The time has come already yet so soon. Where did the three months go? Most of you will b
e finishing up your projects, bidding your farewells, maybe getting some travel in before heading back to Toronto and the start up of classes.
What I would like you to do for this last post is think about what you will take away from your experience. I believe we collect bits and bites along our life journey that make us the fascinating people that we are. Those bits could be lessons, examples, illuminations to reality, realizations of self, wider horizons, fresh directions, or deeper understanding.
When I think of the different places in the world that I have spent time, I can start to think of the different things I have taken from there. In Costa Rica I began to learn the impact of foreigners, be they tourists, travelers or there to stay. My understanding of who I am as an international sojourner began to develop more clearly as I shed the idea that if I am there to do good, I can't do wrong. Oooh, so wrong. I take from Costa Rica the ideal of pura vida - pure life.
I took so much from South Africa in the short time that I was there and hope to be able to repay some of it over my lifetime. I learned how forgiveness is not enough, that there must be reconciliation as well in order to move forward and not get stuck. I take the example put forward to me of the quiet strength that I saw in so many of the women who carry the sorrows and future of that country on their backs, quietly. I endeavour to find that kind of strength that is so devastatingly effective yet thankless because of its selflessness.
As ever, I encourage you to go deep. Just writing this has taken me back and given me a bit of space to think about those experiences from years ago in the context of who I am today. I can see where I am a better person for the experience and where I have some work to do. The parameters 
for this assignment are quite broad. Feel free to explore the good, the bad and the ugly.Enjoy the last little bit of your internship and travel well. I look forward to seeing you when you are back.
Hi Folks,
Just a quick note to say thank you to all who have submitted their evaluations thus far and a reminder for those who are still working on them. I can't tell you how useful they are for us as we continue to develop the program.
It is also good to hear the challenges you have encountered and how you have overcome them. Challenges are good things. It gives you 
the opportunity to grow. Without the hiccups, you might as well be in an all inclusive resort or cruise.
Toronto Update - It looks like the strike is drawing to a close though there is still grumbling from both sides. We should have the city cleaned up for your return.
This weekend is the long weekend. Woot Woot!
I have been having an interesting blog conversation with Patrick who is in Bonn, Germany on internship with the African Youth Foundation about tourism. I had another blog assignment planned that I wasn't really liking and then this little beauty appeared from our chatting. I think it is a great subject to dig your teeth into.
Tourism. Good or bad? I am sure we have all had encounters with the monster tourist and indeed you may have come across them during your internship. Often identifiable by their socks in sandals, beige slacks, expensive cameras and loud voice demanding more ketchup for their beautifully prepared yet unappreciated meal. Yeah, you know the type. While they often make themselves most apparent, I don't think they would be typical of the average tourist.
Tourism can bring about positive change, particularly in developing areas, by the infusion of cash into the local economy. Direct employment, improved infrastructure, development of health care facilities and foreign exchange can do wonders for locals who may not have alternative sources of income generation. Poorly managed tourism can also lead to environmental degradation, poor working conditions, diverted development (roads instead of schools) and an unstable market (i.e. economic downturn). Beyond that, bad tourists bring with them their crappy lifestyle of drugs and prostitution, cultural exclusion and destruction. Bad tourist bad!
I remember having a discussion when I was in school that we were travelers, not tourists. Tourism had acquired such a negative meaning and we didn't want to be lumped in with "them". I wonder if the locals whose homes we travel to see the distinction between a tourist and a traveler.
I chatted with a professor here at York who worked in Zambia with CUSO for over a decade and she stated that she and the local partners had a hard time investing in cooperants who were only going to be in country for two years. TWO YEARS!!! What does that say for interns who are only there for three months? I see immense value in young professionals working abroad for such a short period of time but are you really just tourists with some work to do?
Here is our very broad topic of discussion then for the next set of blogs. Are you a tourist? If you are, is that such a bad thing? Try to get past that initial reaction of "Of course not! I am living and working here! Why would Larissa even ask me that!". Think about it from the perspective of the people that you live and work with. What is the difference between you and a tourist?
I have resigned myself to the fact that I am indeed a tourist when I travel, even for work. Whether it is for a week or a year. This helps me to try to be a better tourist then. I stay at the locally owned hotels, eat in local restaurants rather than chains, attempt to be a respectful photographer. But beyond that, I try to be aware of the impact that my mere presence has and try to offset the negative impacts. I endeavour to treat locals and their riches with due respect rather than a commodity to be consumed. This can be as simple as a smile, a thanks, asking my taxi driver his name and shaking his hand.
