Exploring and Assessing Intercultural Competence - Center for ...

Exploring and Assessing Intercultural Competence
Assertion No. 8
Some returnees lean toward specific life choices, life partners, life styles, values and jobs as
a result of this experience
Discussion
Evidence for this assertion is somewhat limited at the moment. This may be attributable to the
fact that, except for one, alumni were all young adults (between the ages of 19-28) and have yet
to make such choices. The sole exception, an elderly woman of 63, obviously already made these
choices and would be unlikely to change at this point. Nonetheless, numerous indicators suggest
that the alumni were (re)oriented as a result of their experience.
All but two returned to their previous home situations. One British alumna remained in Ecuador
because she enjoyed the experience so much and is currently employed at the Embassy in Quito
as is one Swiss volunteer. Of the returnees, one Swiss alumna stated that she was pursuing
courses related to her recent experience, while many others were pursuing further language study
(Spanish or another language). Still others were pursuing related fields of study, and several were
contemplating intercultural careers. One returnee said she had chosen her career path before
Ecuador but that the experience confirmed her choice and made her more excited and prepared
for her chosen field in environmental studies.
Other indicators were expressed through comments made in open-ended sections of the survey
form and in the interviews that followed:
The British volunteers:
(B1)
- retained language ability and plan to revisit Ecuador
- reinforced decision to pursue a career in the environmental section (as per my project in
Ecuador)
(B3)
- mentoring, coaching 7 English people and 1 person each from France and Germany at
work
- often encounter people at his/her firm from other countries and goes out of his/her way
to welcome them using their own language
- would like to take a career break so I could volunteer again
- his/her company offered him/her the chance to travel to another country
- wants to work in South America
(B5)
- psychologist for offending behavior programs, working with about 10 persons per
group
(B8)
- gave direction to career and life
- went traveling throughout Latin America on own
- began teaching English, gave private lessons, worked for a filming company
- also worked as journalist and editor for a tourism website
- then worked as assistant in Embassy
Center for Social Development
Washington University in St. Louis
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