Two weeks ago, we posted a graphic that highlighted the top ten tips for volunteering abroad, after compiling advice from our United Planet Quest alumni. We’re back this week to elaborate on the second tip. If you are thinking about participating in a United Planet Quest or are about to embark on your volunteer experience, read on!
Tip #2: Research the Culture
Many United Planet volunteers return from their Quests surprised at the amount of culture shock they experienced. Immersion in a foreign culture can be exhilarating and overwhelming at the same time. Either way, it is a good idea to do a little bit of research about your Quest country’s culture before embarking on your journey.
A good starting point is to inquire whether the country to where you are traveling has any customs or etiquette that differ greatly from America. For example, in many countries in the Middle East and Latin America, it is customary to stand closer to one another while conversing than many Americans are comfortable with. In other countries, such as Nepal or Cambodia, excessive physical contact between opposite sexes in public is frowned upon. It is also a good idea to look up whether or not certain gestures or mannerisms are considered rude or offensive in your visiting country. For instance, some hand gestures that you might not think twice about using, like the thumbs-up sign or the okay sign, are considered vulgar in some cultures.
Rules for politeness also vary drastically from culture to culture. Vatissa Mitchell, who volunteered on a United Planet Quest in Nepal, mentioned that “The challenging part …was adjusting to the stares. Western culture usually teaches you that staring is rude, but in Nepal, people bluntly stare at people that are different from them, so it’s a little awkward.“ The best thing to do in these potentially uncomfortable situations is to keep an open mind. Remember, what may seem rude or unnatural to you might be perfectly acceptable to someone from another culture. They probably find some of your mannerisms strange as well!
Researching culture is also a good way to make sure you feel comfortable when you arrive in a foreign country, especially if you are a little apprehensive about total cultural immersion. If you feel a little more in the know, you’ll have a better idea of how to react to certain situations. You may also want to research the types of foods that are eaten in your host country! Keep in mind that during your trip, you will most likely not have access to a lot of the foods you eat on a regular basis at home. This is a great opportunity to broaden your palate.
The internet is a great resource for researching foreign cultures. Culturecrossing.net is a fantastic website that allows you to research etiquette and culture by country. You can also do more in-depth research on your host country to find information on particular topics of interest to you.
In the long run, preparing yourself for culture shock is a good idea, but it is best not to get too wrapped up in remembering every last etiquette detail or fact about your host country. Learning is part of the volunteer experience, and you want to experience your Quest in the moment, not worry about trying to fit in all the time. As long as you are open-minded and gracious, you should be just fine.
Tune back in next week for our next Volunteer Abroad Tip, and visit our website if you are interested in volunteering abroad!
ABOUT UNITED PLANET
United Planet is a non-profit organization with a mission to create a global community, one relationship at a time. Established in 2001, United Planet offers volunteer abroad, virtual internships, internships abroad, gap year volunteering, and global virtual exchange in more than 40 countries.
