Mitch, Honours in International Development and Globalisation
Internship: Kathmandu, Nepal
Canadian NGO: Mines Action Canada
Local NGO: Ban Landmines Campaign Nepal
As you might imagine, the language barrier plays a huge role in any foreign country that you find yourself in. In some countries, like the Netherlands or the Philippines, it will not likely be a personal or professional challenge if you only speak English. The reality of the globalised economy and world is that English has truly become a lingua franca in many countries around the world. Especially in countries with a large tourism industry, no matter if you are Canadian, Russian, or Chinese, you will likely be spoken to in English.
But what if an effort is made by foreigners to learn the local language? What if expectations are set low, but standards are set high. This was my mindset as I prepared to go to Nepal. I knew that it would be a challenge, and that I would not reach any level of fluency. However, when you set yourself up to be the best that you can, given how you feel on any day, you can be successful.
Learning a new script was difficult, but incredibly rewarding. Understanding basic phrases and knowing to count is relatively simple, but pays off by being able to have small micro-interactions in the local tongue. Learning a language is not easy, and for some of us, it is really an impossible task that no one should be shamed for. But everybody can put in a little effort. I would encourage anyone, regardless if you are going on an internship or a vacation, to put in a little effort; to at least be able to say that you tried. It made my international experience much more fulfilling, and I hope someone else can say the same.