Be World Ready Development Competencies #5

Question: This question is an assessment of your ability to innovate and cooperate to solve challenging problems. What skills have you had to use in order to anticipate and solve problems in your new surroundings? How have you contributed to effective working relationships? How have you cooperated with your coworkers to solve problems? In what ways have you been able to identify and suggest alternative ways to achieve common goals?

Answer: Skills I have had to use in order to anticipate and solve problems have been patience, effective communication, problem solving, effective teamwork and analyzing the problem prior to jumping on what the solution should be. In effective working relationships I have been able to contribute a great deal. It is always great to get a new perspective and a different way of thinking. That is what I have brought to my working relationships. Since most of my co-workers have spent several years working together they all seem to have the same frame of mind when it comes to certain things. I have been able to give them new and different ways of doing things. Some of my suggestions have been taken seriously while others have been “Oh that’s an interesting way to do things…” and they continue to do it their own way. I am just glad that some of my suggestions have been taken seriously! There is a team of people that I work alongside. When there is a problem that needs to be solved, we communicate it to the rest of the team when we are all together, talk about it and then everyone offers their idea of what the solution should be. It is an effective problem solving strategy and it usually results in everyone´s agreement as to what should be done about it.

Be World Ready Development Competencies #4

Question: This question is an assessment of your ability to understand that intercultural communication is complex and dynamic. How have you found communicating with colleagues and people within your community? What have you found to be most effective in getting your message across with co-workers? How effective have you been in understanding, interpreting and relating to their messages? Are you participating in local culture and language? Have you been able to apply any cultural theory you learned in your pre-departure training? If so, how?

Answer: Communication within my community whether it be with colleagues at ITEP or at the municipality or with locals has been absolutely fantastic since the first day I arrived. Since language has not been a barrier for me, I have taken every opportunity to ask questions, listen to their stories and share some of my stories. I love learning about traditions that they have here and they love learning about Canada. Some people in my community didn’t know where Canada was on the map. It has been at times funny conversations and at other times very touching stories. The ability to communicate freely and easily is something I am so thankful for. When it comes to my work environment and communicating messages to my co-workers, I have found that being straight forward, up front and to the point has been the most effective way to communicate. A lot of times, colleagues that have worked together for years speak in a way that I don’t understand. In those cases, I ask them to repeat what they said and to explain what they mean if I need any further help understanding them. I have come to realize that I cannot be embarrassed to ask questions or to admit that I don’t understand. They are always more than happy to explain what they mean or to change their phrasing. The day after I arrived to Corpus, I participated and was part of their Independence Day ceremony and since that day I have participated in every local event. I have been able to use some of the cultural theory that I learned at the pre-departure training while in Corpus. I haven’t needed to very much since I was able to adapt quite quickly and communicate easily. I was prepared for any situation that would come my way though.

Be World Ready Development Competencies #3

Question: This question is an assessment of ability to be compassionate and self-reflective. Working abroad often causes people to increase their understanding of their own abilities, perceptions and goals. Has this experience pushed you to reflect on your own strengths and weaknesses in a way that you would otherwise not have been able to in your home country? What have you learned about yourself? How has this experience changed your capacity to be compassionate and self-reflective?

Answer: Living abroad has shown me that I can do anything that I set my mind to. On our last day of training at Niagara College we all took part in a Wisdom Circle where we voiced our fears, concerns, hopes and expectations for our time away.  The fears that I voiced were that I would not be what my hosts in Argentina were expecting, that I would miss Canada too much, that homesickness would be too much to bear and the bottom line was that I wouldn’t be happy. All of these concerns were shared by most of the other interns in one way or the other. Moving to South America was a huge step for me, a challenge that I was ready to take on and it has been a pleasure since the moment I landed in Argentina.

I have overcome obstacles that I hadn’t predicted would even be obstacles. One huge obstacle has been proving to people, especially the adults who I work alongside, that my age does not mean I am not capable of being a professional and contributing significantly to professional projects, events, and work in general. It took about a month for my ideas and propositions to be taken seriously because they all saw me as a little girl. I have learned that I am capable of living in a different country, without my support system, in a town that is completely opposite to what I am used to, with strangers who have become some of the greatest people I have ever met and I know I will be okay. There have been days where I´ve asked myself “Why did I choose to do this?” but then I am reminded that this is exactly what I want to do with my life: immersing myself in a different culture, becoming part of a new community, making a difference and knowing that my small but impactful contributions will never be forgotten. I have also come to realize how little I appreciated those simple pleasures and the people in my life back in Canada. The saying, “You never know what you have till it´s gone” hit me square in the face the first day that I wished I had my mom nearby to have a sobering and grounding talk or the time that I was hospitalized and no one could tell me why! I will never take for granted again my family, my friends, the Canadian health care system, restaurants and stores that are open ALL day long, banks that don’t go on strike, electricity that rarely cuts out, hot water, washing machines, and all those other things (big and small) that I never even considered that I would miss or not have while living here!

