Globalization in Speech-Language Pathology

Traveling and working abroad is both exciting and overwhelming. You spend time dreaming about the beautiful places you will see, interesting people you will meet, and the delicious food you will eat! You also spend time worrying about what to pack for every possible scenario, how to shove everything into a suitcase that may get lost by the airline, and whether or not you should bring cash or a credit card. There are many things to consider when thinking about globalization in speech-language pathology.

Those are all things to think about but as Mark Twain once said “I’ve had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.” Regardless of where you are going, when you land in-country you will realize there are things that you didn’t plan for and the things you worried about didn’t happen! Yes, all of that time spent planning and worrying didn’t account for every possible thing.

Here are a few tips to ease you into any short term work abroad experience:

Number 1. (BYOT) Bring your own toiletries:

Not for the hotel, but for when you are out and about. Countries have different standards for bathrooms, this includes differences in the types of toilets, running water, and overall hygiene practices.

First things first, bring your own toilet paper! I prefer wet wipes but Kleenex or toilet paper will do. If you run out during the trip, always remember to grab some each morning before you leave your hotel or BnB. Also, bring your own hand sanitizer. Running water and/or soap is often lacking (which is another reason I prefer wet wipes- sanitizer leaves a film on your hands).

Remember to bring any other toiletries you will need from face wash to eyedrops. These things will vary in other countries. You may not be able to find what you need or struggle to read the packaging.

I mentioned differences in toilets. Well in some countries, especially Asian countries, you may find a squatty potty, which is just a porcelain hole in the ground. It takes balance, strength, and coordination to use these efficiently but if you really have to go, you figure all of this out very quickly. If you simply can’t wrap your mind around using one, if you look around long enough you may be able to find a western-style toilet.

Lastly, some bathrooms may not have locks or even doors. Other bathrooms may have locks that work a little too well or doors that get jammed. (Not so fun fact- my biggest fear in life is getting stuck in a bathroom…because it has happened to me several times around the globe!) I never use the bathroom abroad without someone knowing where I am going or even better, standing guard for me. It goes without saying to never put down any bags or valuables that someone can easily reach under a stall and grab.

Number 2. Dress for heat, water, and mud:

I have experienced ‘hot’ growing up in the deep south in the United States but it does not compare to ‘hot’ in other countries! August in South Korea is like taking a hot shower while wearing a thick blanket. August in Taiwan is like walking through a sauna. Wear clothes that are comfortable, breathable, and most importantly you can sweat in. Ideally, you want clothes that you can easily wash out in the sink and will hang dry quickly. The latter can be tricky in very humid places and you may want to test a few pieces before you wash all your clothes and then have nothing dry to wear.

Also in preparation for the outdoors, bring lots of sunscreen and bug spray! They make bug spray for your skin as well as clothes. Research bugs in the country you are going to see if you need bug spray for clothing (FYI- spraying bug spray on clothes that are not meant for clothes will leave a very noticeable white film and you’ll feel pretty self-conscious of this while walking around).

Of course, bring sunglasses, lots of ponytail holders, and a hat to protect you from the sun. You will also want the hat for your hair! Trust me, in hot and humid climates, there is very little you can do for hair styling. You might as well embrace it! Focus on the ponytail and hat, not the hair.

The most important thing to consider with clothing and the outdoors is your choice of shoes. You will do a lot of walking! It’s the best way to really explore (and you may not be able to find a taxi or rickshaw, much less converse with one). Bring shoes that you can walk for miles in and get dirty. You will walk through dust, rain, or the combination of the two which leads to mud! I sometimes buy a pair of cheap yet comfortable shoes or take old athletic shoes and throw them away before I return home.

You can certainly bring clothes for special occasions or nice dinners. Being comfortable and prepared doesn’t mean you can’t look cute and feel like yourself. Just give yourself some slack when it comes to attire. When in doubt, choose comfort over fashion. Plus, you will probably be too tired and sweaty to want to change clothes for dinner.

Number 3: Cash or Credit:

More countries than you would expect are cash-based societies. The easiest and cheapest way to get cash is to take out cash in-country at local ATMs. Even if they are hard to find, you can usually find a bank. Remember to get small bills. You don’t want to negotiate at a local market and then ask the stall owner to break large bills- they may not have the cash and they may rescind their initial offer and ask for more or try to upsell you.

