Working with people of different cultures has always been a goal of mine. Whether professionally or through volunteer work, I knew cultural exchanges would play an important role in my life. When I heard about the work done at the International Hospitality Council, I knew it would be a great fit. Much of what I would be doing at the IHCA would be new to me and I considered any new experiences in a professional capacity invaluable.
“Bringing the world to Austin, bringing Austin to the world” is the slogan the International Hospitality Council of Austin has accurately used for the last eleven years. The IHCA celebrated its 50th anniversary this year, but began its life operating out of the International Office at the University of Texas organizing Home Hospitality and the Friendship Program for international students. In the late 1970s the IHCA began programming for foreign delegations sponsored by the State Department as part of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). Over the last decade the IHCA averaged 50 to 75 programs per year with anywhere from 1-20 visitors per program. These programs cover topics from Agriculture to Zoning and include countries from Azerbaijan to Zimbabwe.
My list of duties at the IHCA were various and expansive. My most common and consistent task included updating the ECIV. When a program was complete, I entered all relevant information into the ECIV. This included the delegation’s schedule while in Austin, complete with the dates, times and participants of each meeting. This database of programs was used at the end of each grant year in September to compile a discrepancy report. The State Department used this file to easily reference all programs and participants in 2010 if any discrepancies were to arise when allocating grant money. The accuracy of this document is crucial. Other duties included researching potential resources for upcoming programs, calling and updating our member database in the ECIV, general office work, attending board meetings, and occasionally greeting arriving delegations. The last two mentioned were more a privilege than a duty, and really added a new dimension of experience and excitement to my time spent at the IHCA.
On Friday October 22nd I had the opportunity to attend a closing. A closing is a meeting which occurs at the end of a large group’s visit to the United States. The delegation comprised 11 participants from various African countries. Their project topic was Transparency and Good Governance. The cities visited included Washington, DC, Baltimore, MD, Charlotte, NC, Salt Lake City, UT, Kalamazoo, MI and of course, Austin, TX. The meeting was held in a board room at the Radisson Hotel. Tables inside the room were arranged in the shape of a square so people were facing each other. This promoted an open and communicative environment with no one person in a place of greater importance than someone else. The only division occurred along language lines: all English speakers sat together, and all French speakers sat together. We all wore earpieces attached to the interpreter’s microphone to allow us to hear their translations while speaking in a low tone. The group elected one member of the delegation for every city visited. Each elected member discussed the meetings attended in each city, what they learned, what they like about the meeting and suggestions on how to improve each city visit. I felt a sense of pride when Austin was discussed, because the delegation absolutely loved the meetings Pam set up. A workshop they attended in Austin was said to be the only hands-on training of their entire trip.
After each city was discussed, each participant was asked to share their impression of the United States, what they learned individually, what they planned to implement in their home country and any suggestions. I was quite moved by the very detailed and ambitious plans this group had. Also, when sharing their impression of the United States many admitted, whether they had previously visited the United States or not, that the kindness of the people they met took them by surprise. They all said they viewed the U.S. as a fast paced country where people were all about business and did not have time for each other, let alone a stranger. So, when this group began taking meetings and enjoyed home hospitality, they were completely shocked at the level of kindness and patience experienced. This I realized, was what Citizen Diplomacy was all about: connecting with people of all backgrounds on a human level; changing their impressions of the U.S. and its citizens; and expanding others’ knowledge, as well as your own, about other cultures.
My time spent at the IHCA was amazing and invaluable. Never could I have imagined that I would learn so much. Even though I spent the majority of my time doing office work, the professional and life lessons were abundant. After each encounter with any of the International Visitors, I was on cloud nine for hours. The simplest conversations would bring cross-cultural comparisons that I never would have thought of or realized from reading a textbook or listening to a lecture. Classroom knowledge is necessary, but to fully understand anthropology and other cultures, real-life interaction with members of different cultures is crucial. This internship cemented my desire to work overseas, or in an international field. The question that remains is what sector that professional experience will occur in, either non-governmental or governmental. Regardless, my focus for the future, though still not totally certain, has been clarified by this priceless experience.