Volunteering is an activity that you can only truly be successful by allowing yourself to be fully committed to the experience and being in the moment. Although when effort and confidence are put forward volunteering can quickly become a rewarding experience that can’t be matched elsewhere.
While this may seem challenging and somewhat daunting at first, Ajay reflects on what it takes to get the full experience while abroad. Now, this isn’t Ajay’s first time abroad but while observing his peers he lends some valuable advice for any potential future volunteer.
In Ajay’s fourth entry here he shows what it takes to get all that you can out of your volunteering experience. We now look to Ajay again to give advice as he has in his first, second, and third entries. Let’s look and see what Ajay found on his fourth commentary on his time in Chile.
“As you change environments, not only does your physical environment change, but your sociocultural environment shifts as well. By this, I mean that, yes, you’re in an entirely new place, but the accepted mannerisms, greetings, and cultural qualities have most likely all changed as well. For example, in Chile (where I was volunteering), you greet men with a handshake and women with a kiss on the cheek. This is a small gesture but acknowledges everyone in the room as soon as you enter. Fortunately for me, I had traveled to Chile before my quest, so I was comfortable with this interaction. However, I observed through some exchange students I met on my trip that this interaction can become messy and uncomfortable without proper confidence. I learned by watching some of their interactions that if you aren’t confident in producing an action, even one as simple as kissing someone on the cheek, then the gesture makes the room uncomfortable instead of its intended purpose. From my experience, the key to adjusting quickly to a new cultural climate is confidence. As long as you can produce a genuine action confidently, whatever it is, then locals will have much more respect for you.”
Another great account from Ajay showing what being genuine and open to new ideas, even in a minute way can do during your time abroad. If you’re interested in becoming fully immersed in a new world like Ajay, learn more about United Planet’s great program in Chile.
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.