While we are talking about cash and credit cards, each day only take what you need with you. Leave the rest of the cash in your room in a safe or hidden in your suitcase (I mean really hidden). I highly recommend bringing two credit cards or a debit card. Leave one in your room in case your other one gets lost, stolen, or compromised. For the cash, you keep on you for the day, hide different amounts on your person in small amounts (put money in different pockets or different purse compartments). This way if you get robbed, pickpocketed, or are just trying to negotiate a good deal at a market, you can pull out just the small stash of cash you need and keep the rest hidden.

The other thing you want to keep in your safe or hidden in your luggage is your passport. Remember to make copies of your passport, driver’s license, and credit cards. Leave one copy in your safe or luggage, give another copy to a trusted friend or family member not traveling with you.

Two important things to remember with your credit cards: Always call your credit card company to let them know you will be traveling. You don’t want a deactivated card abroad! Also, set up a pin for credit cards even if you do not plan on taking out a cash advance. Some credit card machines abroad require a pin and you don’t want to wish you knew this earlier when you are trying to fill up your car in the middle of nowhere in Iceland or buy train tickets in Japan.

Number 4. Research the culture:

Cultures are fascinating and there are a lot of characteristics to consider. For instance, did you know that eye contact, greetings, and use of humor can all vary across cultures? That’s right. Using eye contact in one country could be a sign of disrespect or a sign of flirtation in another. Humor varies and you may not be considered as funny abroad as you are at home.

ASHA has a Cultural Competence Checklist tool you can use to heighten your awareness of cultural differences. You can view it here. The two cultural differences that will get someone in ‘trouble’ the most quickly are gestures and clothing.

Gestures and their meanings vary a lot across cultures! Be careful using any gestures, even pointing, unless you are sure of their meaning. What may mean ‘go away’ in the US may mean ‘come here’ in South Korea. Or worse. What may mean ‘shame on you’ in the US may mean something sexual in Mexico. Proceed with caution, you have been warned!

Regarding clothing, in addition to wearing comfortable and breathable clothing, dress conservatively! You are already going to stand out because of your physical appearance, gestures, and mannerisms. It’s called nonverbal accents; people can judge who is a local and who is not even if they are of the same race and do not utter one word. You don’t want to draw even more attention to yourself for dressing inappropriately or disrespectfully. Covering your shoulders, elbows, and knees is always a good rule of thumb. You never know when you will be meeting someone important or finding a temple you want to explore. Both of those things have a dress code and no exceptions.

Youtube.com is my go-to for in-country research (and for armchair travel breaks).

Specific vlogs I follow include:
Kara and Nate

Eamon and Bec

Tangerine Travels

Number 5. Watch the locals:

If you want to avoid tourist traps and have an authentic in-country experience- Watch the locals and do as they do! Shop where they shop, eat where they eat, visit the beach they visit, you get the point. Have fun.

Number 6. Be easy on yourself:

There is a lot to take in when exploring a new country! Some locals will be understanding and helpful. Others won’t. They may be impatient with you, rude, or even try to take advantage of you. Safety is always your first priority! Everything else is just a learning experience and par for the course. Once you get back home, it will even make a good story (like that one time a taxi driver in Madrid charged you double and dropped you off 15 minutes away from your destination with your luggage because you really had no idea where you were)!

Number 7. Go in with an open mind:

You are there to learn and drink in the culture! You are going to be out of your comfort zone. And that is healthy for you. But you must remember during the growing pains that just because other countries do things differently, doesn’t make their actions or beliefs wrong. Cultures are living things and adapt over time based on internal (in-country) and external (other countries) influence. There is no reason to get upset that what is not considered food in your country may be served on someone’s dinner plate in another country. Just don’t order that and keep going about your business.

Number 8. Unplug:

But if you can’t, only bring the necessities. You can do a lot with just an iPhone like take pictures, text or Whatsapp, and call home! So unless you need a specific device for an important reason, leave everything else at home. You need to disconnect from your own culture and completely be absorbed in this new culture. Plus, having these devices only makes you stand out and you could become a target for theft. Always pay attention to your surroundings while using electronic devices or taking pictures.

If you must indulge- remember that not all websites work abroad (Pandora, Facebook, Netflix). You will need a VPN to access these. Do not ever access your online bank information abroad unless you are sure you are using a secure network. And don’t forget your charger and adapter!

Number 9. Have a great trip:

Soak up the culture and the experiences. Bon voyage, buen viaje, happy travels!

Check out my blog post Recommended Websites for Global SLP.