Language Barriers

A friend of mine wrote a blog about language barriers and asked for my thoughts on the subject.  I decided I had too much to say to simply comment on his blog, so I thought I would write my own post responding to his question and sharing my take on the language barriers faced by travelers in foreign countries.

It’s common for many people, particularly from the U.S., to think that people everywhere speak English. This assumption is followed by the belief and expectation that no matter where an English speaker travels, they will be able to communicate with the locals. And sometimes, English speakers may become annoyed when they are not understood in a non-English speaking country. Let’s be honest, this assumption/expectation is absolutely ridiculous.

As English speakers, we have no right whatsoever, on any level, to be annoyed with locals who cannot communicate with us. However, there is a big difference between the expectation that someone should speak your language and the expectation that someone is willing to help you when you are in a foreign country where you cannot speak or understand the language. I live in China. Based on the numbers (largely due to the fact that China has a massive population), there are actually more English speakers in China than there are in the U.S. However, I rarely come across locals who can actually verbally communicate with me. And that is understandable; I don’t expect them to know English, but as someone who is in this country of Mandarin speakers, I at least hope that they will try to communicate with me in other ways or direct me to someone/someplace where I can get the help I need simply because I am, in many ways, lost due to the fact that I can’t speak to people.  And I would hope to be helped because I would hope that the other person would have empathy and compassion regarding my situation. I do the same when I come across someone back home who cannot speak English; I do my best to help them in any way I can because I understand it must be a difficult position to be in. At the same time, this is where my responsibility to learn the local language comes in. As someone who lives and works in China, I have a responsibility to learn the local language. In my case, I have learned a bit and can get by in basic ways, but I have a lot more learning to do, and it is up to me to take the initiative to learn in whatever ways I can. But I still want locals to be understanding about the fact that I’m not there yet. I don’t expect that they should speak to me in English, I only hope that they can empathize with the fact that I’m struggling.   

While language barriers can be difficult and trying obstacles, I believe that there are many benefits of being faced with this challenge.

So you can’t read the menu. That’s ok. Point to something, anything, and be surprised. Maybe you will hate what you are served, maybe you will find it disgusting, but you may also discover something you love which you never would have tried had you known what you were ordering.

Language barriers can force us out of our comfort zones, which I believe is always a good thing.

Language barriers can bring out a kind of dependency in very independent people…in a good way, in a humbling way. It forces us to set our pride and ego aside, and it forces us to realize that sometimes we do need help, and that’s ok.

Language barriers can cause us to be more empathetic. We cannot truly understand how irresponsible our neglect of foreigners in our own country is until we become the foreigner in another country. Experiencing language barriers while traveling can help us be more understanding of those people in our own country who are struggling to make it without knowing English.

Probably my favorite thing about language barriers is that they force us to connect with people beyond words, and often these connections can prove to be more powerful than those with people we can speak to. I was lucky to be surrounded by a lot of English-speaking Tanzanians when I lived in Tanzania, but the two most significant relationships I formed there were with people who did not speak any English at all. And you may wonder how you can become close and have a significant relationship with someone you can’t speak to, but it is definitely possible. When you can’t speak, you find other ways to communicate. I think that sometimes the fact that we can speak to one another causes us to take our relationships with people for granted. We take for granted that the other person knows we care about them, and they take for granted that we know they care about us. But, when you can’t use words, you rely on actions. In these relationships, people show each other how much they care for one another. When you are unable to speak to someone, you express your care and love for them through action. In the end, this, I believe, usually leads to a more solid connection between people. There is something powerful about relationships formed and maintained based solely on the act of love.

I am sure there is so much more to be said about language barriers, but for now these are my initial thoughts. Yes, they are hard, but they are a valuable part of exploring and becoming a part of new places. Language barriers are understandably frustrating, but they also present beautiful opportunities for growth.

Excited About My New Job!

Hellooooo!! Ok, it has been about 4 months since I wrote a blog update despite several requests for one. Oops. I will give you all a brief rundown of what’s been going on in my life, but mostly I want to tell you about my new, amazing job!!

