Home

 

Getting Experience

- # of # Filtered -

An International Career in the Making: Asia, Africa and Beyond

Q&A with Carille: Worked in Africa & Asia
Share this
Print this
Carille
Worked in Africa & Asia
Her thoughts on Cultural Differences
In Ethiopia I discovered that during the month-long orthodox Easter holiday, meat would no longer be available at my local market or restaurant.
Her thoughts on The International Workplace
Working for Doctors Without Borders can be extremely challenging but the rewards are immediate and inspirational.
Her thoughts on Cultural Differences
Ramadan occurred at the height of summer. Getting workers to do heavy labor in 95-degree weather with no food or water felt wrong. I conceded that productivity would be lost for the entire month. Their faith (and health) was more important.
Her thoughts on Taking It All In
I take a rugby ball with me wherever I go. I have done everything from playing catch with co-workers to having friendly games in the community to coaching youth teams.

When and where did you work abroad? What was your position?

For seven years I worked for Doctors Without Borders on seven different contracts of various lengths in Kenya, Laos, Ethiopia, Liberia, Kyrgyzstan, South Sudan and Sierra Leone as a Construction and Logistics Manager. In February of 2020, I began working for the US Department of State in Sri Lanka as Operations and Maintenance Transition Coordinator.

What made you want to work abroad?

I left my job in commercial construction to backpack and volunteer around the world. One and a half years later, when I returned to the US, I sought a job that would enable me to continue to travel and provide assistance to communities in need.

Describe the application, interview, and selection process. What made you successful?

Because of my construction and international travel experience, I was quickly hired by Doctors Without Borders USA (MSF USA). Their hiring needs vary, but at the time they were in need of Logistics Managers. I submitted an online application and they called me for a quick phone interview. Before hiring me, they flew me to their office in New York for a two-day orientation about what the job entails. It requires highly motivated people to thrive in low-resource environments. From application to hire, this process took about two months.

The application process for the State Department was quite different; it was seemingly impossible! Typically, State Department vacancies are only open for two or three weeks. So the first obstacle is finding a job posting that fits your skill set. Setting alerts on their job site is the best way to stay up-to-date. Once I submitted my application for Foreign Service Specialist, it took eight months before I got a call back. This wait time varies based on the position and the hiring queue. Fortunately, the interview process is quick. After receiving a conditional job offer from a successful interview, you must pass a medical, security and suitability check. This process varies greatly based upon your background. For me, it took two years!

Did you participate in extra-curricular or social activities through your work abroad? If so, how did they differ from social activities in your home culture?

I take a rugby ball with me wherever I go. I have done everything from playing catch with co-workers to having friendly games in the community to coaching youth teams. In many of the places that I’ve worked, rugby is a new sport and people are eager to learn the basics. I don’t think that differs very much from what I’ve experienced in the US.

What made your work experience abroad a success?

Working for Doctors Without Borders can be extremely challenging but the rewards are immediate and inspirational. Among others, I have helped HIV patients get treatment in Kenya, provided a water supply for a district hospital in Laos, renovated health care facilities for refugees in Ethiopia and maintained a functioning Ebola treatment center in Liberia.

How did you finance your trip abroad and did you find any creative solutions to stay on budget?

Both of my employers have provided nearly 95% of the financing for my trips abroad. From visa fees to airport transportation to housing and food. I think it’s very important to discuss what is and is not covered in a work contract before agreeing to its terms. Because my financing has always been covered, I find it very easy to stay on budget. I mainly use my wages for food and extra-curricular activities.

What was the biggest challenge in adapting to your international work environment?

My biggest challenge was working in Laos with a translator. I work in construction and my translator had no background in the technical aspects of what we were doing. So, in order to communicate with the construction team, I had to first describe what I expected and needed to the translator, who then explained to the workers. If the translator did not understand what I was talking about, the conversations were pointless. As a result, I found myself doing a lot of teaching and explaining, just so that I could get basic tasks accomplished from the workers.

How did you deal with the cultural divide in the workplace?

My biggest cultural challenge was trying to facilitate construction activities during Ramadan. When I was in Sierra Leone, Ramadan occurred at the height of summer and trying to get workers to do heavy labor tasks in 95-degree weather with no food or water in their system felt wrong. I had to concede that productivity would be completely lost for the entire month. For me, maintaining their faith (and health) was more important than the work we were doing.

What did you miss most about home?

The convenience of and access to food is probably the biggest luxury of living in the US. For instance, in Sierra Leone the grocery store closed at 6pm and on Sundays, so that essentially limited my shopping to Saturday only. In Laos, I brought a box of cake mix to celebrate my birthday, however there were no ovens in the entire village; everything was fried! In Ethiopia I discovered that during the month-long orthodox Easter holiday, meat would no longer be available at my local market or restaurant.

