Zahara Heckscher's Ten Hot Tips on
Gaining Your First Overseas Experience

Zahara Heckscher is the co-author of How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas (Penguin Books) www.volunteeroverseas.org. See other links below.

1. DO IT. Don't let the challenges outlined here dissuade you from what may be the most educational and enriching experience of your life. The most important step in the process of seeking overseas experience is committing yourself to find a way. There will be obstacles--money, disorganized organizations, communications nightmares--but it will be worth it.

2. STUDY YOUR MOTIVES AND EXPECTATIONS. Please don't think you are going to save the world. Be honest with yourself about why you are going, and be realistic about what you think you might accomplish.

3. DO YOUR HOMEWORK. The more you prepare before going, the better your experience will be. Speak to people who have worked and traveled where you want to go. Call the Peace Corps, embassies, organizations, put a note up on bulletin boards "Have you been to Sierra Leone?" Use your creativity. Read books--novels as well as travel guides and historical and political analysis. Make a rough budget. Give yourself time to plan, make contacts, and raise enough money.

4. DON'T RULE OUT VOLUNTEERING. It is unlikely that you will find paid work on your first overseas experience, unless you want to work for a big company or a questionable development organization, or you have very useful skills (i.e. teaching or medical skills). Volunteering will allow you to work for an organization that might actually need you rather than one that can pay you. Work weekends or odd jobs and/or ask friends and family to sponsor you in return for a newsletter or photo. Student loans can be deferred. Call your bank for details.

5. VOLUNTEER BEFORE YOU GO. You will have much more to offer an organization overseas if you have experience volunteering at home. Try to find an organization in your community that does work similar to the type of work you want to do overseas.

6. PLAN FOR YOUR RETURN. You will have an incredibly rich experience that few people in the U.S. are privileged to receive. Think about how you might share your experience when you get back--showing slides at a local high school, speaking at a local university, organizing a potluck. This will help you figure out how to document your trip. In addition, you may find that many of the problems you will witness abroad are the result of misguided U.S. foreign policies. Think in advance about how you might participate in working for long term change upon your return to the U.S. (See Aid As Obstacle, by Francis Moore Lappe and Joseph Collins, or contact www.RESULTS.org for information on how to plug into changing policies.)

7. STUDY THE LANGUAGE. You didn't really think you can work effectively in another country without speaking the local language, did you? I didn't think so. Why not begin your stay with an intensive language training course? (See Transition Abroad magazine or www.transitionsabroad.com.)

8. EXPECT TO MAKE MISTAKES. Try to minimize the obvious ones. DO NOT promise anything that you can not deliver (i.e. money, political support, marriage). DO NOT engage in illegal activities. DO NOT feed stereotypes of Westerners dressing disrespectfully and being loose about sex, and while I strongly urge you not to have sex with locals, if you do, please use condoms.  DO NOT engage in political activity that might put other people at risk. DO acknowledge that you will mess up occasionally, and try to be committed enough not to give up when things become difficult. On the other hand, if things really aren't working out, you should also know when it's time to go, or modify your plans.

9. KEEP A JOURNAL. To jog your memory when reciting tales to your grandchildren. To remind yourself of the wisdom you once learned. To remind yourself of the damn fool things you once did.

10. GET YOUR SHOTS AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEALTH. Please visit your doctor or a specialist in tropical medicine before you go. Take it from one who knows. A shot of prevention is worth a hundred little brown pills from a questionable pharmacy as you seek relief from hallucinatory fevers, yellow eyes, and/or excruciating stomach cramps. Ask your doctor for prescriptions (antibiotics and Llomotil) to fill and take with you in case you get an intestinal infection. Acidophilus, available at most health food stores, taken at every meal, will help prevent stomach bugs. (Read Where There Is No Doctor for excellent perspective on community health overseas.) Don't drink the water. In matters of health, as in other aspects of working overseas, use your brain!

SPECIAL TIPS FOR WOMEN: In many countries overseas, media images have created the image that women from the U.S. are "easy." Talk to local women about ways they avoid unwanted attention. Learn about cultural norms about dress and behavior as early as possible. What to you maybe simple friendliness may send a different message in another culture. If anyone is being particularly obnoxious, and if other people are around, yell at them, even in English. This can often embarrass harassers into leaving you alone. In some areas, you might want to travel at night only with a friend or "escort." (Often a good idea for men, too.) Do be careful, but don't let fear prevent you from traveling. Don't let the sexism of some make you overgeneralize about entire societies.

PITFALLS AND POTENTIAL OF DEVELOPMENT WORK. There are a lot of really bad development projects overseas. Many are based on the paternalistic notion that we in the wealthy nations have all the answers, and that our style of technology is the only worthwhile path of development for the rest of the world. Even many well meaning projects end up promoting dependence. In my analysis, the best type of development assistance is when local people have organized themselves to work together to address needs that they have identified. Maybe they need some technical assistance, marketing advice, or computer training. If you are lucky enough to be allowed to work with an organization of the latter type, please go with the attitude of a student and not a teacher. You will probably find that we in the U.S. have a lot to learn from our brothers and sisters in the South. Perhaps on your return home, you will be able to communicate these lessons and further development in your own community.

This fact sheet was prepared by Zahara Heckscher peacepeace at compuserve.com.

Other resources:

www.transitionsabroad.com A great web site for travel, work, volunteer, and study abroad options.

www.volunteerinternational.org Includes a searchable database of volunteer opportunities.

www.volunteeroverseas.org The website for “How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas”, a book that includes evaluations of the Peace Corps and about 80 additional volunteer programs. By Zahara Heckscher, Stefano DeZerega and Joseph Collins.