My first semester of teaching English at Wenlan Middle School wrapped up December 29^th. I spent all of January tutoring a young man who wants to study in the US, as well as teaching a few classes on the side. I had been dissatisfied with a few things about my job and living situation at Wenlan, so I had been researching some possible new job options during my time there; essentially, I was looking for a better English teaching gig. In my search for a better job, I emailed Hangzhou International School. The director of the school emailed me back and said that while he did not have an available position that I fit into, he thought I would be perfect for an organization that did some work with his school, and he offered to send my resume/info over to them. That was how I was first introduced to The JUMP! Foundation. I was in love. Seriously. I thought that it looked absolutely perfect for me, and I was dying to hear from them. I believe everything happens for a reason, and I became convinced that everything that led me to China and my whole experience in China was for the sole purpose of leading me to this organization and the job of my dreams. Long story short, I have been offered a position and I am a Program Designer/Facilitator for JUMP!, and I will likely become Program Manager after the first few months.

I just spent the last two weeks in the Philippines enjoying some amazing sun and beaches. It was absolutely beautiful! I arrived back to Hangzhou last night. I will be here for a few days, and next week I will be moving to Beijing for my new job. I will first do a First Aid Wilderness training with JUMP!, and my work officially begins February 27^th. Many people have been wondering if my new job would take me out of China, but no, I will still be living and working here. However, the Beijing office will likely be moving to Hangzhou this summer, so my time in Beijing will be brief, and then I will be moving back to Hangzhou with my colleagues which I am really excited about because I really do like this city and I haven’t heard the greatest things about Beijing.

So everyone wants to know what exactly my new job is. Well, it seems like I will be doing a bit of everything. I can tell you more about the organization and then you can have a better idea of the kinds of things I will be involved in. JUMP! is a non-profit organization founded in 2006 whose mission is to EMPOWER youth with leadership skills and tools, INSPIRE youth to be change makers, and ENGAGE youth in global development. JUMP!’s core values are (I’m taking all of this from their facebook page, by the way J ):

 • Social Enterprise
JUMP is a social enterprise. We are committed to the design, development and implementation of youth-focused development projects on behalf of marginalized or at-risk youths all over the world.
• Community Development
The JUMP! Foundation is committed to the development of the communities in which we live and work, as well as those around the globe.
• Collaboration
Collaboration is an integral part of JUMP’s everyday existence and vision of the future. Through collaboration with individuals, schools, organizations, businesses and communities, we strongly believe that we can make the world a better place.
• Sustainability
JUMP is committed to the concept of sustainability in every way. We live and teach the idea of sustainable development, whether it is in our business plan, in the classroom, or in our personal lives.
• Responsibility
JUMP is a socially responsible organization. We believe it is the responsibility of all youth and all people to act as global citizens.
• Global Network
A key focus of the JUMP! Foundation is to support the development of global networks. Incorporating facilitators from around the globe has enabled JUMP to create a multicultural facilitation core that fosters world-class programs and projects.

Hopefully this gives you a better idea of the kinds of things I will be doing. Basically this job combines EVERYthing I am most passionate about: people, travel, mentoring, encouraging and inspiring others, global issues, international/community development, etc. I am beyond excited to be a part of this organization!!

30 Lessons That Traveling Has Taught Me

One day I started thinking about how unbelievably valuable travel has been for the quality of my life and just how many lessons I've learned because of it.  This is by no means an exhaustive list, but here are 30 lessons that traveling has taught me. Some are serious, some are silly, but all have had their own unique impact on my understanding of the beautiful, colorful world we live in!

1.   Living abroad can make even the most independent person completely dependent on others.

2.   Sometimes you just have to let go of your pride (especially if you’re someone who’s usually independent) and ask for help.

3.  No matter where you are or what culture you find yourself in, people need each other.

4.  When it comes to what people think of us, we tend to care less about what people from other cultures think than we do about people from our own culture. This can be both positive and negative.

5.  The honesty and imitative behavior of children tends to be a reflection of the values a society teaches to its members. 

6.  We all think people of ‘races’ other than our own ‘all look the same’…until we spend time living among them. 

7.  Traveling can shatter your materialistic desires. Less is more. Plus you come to realize how people with far less than you are far happier. 

8.  There are wonderful people everywhere. And there are people that suck everywhere. 

9.   Drinking milk in other parts of the world makes you realize the milk in the US doesn’t actually taste like milk.

10.   People everywhere really do want the same things: to be happy, to be healthy, and to be loved.

11.  Being in another country frees your spirit from the chains of conformity and social expectations, and you may find yourself doing things you never imagined you would do at home.

12.  Stereotypes of immigrants may exist for some slightly legitimate reason, but they are largely disproven once one visits the immigrant’s home country.