Any further thoughts on your cross-cultural experiences?

I've had quite a few times in the workplace where I learned that my American style of operating clashed with foreign work culture. Typically, in American construction time is money; the faster you complete a task, the more money you can save in the long run. But in a lot of other cultures rushing and pressuring people to perform tasks is considered rude. In Kenya, I quickly learned the Swahili term "pole pole", which means slow down or take your time. It was frustrating because I felt that productivity was being lost, but part of moving abroad is learning how to adapt to a new culture. If they move slowly, no amount of pushing or follow-up is going to speed things along.

What is your number one tip for anyone hoping to follow in your footsteps by working abroad?

If signing a contract prior to moving abroad, I highly recommend discussing your terms and conditions in detail. Some of the more important details that you should solidify before leaving are:

  • How your visa process works (Do you need a visa prior to leaving? Do you need to convert a tourist visa to a work visa? Who covers the fees? Who does the paperwork? etc.)
  • What are your accommodations (Do they provide hotel/housing? Will you need to find your own housing? Is there communal living? etc.)
  • Transportation (Do they provide flights to and from the host country? Will they pick you up at the airport? How will you get to work each day? etc.)
  • Pay, per diem (if necessary), holidays and sick leave
  • Medical and travel insurance

What are your future plans for going abroad and for your career?

I am on a two-year contract with the State Department. When this contract ends, I will renew it and move on to my next assignment.

Advice from MyWorldAbroad
Jean-Marc Hachey, Publisher, MyWorldAbroad

Carille already knows what’s next for her global career, though she doesn’t know where in the world her next State Department contract will take her. We commend her for her hard work and willingness to adapt to life and work in multiple nations and cultures, meeting the challenges of cross-cultural communication and immersion head-on. Her story offers a great example of how a passion for globetrotting can lead to a lifetime abroad, and how the dedication of organizations like Doctors Without Borders can impact developing nations. Since Carille is already pursuing a highly international career, we simply say: Bravo! For those wishing to follow in her footsteps, check out this further reading on the MyWorldAbroad site.

