The IMI 10th Anniversary Conference is off to a great start. I attended Ray Leki's presentation on "Personal & Organizational Security in a Global Age". It would be an understatement to say that it was merely informative: it was both eye opening and challenging.
I had the opportunity to take a personal inventory of threats I am under and that are of my making as an international traveler. The questions were engaging and really forced me to question my own assumptions. For example one of the questions posed was "Have you left instructions for your wishes to be enacted if you should die overseas, or become incapacitated...".
I quickly realized the threat of my travels to the safely and security of my family. In the event of an untimely accident more than their sense of well being would be compromised. Each and every person should take such an assesment on how our travels not only impact our outlook, but our jobs and relationships at home and abroad. We constantly have to assess our own self-awareness as intercultural communicators, and this workshop helped me see the neglect and short-sightedness of being unprepared for such an event.
Although, my example topic is a bit morose, this workshop offered many other equally profound insights into the personal risks to security and safety inherent in international travel. I thoroughly enjoyed all of today's workshops and look forward to day two.
-Lisa Mayorga
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