Adventure awaits us in Cochabamba, and I am eager to experience everything Bolivia has to offer! In six short days, we will be at CEOLI’s doors to finally meet with the client and interact with the students to gain a first-hand perspective about the deliverables we have been working towards for the past couple of months. Thus far, half of the project team has pursued retail locations for the CEOLI cards and implemented personal selling techniques to increase card sales. In my team, we have been responsible for researching small food vendor operations based in the United States, identifying directions CEOLI can take their prospective juice stand, and developing marketing material. However, all pre-departure deliverables are mostly based on our ideas and assumptions about the needs of CEOLI which may not be accurately represented. Next week, we will develop a greater understanding of their true wants and needs in the context of Bolivian culture and the available resources for a better overall outcome. Consulting with an international non-profit has proven to be an invaluable experience, but conducting business globally comes with challenges we must anticipate before our travels.
One cultural norm to keep in mind is how Bolivians regard time and punctuality. People in Bolivia have a more flexible and relaxed concept of time for social gatherings, where 30 minutes late is assumed on time and acceptable, according to the Culture Smart book. Meanwhile, United States culture engrains the idea that early is on time and on time is late. In fact, on a scale describing rigidity in schedules, The Culture Map written by Erin Meyer visually represents the United States on the far left of the spectrum. In other words, the US puts a strong emphasis on promptness and organization. Although the fluid concept of time is not the same in a business or professional setting, this relative difference is important to keep in mind while in the country. Whether this presents itself as a longer checkout experience at the market or a late start to a gathering, we will be forced to slow down our pace more than usual. We will also be following a constantly evolving itinerary, so the week’s events are still subject to change. Instead of expressing frustration about tardiness and unexpected events, we must be patient and accustom ourselves to this cultural difference going into the international component.
Similarly, Bolivian people tend to put a great emphasis on building relationships first and conducting business second, which stems from deep-rooted family values that get translated into societal norms. Before even mentioning professional topics, it is important for both parties to get to know each other and begin building trust. We have engaged in plenty of discussions about client relationships in consulting and a critical component of gaining mutual trust. A greater depth of trust results in more willingness to share information, better deliverables and project outcomes, and the prospect of repeat business. However, this idea of client relationships presents itself differently in the United States. Here, conducting business happens immediately, followed by a dinner or lunch appointment to allocate the time for relationship building. On the other hand, this idea of strong foundations in trust is more greatly stressed in Bolivian culture. The first part of the meeting is devoted to getting acquainted with one another, taking as much time as necessary. Developing relationships in Bolivia may be time consuming, but it is difficult to break once the trust has been established. Although we are part of a 10-year plan and have already built rapport, the challenge will arise at CEOLI when there is an additional language barrier. Knowing the importance of relationships, we must overcome these challenges by interacting with the CEOLI students and instructors with smiles and an engaged attitude, which are universal signs of friendliness.
Another cultural norm we will be faced with is Bolivia’s high context nature. Referencing Erin Meyer’s, The Culture Map, high context cultures communicate between the lines in addition to spoken words; messages are often implied rather than explicitly expressed like we are accustomed to in the United States. This means there are subliminal messages often disguised in body language, tone of voice, or even silence. In contrast, the US is a very low context culture, where we have an agenda, talk through the agenda, and summarize the agenda to conclude meetings. Thus, as we discuss the deliverables of our project and gain information from the individuals at CEOLI, we must be cautious and aware of the communication displayed in non-verbal cues. Along the same lines, Bolivian communication also tends to be agreeing in nature. These cultures are often uncomfortable with confrontation and disagreement, which results in people withholding opinions. To combat misunderstanding between both parties’ expectations, we must phrase open-ended questions and ask for reassurance about what our takeaways are. Ensuring there is a mutual understanding will warrant more relevant project deliverables.
Bolivia encompasses a set of cultural norms that may initially present themselves as challenges when we arrive in Cochabamba, such as the fluidity in scheduling, stress on relationships over the business, and the relevance of non-verbal communication. Growing up in the United States, I have never had to face these challenges first-hand; I have grown accustomed to the fast-pace and professionally oriented environment. Nevertheless, I must actively work to overcome these hurdles. For this reason, the Global Service Learning (GSL) curriculum has provoked readings and group discussions to prepare for the challenges of international business, which also forces internal awareness.
As we travel to Bolivia, one of my main goals is to gain cultural awareness and a global perspective through this unique abroad program. I hope to inherit several of the key takeaways and characteristics of global service learning. Throughout the semester, we have discussed the difference between community service versus service learning and the increased benefit of the latter. Community service tends to be a short-term, task-based engagement, such as volunteering at a local food pantry or collecting litter on the shore. While this type of service has importance, the distinction against service learning lies in the greater level of engagement and reciprocity. Service learning tends to be a longer-term where both parties benefit from the interaction. In this case, we are part of a 10-year contract with CEOLI to identify opportunities for sustainable revenue streams, while the student consultants gain tangible experience and skills to take into all aspects of life. This level of engagement and reciprocity is what ultimately results in takeaways such as greater racial understanding and commitment to activism, according to researchers Lori J. Vogelgesang and Alexander W. Astin. Through my vested interest in the project and commitment to CEOLI, I expect to develop a greater cultural awareness of the world around us.
Moreover, to gain valuable transferrable skills, I look forward to overcoming the challenges I mentioned earlier about conducting business. It is best practice to identify areas for improvement before the international experience to be aware of the difficulties we may face. Doing this will allow us to determine strategies to overcome hurdles before they are encountered, which acts as a better method for active learning. For instance, I will practice my ability to adapt to unfamiliar environments by being flexible with the changing itinerary and the tardiness at social gatherings, which is a skill that can be applied to the fast-pace environment of consulting. Also, I will hone in on key communication skills through the strategies of open-ended questions for an agreeable culture and clarifying what I understand to a high-context communicator with subliminal messages. As discussed in class, these are characteristics that make effective project teams.
During this trip to Bolivia, another goal of mine is to be more comfortable in navigating through ambiguity; I hope to be uncomfortable. Over the week, we will be observing and partaking in a culture different from my own, and I am an avid believer in the idea that learning by doing is more effective than learning by reading. Therefore, I hope to be pushed outside my comfort zone and challenged to try speaking rudimentary Spanish even if I fail and to try traditional dancing even if I have two left feet. I view these seemingly small obstacles as opportunities for growth, fueling more curiosity, while also forcing me to create solutions for unorthodox dilemmas.
Overall, I am eager to power through cultural differences as an opportunity for personal growth. The upcoming week will be a pivotal moment for both the project deliverables and our international curiosity. We have devoted the first part of the semester to getting acquainted to the project, our clients, and the context of this year’s outcomes. As we travel to Bolivia, we will be implementing the knowledge we have gathered through the Culture Smart book, research, and class discussions into real-world applications. I anticipate the international component of this Global Service Learning course to be a challenging experience but one well worth it, and I strive to return a better student, professional, traveler, and all-around person. Cochabamba, Bolivia, here we come!