Argentina has caused a heart change for me. Intellectually, I am aware of the statistics but it wasn’t until I began living with the locals that I became emotionally invested in this experience. From listening to the young, single mom who is struggling to continue her education after her professor got her pregnant to the business woman who asked me for help to translate a document into English, these people have impacted my life in a way I never thought possible. After living and breathing Argentina, its lifestyle, culture, people, atmosphere, its negatives and positives I know that I am forever changed for the better. I have grown in a way that words cannot adequately describe. Thankful, lucky, blessed do not even come close to describing how I feel to have had this opportunity. 

Be World Ready Development Competencies #2

Question: This question is an assessment of your ability to respect and value diversity. How have you found maintaining an attitude of respect and openness while in situations where cultural protocols, etiquettes, gender roles and social systems differ from what you are accustomed to or comfortable with? Are you experiencing any feelings or observing any scenarios that make you reflect on issues of power, equity, racism or oppression? What have you learned as a result of immersing yourself in a different culture? Can you identify beliefs, values and behaviors that form the basis for respectful relationships in your host community?

Answer: Throughout my stay in Argentina so far I have been able to maintain an attitude of respect and openness while in situations where cultural protocols, etiquettes, gender roles and social systems are different from what I am accustomed to or comfortable with by taking a moment to observe the situation and take in how the other people are reacting. Thankfully I have not had any awkward, offensive or insulting moments as of yet. I am the type of person who likes to be involved in every activity and be involved 100% so taking a step back to assess the situation was a bit of challenge for me. 

I have seen and experienced some situations where power has played a huge role in the day to day life and progress of Corpus. An example is that in Corpus there are clear differentiations between the ´royalty´ of the town and the ´commoners´. There are a few families who are closely connected to the mayor and have their hands in the business and activities that the municipality is a part of. These select few discriminate against the rest of the families and people of the town in a way that is racist – “you shouldn´t be seen with her because she is morochita (dark skinned)”, politically biased – “If you want to eat at our table you can´t be seen at that families table because they are Peronistas and we are Radicales” and plain old fashioned discriminatory based on economic and social factors – “We didn´t give her the job at the municipality because her husband is the garbage sweeper and her parents live in that barrio – neighborhood”. These attitudes and behaviors did not take long to surface. When they did, I was shocked. Yet the people who I have spoken to regarding these attitudes did not seem to see it as something that can or should be fixed- even the people who are directly being discriminated against. Their response: “Así ha sido desde el principio y así será hasta el final” – It´s how it has always been and how it always will be. In a way it feels like I have travelled back in time. Coming from a country where racism, discrimination and power abuse is not accepted (although it does happen) to a country where those who are most affected by these things are those who easily accept it!

Immersing myself in the Argentine culture, specifically in the Corpus culture, has taught me numerous things. First of all, I have learned that relationships, whether family or partners or friendships, are the most important things in life. This I witness every day when I come home for lunch and all 3 of my roommates are also home for lunch. We spend a couple of hours every day together without fail. This is typical of every home in Corpus. Families eat together at lunch time every day  to not only ensure their kids and partners have a good meal but also to make sure that as a family they spend at least a couple of hours every day together. Another very important lesson I learned is that life doesn´t always have to be go-go-go all the time. It is okay to take a step back and breathe. I don´t always have to be doing something. I have also learned that there isn’t always a solution or a correct answer to a tough question. In regards to my questions about the treatment of different families in the town, I never got a straight answer as to why they accept that treatment or why they feel they don’t deserve better. I know it is a lot more complex of a subject and it runs deeper than just what I can see but it is something that deeply impacted me and it still makes me angry whenever I hear comments like the ones I previously mentioned.

There are many behaviors and values that form the basis for respectful relationships in Corpus. A couple examples are that when in a group of people and someone else joins, that person greets every single person in the group with 2 kisses. This is an unwritten rule. It happens in situations where everyone gets along and also in situations where there may be some tension. Another example is that the younger people regard the older people with respect when they speak to them. They use words such as “usted” instead of “tu” when speaking directly to an elder. 

Although there are obvious flaws and huge social discrepancies the general atmosphere and daily life is one of contentment.

Be World Ready Development Competencies #1

"Everything that has happened since the marvellous discovery of the Americas has been so extraordinary that the whole story remains quite incredible to anyone who has not experienced it at first hand."

-  a very brief account of the destruction of the Indies, Bartolome de las Casas (1552)   

Prior to my departure to Argentina, during our training at Niagara College we were given a set of questions that we have to answer while in the field. These questions are called the 'Be World Ready Development Competencies'. The quote above seems to describe my experience in South America pretty accurately and it compliments the first question that I am choosing to answer.  

