Double Take -- by Mark Sproxton

The screams and wails of the Guayanan Howler monkeys awakes the group sleeping in mosquito net-covered hammocks within makeshift hut with a tarp for a roof. A Canadian social worker steps onto the floor and slowly makes her way down to the river to bathe. From there, breakfast is prepared and the social worker heads off with a group to begin clearing land for a new school. Tomorrow's routine will be similar, but she'll be travelling by boat to nearby communities to help screen for eye problems.

Such is the life of Jessica Smith, a social work intern for the International Centre at the University of Calgary (U of C). Unlike approximately 80 per cent of social workers who move to the clinical field working one-on-one with individuals or going into private practice, she has taken the road less travelled. Smith, and about 20 per cent of social workers, also work in areas such as community development, research and administration. She just happens to enjoy the international settings.

"From as far back as I can remember, I have always had a curiosity about the people, places, and cultures in the world around me," she wrote in an email from Costa Rica where she's currently working. "Through various influences in my life, I also became aware very early on about how differently people live between developing and developed countries, and wanted to make a difference at least in some small way."

Currently, while completing her masters degree, she is working as a project co-ordinator helping develop university courses designed to strengthen water management programs at universities in Guatemala, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The course is being developed through collaboration with representatives from universities in the three Central American countries, the U of C and University of Waterloo.

Essentially, the program encourages those working with water resources, such as agronomists, geologists and hydrologists to consult with community members to identify local water-related concerns or problems.

"In the past, 'experts' entered communities, more or less told community members what to do, and how to do it, without properly taking that community's reality into consideration," Smith explained. "They would throw money at the problem rather than trying to really understand and get at the root of the problems. As a result, as soon as these 'experts' left the community, the project would fall apart."

While the current project sees her living in a modern community with modern conveniences, that hasn't always been the case. Since 1996, Smith has gained experience internationally working at various projects in countries such as Mali, in Western Africa, where she lived in a straw hut in village without cars and electricity and helped plow fields for crops the community needed for survival. A project in Paraguay had her develop, organize and facilitate a program for children at risk of physical, sexual and emotional abuse.

Smith said she enjoys the different types of learning available through international work as she spends her days immersed with other people with other thoughts, ideas and traditions. "You learn an incredible amount about other cultures. You learn a lot about Canada. For example, when you come back to Canada, you question a lot of things that you took for granted or that you had never previously questioned. And you learn a whole lot about yourself."

Working internationally requires many different skills. Smith said those who are flexible, open to new ideas, have a sense of humor, good communication skills and a desire to learn different languages and cultures will do well wherever they work.

"It is truly a rewarding experience, in which the people you meet, the learning and skills you gain are immeasurable to what you gain from working just within the Canadian context," she said. "I advise people who are interested in this area of work to look into all the opportunities that are offered for overseas experiences, and there are lots of them."