Carille's Next Steps
Advice from MyWorldAbroad
by the founder of MyWorldAbroad
Jean-Marc Hachey
Want to Have the Same Experience?
15631
- # of # Filtered -
  • 102
102
10923
Insight And Education In Korea
1
16392
Building International Career Skills Online
2
16320
Independent, International, Virtual! A UN Internship Online
3
16382
Making the Most of Lockdown with a Virtual Internship
4
16312
Virtual Internship for a Cross-cultural Future
5
16157
Zoom Zoom! A Virtual Internship with Central America
6
9775
A Year Of Feeling French
7
10153
China, South Africa And Beyond!
8
9776
Soaking Up Japanese Culture
9
9764
Do It Yourself! A Proactive Intern in Rome
10
15631
An International Career in the Making: Asia, Africa and Beyond
11
15405
From Daydream to Reality: Teaching Abroad
12
15401
From Korea to Oman: Teaching English Around the World!
13
9761
Communicating Creatively In Spain
14
9773
Independent In India
15
9791
Making Contacts Count In The UK
16
9740
Sports, Study And Fun In France
17
9743
Hooked On Volunteering!
18
16316
Exploring the Sights, Sounds & Tastes of Mexico City
19
16387
An Epic Internship in Malaysia
20
9756
Springtime In Spain
21
9763
A Professional Visit To Vietnam
22
9780
A Year In Marvelous Mexico!
23
9751
A Canadian Globe-Trotter Visits The US
24
9768
Going Solo In Spain!
25
10188
Now Or Never In Colombia
26
9792
Rolling With The Punches In Seoul
27
9745
An Unforgettable Adventure In Nanjing
28
9774
Gaga For Ghana!
29
9783
Off The Beaten Path In Africa
30
9755
People, Places And Passionate Volunteering In Peru
31
9778
Study And Adventure In New Zealand
32
9777
Into The Wild In Alaska
33
9754
Building Memories In India
34
9750
Host Hospitality In Morocco
35
9747
Fun And Friends In The Netherlands
36
9748
Adventure In The Alps
37
9786
Kids And Culture In Korea
38
9772
Learning To Go With The Flow In France
39
9762
American Freshman In London
40
9771
Learning To Love London
41
9742
Take-Charge Travel: Germany And Beyond!
42
9746
A Cross-Cultural Co-Op In West Africa
43
9760
Getting In Sync In Nairobi
44
9759
From Cold Feet To Confidence In Germany
45
9779
One Summer, Two Internships!
46
9785
Motivated In Madagascar
47
9741
Adapting to Work In Peru
48
9784
Skill-building in Bonn
49
9753
A Season in Sweden
50
9765
Simpatico in Florence
51
9782
Making The Most Of Milano
52
9737
Passionate About Panama
53
9766
Short-Term Trips For Long-Term Gain
54
9781
A Hospital Helper In Costa Rica
55
9789
Loving Life In Lyon
56
9790
Design And Dining In Korea
57
9770
Contributing To Change In Ghana
58
9757
Teaching And Learning In Tanzania
59
9738
Living For The Moment In Valencia
60
9767
Beyond The Call Of Duty In Africa
61
16174
An Empowering Virtual Internship in Nicaragua
62
9744
Food, Fun And Festivals In Germany
63
16161
A Bright & Friendly Cross-cultural Workspace
64
16017
A Globally-minded Visit to Qatar
65
10204
Across Europe In A Caravan!
66
9758
Learning The Local Ways Of Addis Ababa
67
11645
A Love Affair with Shanghai
68
11996
Daring to Go Solo in Ireland
69
12058
Architectural Adventures in Australia
70
11845
Hospitality and Hosting in the DCR
71
15333
A Literary Education in the UK
72
14088
An Eye-opening Experience Teaching in South Korea
73
14483
Finding Home, By Teaching Abroad
74
14594
Growing Abroad: Hong Kong & South Korea
75
15347
12 Months, 12 Countries!
76
15383
Hustle and Bustle in Vietnam
77
15327
An Open Mind & Open Arms in Spain
78
15387
Bliss on a Budget in Brazil
79
15644
Discovering the World on Campus: International Skills at Home
80
11467
Stepping Outside the Box in Sweden!
81
9752
Giving In Guatemala
82
9769
Getting Sporty In Switzerland!
83
9788
Business And Pleasure In Australia
84
9787
A Spring Semester in London
85
9807
Fast Friendship in Korea
86
11557
Un stage au Cambodge (Français)
87
10230
Getting Caffeinated In Bolivia
88
11468
Learning While Teaching in Beijing
89
10145
Real Stories And Real People In Mexico
90
9803
Ten Years Teaching In Seoul
91
10851
Tips From Tasmania
92
9799
Getting Settled In Seoul
93
10258
Encountering Cultures Across Europe
94
10218
Adaptation And Appreciation In Japan
95
9812
Caring And Career Skills In Belize
96
10157
Changing Course In China
97
11850
The Warmest Welcome in Guatemala
98
11904
Enthusiasm, Education and Experience in Greece
99
10163
English Teaching In Eastern Europe
100
10192
Out And About In Paris
101
10143
A Warm Welcome In Mexico
102
15631
All Job Boards
452
All NGOs
1427
Au Pair Resources
39
Awards & Grants Resources
64
Business Directories
21
Canadian Federal, Provincial & Territorial Government Profiles
60
Canadian Government Resources
31
Children And Families Abroad
5
Consulting, Economics & Finance Job Boards
61
Cross-cultural Skills
123
Engineering Job Boards
62
Engineering Resources
81
Expatriate Networking Sites
29
Foreign Students Working in the US
9
Freelancing Abroad
33
General Job Search Books
16
Global Education & Social Action
65
Health & Medicine Job Boards
51
Health Career Resources
72
International Associations with Clubs on Campus
43
International Development Career Resources
87
International Internship Organizations
312
International Internships & Student Programs with Canadian Governments
35
International Internships with the US Government
38
International Job-hunting Resources
16
International Law Careers Resources
115
International Law Job Boards
28
International Studies in the US & Canada
13
International Trade Resources
25
International Volunteer Organizations
488
Internship Directories & Advice
53
Internships with the UN & Other IGOs
160
Language Careers
32
Learn a Language
115
Licensed Teacher Abroad Job Boards
35
Licensed Teacher Abroad Resources
39
Loans for Studying Abroad
18
Low-cost Travel
72
NGO Directories
33
NGO Job Boards
49
Regional Job Boards
107
Relocating Abroad
7
Resources for International Students Studying in Canada
31
Resources for International Students Studying in the US
48
Stories From Abroad
102
Study Abroad Resources
203
Teach English Abroad Job Boards
100
Teach English Abroad Resources
76
Tools for Travelers
91
Top International Blogs & Podcasts
85
Travel Guides
101
Travel Health & Safety
55
UN & Other IGOs
271
UN & Other IGOs Job Boards
27
UN & Other IGOs Resources
74
US Government Profiles
76
US Government Resources
47
Virtual International Internship Organizations
93
Volunteer Job Boards & Advice
65
Working Holiday Resources
78