I still find it exciting to be in a new place where the cultural context is different, the menu offers veggie dishes novel to my palate, and unpredictability and flexibility are key ingredients of every day. So, I was thrilled to travel to Laos where I had never been. I don’t speak Lao and neither did my travel companion. The purpose was to scope out a couple of rural towns and communities, explore historic Luang Prabang and learn as much as we could about the UNESCO Heritage location. Could this be a suitable location for a four-week summer global service learning experience for a group of high school students? To prepare for my adventure, I had skimmed the new Lonely Planet guide; I’d read the Laos Culture Gram which gave the most basic summary of anything from Lao culture, geography, history, people, lifestyle , customs and courtesies, etc. Through my local public library, I’d accessed numerous video streams about what sadly is claimed to be the most bombed country in the world.
As I explored the busy streets of colorful Luang Prabang, visited historic temples and spent invaluable time in rural communities, I was thankful for all the hours of prepping I had managed to squeeze into my hectic life. The basic knowledge and awareness afforded me the opportunity to observe, contrast, question, interact and learn firsthand more intentionally and respectfully. It was a good reminder of the importance of designing a comprehensive orientation program for our students.
A good pre-trip orientation program prepares students for the cultural immersion and adaption experience, includes a great packing guide and communicates a comprehensive health, safety, and travel logistics overview. I’ve always believed that the better prepared a traveler is, including setting realistic expectations and goals, the greater the likelihood is that the trip feels successful to both students and the host community. Recognizing that each institution needs to design an orientation program that fits the school culture and financial reality, I believe all student trips must include an orientation component, even if it means reducing the total number of overseas days. At my school, students are required to attend the entire 35-hour pre-trip orientation program. This is non-negotiable and we make this requirement clear to students and their families during our information presentation. “No last minute dentist or doctor visits, and no drivers ed class,” we reiterate each year. Expert guest speakers from the community are invited to lecture on topics such as global health, poverty, philanthropy, or the environment. If possible, we invite host nationals who happen to live or be in Seattle to come meet with our students. Students going to Morocco, for example, begin practicing greetings in Darija. Students conduct country research projects and present for each other thus building a pool of knowledge. We engage in group bonding games and establish group norms. Pack check is done a couple of days before departure so students have time to pick up any missing items. We discuss the Culture Iceberg and begin reflecting on our own cultural values and behaviors. One of the more popular and awareness-raising orientation lunches is the Hunger Banquet. This is an experiential event which aims to bring attention to how students think about poverty and hunger. I highly recommend the Hunger Banquet simulation though it necessitates plenty of time for debriefing and reflection. It’s a powerful activity, but it sets the students up well for the often even more powerful experience abroad. And hopefully, they will know how to prepare their own next trip abroad.