A Port Moody woman who recently returned from nine months working as a Cuso International volunteer in Laos recommends the experience to other professionals looking for new and rewarding challenge.
Carol Munro, a food services and safety consultant, was posted to Laos, where she spent nine months volunteering her business skills, first working to help a local chamber of commerce establish a member profile guide, a job fair and a marketing program, and later with a non-government organization that works on food safety and organic certification.
Now back home, Munro suggests other professionals should consider volunteering with Cuso to gain new experience and help others.
"I would encourage anyone to go look at it [cusointernational.org] and see what skills would fit," said Munro, who was thrilled when her application was selected for the 2016 posting. "I've been looking at Cuso for over 10 years, I just never had the opportunity or the right skills."
But after completing her MBA and working for various companies in the food services industry, Munro found herself at a crossroads so the chance to work in another country and gain new skills and experiences was an opportunity she couldn't pass up.
"They were looking for the right people in the right placement," Munro recalls of the recruitment experience.
But getting selected was only the first of several challenges.
Once she landed in the small border town of Svannakhet, she was given two weeks of training and had to master the language quickly because few people with whom she would work spoke English. The climate was hot and humid, and Munro had to get used to biking everywhere to get around.
She also left behind her husband and had to get used to being away from home for such a long time.
But she quickly learned to love the people and felt a sense of accomplishment when she helped the local chamber of commerce develop a marketing and membership program. An intern was hired to translate for her and that made the work easier, although it took longer.
"I made some really amazing friends, it gave me a really good perspective of a different life and a different culture."
Cuso provided Munro with a stipend, housing and health care, and it wasn't long before she came to appreciate the culture and food, which she said is a bit of an acquired taste because of the sour and bitter flavours.
She said she would go back to Laos in a heartbeat.
For anyone considering a life change for the New Year, this might be an option.
IF YOU GO
• Don't be judgmental: Munro recommends a flexible attitude when it comes to food, culture, living conditions and working conditions. For example, she said the work flow was sometimes challenging but the people worked hard.
• Be prepared for culture shock: Munro says you would be surprised at what you are capable of. "In the first few months, it was exhausting, physically — a new language, trying to fit in — but I learned that I can do it."
• Don't be a wallflower: Munro connected with expats via Facebook and got out as much as possible to visit the area. She made new friends and connected with other Cuso volunteers. "It's about making sure you don't just sit inside and and watch TV."
• For more information, visit cusointernational.org.
