My study abroad program, NGOs of SE Asia, has exceeded any expectations I may have had for the program. When I started the study abroad program, I had few expectations, to ensure that I did not get disappointed if things did not go the way I expected. I did expect to grow as a person from this experience. However, I have not only grown as a person but have grown in my studies and gained new professional skills. First, I have grown personally by embracing the culture and respecting the boundaries locals have put on “tourists”. I did not want to be looked at as a “tourist” during my study abroad experience, instead I wanted to be looked at as someone interested in their culture and their way of doing business. Secondly, I have grown in my knowledge of Thailand and Cambodia by simply learning a few local sayings such as “Hello” and “Thank You” in each country. I have found that the locals respected me more because I was attempting to speak their language and learn about their culture. The locals felt they could be more “real” with me when I was asking questions. Thirdly, I have grown in my business endeavors by changing my state of mind. In America we seem to focus on ourselves and worry how we ourselves are going to get ahead in the business world. This type of outlook is called individualism and is completely opposite of how business is done in SE Asia. Across SE Asia the common theme is to focus on collectivism and how their impacts can make a difference in their communities. Once I started to think about collectivism and how my actions can affect the community and not myself allowed me to grow as a professional. When working with NGOs in any country I will now look at the communities first then think about cross-cultural communications, operations, and funding. In addition, I learned that it is important for successful organizations to have a local face of an NGO so that communities can trust and believe in the NGOs mission.
To provide some transparency, I was worried about starting the program as a middle-aged woman obtaining a master’s degree with younger generation undergraduates. I was simply attempting to beat myself up for not doing the program when I was an undergrad and blaming myself for even doing the program and having major Imposter Syndrome. However, I pulled myself up by the “bootstraps” and decided to walk with my head held high and know that I have one thing the others do not have and that is life experiences. I decided to use my life experiences to help guide the undergrad students and to provide some insight about my experiences and what the outcomes have been. I also “checked” myself to allow me to learn from the undergraduate students and to gain their perspective on their own life experiences. By using my life experiences, being transparent, and open to learning from undergraduate students I have become a better person. I honestly feel like I am a much better human being for this experience.
Learning from various cultures in SE Asia and the way they conduct business within their organizations I have been enlightened to see that the “American Way” may not be the ultimate way to conduct business. In addition, setting my ego aside and being open to learn from others (no matter their age) allowed me to grow and thrive in this once in a lifetime experience of studying abroad. I would not trade this experience for anything else that could be flashed in front of me. I highly recommend any and everyone to try the study abroad experience which will allow them to be humbled by their own way of life.
By Hope Clifton, Diverse Ducks Ambassador
NGOs in SE Asia, Summer 2023