in Kenya, the Disque Foundation will be helping FICCS educate, train and empower their “superusers,” nurses, and medical students with CPR and ACLS skills.
The importance of creating a strong medical education for countries such as Kenya, is vital for preserving a sustainable cultural experience. Preserving a country’s culture ensures future cultural diversity all across the world. Leaving a positive footprint when crossing borders, encourages an open door into others.
