How to behave in rural areas

Empathy is a must-have for development communicators. If you don’t have it, devcom is not for you. Go pick another course.

Often, even though we don’t intend to, we subconsciously put off others by our gestures, words, or simply by how we present ourselves. I’ve got a list of tips to remind us of how to behave when we are doing field work in rural areas. The setting is in the Philippines, but I’m pretty sure some of these will apply in other contexts.

• Ask about the area prior to going there. Is it conservative? Is it OK for the locals to see women wearing very short shorts? Are the locals accommodating? Mind you, it always helps to do this. It will help you pack the necessary outfit and other must-haves for your trip. My friend told me she had to cover her hair when she went to Sulu as the locals are not used to seeing girls showing off their hair. That was a strong gesture that she was respecting the culture in the area.
• Make sure you have a guide who knows the community very well. This is important as you cannot just go to the community and surprise everyone there about your coming. Chances are the locals will not entertain you, or they will give you a rather lukewarm response. It will also save a lot of time as you will be certain where to go and the people you need to give courtesy calls to.
• Courtesy calls. Don’t forget this. This is to, well, give courtesy to local officials that you will be doing something in the area. Remember you are a new face in the community. Often, in rural areas, everybody knows everybody. You can avoid creating a scene or anything if you will do courtesy calls prior to starting your activity in the area. Doing this will likewise widen your network.
• Dress down a bit. I know this is a difficult thing to do especially if you are from a college where every day is a fashion day. BUT YOU NEED TO DO THIS. DO NOT INTIMIDATE THE LOCALS! Try to wear flip flops, shorts, ordinary clothes. Remember you are not going to a party so dress down a bit. Be humble enough. You need to take this seriously as if you intimidate them, you will not get what you need. Often, when we interview farmers, we just wear simple clothing with minimal to zero accessories. They feel comfortable seeing us in that outfit.
• Manage your mobile phones. We know that cell phones are very important, but please don’t keep on showing them off when you are in rural areas especially if you have the high end phones. If you do this, they might think you are boastful—remember the conspicuous display of wealth. Avoid showing it off. Also, please put it in silent mode so it doesn’t interrupt interviews or any conversations later.
• Expect the worst. Rural areas are oftentimes not the place for your Starbucks, massage parlor, hang out areas. Many of our rural areas are still poor. Some don’t have access to clean water and latrines. So expect that some of life’s comforts will not be there. But this does not give you any right to be hostile to the locals. Don’t rant. Don’t be fastidious. Remember, they didn’t invite you to go there. You invited yourself.
• Don’t be complacent. Related to the previous point, try to make do with what is there. I’ve been to hotels with no electric fan, old and worn out bed cover, smelly toilets, etc. Take a deep breath. That’s a part of it. Hence, you are needed. Development communication is relevant because of said instances.
• Watch your words. People in rural areas are rather sensitive. So be very careful with the words you say. If you’re not sure, ask the guide.
• Take your time in asking questions and in listening to their stories. It’s very laid back in most rural areas. So don’t rush in asking questions and in listening to their stories. In fact, you will get more information if you are able to show that you are more like a friend, ready to listen to what they have to say.
• Have something for them. Whenever we go to rural areas, we make sure we have something for the farmers. Chances are these areas are rarely visited by extension workers, so we bring them publications on cost-reducing and yield-enhancing technologies. Tokens don’t have to be expensive. Just have something useful for them.
• Don’t feign affection. It is very easy to determine if you are not trying to fake it. The thing is be very sincere when you communicate with someone. If you can’t, don’t go to rural areas. The locals don’t need you in the first place.
• Enjoy the field work. Ask the guide and the locals themselves the best thing about their place. That will be a lengthy talk. They might bring you to a river or an undiscovered scenic place in their area— that will make you love this field even more.