13.  Traveling makes you realize just how much you take for granted.

14.  Being in a place where you don’t know the language at all actually pushes you to be more extroverted; it’s the only way you’ll be able to get things done.

15.  Travel forces you to admit that ‘reality’ is simply one perspective. 

16.  You cannot truly understand how irresponsible your neglect of foreigners in your own country is until YOU become the foreigner in another country.

17.  A Lonely Planet guide book is NO substitute for talking to a traveler who has ‘been there, done that.’

18.  Traveling in non-Western countries makes it hard to ignore the unearned privileges of being white, which is a necessary lesson in humility. 

19.  Language barriers force you to connect with people beyond words, and often these connections can prove to be more powerful than those with people you can speak to. 

20.  Traveling forces you to question everything you’ve ever believed, and begins to shape new beliefs within you.

21.  Poor language skills may make individuals seem unintelligent, naïve, innocent; this is usually not the case.

22.  Non-Western peoples do not need to be ‘saved’ from their misery; they usually know more about joy than you may ever know.

23.  Picking your nose in public is perfectly acceptable in many parts of the world. 

24.  What they say is true; traveling and tourism really aren’t the same, even though there’s a bit of both involved in each.

25.  Travel mishaps provide excellent lessons in learning to go with the flow and accepting things you cannot change.

26.  Spontaneity and "I'll figure it out when I get there" can lead to the best traveling experiences, but sometimes this really does need to be balanced with planning (I've learned this the hard way).

27.  Taking part in another culture's traditions can make you realize that all the things you find so 'exciting' about home are actually quite boring.

28. Sometimes the real reason we leave home is, oddly enough, to escape ourselves. And traveling, oddly enough, makes this possible.

29.  While traveling may make you nostalgic for certain kinds of foods, hot showers, proper toilets, etc, the only things really missing when you're on the road are the people you wish you could share your adventure with.

30.  Traveling will completely alter you: your perceptions, your identity, your life.

     

China's Treatin' Me Well!

Life in China is going splendidly!  I feel like each new week brings more to be thankful for, and it is certainly safe to say that I love it!

Work. Work is going great. I really love my students.  They have become so much more open and willing to speak, and they are unbelievably creative.  Being an oral teacher rather than a grammar teacher definitely has its perks.  Rather than teach them boring rules, we get to do fun activities and have discussions on topics like tradition, festivals, culture, globalization, etc. I really challenge them in terms of their level of speaking abilities, and they consistently surprise me with their creativity and ability to think outside the box, even in a second language which they find so difficult. I’ve also started a second part time job. Through this I will be teaching both kindergarteners and adults; so all in all, I am now teaching pretty much every age group. I had class with the kindergarteners Saturday and it was SO much fun. They are unbelievably cute and they were so excited about the activities I had planned.  They could barely sit still in their seats because they were so anxious to get to the board and participate in the next activity. Next week we have three days of teaching off because of some sports events at school and a school field trip on Friday. And I’ve been asked to participate in a race during the sports events. Great. I have to compete against these incredibly fit Chinese people. I am going to look like a fat, American loser, haha. And I’m really excited about the school trip, although I am definitely curious as to how they plan to take 1000 students on a trip. It should be interesting, for sure.

Friends. Yay!!! I have friends! :) I have met some really great people in the last month and I feel so fortunate to know them. I am so glad to finally have solid people in my life!

Chinese. I am finally starting to learn some Chinese! A friend of mine has agreed to teach me, and we will have lessons twice a week. I’m not even attempting to learn characters at this point, but I really want to become conversational.  I know it will take time, and Chinese is obviously unlike any other language I know/have studied, but I’m hoping to catch on fairly quickly.

Transportation. This may sound odd, but I love public transport. I think growing up in SC, where you drive absolutely everywhere and there is no public transport, it took on a kind of exoticism in a way. As a child, buses, metros, taxis, etc have always reminded me of big, exciting U.S. cities or Europe, the kind of places I’ve always really seen myself being. And these things remind me of travel, because they have been the means of transportation in almost every place I’ve traveled, as opposed to driving. So, I have always had this secret (not so secret anymore) love of public transport. That being said, I love using public transport here. I know, it makes everything take so much longer and I may have to take an hour bus ride to travel 12 kilometers, but it doesn’t bother me at all; I absolutely love it. It’s oddly one of my favorite things about living here. Random weird fact #874.

There’s a bit of the last few weeks in a nutshell. I continue to love life, no matter where I am :)