While You Are Away

(Worse Case Scenarios)

Introduction* Every country has a different current reality

* AIESEC in every country is different

* Therefore you need to be prepared for the chance that not everything throughout your traineeship will go perfectly to plan

* Today’s session will differentiate between general mishaps and worst case scenarios, and how to handle each situation

Differing Current Reality of Countries

• The culture, traditions, living conditions, economic environment and other factors will vary in every country

• Ensure that when you do your direct preparation, you do the research necessary to become familiar with such differing conditions

• This will decrease the chance of experiencing severe culture shock

Different Current Reality of AIESEC

• Dependent upon – Time of year– The capacity of the local committee– The standard procedures which the country

follows– Portfolio structure– The focus of the local committee– Numbers vs AIESEC XP focus

Your experiences may differ greatly!

Necessity of Direct Preparation

Effective direct preparation is an excellent way to ensure that ‘worst case scenario’ situations can be avoided or dealt with

accordingly

Problems (challenges) That

May Arise (and how to deal

with them)

No one turns up

at the airport

upon your arrival

Key Points• Before you leave you have confirmed

who is going to pick you up and you have confirmed your flight arrival time

• You have the contact details of at least three people from your host LC

• You have an address of where you are staying

• You have enough local currency to get a taxi to where you are staying

The AIESEC representative picks

you up, deposits you at your designated

accommodation, then disappears

Key Points• Be proactive

• Before the representative leaves – find out when they are coming back

• Call some AIESECers or trainees

• Get your guide book out

You were mugged and

your passport was amongst

the stolen items

Key Points• Report it to the police

• Contact your travel insurance company and make a claim for your stolen property

• Contact home – someone should have a copy of your documentation

• Phone / contact the Indonesian embassy as soon as you can – they will advise you on what you need to do

If AIESEC in the host country doesn’t have

the capacity to integrate you

properly…

Key Points

• Meet up with other trainees or foreigners in that country

• Get them to help you out

• See it as a challenge rather than as a burden

If AIESEC don’t seem

to be contacting

you…

• Contact them! • Be proactive, if you try to get

involved with them they’ll more than likely want to get involved with you.

Key Points

Your job isn’t

challenging you or

you’re bored with it

• Speak to both your TN manager in the host country and also to your employer• Do some volunteer work • Get a part time job on top of what you are already doing

Key Points

There is political

unrest in your country

Key Points• Don’t panic!

• Speak to locals – your colleagues, the AIESECers

• Contact the Indonesian Embassy – what is their advice?

• Visit the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade website

• Phone home – reassure your family

You are unhappy with

the accommodatio

n arrangements that AIESEC has provided in your host

country

Key Points• Be proactive, if you have enough

money, find somewhere else!

• Speak to the AIESECers – explain how you are unhappy and ask for their help. They may not realise it is unacceptable. But, Remember the standardization about the “good” accommodation is different from one country and another.

• Speak to the other trainees – is there any accommodation available?

The AIESECers are on holiday or

have exams whilst you are there

Key Points• Be proactive

• Try and find out information like this before you arrive or as soon as you arrive – plan for it.

• Hang out with trainees, other LCs or MC

• Be understanding – you know what it’s like to be a university student! – AIESEC Is a run-student Organization!

You are having really poor

relations with your first point

of contact within your host LC and

they are making life

difficult

Key Points• Speak to the person – address the

situation – can it be resolved?

• Speak to the LCP, EB and other LC members

• Speak to the other trainees for advice

You become seriously ill and need hospital

treatment

Key Points• When you arrive find out where your

nearest hospital and doctors are.

• Make sure you have travel insurance which covers your medical needs

• Keep in contact with home and AIESEC In Indonesia

• If you need to – come home.

You are suffering from

a bout of homesickness

Key Points• Bring photos or mementos from home on

exchange

• Before leaving, schedule regular email or phone contact with people back home

• Be proactive – get out and do something to break to cycle

• Remain positive – the experience may help you appreciate your life at home more

• Go sight-seeing

• Visit friends in the host country

• Care packages

The Importance of Remaining in Contact With

Us!• No matter what happens whilst

abroad AIESEC LC UNAND, And AIESEC In Indonesia is still there as a support network

• We not only need to know but also WANT to know how your traineeship is coming along!

• If you are not getting the support necessary we may be able to do something for you from Indonesia.

The Worst Case ScenarioExchange Quality Guidelines:

An official AIESEC document which outlines the responsibilities of both host and sending LCs in regards to your preparation, integration and reintegration

If these are drastically breached, there are procedures that can be followed (IXPQS 2009)

Outline of Procedures

Who to talk to and in what order. What the outcome is likely to be.

Ultimately, it’s up to you!!

If things do go wrong...• Address the situation as

soon as possible – you are only there for a short time.

• Don’t expect the host LC to be aware of the problem

• Host LC – can they help? Can the MC help? Other AIESEC contacts?

Conclusion• Your traineeship may not go perfectly to

plan• There are lots of ways you can avoid

these situations from arising, and to deal with them if they do arise

• If you do find yourself in a ‘worst case scenario’ remember there are procedures you can follow

• AIESEC LC UNAND and AIESEC Indonesia will be here as a support network and a point of contact throughout your entire traineeship