Question #1: This question is an assessment of your ability to be adaptable and resilient. What aspects of your new environment have been the most difficult for you to adapt to? What are the similarities and differences between your cultural background and the culture of your host country? How have you adapted to using different communication styles and behaviours in order to adjust to your new environment? Please provide specific examples.

Answer: In every situation where you are taken out of your comfort zone there will be times where you find it difficult to adapt to your new environment. I have had some difficulty with some aspects but find that in the past 3 months I have adapted to and started to like these differences. The first and major difficulty I ran into was the lack of importance that is placed on time. When a time is set for a meeting and the meeting does not start till an hour and a half after the original time, it gets frustrating - especially if you have made plans for after the meeting. In my previous blog post about my favourite differences, I mentioned this and I have come to accept and EVEN embrace this difference. I know now that I can't make plans for after the meeting and that it's okay for me to arrive a bit later than they say to because I was usually the first to arrive! 

Another difficulty I experienced and still am experiencing is the lack of internet. I do not want to come across as someone who is dependant on the internet but when I have weekly blogs to write and post, schools to apply for, job searching to do, flights to book or even just a need for some social media outlet time... not having internet is a real difficulty. I never realized how much I relied on wi-fi and high-speed internet back home until I came to Corpus and even the word wi-fi is unknown! I was shocked to be completely honest when I arrived at my new home and asked what the wi-fi password was and got blank stares. Although it has been a challenge and a frustrating one at that, I have now mastered the crazy bus schedule (that sometimes chooses not to run or skips a couple stops which usually includes mine) that gets me from Corpus to San Ignacio where high speed internet and wi-fi exist! Where there is a will there is a way! 

The most shocking aspect of my new environment that I have had to adapt to has been gossip. Corpus is a really small town where everyone knows everyone. You can go out and have mate with a friend in the plaza at night and the next morning the whole town is talking about it. If I wanted to, I could find out my neighbours life story from the people who live on the other end of the town. Coming from a big city where I didn't know my neighbours name to a town where I know more than I would like to about EVERYONE in my neighbourhood has been an eye opening and challenging experience. Sadly, I have been the subject of gossip a couple of times in my town. Stories and events get blown out of proportion, jealousy influences the stories and immature situations occur. I have yet to adapt to this difference... Although I don't think I will nor do I want to. High school gave me a big enough dose of gossip and drama that I feel I am a too old to be a part of it, especially in my job and career. In a way I have come to adapt to this difference in the sense that I don't believe everything someone tells me about someone else. I make my own opinions based on my personal experiences with that person. 

Since I grew up in Mexico, I believe that most of my 'way of being' is more Mexican than Canadian. At times when it comes to my personality, character, perspective and view of different situations I know that they are based on my Mexican upbringing. The culture in Argentina is quite similar to the culture in Mexico. Latinos are usually similar no matter where you go. So far, I have not found any real cultural differences between my cultural background and that of Argentina. I feel as if I fit in very well with Argentines. We are dramatic, we show our emotions, we love to dance and eat, we love spending time with friends and family... We are similar in most ways I have found when it comes to our culture.

When I first arrived to Argentina, I was mentally prepared for a huge culture shock. I didn't know what to expect. I know that being fluent in Spanish has been one of the reasons why I have not felt a huge shock. I am so thankful that a language barrier is not something I have to adapt to. I admire those interns who have gone into the field not knowing the language. They are brave and deserve to be recognized. Last week I traveled to Florianopolis, Brazil. I absolutely loved every minute of it except when it came to talking to the Brazilian people. Not because they weren't friendly but because we couldn't communicate as well as I wanted. I don't speak Portuguese and it became frustrating for me to not be able to communicate simple things like "I don't want mayonnaise on my sandwich." By the end of my week in Brazil I was so happy to return to Argentina where I could communicate with no problem EXACTLY what I do and don't want on my sandwich, etc. Since my cultural background and the culture of Argentina is not that different, my behaviour has not had to change too much. At the beginning of my stay I observed how people acted and came to that conclusion. One difference I have noticed and learned the hard way is that sarcasm in Argentina is not understood nor is it liked. It comes across as rude... I am a very sarcastic person and this is one thing that I had to change almost instantly.

I feel as if the quote from Bartolome de las Casas is 100% accurate. I know that when I was telling my family before they came to visit me about the differences in the day to day lives of Argentines they did not understand completely. Once they arrived and experienced the differences first hand they finally understood. You have to live here, in my house, in my situation, with the same people that I have had the pleasure of meeting to truly and fully understand what I am talking about. I wish every single person could do what I have done, see what I have seen and experience what I have experienced.