My native country, Guyana is home to nine indigenous tribes of Aboriginal Indians. I was blessed to have donated a year of my life as a teacher-missionary. During that year, I learned the language of the Akawaio tribe. One of the goals of the teacher-missionary was to teach English to the villagers. It facilitated the teaching-learning interaction when the teacher understood and spoke the indigenous language. Some common expressions are the following:
Niaro – hello
Saro – hello (reply)
Orobenai – how are you?
Wakubere – fine, thank you.
Wakubebra – I am not well, thank you.
Jesus yeboo – Jesus is coming.
The dynamics of cross cultural communication were emphasized in the course on International Business taught by Dr. Sabes. I plan to devote some of my retirement years to the aboriginal peoples of my native country. I will continue my work among the Akawaio tribe. I am better positioned to help them after delving into international business ethics and cultural sensitivity. I will exert myself to master the language. I propose to engage the community in an agriculture-based business. It will be in the form of a cooperative. This business model fits snugly into their community-oriented life style.
The combination of the business model and bridging the language barrier are direct products from the class on international business and cross-cultural communication.