Hello Future Employees of the World,
A friendly reminder from your friendly project manager that it is a good idea to keep a copy of assignments, presentations, brochures, reports, etc. that you complete while on internship. These will prove handy when you are developing a portfolio to show off the many talents you have. I strongly recommend developing a portfolio that you can take with you to interviews in the future. Besides impressing your future bosses, it is a good way to organize yourself mentally to speak of your experiences and skills.
Check with your supervisors to make sure it is alright that you take a copy of what you produce. If you don't have something physical or tangible, take a picture of the work that you do. I have a few picture pages in my portfolio that show me doing work (i.e. meeting people, working in groups, activities in action). I also have print outs of power point presentations I have given and REFERENCE LETTERS. Be sure to get a reference letter from your supervisor BEFORE you leave your internship.
When you are back, you are more than welcome to check out my portfolio for ideas. I also recommend swinging by the Career Centre on campus. This is one of the best resources available to you, free of charge.
Alright, back to work!
Hi Folks,
Time to get back to blogging. First let me say that it is a pleasure seeing how you are all communicating so well electronically. Even those of you who have limited connectivity, like Mayan and Maggie in the bushes of Kenya struck by malaria five minutes after their arrival, are participating in the blogosphere. Well done!
Most of you are a good month into your internship and are likely well on your way to adapting. What I am interested in this week is how you have adapted. What have you changed in yourself to become more effective in your host culture? Often these changes are quite subtle and may require some reflection. Start with the easy stuff. How do you greet people (kiss on the cheek, more formal with names)? How do you eat your food (chopsticks, fingers)? Do you barter when you want to buy something or just pay the posted price like Canada? Have you forsaken your jeans and flipflops for the smartly professional look?Then move into the less tangibles and think about why you have had to change and how effective that change is. For example, have you changed the way that you communicate? Perhaps you don't look people directly in the eye. Do you moderate the language that you use to sound less opinionated or definitive? Do you speak softer or louder?
Then dig a little deeper. Have you had to change your behaviour based on gender roles and rules applied to you by your host culture? How does that feel? For women, it can be a challenge because you can't go out after dark without an escort, you feel your opinion is taken as seriously as your male counterpart, you get given the up and down rather intently. For the men, it is can be challenging as well seeing creepy guys leer at your female counterparts. What do you do about that?
These are just some suggestions of things to examine. You will of course have your own good answers. I look forward to reading them and to you giving each other advice, or at least condolences and understanding.
Dig deep! No low hanging fruit. Happy blogging.
Well my darlings, it has been a tough week in Holywood. It started with Ed MacMahon dying at the beginning of the week. This is the famous sidekick to Johnny Carson, the guy who hosted the Late Show before Jay Leno. Then we were saddened to hear that Farrah Fawcett had pass away Thursday morning. We knew she had been sick but it was still sad news for a woman who was so beautiful.
Then the shocker. Michael Jackson dead at 50! Holy cow! I am trying to gauge what the reaction is by those who are younger than me. I grew up with MJ's shadow looming large in my pop cultural understanding. My generation in North America didn't know a world without him. Even though he went a little wacko, I still have one of his songs on my iPod (Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough). (I am so bopping away to it right now).
What I think would be interesting to know is what the reaction to his death is where you are? I know my friends in South Africa had posts on their facebook within minutes of us finding out here. We have a unique opportunity with everyone connected by blogs from around the world. If you feeling like sharing your reflections, feel free to add a comment to this post.
Hey Folks,
Just had a lovely conversation by Skype with an intern. I would love to chat with you if you can connect. I am listed under my name Larissa Strong or nickname Lahlissa (don't ask). I discovered how to use the video camera in my fancy, new laptop. Unfortunately for my chat partner, I am home sick with a summer cold (the worst) sitting in my pyjamas with my hair on end, yesterday's make up sliding down my face, hacking up a lung.
Hope you are all feeling better than me. I look forward to chatting with you.
Larissa
e finishing up your projects, bidding your farewells, maybe getting some travel in before heading back to Toronto and the start up of classes.
for this assignment are quite broad. Feel free to explore the good, the bad and the ugly.
