How to adopt an open heart and mind while navigating cultural differences
The first time I went to Africa was just after graduating from nursing school. I went with a group of students from my alma mater on a traditional “mission trip,” with the intent of helping those in need. Instead of asking questions, I arrived thinking I had the answers.
With my box of donated pharmaceuticals, English handouts, and no real-world experience working in public health care (yet), I made a lot of mistakes. I came away feeling extremely frustrated and honestly, heartbroken. I realized I couldn’t fix the problems I saw and that by focusing on the challenges, I missed an opportunity to form real connections.
I learned a lot from that trip, both good and bad. While I thought I was respecting cultural differences, I failed to truly value the resources, knowledge, and resilience the local community already had. I neglected to learn what they had to teach me.
Fast forward four years later and I found myself back in Africa, in a cozy hostel in Morocco, sitting around a table with fellow world travelers who had some wisdom to share. On my way to Ghana to volunteer for a local Workaway, one of them reminded me, “teach the kids to teach themselves.” This sage advice was something I considered as I stood at the front of an unfinished classroom, a sea of curious, smiling faces in front of me. First, I asked them what they already knew. I asked them what their hopes and dreams were for the school. I asked them what they needed, instead of making assumptions.
Starting with questions instead of answers changed my entire attitude during my five months in Ghana. It put me in a position of listening, of being the student rather than teacher. It helped me observe and appreciate the cultural differences, rather than judge them when they were different than my own.
One of my favorite experiences was working with the students on a photography project for their school. I handed over my camera with the simple instruction to take photos of what they liked and didn’t like about their community. This exercise was more for me than them. It helped me see things through their eyes with an open heart – and what I saw was an imperfectly complete, beautiful place called home.
As Workaway volunteers, we have the amazing opportunity to experience a variety of cultures. This can sometimes cause us to question certain practices, beliefs, or ways of doing things, especially when they’re different than what we’re used to. As humans, we seek the familiar. Our brains want to make sense of novelty; we seek patterns to help us understand the world and our place in it. Yet, as we create new relationships through Workaway, we have the opportunity to move beyond our comfort zone, beyond our need to experience the familiar into brand-new territory.
We can open our hearts with curiosity instead of criticism. We can adopt a beginner’s mind and instead of trying to fix a problem, first ask. “Why do you do things this way?” “How does this work?” “Where can I be most useful?”
Putting ourselves in new situations, countries, and cultures isn’t easy. It’s brave. When we do it with a willingness to learn instead of fix, we reap the benefit of a wholehearted experience that challenges our perspective, gifting us with a new way of seeing the world.
About Mariah
Mariah Friend is a former Workawayer who quit her job to travel the world for fourteen months, embarking on the adventure of a lifetime. Mariah stayed with hosts in France and Ghana, gaining valuable
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