Final Assignment

YIIP 2008 Final Assignment

The purpose of the final assignment is to pull back and reflect on your international experience from a macro point of view. It is easy to get caught up in your day to day activities while you are away and upon your return without taking the time to reflect on the direction your life took for the three months that you were away and how that effects the direction you are heading now.

The final assignment will be a written one, minimum five pages, double spaced. The style is to be a reflection paper and not research or thesis like. My interest is in reading your reflections and thoughts. I encourage you to take care and pride in how you write this paper. There is an alarming trend to write for the purpose of putting words on a page and not embrace the art of writing. This is an important skill I would like to encourage you to practice in this assignment. If you are unsure about the importance of elegant and clear communication, watch the Obama versus McCain speeches and draw your conclusions. Think of some of your favorite writers and endeavor to write as well as they do.

Way back in the beginning of April when we all got together for the pre-departure we discussed the term global citizenship and developed something of a definition for it. The full definition list can be found below. Besides the fact that a global citizen should have a high tolerance to alcohol and wear a beret, the definition that was developed has the person being very active. They are culturally and politically aware, tolerant, supportive, appreciative, friendly, accepting, respectful, interconnected, adaptable, and flexible, while taking risks in other people’s shoes. Wow! That is an impressive person.

In the blogging exercises you worked on this summer, we looked at some elements of these concepts. Figuring out your culture and recognizing culture shock are part of developing a self awareness so that you can figure out who you are in the world. Looking at issues of the environment, gender, privilege through the new lens of your international opportunity was intended to encourage your reflection of your norms within a new context. By reflecting on who you are through these issues, were you really respectful, interconnected and flexible?

For the purpose of the final assignment I want you to reflect on the possibility that we are all global citizens and that the definition we developed at the pre-departure is of the ultimate global citizen whom we can endeavor to be, but may have to reach super human status to actually become. If we are in fact all global citizens based on our inhabitance of this planet, how does our definition change? Think of the people that you met whilst on internship. I imagine there was a wide swath from coworkers to friends to tourists to the homeless person on the street.

Now, if we go on the assumption that we are all global citizens, how do you figure out your connection to these people? Start with thinking of the people that you met during your internship. Think of how you are connected to them by virtue of the environment. How does your position of privilege in this relationship affect them? If you look at the relationship through a gender lens, what do you see? Think of gender on a global scale as opposed to individual instances. Feel free to expand out and include groups you may not have encountered during your internship. They could include vulnerable populations affected by the increase in food prices, politicians running for election, celebrities at the Toronto Film Festival, soldiers fighting in one of the wars, or your neighbors.

Alright. We have set the scene. Let’s get to the goods.

For the final assignment I would like you to write about how you and your perceptions and perspectives have changed from before you went on internship to now. The definition of global citizenship is a broad rubric from which you can work however you should not feel limited by it. I encourage you to look back on your blogs and see where you were when you wrote them. Are you in the same place as then or have you moved on, philosophically speaking. The assumption is that you had an experience in the three months you were on internship that has changed you. Write about those changes.

Due: November 17, 2008

Feel free to ask for clarification or direction.

A global citizen…

Is knowledgeable about "the globe."

Is politically aware.

Is culturally aware.

Is tolerant.

Is self aware (mentality).

Is responsible to act and aware of obligation.

Is open minded.

Feels privileged to exercise global citizenship.

What is a global Citizen?

Pros: cultural sensitivity, enhanced communication, interconnectedness, develops stronger communities, can bring about positive change.

Pros/Cons: breaking down borders, capitalism, idealist notions.

Cons: elitist, subordination, unattainable due to lack of opportunities, may be forces on to a community.

A global citizen has...

A mind that is accepting, creative, aware and open.

Eyes that have a global perspective and long as well as short term vision.

A mouth that speaks out, is willing to share and chooses words carefully.

Arms that like hugs, are willing to build and contribute and are receptive and welcoming.

A heart that is courageous and caring.

Guts that allow for challenge and risk.

Feet that step lightly, lead by example and are willing to take the first step.

** note: these qualities are not defined by boundaries.

A global citizen…

Engages.

Appreciates.

Supports local cultures.

Thinks globally and acts locally.

Respects the unity of the world.

Learns about others and finds similarities.

Thinks beyond the "self".

Thinks beyond boundaries.

Understands the web of life.

Uses the 3 Rs.

A global citizen has…

A mind that is respectful, looks beyond the four walls and questions inequality.

Ears that are aware: they listen and observe.

Eyes that look past the stereotypes.

A mouth that is friendly and accepting.

A big heart possessing a sense of collective responsibility.

A global citizen:

Is an interconnected member of the community (global-local/local-local/local-global).

Balances rights and responsibilities.

Is humble.

Is a proponent of social change.

Takes on challenges.

Takes a walk in other people's shoes.

Is action oriented.

Is Inclusive.

Is adaptable and flexible.

A global citizen is:

Curious.

Adaptive.

Optimistic.

Proactive.

Creative.

Open.

Responsible.

A risk taker.

None judgmental.

Globally aware.

Global Citizenship…

Transcends national boundaries.

Is a sense of "imagined community."

Promotes equality through education, the way they interact with people daily.

A global citizen is someone who has:

Ha anarchist ideals.

Has self awareness, and seeks to spread it.

Practices what they preach.

Has a sense of ethical responsibility for the way the treat the planet i.e. Al Gore

A global citizen…

Has global consciousness.

Is aware of issues.

Has a willingness to act.

Is able to inflict change.

Takes responsibility for actions.

Is able to listen and is willing to learn.

Understands the implications of own actions.

Is open to new ideas and willing to explore.

"Be the world you wish to see." - Gandhi

Understand the positive and negative impacts of globalization.

A global citizen…

Is environmentally aware.

Is aware of local impacts.

Conscious of local actions -> global repercussions.

Shares responsibility.

Facilitates positive change.

Is open minded.

Is socially and culturally aware.

Is internationally minded.

Is tolerant and patient.

Is a team player.

Is anti neoliberalist (understanding the implications).

Needs to wear a beret.

High tolerance of alcohol.

Likes animals.

Respects the environment and others.

Carries a knife for safety purposes (this was labeled as an inside joke).

Global citizenship is:

Questioning nationalism.

Challenging inequalities.

The responsibility to use your capacity, question the status quo and recognize that silence is consent.

Being a global citizen means:

Being able to contribute at a local level and gradually escalate.

Having a string belief that the world can be changed for the better.

Contributing socially and acting in that belief.

Being open minded, progressive.

Being able to challenge authority at times.

Being able to deal with various different cultures and religions.

Being adaptive and working to understand other people.

Being able to enforce a balance between economic factors and social factors.