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Respect Local Cultures While Volunteering / Travelling

A mistake most people make when visiting a new destination either for volunteering or travelling is that they assume the culture and customs are just slightly different than their own, or think that there is no need to adapt to different attitudes in a foreign country as we are only there for two weeks. In fact, respect for local ways can surprisingly be very rewarding and bring huge reactions from local people.

Respect religious sites

Tourists flock to religious sites around the world to take in their splendour regardless of their own religion, but then think nothing of sitting on a statue of Buddha for a photo opportunity, these same people would be appalled if a Buddhist were to sit on the alter in the Vatican for a holiday snapshot.

Causing offense

Actions that we think to be commonplace may be deeply offensive to local people and cause resentment towards tourists. Many countries prefer modesty when it comes to dress, but are tolerant of bikinis and revealing costumes on the beach, that tolerance may not stretch to shops and eating places.

Educate and understand

We may find local customs and laws strange and even ‘stupid’ but this may be because we don’t understand why these laws are in place, there may be a perfectly valid reason why a law or custom is in place, it just seems stupid to us because we don’t understand the history behind the custom.

Apologise

If you do break a custom in a country you visit, an apology will often be accepted, even if you don’t speak the language, your tone and body language should let the people know that you are now aware that you have made a mistake.

You will find that in most places local people are aware that you do not know or understand the local ways, they will be tolerant and put it done to you being foreign, but that should not be interpreted as a license to ignore and flout local tradition.

By Darren Cronian